Many older Black Americans lack awareness regarding Alzheimer’s disease and its symptoms, prompting researchers to propose culturally sensitive strategies to better support brain health and aging in this group, a new study by Regenstrief Institute researchers.

 

Published in the journal PEC Innovation, the study asked participants whether they agree, disagree or are unsure that Black Americans have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s compared with white people. Most said they were unsure.

 

Overall, Black adults are almost twice as likely as white adults to have Alzheimer’s, a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking and behavior, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. More than 21% of Black Americans ages 70 and older are living with Alzheimer’s.

 

What’s more, only 48% of Black folks report feeling confident that they can access culturally competent care. Nearly 80% reported experiencing barriers to proper health care and support for the disease.

 

In the news release, study leader Johanne Eliacin, PhD, a research scientist at the Regenstrief Institute, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Indiana University School of Medicine, said: “When Black Americans are diagnosed, they often have a greater burden because of the costs of managing the illness, lack of available support for patient and caregiver and all of the challenges of navigating the health care system for this very complex illness. Combined with sociocultural determinants of health, many Black Americans are really disadvantaged when it comes to dealing with Alzheimer’s disease. We still have a lot of work to do.”

 

One study participant said Black people are mostly unaware of the disease or do not fully understand its implications until it personally affects them. Another participant said health care professionals know less about Black people and the health inequities they face, including gaps in wealth, education, health care and more.

 

Most Black people said they wanted to do more to support healthy aging and have better access to education and resources to do so. For example, about 72% of female and 59% of male participants reported engaging in mental exercises, such as puzzles. 

 

“They are eager to learn, but for messages on brain health to be well received and to have the biggest impact possible, we need to increase representation of minoritized groups in research and Black American community members have to be part of the decision-making process and the development of outreach programs,” Eliacin said.

 

Researchers suggests several strategies to promote brain health and increase awareness of Alzheimer’s disease among Black Americans, including:

 

  • Investing in Black people’s well-being throughout life;
  • Proactively reaching out to the Black community;
  • Integrating information about Alzheimer’s and brain health into culturally appropriate wellness campaigns;
  • Improving health, health care and research equity.

 

“Our study underscores the importance of developing culturally sensitive approaches that provide meaningful learning experiences about Alzheimer’s disease and brain health for Black Americans,” said study author Sophia Wang, MD, of the Indiana University School of Medicine.

 

To read more, click #Alzheimer’s Disease or #Aging. There, you’ll find headlines such as “Older Women Are Different Than Older Men. Their Health Is Woefully Understudied,” “Blood Test Identifies Alzheimer’s Disease With About 90% Accuracy” and “Discrimination Linked to Early Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease.”