U.S. Latinos, the largest and fastest-growing minority group, develop Alzheimer symptoms earlier than non-Latino whites. Seeing a clear need for studies benefiting this population, two of the Alzheimer’s Association 93 funded research projects for 2005 may benefit Latinos.

“Research being conducted right now may improve the future quality of life for Latinos,” said Maria Carrillo, Ph.D., director of medical and scientific affairs for the Alzheimer’s Association. The Association is the largest private funder for Alzheimer research and is a catalyst for generating new knowledge about dementia and fostering a vital research community.

Will better diabetes control lower the risk of Alzheimer’s?

Jose A. Luchsinger, M.D., M.P.H., Columbia University Medical Center, and his team have been studying 600 people to evaluate the benefit of telephone-based services to treat people with diabetes living in remote areas and inner cities.

Diabetes has been linked to Alzheimer’s. So with the help of a grant from the Alzheimer’s Association, Dr. Luchsinger is expanding his study to determine how treating diabetes modifies the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

The investigators hope to establish whether better diabetes control lowers the risk of Alzheimer’s and mild cognitive impairment. They also are studying whether specific diabetes treatments change the risk of Alzheimer’s independent of controlling glucose levels.

Dr. Luchsinger expects that the findings will be especially relevant to Latinos. “The proportion of the elderly with diabetes is twice as high among Latinos than whites,” he said. “The additional information we are collecting will give us richer, more detailed results that will help determine how best to help diabetic Latinos at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.”

Latino caregivers and stress

Another Alzheimer’s Association grant is allowing Gia Robinson Shurgot, Ph.D., University of Southern California, to study how social and cultural influences affect the ability of Latino caregivers to deal with stress. Caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease can be highly stressful. Over time, continued stress activates the cortisol hormone that, when overproduced, can cause heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

Studies have shown that Latino caregivers use more stress-coping strategies than their Caucasian counterparts, yet Latinos are generally at greater risk for developing heart disease, diabetes and stroke. Shurgot’s research team will examine whether such factors as cultural assimilation, family loyalty issues and coping styles affect cortisol levels in Latinos caring for people with dementia.

The researchers will use the information gathered in their study on to develop future programs that address the health needs and improve the quality of life for Latinos caring for family members with dementia.