James E. Galvin, MD
Washington University
St. Louis, Missouri

2003 Investigator-Initiated Research Grant

A large research effort continues to focus on understanding subtle decline in memory and other thinking skills that may indicate the earliest warning of dementia. As these early signs are better understood, the public health arena is faced with the challenge of identifying people with memory loss in at-risk populations. To develop effective public health screening programs, researchers need to consider factors that affect people’s interest or willingness to seek screening for memory impairment.

This research group will investigate ethnic, socioeconomic, and other demographic factors that may influence a decision to participate in screening for memory problems. The researchers will use a random-dial telephone survey to interview adults without dementia who are at least 50 years old and living in St. Louis, suburban St. Louis, and a predominantly rural county of Missouri. They propose that perceived barriers, knowledge, self-sufficiency, and social networks will be important determinants for participating in screening.

Outcomes of this research may provide valuable information for public health officials developing memory-loss screening programs that need to reach diverse populations.