The annual commemoration of National Hispanic Heritage Month – Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 – is a celebration of the many social, cultural and scientific contributions that Latino and Hispanic men and women have made to the United States, and to celebrate their diversity, culture and traditions.
While this four-week period is a time of recognition, the Alzheimer’s Association reminds us of the sobering fact that Hispanic Latinos are at a 50% higher risk than their white counterparts for developing Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Currently, there are nearly 6 million people in the United States living with Alzheimer’s, including 76,000 in Colorado.
“The health disparity between people of color (including African-Americans, who are twice as likely as whites to develop dementia) and whites is startling, but the Alzheimer’s Association is focusing increased resources to better understand the reasons why,” said Amelia Schafer, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado.
At the recent global Alzheimer’s research conference, the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) that drew 33,000+ researchers from 163 countries, one report addressed the issue by indicating that the genetic predictors of Alzheimer’s risk may differ among Hispanics of different backgrounds, and between Hispanic and white individuals.
“This suggests that at-home genetic tests claiming to give information about Alzheimer’s risk based on the ApoE-e4 gene (the gene with the strongest impact on Alzheimer’s risk for white, European-based populations) would appear to have a weaker effect on some Latin American populations,” Schafer said.
While research continues, researchers believe that variations in medical conditions, health-related behaviors and socioeconomic factors likely account for most of the differences in risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias in Hispanic/Latin American populations. Specifically, diabetes and cardiovascular disease are more prevalent in these communities. Additionally, socioeconomic characteristics, including lower levels and quality of education, higher rates of poverty, and greater exposure to adversity and discrimination, may also increase risk in those communities.
“More research is needed to provide actionable ways to reduce risk for Alzheimer’s and dementia, especially in Hispanics who are disproportionately affected,” Schafer said.
Community participation needed
While the Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s largest non-profit funder of Alzheimer’s research, and U.S. Government investment in Alzheimer’s research has increased more than four-fold in the past five years, it is equally important that members of the Hispanic/Latino communities (as well as African-Americans) volunteer to participate in ongoing Alzheimer’s research to ensure that they are well-represented in research trials.
To that end, the Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch® is a free, easy-to-use clinical studies matching service that connects individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease, caregivers, and healthy volunteers with current research studies. The Association’s continuously updated database of Alzheimer’s clinical studies includes hundreds of pharmacological (drug) and non-pharmacological (non-drug) studies being conducted at sites across the country and online.
Individuals interested in exploring Alzheimer’s research trials, call the Association’s free 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900 or email
trialmatch@alz.org.
Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia.™ For more information, visit www.alz.org or call the 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900.