Social and Racial Justice Initiative
“Most studies indicate that older blacks/African Americans are about twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s or other dementias as older whites.”
– Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures 2020
National Alzheimer's Buddies is excited to introduce our new Social and Racial Justice Initiative!
Dementia is isolating for everyone, but especially those who lack the resources to support themselves or their loved ones. Unfortunately, people of color and women are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, nursing home care is a privilege, and at-home caregivers require support for respite.
As social and racial injustices are prevalent in our society today, National Alzheimer’s Buddies aims to address these issues by using our platform to bring awareness to the injustices that influence the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease among minority populations. We believe that as a volunteer, each individual has the ability to take action and foster change by striving to become culturally competent and advocating for those facing these injustices.
By building intergenerational relationships between college students and older adults in underserved communities, we aim to bridge disparate communities and build towards more equitable Alzheimer's care.
In accordance to the mission of our Social and Racial Justice Initiative, NAB will be overseeing the creation of chapters that will meet seniors in community centers in underserved communities. This initiative is an effort to better serve Black and Latinx dementia patients who are living out in the community rather than in nursing facilities.
The following resources introduce a multitude of racial and social disparities within Alzheimer’s Disease. Becoming familiar with this information will help us all better serve our Buddies and community.
“The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that the prevalence of AD and other dementias in African Americans above the age of 65 years is about twice the rate among elderly whites, while the prevalence in Hispanics is approximately one and a half times greater than in whites.”
“Diversity and Disparity in Dementia: The Impact of Ethnoracial Differences in Alzheimer’s Disease”
This article highlights the role of biological and cultural factors in the perception and diagnosis of dementia across different racial groups. The study indicates that minorities are often underrepresented in Alzheimer’s disease biomarker research for clinical evalution and diagnosis, which leads to additional challenge in accurarely diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease in non-white populations. In terms of treatment after diagnosis, minority patients are also less likely to receive necessary medications, which leads to greater cognitive decline. While predisposing genetic factors contribute to the disparities in prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in specific races, the article emphasizes that cultural factors also shape the differences in perception, diagnosis, and treatment of the disease.
What can we do?
Research has shown that more African American respondents than white respondents believed substantial memory loss to be a normal aspect of aging, while qualitative research conducted through interviews of African Americans, Hispanics, and Chinese found similar beliefs. As volunteers, we can spread awareness regarding Alzheimer’s disease to our friends, our communities, and to those who are caregivers of the elderly. We can identify specific communities consisting of predominantly minority groups, and seek to educate them on the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. It is important to use our voice and knowledge to combat this issue because initial recognition of symptoms of dementia by caregivers or family members is the most important step toward the treatment of AD.
“Experiences of Racism and Subjective Cognitive Function in African American Women”
The study explored the effects that racist experiences had on the subjective cognitive functions (SCF) of African American women. They hypothesized that the psychological stress associated with experiences of racism would impact long term SCF for these women, as this stress has been commonly associated with memory decline. The results of this longitudinal study indicated a positive correlation between daily racism scale and declining SCF. The paper concluded that the chronic stress associated with racial discrimination may contribute to the racial disparities seen in the onset of Alzheimers.
Remember to be aware of:
The wide scope of effects that racism and racist behaviors have on individuals
Implicit bias and micro-aggressions
How our actions may be contributing to disparities in Alzheimer’s care and diagnosis
NAB’s Ongoing Social And Racial Justice Projects
Additional volunteer training on social and racial disparities in Alzheimer’s onset, cultural sensitivity, and acts of overt and covert racism
Introduction of monthly chapter-led journal clubs where studies surrounding health disparities and Alzheimer’s will be read and discussed
Informational updates on new initiatives through website and monthly newsletters
Wesley House Association Collaboration in St. Louis
DO YOU HAVE A STORY, A SUGGESTION, OR A COMMENT? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU:
References:
Chin, A. L., Negash, S., & Hamilton, R. (2011). Diversity and disparity in dementia: the impact of ethnoracial differences in Alzheimer disease. Alzheimer disease and associated disorders, 25(3), 187–195. https://doi.org/10.1097/WAD.0b013e318211c6c9
Coogan, P., Schon, K., Li, S., Cozier, Y., Bethea, T., & Rosenberg, L. (2020). Experiences of racism and subjective cognitive function in African American women. Alzheimer's & dementia (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 12(1), e12067. https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12067