Information Provided by the Alzheimer’s Association

Whites make up the majority of the over 5 million people in the United States with Alzheimer’s. But, combining evidence from available studies shows that African Americans and Hispanics are at higher risk.

• While African Americans are about two times more likely than whites to have Alzheimer’s and other dementias, they are only 34% more likely to have a diagnosis

• Hispanics are about one and one-half times more likely than whites to have Alzheimer’s and other dementias, but they are only 18% more likely to be diagnosed.

As a result, African Americans and Hispanics diagnosed with Alzheimer’s use substantially more hospital, physician, and home health services — and incur substantially higher costs for those services — than whites with Alzheimer’s.

Proportion of Americans Aged 71 and Older with Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias

Aging, Demographics, And Memory Study (ADAMS)

Despite the increased likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s Disease compared to White Americans, 55% of Black Americans think that significant loss of cognitive abilities or memory is a natural part of aging rather than a disease.

Many Black Americans lack interest in participating in clinical based on years of discrimination from physicians and the medical establishment at large. Ex.) The Tuskegee Experiment.

• 69% of African Americans fear being treated as a “guinea pig.”

• 45% of African Americans are concerned about getting sick from treatment

Despite the years of justified mistrust in white physicians, there has never been a better time to take preventative action against Alzheimer’s Disease. For the first time, there are medications that actually slow the disease. Because these medications work best during early stages of the disease, taking action early is the most important decision one can make.