HEALTH CARE
is more common in Hispanics than in whites and both diabetes and high blood pressure are more common in African-Americans than in whites, effective treatments for these potentially modifi- able conditions can be especially beneficial for these groups. Socioeconomic disparities, such as lower income, translate
into reduced access to health care and therefore, reduced oppor- tunities to avoid or better manage diabetes and high blood pres- sure that in turn increase Alzheimer risk.
Under diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and Dementia in Hispanics and African-Americans
Although Hispanics and African-Americans are more likely
than whites to have Alzheimer’s and other dementias, the report reveals that Hispanics and African-Americans are less likely than whites to have a formal diagnosis of their condition. Na- tional data show that Hispanics and African-Americans with Alzheimer’s and dementias are less likely than whites to report that a doctor has told them they have a “memory related disease” (45 percent of whites with Alzheimer’s and dementias compared with 34 percent of Hispanics and 33 percent of African-Ameri- cans with these conditions). Although family members and others may notice early symp-
toms of possible Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, there are often long delays between this first recognition of symptoms and the scheduling of a medical evaluation. The resulting delays in diagnosis mean that Hispanics and African Americans are not
getting treatment in the earlier stages of the disease, when the available treatments are more likely to be effective and do not have an opportunity to make legal, financial and care plans while they are still capable. “The Association is committed to increasing awareness
about risk factors for Alzheimer’s and other dementias among all Americans,” said Johns. “Greater understanding about the importance of proper management of diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes will allow individu- als to make more informed health care decisions and adopt healthy life style behaviors that can also help to reduce Al- zheimer and dementia risk.”
Growing Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
According to the report, there are 5.3 million Americans
living with the disease and every 70 seconds someone in America develops Alzheimer’s disease. By mid-century someone will develop Alzheimer’s every 33 seconds. In 2010, there will be a half million new cases of Alzheim- er’s, and there will be more new cases in each subsequent year. In 2050, there will be nearly a million new cases. Alzheimer’s was the seventh leading cause of death in
the country in 2006, the latest year for which final death statistics are available. It was the fifth leading cause of death among individuals 65 and older. From 2000-2006 death rates have declined for most major diseases - heart disease (-11.1 percent), breast cancer (-2.6 percent), pros- tate cancer (-8.7 percent), stroke (-18.2 percent) and HIV/ AIDS (-16.3) while Alzheimer’s disease deaths rose 46.1 percent.
“Strategic investments in research for diseases such as
heart disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer, stroke and HIV/AIDS have all resulted in declines in deaths. We have not seen the same type of significant strategic investment in Alzheimer’s and because of that, deaths from Alzheim- er’s disease continues to soar,” said Johns. “Discovering effective treatments that prevent onset or delay disease progression takes on an all encompassing urgency as the nation braces for an onslaught of aging baby boomers. This disease, unlike any other, has the power to undermine all of our best efforts to control health care costs.” People with Alzheimer’s and other dementias are high
users of hospital, nursing home and other health and long term care services, translating into high costs for all pay- ers. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that total pay- ments for health and long-term care services for people with these conditions will amount to $172 billion from all sources in 2010. Medicare costs are almost three times higher for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias than for other older people, and Medicaid costs are almost nine times higher. Most people with Alzheimer’s also have one or more additional serious medical conditions, such as
60 HISPANIC NETWORK MAGAZINE Celebrating 18 Years of Diversity
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