African-Americans More Likely To Suffer From Alzheimer Than Whites

African-Americans and Hispanics have a greater risk of developing Alzheimers disease than other races, according to a report published by the Alzheimer’s Association.

While Caucasians make up the majority of the 5 million people effected by Alzheimers, the study found that African-Americans are about 2 times more likely and Hispanics are about 1.5 times more likely than their Caucasian counterparts.

The report points out that health and socioeconomic factors probably contribute to the greater prevalence of Alzheimer’s and other dementias in African-Americans and Hispanics.

“Alzheimer’s disease is the single largest, looming, unaddressed public health threat facing the nation, but we now know the threat is even more substantial in the African-American and Hispanic communities,” said Harry Johns, Alzheimer’s Association President and CEO. “These groups are more likely to have Alzheimer’s, less likely to know it and, as a result, less likely to receive available treatments and supportive services that can help them cope with the disease.”

Moreover, the report also revealed that African-Americans and Hispanics are less likely than Caucasians to have a formal diagnosis of their condition.

“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 individuals to make more informed health care decisions and adopt healthy life style behaviors that can also help to reduce Alzheimer and dementia risk.”