Dementia more prevalent in black Americans

America's black population has the highest incidence of Alzheimer's of any other American group. This is probably due to the fact that black Americans also have a greater incidence of type 2 diabetes and vascular diseases such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Black face a 60% higher risk of type 2 diabetes than whites and 15% greater incidence of hypertension. The Alzheimer's Association claims that hypertension or high cholesterol double the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Studies show that black American's face a 14-100% greater risk of dementia and 44% of direct relatives of black Alzheimer's sufferers also face a risk of dementia. The other handicap that black dementia sufferers face is a general mistrust of doctors, lack of health care and economic reasons. This leads to later diagnosis and hence a poorer outcome.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by USA Today

Related Disease Topics:

• Dementia
• Alzheimer's disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Vascular disease
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Hypertension

Article Source Details

About: Dementia more prevalent in black Americans

Date: 21 January 2005

Source: USA Today

Author: Janice Billingsley

URL: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-01-21-blacks-alzheimers_x.htm

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Research
• Research and dementia
• Research and Alzheimer's disease
• Research and type 2 diabetes
• Research and vascular disease
• Research and high blood pressure
• Research and high cholesterol
• Research and hypertension
• Risk and dementia
• Risk and Alzheimer's disease
• Risk and type 2 diabetes
• Risk and vascular disease
• Risk and high blood pressure
• Risk and high cholesterol
• Risk and hypertension
• Cause of dementia
• Cause of Alzheimer's disease
• Diagnosis
• Diagnosis and dementia
• Diagnosis and Alzheimer's disease

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