Alarming data on dementia among African Americans 

Feb 8, 2025 Story by: Editor

(Word In Black) – A recent study reveals that Americans aged 55 and older have a 42% chance of developing dementia, a rate more than double that of earlier estimates.

This sharp rise in projected risk suggests that around 514,000 Americans could develop dementia this year alone, with the number of new cases expected to reach nearly 1 million annually by 2060.

Dementia, a condition marked by declining memory, concentration, and judgment, is becoming increasingly common due to the aging U.S. population, the study found. Researchers identified multiple contributing factors, including genetics, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, poor diet, lack of physical activity, and mental health issues.

The study suggests that previous estimates underestimated dementia risk due to unreliable health records, incomplete tracking of early-stage cases, and underreporting among racial minorities, who are particularly vulnerable.

Conducted by NYU Langone Health with input from Johns Hopkins University and other institutions, the research relied on data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Neurocognitive Study (ARIC-NCS). Since 1987, this study has tracked vascular health and cognitive function in nearly 16,000 participants, making it the longest-running cohort focused on African Americans and their cognitive and heart health.

Published in Nature Medicine, the study highlights that women, Black adults, and individuals carrying the APOE4 gene variant face heightened risks of developing dementia, with lifetime probabilities ranging from 45% to 60% within these groups.

Dr. Josef Coresh, senior investigator at NYU Langone, attributed the growing dementia rates to longer life expectancies and the increasing number of Americans over 65. He emphasized the need for early intervention strategies focused on heart health to potentially slow cognitive decline and delay dementia onset.

“The pending population boom in dementia cases poses significant challenges for health policymakers, who must refocus their efforts on strategies to minimize the severity of dementia cases, as well as plans to provide more healthcare services for those with dementia,” Dr. Coresh stated.

Additionally, the study links hearing loss in older adults to an increased risk of dementia, advocating for improved screening and government support for hearing aids to promote better hearing health.

One social media user highlighted the importance of proper dementia diagnosis, particularly within the African American community.

“I just lost my mom from what was misdiagnosed as depression after losing a 50-year-old son and a husband three months later, then five years later diagnosed with unspecified dementia but after four months she died,” a user posted on X. “We need culturally sensitive assessments for African Americans.” Source: St. Louis America