A study revealed that Black Americans who faced racism in their 40s and 50s had higher serum levels of AD biomarkers p-tau181 and neurofilament light (NfL) more than a decade later.
“We know that Black Americans are at an elevated risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias compared to non-Hispanic White Americans, but we don’t fully understand all the factors that contribute to this disproportionate risk,” stated Michelle Mielke, PhD, co-author and professor of epidemiology and prevention at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, in a press release.
Statistics show AD is twice as prevalent in Black Americans (18.6%) compared to Whites (10%). Mielke noted that this disparity cannot be solely attributed to genetic differences, suggesting that racism and its associated stress may be contributing factors.