ALZHEIMER'S: DELAYING DIAGNOSIS
Study indicates heritage can determine early or late detection of disease
BY:MYRA DEMBROW
A Harris Interactive poll commissioned by the Alzheimer's Foundation of America found that, of those caring for someone with Alzheimer's, 70 percent of African-Americans and 67 percent of Hispanic-Americans were more likely to believe Alzheimer's symptoms were merely a sign of old age, compared with 53 percent of other caregivers. In addition, 67 percent of black and 63 percent of Hispanic caregivers were more likely to say they did not know enough about Alzheimer's to recognize the symptoms, compared with 49 percent of other caregivers. As a result, on average, Alzheimer's was diagnosed two and a half years after the onset of symptoms in these two minority groups."In minority communities, there is a misconception that Alzheimer's disease is a normal part of aging," says Warachal E. Faison, MD, clinical director of Alzheimer's Research and Clinical Programs at the Medical University of South Carolina. "Those subtle symptoms that occur in Alzheimer's disease," she adds, "are often missed in these communities."
A third of the caregivers in these minorities reported that the patient's concern about being stigmatized delayed diagnosis. The study found 36 percent of blacks and 22 percent of Hispanics with Alzheimer's were concerned about being stigmatized as compared to 18 percent of all others. "These findings," Dr. Faison notes, "alert us that patients with Alzheimer's are not being assessed and diagnosed early enough, and they are not aware of the treatment options available to them."