African-American and Alzheimer’s Disease, Research Paper Example

According to leading research, Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, and only disease within the top ten that cannot be cured, slowed down, or prevented.(Alzheimer’s Association)  In the United States alone, there are over five million people suffering from Alzheimer’s, and one in eight are senior citizens. Medical costs of the diseases are over $100 billion per year, making it one of the priciest diseases in the United States. (Imouye)  It is the leading cause of dementia in the world that deteriorates the brain, and causes problems with memory, behavior, cognitive skills, and ultimate death.  The risks factors for the disease are age, heredity, and family history. (Shan) The Alzheimer’s Association has brought attention that Alzheimer’s disease is a public health crisis in the African American community.  (Enwefa, Enwefa) Alzheimer’s disease is a serious problem that has perplexed the medical community, as no known cure is insight. The problem that affects the African American community, is that research has shown that African Americans are more susceptible to acquiring Alzheimer’s disease than Caucasians. The reasons behind this are that research has linked the genetic makeup, along with diet, and biological factors to contracting the Alzheimer’s disease.  This paper will explore Alzheimer’s disease, the links to African Americans, and steps that can be taken for early detection, and possible prevention.

Alzheimer’s disease accounts for over 50 percent of all dementia cases, and although old age is one of the leading risks factors, there is an increasing five percent of people that are affected in middle age. (Alzheimer’s Association)  The most detrimental factor in the disease is that it increases its intensity and deterioration over time. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that will increase over a two to twenty year period. Within the early stages, people will begin to experience mild memory loss, and will later become unresponsive to their environment. There are altogether seven stages of the disease that will in most cases lead to death. The causes of Alzheimer’s are by neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) and amyloid plague, where tangles are twisted fibers that break down the structure of the neuron transport system in the brain. Protein fragments known as plague interfere and clump the nerve cell function of the brain. The loss in neurons leads to a deficit loss of neurotransmitters that lead to dementia, and atrophy of the brain. The hippocampus cells degenerate, that causes memory loss. (Alzheimer’s Association) Memory loss is one of the main symptoms where individuals began to seek out medical attention.  Individuals will be diagnosed by ruling out all other causes of memory loss, and looking for other symptoms of Alzheimer’s.

The stages of Alzheimer’s is not noticeable in stage one. Stage two an individual experience memory lapses, and a mild decline in cognitive abilities, that can be confused with old age. Stage three, is where symptoms are more noticeable and considered part of early detection of diseases, as people begin to have trouble remembering names, where items where place, and trouble planning. They experience changes in personality, and a decline in social skills. (U.S National Library of Medicine) Stage four and five is where individuals start to experience withdrawal from a social situation, a more serious decline in cognitive functions, and show help in performing daily functions. Individuals will begin to forget their names, addresses, and past events. They will become easily confused, and by stage six, the individual will require extensive assistance in dressing, going to the bathroom, controlling their bowels, and experience personality changes. The final stage, the individual loses the ability to respond to the environment, believe delusions, which, have shown, “African-American patients with Alzheimer’s disease are more likely to have isolated hallucinations than Caucasian.” (Bassiony, Warren, Rosenblatt, Baker, Alva-Steinberg, Steele, Lyketsos)  The individual’s will needs assistance in daily routine, and muscle functions, requiring around the clock medical assistance. (Alzheimer’s Association) This perpetually leads to individuals being placed in medical facilities, where they remain there until they die.

In order to rule out other medical problems, doctors will look at an individual’s family history, perform mental status testing, a neurological and physical exams, CT and other scans, and blood tests. While Alzheimer’s seems to be inevitable, research has shown that people can prevent or reduce their chances by utilizing a proper diet, exercise, maintain blood pressure, getting tested for Alzheimer’s, and seeking out early preventive care.  This has proven a problematic concern for African American’s that have shown higher links to Alzheimer’s than their white counterparts. According to research, Alzheimer’s disease will continue to affect African Americans in the next 30 years as the age of individual’s raises the risks to over 6.9 million. (Fortune et al.) Numerous factors have linked African Americans to acquiring Alzheimer’s that includes vascular dementia being more prevalent. Diet and biological factors have shown an increase in risk factors for African Americans, and over 60 percent chance of developing Type-Two Diabetes. Over 65 percent of African Americans that receive Medicare have hypertension compared to over 51 percent of white beneficiaries. These statistics also shows increases in heart disease, and stroke in African Americans. (Enwefa, Enwefa) According to research, the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is prevalent in African Americans at a range of almost 100% higher, and they have a greater familial risks, that plays into the environmental and genetic factors. (Fortune et al.)  There are several factors in which show how African American’s are an increased rate to acquire Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other degenerative diseases.

Studies conducted by Clark et al. (2005) point to African American diagnosis being delayed by physicians mainly in the inner city and urban areas. According to the group, “Patients and caregivers had lower educational status, and patients had been diagnosed more recently at the inner city clinic than at the suburban clinic, although MMSE scores of patients at the two clinics did not differ; median delays in caregivers’ recognizing a problem and in consulting a physician were also similar across clinics.” (Clark et al.) The delay in diagnosis was over seven years between problem recognition, and noticing symptoms to get physician consultation. The study showed that patients that went to suburban clinics compared to those that went to inner city clinics were no likely to be diagnosed. The problem lies in the physician’s contact with the African American patient that do not take the proper steps in diagnosing African American patients. Studies have also shown that the onset of Alzheimer’s is seen earlier in African Americans and Hispanic patients compared to their white counterparts. (Clark et al.) This earlier factors are potentially linked to diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and other metabolic abnormalities. Hispanics and African Americans are prone to be diagnosed in later stages, and further gaps in treatment show that treatment is delayed by a considerable amount of time. (Griffith, Lopez) More importantly research has shown that the delayed diagnosis translates to an increase in cognitive impairment in African Americans compared to white Alzheimer’s patients. Delayed treatment for African Americans limit potential for treatment, and “in addition, delayed diagnosis may limit the capacity of the patient and family to plan for the future (e.g., financially, making housing decisions) and the time available to arrange for full utilization of community resources.” (Griffith, Lopez) Pharmacotherapy has shown to improve the cognitive skills, preserve functional ability, and reduce delay of functions that are susceptible to nursing home placement, however, this treatment is largely delayed in African Americans.

According to research, stigmatization in research has sustained the spread of Alzheimer’s in the African American populations. African American inappropriate assumptions, and stereotypes have furthered the paradigm for treatment of the older population of African Americans. (Holston) Other research has shown that certain ethnic, racial, ad socioeconomic factors make a better risk in dementia and cognitive decline. “Researchers surmise that the disparity could reflect differing perspectives of African-American and Hispanic family members regarding age-related cognitive decline, or that primary caregivers may lack the knowledge to detect symptoms earlier.”(NIH) Educational factors also play major roles in identifying more problems than white patients with higher educations. When people had more education they were aligned with better health in their old age. Other factors include, indications that high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure are more than likely to get Alzheimer’s, An economic and racial bias plays a major product in diagnosis, as noted that African Americans are at a much higher rate of false-positive results, and a underreporting of dementia. (Fortune et al.) More critically, African Americans are highly underrepresented in clinical trials and treatments for Alzheimer’s, and tend to be diagnosed at the later stages that limit the effectiveness of treatments. Studies have provided information that shows the racial differences of dementia and etiology. The genetic etiologies of Alzheimer’s differ in African Americans and whites, where assessments need to be made to develop treatment and preventative etiologies according to the racial background of individuals.

While there is no cure to Alzheimer’s yet, there are several treatments that include cholesterol inhibitors and others, which helps to decrease the onset of memory loss, and behavioral symptoms. There are also several precautions and preventive matters that can be followed to reduce the onset of the disease in African Americans. The two important factors of Alzheimer’s cannot be prevented, aging, and genetic history. Everyone gets old, and genetic makeup increased the chances of getting the disease. This is mainly due to the genetic mutations being passed down. However, lifestyle and diet are shown to have a bigger influence in developing Alzheimer’s in African Americans, this is likely due to African Americans consuming large amounts of sugar and fatty foods. African Americans are more susceptible to heart disease, and other related diseases because of poor healthcare, lack of exercise in inner cities, and socioeconomic status that contributes to influential factors in eating fatty foods that are cheaper and more available.

The Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation has created a plan of action in order to help reduce the number of African Americans that acquire Alzheimer’s, while also bringing attention for early detection. “In the last five years, research has shown that when people with memory problems change their diet in certain ways, they can improve their cognitive abilities.” (Colino) The use of supplements and diet is extremely importantly, as the brain needs appropriate blood flow, nutrition, and care to prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s. The diet that African Americans must adopt includes eating foods low in saturated and Trans fats. These fats have shown to produce free radicals that may kill and damage brain cells in large amounts. Diets must also include a large intake of antioxidants such as Vitamin C and E that naturally eliminate these free radicals. According to the foundation, the body needs over 20 percent of good fats such as flaxseed and extra virgin olive oils and avocado. Over 40 percent of lean proteins such as soy, chicken, turkey, and fish. Over 40 percent of complex carbohydrates such as fresh vegetables and fruit, whole grains, and super foods. (Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation 2011-2013) African Americans, as well as others, must cut down on the intake of fried foods, sugary foods, and refined carbohydrates that increase the chances of acquiring Type 2 Diabetes, stroke, and increase in developing Alzheimer’s.

Other factors in prevention include stress management. Where high blood pressure, depression, and other factors increase the risks associated with Alzheimer’s.  Stress increases the amount of cortisol in the blood stream which prohibits glucose from entering the brain, and blocks off functions of the neurotransmitter that can damage brain cells leading to memory loss. (Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation 2011-2013)  Stress management helps in improving focus and attention in patients. Exercise is also pertinent, as it not only helps in overall health, but mentally where engaging the brain can reduce the chances of Alzheimer’s by up to 70 percent. (Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation 2011-2013) Critically, early detection plays a major part in helping to decrease the onset of the later stages of Alzheimer’s. Early detection helps in getting better treatment, insurance, and aftercare where there has been a cultural and racial bias.

In the fight against Alzheimer’s disease, African Americans living with Alzheimer’s must educate themselves on the symptoms, and care in order to prepare themselves, their families, and their caregivers. Delaying treatment has proven to worsen the symptoms, and care for patients in facilities have proven to be poor among African Americans. It is clear that more research and clinical trials need to be conducted in order to assess the different treatments needed based on the racial makeup.  African Americans need to be highly involved in these, in order to draw better conclusions. Alzheimer’s is a complex and confusing degenerative disease, but it is potentially preventable if individuals take steps in changing their lifestyles to lower the risks. The amount of African Americans will continue to increase, if changes are not taken.

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