Examples Of Alzheimer's Disease In African American Culture

Culture and Disease Essay
Alzheimer’s disease in the African American Culture
HCS/245
March 25, 2014

This essay will explore Alzheimer’s disease and its origin, the prevalence of the disease in African American culture, and the affects it has on patients and their families. Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people each year and as of yet there is no known cure. This essay will provide understanding of the risk factors as well as statistics on the percentage of affected African Americans versus other cultures.
Progressive mental deterioration in old age has been recognized and described throughout history. However, it was not until 1906 that a German physician Alois Alzheimer, specifically
In the 1960s, scientists discovered a link between cognitive decline and the number of plaques and tangles in the brain. The medical community then formally recognized Alzheimer’s as a disease and not a normal part of aging. In the 1970s, scientists made great strides in understanding the human body as a whole, and Alzheimer’s disease emerged as a significant area of research interest. This increased attention led in the 1990s to important discoveries and a better understanding of complex nerve cells in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. More research was done on Alzheimer’s disease susceptibility genes, and several drugs were approved to treat the cognitive symptoms of the disease.
African-Americans who are evaluated have a much higher rate of false-positive results. At the same time, there is substantial evidence of underreporting of dementia among African-Americans. African-Americans tend to be diagnosed at a later stage of Alzheimer’s disease limiting the effectiveness of treatments that depend upon early intervention. African-Americans are seriously underrepresented in current clinical trials of potential treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in trials conducted by drug companies. This has occurred even though evidence of genetic differences and response to drugs varies significantly by race and ethnicity. (alz.org)

The informational sources used to compile this essay all have one common denominator: the African American culture is one of the hardest hit by Alzheimer’s disease versus other cultures. Although there is significant reported decreases in dementia in the African American culture, Alzheimer’s disease remains a threat. The number of African Americans affected by Alzheimer’s disease will only increase as time moves