United States Indigenous Populations and Dementia: Is There a Case for Culture-based Psychosocial Interventions?

Dementia is an issue of increasing importance in indigenous populations in the United States. We begin by discussing what is known about dementia prevalence and elder family caregiving in American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian populations. We briefly highlight examples of culture-based programming developed to address a number of chronic diseases and conditions that disproportionately affect these communities. These programs have produced positive health outcomes in American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian populations and may have implications for research and practice in the dementia context of culture-based interventions. Evidence-based and culture-based psychosocial programming in dementia care for indigenous populations in the United States designed by the communities they intend to serve may offer elders and families the best potential for care that is accessible, respectful, and utilized.