Crystal M Glover1,2, Shelytia CoCroft3,4, Bryan D James2,5, Lisa L Barnes1,2,6. 1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. 2. Alzheimer's disease Center. 3. Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University. 4. Joseph and Kathleen Bryan Alzheimer's disease Research Center, Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC. 5. Department of Internal Medicine. 6. Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Heightened Alzheimer disease (AD) risk among African Americans represents a racial disparity in aging. This study examines perceptions of AD risk factors among nondemented older African Americans. METHODS: Participants indicated how important nine factors were in increasing one's AD risk using a Likert-type scale with endpoints 1=not at all important to 4=extremely important. We examined perceptions of AD risk factors as a function of age, education, gender, and global cognition using separate logistic regression models. PATIENTS: Participants were from The Minority Aging Research Study (N=610) with a mean age of 74.5 years, a mean education of 14.9 years, and 24% were men. RESULTS: Of the AD risk factors, predictors were significantly related to genetics and God's Will. Younger participants (est.=-0.06, P=0.02) and those with more education (est.=0.14, P=0.02) were more likely to report genetics as extremely important. Participants with more education were less likely to indicate God's Will as extremely important (est.=-0.14, P<0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Among older African Americans, age and education were important characteristics for the perception of AD risk factors. Findings can facilitate designing effective, culturally competent educational tools for meaningful engagement with older African Americans about AD.
PURPOSE: Heightened Alzheimer disease (AD) risk among African Americans represents a racial disparity in aging. This study examines perceptions of AD risk factors among nondemented older African Americans. METHODS:Participants indicated how important nine factors were in increasing one's AD risk using a Likert-type scale with endpoints 1=not at all important to 4=extremely important. We examined perceptions of AD risk factors as a function of age, education, gender, and global cognition using separate logistic regression models. PATIENTS: Participants were from The Minority Aging Research Study (N=610) with a mean age of 74.5 years, a mean education of 14.9 years, and 24% were men. RESULTS: Of the AD risk factors, predictors were significantly related to genetics and God's Will. Younger participants (est.=-0.06, P=0.02) and those with more education (est.=0.14, P=0.02) were more likely to report genetics as extremely important. Participants with more education were less likely to indicate God's Will as extremely important (est.=-0.14, P<0.0005). CONCLUSIONS: Among older African Americans, age and education were important characteristics for the perception of AD risk factors. Findings can facilitate designing effective, culturally competent educational tools for meaningful engagement with older African Americans about AD.
Authors: Deborah E Barnes; Kristine Yaffe; Amy L Byers; Mark McCormick; Catherine Schaefer; Rachel A Whitmer Journal: Arch Gen Psychiatry Date: 2012-05
Authors: Shana D Stites; Sharnita Midgett; Dawn Mechanic-Hamilton; Megan Zuelsdorff; Crystal M Glover; David X Marquez; Joyce E Balls-Berry; Marissa L Streitz; Ganesh Babulal; Jean-Francois Trani; J Neil Henderson; Lisa L Barnes; Jason Karlawish; Dave A Wolk Journal: Gerontologist Date: 2022-05-26