The Incidence of Dementia in Various Racial and Ethnic Groups

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The National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA), signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2011, is a multi-pronged effort to address the many challenges facing people with Alzheimer’s disease. The goals of NAPA are: to improve early diagnosis and the coordination and care and treatment for the disease; to coordinate with international bodies to fight Alzheimer’s globally; and to coordinate Alzheimer’s disease research and services across all federal agencies. NAPA also aims to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in Alzheimer’s diagnosis and treatment in minority populations who are at higher risk for the disease. At present, there are few studies directly comparing the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease in various ethnic groups.

A new study published in The Journal Of The Alzheimer’s Association provides a much needed large-sample comparison by examining dementia incidence in six racial and ethnic groups over a period of 14 years. The results indicate that dementia incidence is highest among African-Americans; intermediate in Latinos, Pacific Islanders and whites; and lowest among Asian-Americans. Dementia risk was 65 percent greater for African-Americans than Asian-Americans.

The study also looked at 25-year cumulative dementia risk at age 65 (the likelihood of an individual developing dementia within 25 years at age 65.)  The results showed that the risk was 38 percent for African-Americans; 35 percent for American Indian and Alaskan Natives; 32 percent for Latinos; 30 percent for whites; 28 percent for Asian-Americans; and a 25 percent for Pacific Islanders.

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Dementia is not a disease, but an umbrella term that describes a group of symptoms and brain changes that affect memory, thinking and social abilities severely enough to impede normal daily functioning. Memory loss alone is not an indication of dementia, as a certain degree of memory loss is a normal part of aging. 

A diagnosis of dementia indicates that a person has problems with at least two brain functions: for example, a combination of memory loss and impaired judgment, or impaired language skills and difficulty with coordination. Problems completing complex tasks or become disoriented or lost in familiar surroundings are common as well. In addition to these cognitive impairments, dementia produces psychological changes, such as personality changes, inability to reason, paranoia, hallucinations and agitation. 

Some forms of dementia are reversible, others are persistent and progressive. The most common cause of a progressive dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. 

Only a doctor can diagnose dementia or determine the underlying cause. Since some dementia is reversible with proper treatment, see a doctor right away if you or a loved one is experiencing any of these early warning signs.