The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that Hispanics will become the ethnic group in the U.S. with the highest risk of developing for developing the disease by 2050. Although currently less than 200,000 Hispanics have Alzheimer’s, in the next 40 years this figure will rise to 1.3 million—a 600% increase.
Although the incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol among Hispanics can help explain the projected increase of Alzheimer’s cases, experts believe it has more to do with the fact that Hispanics’ life expectancy will keep increasing in the coming years.
“Hispanics’ life expectancy will be 85 years—higher than those other ethnic groups in the country. And because the main risk factor for this problem (Alzheimer) is age increase, this explains why we’ll see a such an increase among the Hispanic population,” said Gustavo Alva, professor of psychiatry and human behavior at the University of California Irvine and medical director of ATP Clinical Research.
What is Alzheimer’s?
According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA), Alzheimer’s is a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the neurons, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and behavioral changes.
It is estimated that every 70 seconds a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in the U.S.
“Unfortunately, in general, and especially among caregivers, it is believed that forgetting things and having short-term memory problems are normal effects of the aging process,” Alva said.
In fact, a study conducted in 2007 by AFA showed that 67% of Hispanic caregivers wrongly associate Alzheimer’s symptoms with aging. Even more shockingly, 63% of Hispanics caregivers said that “they don’t know enough about the disease” to recognize its symptoms.
Signs of Alzheimer’s
According to Alva, warning signs of Alzheimer’s this disease are when people tend to forget the names of relatives or friends, have trouble naming objects or instead of naming them, they describe what that object does, or have confusion about time and space.
Unfortunately, there’s currently no cure for Alzheimer’s; however, using cholinesterase inhibitors can slow down the disease. Scientists are also working on an Alzheimer’s vaccine, but the research is still in its early stages.
“The most important thing is to try to make an early diagnosis,” said Alva, who takes part in the Alzheimer’s vaccine clinical trials.
Alzheimer’s in the family
A person with Alzheimer’s disease experiences progressive loss of mental capacity that causes severe personality changes, which takes an emotional and physical toll on his or her family members.
“It is very important that Hispanic families inform themselves about this complex disease and the resources available about Alzheimer’s. There are many resources available: websites, help lines in Spanish, day care centers,” Alva concluded.
For more information please call: the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (866-AFA 8484) and the Alzheimer’s Association (800-272 3900).
