Stress of poverty, racism raise risk of Alzheimers for African-Americans, new research suggests
Source: Bangor Daily News
A new group of studies into racial disparities among people with Alzheimers disease suggests that social conditions, including the stress of poverty and racism, substantially raise the risks of dementia for African-Americans.
In four separate studies, researchers found that conditions that affect blacks disproportionately compared with other groups such as poor living conditions and stressful events such as the loss of a sibling, the divorce of ones parents or chronic unemployment have severe consequences for brain health later on.
One study by University of Wisconsin researchers found that stress literally takes years off a persons life in terms of brain function an average of four years for African-Americans, compared with 1½ years for whites.
Another Wisconsin study showed that living in a disadvantaged neighborhood is associated with later decline in cognitive function and even the biomarkers linked to Alzheimers disease, which is the most common form of dementia.
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Loki Liesmith
(4,602 posts)SweetieD
(1,660 posts)Alzheimers. I have known people with mild dementia or memory loss. I guess maybe I don't know the precise definition of Alzheimers. But the old people I have known with what I consider Alzheimers have all been old and not so old white people. And what I think of when I think alzheimer's is when people can't recognize loved ones, places they are etc.
Like I said this is just my experience. I am black. And most of the people in my maternal side lived to be in their 80s and 90s.so I have interacted with a lot of elderly black people. And I don't feel like arguing about this so no need for links or whatever saying I am wrong. Just sharing my own experience.