African Americans and Alzheimer's
Aug 03, 2016
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While Alzheimers disease strikes both males and females and manifests across races, elderly African Americans are twice as likely to be affected by Alzheimers disease and cognitive damage in all age groups. Dr. Stanita Jackson, a recent Ph.D. graduate of Walden University, conducted a qualitative, grounded theory study to understand if family caregivers perceptions influence the delay in an early Alzheimers disease diagnosis for their loved ones. In her study, Dr. Jackson interviewed eight African American family caregivers using in-depth, one-on-one, semi-structured, interview questions to gather data about their beliefs, gender biases, and observed barriers towards their loved ones. This data was significant to determine if unique cognitive patterns exist that better explain why African Americans are at a higher risk for a delayed diagnosis of Alzheimers disease than the elderly of other racial backgrounds. The findings of this investigation revealed that African American caregivers do hold integrated belief sets that contribute to the delay of an early Alzheimers disease diagnosis for their loved ones regardless of gender. There is a significant lack of family caregivers knowledge about the disease. The combined results from her study may support the development of a new theory of family caregivers knowledge and understanding of Alzheimers disease to create more awareness and techniques so that family caregivers can detect Alzheimers disease early on in their loved ones.
The desire for someone to acquire knowledge must first begin with the acknowledgement that there is a problem, affirms Stanita Jackson, Ph.D., and longtime volunteer with the Greater Dallas Chapter of the Alzheimers Association. Family caregivers in this study expressed some significant recommendations. First, the importance of caregiver support, especially from family and friends. Second, knowing how to navigate resources for Alzheimers disease care and financial, legal, and medical assistance. Lastly, family caregivers voiced the need to become more knowledgeable about the disease to educate the next generation in hopes of early recognition if they were to experience an early onset of Alzheimers disease. In conclusion, if individuals lack proper knowledge about Alzheimers disease, it will influence diagnosis delay in loved ones in some aspect. There is a significant requirement for community outreach and educational awareness about Alzheimers disease within the African American population. The recommendations for this study invite all community stakeholders to participate in the awareness and educational involvement of Alzheimers disease and further suggest additional research to be conducted on Alzheimers disease diagnosis delay of the illness in African Americans and other minority groups.
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