Posted: November 9th, 2023

Dementia and Mental Illness in Different Racial and Ethnic Groups

Dementia and Mental Illness in Different Racial and Ethnic Groups

Dementia is a term that describes a group of symptoms affecting memory, thinking and social abilities severely enough to interfere with daily functioning. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, but there are other types as well. Mental illnesses are conditions that affect a person’s mood, thoughts and behavior. They can include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and others.

Dementia and mental illnesses are common health problems that affect millions of people worldwide. However, not everyone has the same risk or experience of these conditions. Research has shown that there are significant differences in the prevalence, diagnosis and treatment of dementia and mental illnesses among people from different racial and ethnic groups.

Prevalence of Dementia and Mental Illnesses by Race/Ethnicity

According to a study by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias was highest for African Americans (7.1%), followed by Hispanics (5.7%) and then Whites (4.5%). Self-reported experiences of serious depression and restlessness were also higher in the minority groups.

Another systematic review and meta-analysis found that racial minorities showed more stigma for common mental disorders than racial majorities. Stigma is a negative attitude or belief that leads to discrimination or social exclusion of people with mental disorders. Stigma can prevent people from seeking psychological help or receiving adequate treatment.

A third study reported that African Americans have the highest risk of dementia— 38 percent over a 25-year period beginning at age 65. They were followed by the American Indian/Alaska Native group at 35 percent, Latinos at 32 percent, Whites at 30 percent, Asian Americans at 28 percent and Pacific Islanders at 25 percent.

Factors Contributing to Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Dementia and Mental Illnesses

There are many factors that may contribute to the differences in dementia and mental illnesses among racial and ethnic groups. Some of these factors are:

– **Genetics**: Some genetic variants may increase or decrease the risk of developing certain types of dementia or mental illnesses. For example, the APOE gene is associated with Alzheimer’s disease risk, and some variants of this gene are more common in certain racial/ethnic groups than others.
– **Socioeconomic status**: People with lower income, education or access to health care may have more exposure to environmental toxins, chronic stress, poor nutrition or other factors that can affect brain health and mental well-being .
– **Cultural factors**: People from different cultural backgrounds may have different beliefs, values, norms or expectations regarding dementia and mental illnesses. They may also face different barriers or facilitators to seeking help or receiving care for these conditions. For example, some cultures may view dementia as a normal part of aging or a spiritual issue, while others may see it as a medical problem or a source of shame .
– **Racism and discrimination**: People from racial/ethnic minority groups may experience racism and discrimination in various settings, such as education, employment, housing or health care. These experiences can cause psychological distress, lower self-esteem, reduced social support or increased isolation, which can negatively affect brain health and mental health .

Implications and Recommendations

The racial/ethnic disparities in dementia and mental illnesses have important implications for public health, policy and practice. Some of the recommendations to address these disparities are:

– **Increasing awareness and education**: Raising awareness and providing education about dementia and mental illnesses among different racial/ethnic groups can help reduce stigma, increase knowledge, promote early detection and intervention, and encourage help-seeking behaviors .
– **Improving access and quality of care**: Providing accessible, affordable, culturally competent and evidence-based care for people with dementia and mental illnesses can help improve their outcomes and quality of life. This may include increasing the diversity and training of health care providers, enhancing the availability and use of screening tools and treatments, and addressing the social determinants of health .
– **Conducting more research**: Conducting more research on the causes, mechanisms, prevention and treatment of dementia and mental illnesses among different racial/ethnic groups can help identify the specific needs, challenges and opportunities for each group. This may include using more representative samples, collecting more data on race/ethnicity and other variables, and developing more tailored interventions .

Works Cited

: Novak P., Chu J., Ali M.M., Chen J., “Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Serious Psychological Distress Among Those With Alzheimer’s Disease And Related Dementias”, *American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry*, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 478-490, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://nimhd.nih.gov/news-events/research-spotlights/dementia.html. [Accessed: 09- Nov- 2023].

: Eylem O., de Wit L., van Straten A., Steubl L., Melissourgaki Z., Topgüloğlu Danışman G., de Vries R., Kerkhof A.J.F.M., Bhui K., Cuijpers P., “Stigma for common mental disorders in racial minorities and majorities a systematic review and meta-analysis”, *BMC Public Health*, vol. 20, no. 1, p. 879, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-020-08964-3. [Accessed: 09- Nov- 2023].

: Knopman D.S., “Ethnic Disparities: How Race Impacts Your Dementia Risk”, *Verywell Health*, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.verywellhealth.com/ethnic-disparities-how-your-race-impacts-your-risk-of-dementia-3986388. [Accessed: 09- Nov- 2023].

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