Texas is home to 13 of the 41 U.S. congressional districts with the highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias among Blacks and Latinos in the Medicare fee-for-service program. That’s according to a report by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, a group dedicated to improving treatment for that disease.
Black Americans are approximately two times more likely and Latinos are 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than non-Latino whites, the report says. Without intervention, by 2030 nearly 40% of all Americans living with Alzheimer’s will be Black or Latino.
“These families are less likely to have health insurance, less likely to have access to exercise opportunities, and less likely to have a bachelor’s degree or higher,” the report said. “At the same time, they are more likely to have lower incomes and more likely to report poor health than families living in counties with lower levels of Alzheimer’s disease.”
Of the 23 U.S. congressional districts singled out by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s as having the highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias among Black Medicare recipients, eight are in Texas. Of the 20 U.S. congressional districts singled out as having the highest prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias among Latino Medicare recipients, six are in Texas.
The report identifies four ways to address these disparities:
- Invest in public health, treatment, and research infrastructure in communities hard-hit by Alzheimer’s and related dementias;
- Invest in educational and economic opportunities to reduce social inequities;
- Establish an ambitious national goal to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and address disparities in early intervention and diagnosis; and
- Collect better data to identify and address gaps in access to Alzheimer’s health services and research for underserved communities.
Many of those strategies match the solutions set out in the Texas State Plan for Alzheimer’s Disease 2019-2023 produced by the Texas Department of State Health Services in 2019. The plan calls for a public health approach in the areas of education and awareness; coordinated systems of care and support; partnerships and engagement; training, quality care, and support; family inclusion; improved data collection and evaluation; and advanced research and collaboration.
Last Updated On
August 10, 2021
Originally Published On
August 10, 2021