Blacks, Hispanics more concerned about Alzheimer's than whites, but less informed

Blacks and Hispanics are more concerned than whites about Alzheimer's disease but less knowledgeable about means to delay its onset, according to a new survey, United Press International reports.

The survey was presented recently at the Congressional Black Caucus' Spring Health Braintrust and National Minority Quality Forum leadership summit in Washington, D.C.

The findings are based on a national telephone survey conducted by Dutko Research and Polling and commissioned by pharmaceutical subsidiary Eisai and CBC. The survey included responses from 601 black adults and 602 Hispanics from March 26 to April 7. The survey found that blacks expressed higher levels of concern about Alzheimer's disease than their white counterparts, but about half of black respondents knew that there were actions that people could take to delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Sharon Richardson of Eisai, who presented the findings at the summit, said in a statement, "African-Americans and Hispanics are more likely to develop Alzheimer's. In addition, they have higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease -- all of which increase the risk of Alzheimer's" (United Press International, 5/4).