Research – Communication about Alzheimer’s Disease and Research among American Indians and Alaska Natives
Dr. Amanda Boyd, lead author, and her team surveyed 320 American Indian and Alaska Native adults attending community cultural events in the Pacific Northwest. They asked about perceptions of Alzheimer’s disease and participation in clinical trials.
- Only about half of Native adults think dementia is a major problem for American Indian and Alaska Native people
- Having a family member with dementia was linked to perceived personal risk of the disease and increased knowledge
- Willingness to participate in dementia clinical trials was associated with personal risk perception
- Urban Indians were more likely to indicate a willingness to participate in dementia research
- 83% of Native participants would be willing to participate in research if it helped others
- Health professionals and the internet were the most frequently selected sources of dementia info
This study was published in May in Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions
Boyd, A. D., Railey, A. F., Kirkpatrick, A. W., Hsu, Y. C., Muller, C., & Buchwald, D. (2022). Communication about Alzheimer’s disease and research among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Alzheimer’s & dementia (New York, N. Y.), 8(1), e12302. https://doi.org/10.1002/trc2.12302
