Discuss Alzheimer’s disease in African Americans versus non-Hispanics Evidence-based practice.

Answer & Explanation

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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. AD is a progressive disease that worsens over time and is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. African Americans (AA) and non-Hispanic whites (NHW) have different rates of AD prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes. In this discussion, we will review the evidence-based practice for AD in AA versus NHW.

Prevalence and Risk Factors:

African Americans are more likely to develop AD than NHW, and the prevalence of AD is higher among AAs than NHW, with AAs having a 2 to 3 times higher risk of developing AD than NHW. The higher prevalence of AD in AA may be due to genetic and environmental factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, which are more prevalent in the AA population.

Diagnos

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Step-by-step explanation

tic Criteria:

The diagnostic criteria for AD are the same for AA and NHW, based on clinical symptoms and cognitive testing. However, recent studies have shown that some cognitive tests used to diagnose AD may be culturally biased, leading to lower scores in AA compared to NHW. Therefore, healthcare providers should be aware of this bias and take cultural factors into account when assessing cognitive impairment.

Treatment and Management:

The treatment and management of AD in AA and NHW are similar and include lifestyle changes, medications, and supportive care. However, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of AD treatments in AA due to underrepresentation of AA in clinical trials. Healthcare providers should consider the potential differences in the response to treatment between AA and NHW when managing AD in AA.

Caregiving:

AA caregivers of individuals with AD experience more burden and stress than NHW caregivers due to cultural and socioeconomic factors. Therefore, healthcare providers should assess the caregiving needs and provide culturally appropriate support to AA caregivers.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, AD is more prevalent among AA than NHW, and there are differences in risk factors, diagnostic criteria, treatment, and caregiving between the two populations. Healthcare providers should consider these differences and provide culturally sensitive care to improve the management and outcomes of AD in AA. Furthermore, more research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of AD in AA and to develop effective interventions to reduce the burden of AD in this population.

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