Mary Austrom, Ph.D, is a professor of Alzheimer’s disease education for the Indiana University School of Medicine and the director of outreach, recruitment and education for the Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Center (IADC) at the IU Health Neuroscience Center. Austrom and the faculty and staff of the Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center answered some of the most commonly asked questions about Alzheimer’s disease.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. It impairs memory and thinking and, eventually, affects the ability to do normal activities like driving, housework, cooking, paying bills and eventually eating and going to the bathroom.
How prevalent is Alzheimer’s among African Americans?
Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias are common in African Americans. In a study we conducted in the Indianapolis African American community in the 1990’s, approximately 8 percent of people over age 65 had dementia and most of these, 6 percent, had Alzheimer’s disease. The rates increased steadily with age ranging from about 2 percent in the group aged 65-74 to about 25 percent in people over the age of 85. These numbers are a big concern because people over the age of 85 are the fastest growing segment of our population.
What are some of the biggest misconceptions about this disease?
Some common misconceptions of this disease is that it only affects people in nursing homes or the very, very old—but Alzheimer’s disease can also affect people in their 40s and 50s. Another common belief is that changes in memory and thinking are a normal part of aging. They are not. Some also believe that the person with Alzheimer’s disease can control their behavior. They really cannot.
What are the risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease?
The biggest risk factors are older age, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and lack of physical activity.
What trends should African Americans be aware of when it comes to this disease?
With the increasing aging of the population, Alzheimer’s disease is likely to become an even greater burden for families and communities in the future. There is one glimmer of hope. There is some evidence that the rates of dementia in the United States including the African American population might be decreasing slightly perhaps due to better education levels in childhood and better treatment of illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes, which increase the risk for dementia. So it is important for people to work with their physicians and keep their blood pressure and blood lipids and sugar levels under control.
Is there a cure for Alzheimer’s disease? Are there effective treatments for this disease?
Not yet, but researchers all over the country and the world are working on that. The treatments we do have can help manage some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, but more research is needed.
What can people do if they find out they or someone they love has this disease?
First, people should be sure that they are evaluated by knowledgeable physicians, get on the right medications and get connected with the social support from the community. Learning about the disease and how to help someone with it can help caregivers and families prepare themselves. It’s particularly important to get some legal advice about how to care for someone when they can no longer make their own decisions. Locally, CICOA and the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Indiana provide excellent support.
Can anything be done to slow or delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease?
That remains to be seen. There are currently several studies underway to see if new medications can delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. We should have information on those results with in the next 18 to 24 months. Alzheimer’s disease and cerebral vascular disease can affect a person at the same time. The risk factors for cerebral vascular disease are well known and can be controlled. This would include controlling things like blood pressure, blood lipids and blood sugar. Participating in healthy exercise — 45 minutes of moderate physical activity three times a week, eating a healthy diet, and staying both socially and cognitively active — may also be helpful for people currently affected with Alzheimer’s disease. These recommendations can help everyone with or without Alzheimer’s disease, but always check with your doctor before starting an exercise program.
How important is research participation among African Americans?
It is very important to include individuals of all ancestry in studies of Alzheimer’s disease. We know that some diseases are more common in particular groups of Americans. This may be due to many factors. However, the more we can understand about the factors that contribute to the disease, the more ways we can approach treatments. Research is also critically important to African Americans because medicines may be more or less effective in them and careful studies of this is the only way to improve therapy and diagnosis. There is a lot of research at Indiana University School of Medicine to develop better ways to diagnose and treat this devastating illness. We are studying several promising drugs and patients from the African American as well as the general community needed for these studies.
If you would like more information about Alzheimer’s disease, getting a diagnosis, and/or participating in research studies locally, please visit Iuhealth.org/FightALZ and contact Christina Brown, our Clinical Research Manager, at (317) 963-7426 or chbrown@iupui.edu.
