Introduction The dementia experience is not a monolithic phenomenon—and while core elements of dementia are considered universal—people living with dementia experience the disorder differently. Understanding the patterning of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) in the population with regards to incidence, risk factors, impacts on dementia care, and economic costs associated with ADRD can provide clues to target risk and protective factors for all populations as well as addressing health disparities. Methods We discuss information presented at the 2020 National Research Summit on Care, Services, and Supports for Persons with Dementia and Their Caregivers, Theme 1: Impact of Dementia. In this article, we describe select population trends, care interventions, and economic impacts, health disparities and implications for future research from the perspective of our diverse panel comprised of academic stakeholders, and persons living with dementia, and care partners. Results Dementia incidence is decreasing yet the advances in population health are uneven. Studies examining the educational, geographic and race/ethnic distribution of ADRD have identified clear disparities. Disparities in health and healthcare may be amplified by significant gaps in the evidence base for pharmacological and non‐pharmacological interventions. The economic costs for persons living with dementia and the value of family care partners' time are high, and may persist into future generations. Conclusions Significant research gaps remain. Ensuring that ADRD healthcare services and long‐term care services and supports are accessible, affordable, and effective for all segments of our population is essential for health equity. Policy‐level interventions are in short supply to redress broad unmet needs and systemic sources of disparities. Whole of society challenges demand research producing whole of society solutions. The urgency, complexity, and scale merit a “whole of government” approach involving collaboration across numerous federal agencies.
BackgroundMany older Hispanics/Latinos are physically inactive and suffer the harmful health consequences associated with prolonged periods of inactivity. Negative age attributions that equate getting older with “slowing down” reinforce this inactive behavior. We implemented a community-based exercise intervention among insufficiently active older Hispanics/Latinos with a randomized trial of an attribution-retraining program, ¡Caminemos! (Let’s Walk!), and measured the effect of the program on walking behavior.MethodsFive hundred and seventy-two older Hispanics/Latinos (≥60 years) were enrolled in an exercise program that randomly assigned participants to the exercise class and one of two conditions: (a) treatment (attribution retraining to dispel the notion that physical activity inevitably ceases with age) or (b) control (generic health education). Data were collected at baseline and follow-up (1, 12, and 24 months). Physical activity was determined through pedometer data and the Yale Physical Activity Survey. We also measured the intervention effects on age-expectations, self-efficacy expectations, and outcome expectations for physical activity. Mixed-effects regression models were used to determine intervention effects on prospective measures of physical activity and intrapersonal expectations.ResultsThe sample had a mean age of 73 years (SD = 6.8) and was 77% female, and 76% of the sample reported income <$20,000. At baseline, control and treatment groups walked about 3000 steps/day. By 24 months, participants in both arms of the intervention maintained greater than 10,000 mean steps/day, but the difference between the groups was not statistically significant. In analyses adjusted for age, sex, education, income, health status, and acculturation, participants in both trial arms increased their mean numbers of steps at 12 and 24 months, with the treatment group showing a greater number of mean steps compared to the controls at 12 months.ConclusionsIn this group of physically inactive older Hispanics/Latinos, attribution retraining in combination with an exercise class was superior to the exercise class alone with regard to increasing walking behavior. This success was sustained at 12 months (the pre-defined primary study outcome) but not at 24 months. For older Hispanics/Latinos, enrollment in an attribution-retraining exercise program can improve an inactive lifestyle.Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00183014.
Background Racial/ethnic minority older adults have worse stroke burden than non‐Hispanic white and younger counterparts. Our academic‐community partner team tested a culturally tailored 1‐month (8‐session) intervention to increase walking and stroke knowledge among Latino, Korean, Chinese, and black seniors. Methods and Results We conducted a randomized wait‐list controlled trial of 233 adults aged 60 years and older, with a history of hypertension, recruited from senior centers. Outcomes were measured at baseline (T0), immediately after the 1‐month intervention (T1), and 2 months later (T2). The primary outcome was pedometer‐measured change in steps. Secondary outcomes included stroke knowledge (eg, intention to call 911 for stroke symptoms) and other self‐reported and clinical measures of health. Mean age of participants was 74 years; 90% completed T2. Intervention participants had better daily walking change scores than control participants at T1 (489 versus −398 steps; mean difference in change=887; 97.5% CI, 137–1636), but not T2 after adjusting for multiple comparisons (233 versus −714; mean difference in change=947; 97.5% CI, −108 to 2002). The intervention increased the percent of stroke symptoms for which participants would call 911 (from 49% to 68%); the control group did not change (mean difference in change T0–T1=22%; 99.9% CI, 9–34%). This effect persisted at T2. The intervention did not affect measures of health (eg, blood pressure). Conclusions This community‐partnered intervention did not succeed in increasing and sustaining meaningful improvements in walking levels among minority seniors, but it caused large, sustained improvements in stroke preparedness. Clinical Trial Registration URL : http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT 02181062.
S94Purpose: We describe the recruitment strategies and personnel and materials costs associated with two community-based research studies in a Mexicanorigin population. We also highlight the role that academic-community partnerships played in the outreach and recruitment process for our studies. We reviewed study documents using case study methodology to categorize recruitment methods, examine community partnerships, and calculate study costs. Results: We employed several recruitment methods to identify and solicit 154 female caregivers for participation in qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys. Recruitment approaches included using flyers and word of mouth, attending health fairs, and partnering with nonprofit communitybased organizations (CBOs) to sponsor targeted recruitment events. Face-to-face contact with community residents and partnerships with CBOs were most effective in enrolling caregivers into the studies. Almost 70% of participants attended a recruitment event sponsored or supported by CBOs. The least effective recruitment strategy was the use of flyers, which resulted in only 7 completed interviews or questionnaires. Time and costs related to carrying out the research varied by study, where personal interviews cost more on a per-participant basis ($1,081) than the questionnaires ($298). However, almost the same amount of time was spent in the community for both studies. Implications: Partnerships with CBOs were critical for reaching the target enrollment for our studies. The relationship between the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) Resource Center for Minority Aging Research/Center for Health Improvement for Minority Elderly and the Department of Aging provided the infrastructure for maintaining connections with academic-community partnerships. Nevertheless, building partnerships required time, effort, and resources for both researchers and local organizations.
This study suggests that a community-based physical activity program benefits sedentary, racially, and ethnically diverse older adults by coupling a behavioral change support group and fitness classes.
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