For example, Alzheimer’s disease can be associated with vascular risks. These are medical conditions that impact the blood vessels. Risks include heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure, as well as diabetes and obesity.
Blacks experience higher rates of vascular disease, diabetes, and obesity compared to whites, putting them at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Problems with genes are also associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists have identified rare changes (mutations) in three genes that virtually guarantee a person who inherits them will develop Alzheimer’s.
But these genetic mutations account for less than 5 percent of Alzheimer’s disease. Research suggests the impact of various genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease may be different among Blacks than for whites.
Signs and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s
Don’t panic if you misplace your car keys or forget where you park the car. This is a normal sign of memory loss related to aging. However, if you forget how to use your keys, that’s a serious sign of memory loss.
The first symptoms of Alzheimer’s vary from person to person.
Memory problems are typically one of the early signs of cognitive, or mental, impairment. It can be related to Alzheimer’s disease.
Also, difficulty with non-memory aspects of reasoning, such as word-finding, vision or spatial issues, and impaired reasoning or judgment, may signal the very early stages of Alzheimer’s.
As the disease progresses, people experience more significant memory loss and other cognitive difficulties.
What Can Blacks Do to Reduce Risk of Alzheimer’s?
Some sources claim that products such as coconut oil or dietary herbal supplements such as Protandim® can cure or delay Alzheimer’s. However, there is no scientific evidence to support these claims.