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HealthWatch: Alzheimer's Disease

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Oct 21, 2008 7:18 pm US/Eastern

HealthWatch: Alzheimer's Disease

Reporting
Dr. Max Gomez
NEW YORK (CBS) ― With the population aging, Alzheimer's Disease will likely touch all of our lives, but recent studies suggest that one group may be more affected than others.

Hispanics have more risk factors for dementia than other groups and are getting Alzheimer's earlier. About 200,000 Latinos in the United States have the disease, but by 2050 that number is predicted to reach 1.3 million.

"I think that's the importance of this study. That this will come back, can really become an enormous problem in the not too distant future," said neurosurgeon Dr. David Langer from Roosevelt Hospital.

Surveys show Hispanics may be less likely to see doctors than some other ethnic groups. This delays of the disease because symptoms are mistaken for normal signs of aging.

Because the Hispanic populaton is so diverse, genes play less of a role than other factors. Medical illnesses, prevalent in the community, may place them at higher risk. Dr. Langer believes doctors and health education can make a big difference.

"It requires Spanish-speaking physicians to be trained in how to talk to patients and their families about high blood pressure, about stroke, about coronary disease, about smoking, about obesity, about diabetes," he said.

Hispanics with Alzheimer's tend to live in multi-generational families instead of nursing homes. It gives invaluable support but it's not easy.

"What it does do is it leaves them with a tremendous amount of responsibility for their loved ones, especially if they're in a situation where they have a financial problem, finanicial hardships, or other people to take care of. These people often require full-time assistance so they don't hurt themselves," Dr. Langer said.

Studies show Hispanics with Alzheimer's Disease start to show symptoms almost seven years earlier than other groups of the population. Families are encouraged to seek medical attention at the first changes in thinking and memory because early diagnosis leads to a better outcome.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.