{"id":3842,"date":"2022-02-02T14:54:15","date_gmt":"2022-02-02T14:54:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=3842"},"modified":"2022-02-02T14:54:15","modified_gmt":"2022-02-02T14:54:15","slug":"despite-african-americans-fear-of-research-bias-alzheimers-experts-deliver-a-call-for-wider-participation-in-clinical-trials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2022\/02\/02\/despite-african-americans-fear-of-research-bias-alzheimers-experts-deliver-a-call-for-wider-participation-in-clinical-trials\/","title":{"rendered":"Despite African Americans\u2019 Fear of Research Bias, Alzheimer\u2019s Experts Deliver a Call for Wider Participation in Clinical Trials"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/strong>Special to The Truth<\/strong><\/p>\n

The statistics are real: African American seniors are twice as likely as White Americans to get Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

But according to the Alzheimer\u2019s Association\u2019s 2021 Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Facts and Figures<\/em> report, among all Americans, African Americans have less interest in clinical research trials to prevent or slow the progression of Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

That will have to change to ensure that new Alzheimer\u2019s and dementia drug treatments are effective for all individuals who fit the targeted medical diagnosis.<\/p>\n

Dr. Rebecca M. Edelmayer, Senior Director of Scientific Engagement for the Alzheimer\u2019s Association, said, \u201cWe know that there are gender, racial, and ethnic disparities that exist in Alzheimer’s prevalence. This is due to a constellation of reasons that are both fundamental and unique. But we also know that historically less than 5 percent of dementia trial participants are individuals from underrepresented populations.\u00a0Equity in dementia diagnosis, treatment and care requires inclusion in dementia research, so that the discoveries we make will benefit all.\u201d<\/p>\n

For example, Dr. Babak Tousi, head of the clinical trials program at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, said he is not sure how the new Alzheimer\u2019s drug, Aducanumab\/Aduhelm, would work for African Americans and Hispanic Americans because there were so few diverse individuals in those drug clinical trials.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know what the barriers are,\u201d Dr. Tousi said. \u201cWe always encourage in every trial that more minorities, more diverse populations are a part of the study,\u201d he said. \u201cHopefully that is something we will achieve more for future trials.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Rebecca Edelmayer, MD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Those issues and others will be discussed at a February 24 virtual statewide event \u201cThe Future of Alzheimer\u2019s Research and Treatment\u201d sponsored by the Alzheimer\u2019s Association. The free webinar, which will be from 5-6:30 p.m., will feature a panel of distinguished researchers from Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia led by Dr. Edelmayer, who is based in Chicago. Pre-registration is required to receive the event link. To register, go to: http:\/\/alz.org\/R10Future<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dr. Edelmayer said \u201cwe\u2019re learning more and more that early detection and accurate diagnosis will be the key to hopefully reducing risk and developing the most effective treatment strategies that will help everyone.\u201d That is important because historically African Americans are diagnosed late, which limits treatment options.<\/p>\n

According to the Alzheimer\u2019s Facts and Figures report:<\/p>\n