Commentary on article: “Why Are African Americans So Much More Likely Than Whites To Develop Alzheimer’s?”

This Washington Post article, “Why Are African Americans So Much More Likely Than Whites To Develop Alzheimer’s?” described the current sampling problems. Too few representatives from certain groups lead research to an warped result. I’m not sure the average person understands the effect of a poor sample on results. Here are two examples.  The first is a photo of President Elect Truman holding a newspaper whose headline read: Dewey Wins. Dewey didn’t.  The newspaper got it wrong because they called people to survey their voting preferences.  In those days not all people had phones! 

The second was a TV program; Hee-Haw.  Nearly all urban critics panned it.  However, the Nielsen Ratings showed it was quite popular in rural areas.  The rating agency surveyed people in rural areas as well as cities.  The program stayed on the air due to a more representative sample. 

A truly effective treatment/cure for Alzheimer’s disease requires everybody.  An effective treatment must also account for future population trends.  Each decade, the US population becomes less white.  We already have many mixed-race citizens.   If we don’t understand the components of our genetic salad we cannot effectively ad-dress it. Everyone bears the costs, regardless of our racial background. It is in our national interest to reach out to all communities now so we all benefit in the future.

The article sited the Tuskegee experiment as a cause for hesitation by African Americans.  The article did not mention a more modern version of inappropriate behavior; using the cancer cells of Henrietta Lacks without her consent.  I hurt for her family.   Recruiting more African Americans should address the Henrietta Lacks issue as well as Tuskegee. 

I can also see the potential for greater help to minorities as we find ways to treat Alzheimer’s. Minorities shoulder a greater personal burden.  My firm works with caregivers as well as seniors.  We note that communities with fewer financial resources place an even greater burden on caregivers.  Thus, the disease injures those who care as well as those who suffer. In The Washington Post article, other family members moved home to help. The article does not discuss the financial costs to these adult children.  AARP estimated that caregivers could lose $569,000 in lost wages, lost promotions, reduced savings, and lost pension benefits.  That’s a double-whammy I’m not sure our country could withstand.  Please read this article from the Washington Post and pass it on.