Source: NPR
Based on new findings shared at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, difficult life experiences can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in African Americans.
Issues including poverty and stressful events have been shown to contribute to cognitive problems for many middle-aged African Americans.
The researchers found that while genetic factors do not contribute to the recent findings, African Americans are twice as likely to develop dementia compared to white people.
African Americans are also prone to conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, both of which impact one’s cognitive abilities.
“We’re starting to understand how early life stress and early life deprivation can increase your risk of a number of health outcomes later in life,” explained Rachel Whitmer, an epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente.
Read full story at: NPR