Location, Location, Location: Where You Live Can Affect Your Chance of Getting a Dementia Diagnosis
Where you live in the US may affect your chances of getting a dementia diagnosis, a new study from the University of Michigan and Dartmouth College finds.
Study Findings
Nearly 7 million Americans have been diagnosed with dementia, the researchers said, while millions more likely have symptoms but have not been formally diagnosed.
The study authors determined that a person has up to twice the chance of getting a dementia diagnosis in some regions than in others. For example, someone in Wichita Falls, Texas, may be twice as likely to get diagnosed than if he was in Minot, North Dakota.
Demographic Factors at Play
The research, published last week in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, found the variation was most striking for black and Hispanic people and those on the younger end of the risk range, between 66 and 74 years old.
Maps of Dementia Diagnosis
Utilizing Medicare and demographics data, researchers created two maps. The first shows the percentage of people in each region who received a formal diagnosis. The second map estimates what that percentage should be based on age, race, level of education, obesity and other dementia risk factors.
The differences between the two were profound, with portions of the Great Plains and Southwest seeing less diagnosis than expected.
Implications
“We tell anecdotes about how hard it is to get a diagnosis and maybe it is harder in some places,” Bynum explained to NPR. “It’s not just your imagination. It actually is different from place to place.”
The study suggests that the likelihood of diagnosis is related more to access to health care and language and cultural barriers than individual risk factors.
Conclusion
The researchers hope that their findings will spur change and encourage communities and health systems to make services available to people in areas with lower diagnosis rates. For individuals, the study emphasizes the importance of advocating for themselves to get the cognitive checks they need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the common forms of dementia?
A: The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, a debilitating, progressive neurological condition that leads to a decline in memory, lack of mobility and other complications.
Q: What lifestyle factors can raise the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease?
A: Some lifestyle factors that may raise the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease include tobacco and alcohol use, poor sleep, high blood pressure, social isolation, high cholesterol and inactivity.
Q: How is dementia diagnosed?
A: Diagnosing dementia can be a complicated process because there isn’t a single test that reveals you have dementia. A doctor may use cognitive assessments, brain scans and psychiatric evaluations to make a diagnosis.
