United States: The frequencies of dementia among Hispanic and Black ethnic groups with Alzheimer’s disease are much less known by allocations in clinical trials. On the other hand, they are more likely to be diagnosed with the most prevalent degenerative diseases, including dementia, than whites.
Less amyloid is unsuitable for Alzheimer’s studies – Experts
Researchers reported in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia on April 17 that Black and Hispanic individuals seem to have lower amounts of brain amyloid accumulation in the early stages of the illness; they are being deemed unsuitable for Alzheimer’s studies.
The details that HealthDay provides are that, “At this point, we are seeing differences in amyloid levels by race and ethnicity.”
“The fact that more African Americans and Hispanics have atorvastatin as part of their non-amyloid-lowering standard therapy may be a significant barrier to the underrepresentation of those groups in the amyloid-lowering trial,” noted the lead researcher Doris Molina-Henry, assistant professor of research neurology at the College of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute.
Amyloid beta brain plaques are pointed out as one of the attributes of Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, the purpose of the novel Alzheimer’s drugs is to diminish the quantity of amyloid protein in the body.
Nevertheless, this research indicates that other factors besides amyloid may be triggering Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
More about the findings by researchers
In a University news release, Monika Henry observed that a few things can raise further questions, such as if it’s not amyloid that’s driving Alzheimer’s disease, then what is it? If, in any case, amyloid is driving this, what is making the brain of someone from a group at higher risk for dementia much more vulnerable?
More than 4,900 people between the ages of 55 and 80 who were attempting to enter a clinical trial to test Leqembi (lecanemab), the first medication to get FDA clearance for the treatment of Alzheimer’s, had their blood tests and brain scans collected for this study. Researchers said that none of the participants had any characteristics of Alzheimer’s and dementia, but some did have some biological changes related to these diseases.
Thirty-five percent of study participants met the minimum blood level needed for amyloid protein. In contrast to Whites, Black, Asian, and Hispanic people were less likely to be eligible. Brain scans verified the eligibility of those fulfilling the blood test necessity.
Experts propose to have examined variables other than amyloid, for example, inflammatory or cardiovascular conditions, for the risk of dementia in various racial and ethnic populations. The study promotes varied engagement in research to successfully treat dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and highlights the basic needs of early screening for these conditions.