Abstract Objective African Americans and Latinos/Hispanics have a higher prevalence of dementia compared to non-Latino Whites. This scoping review aims to synthesize non-pharmaceutical interventions to delay or slow age-related cognitive decline among cognitively healthy African American and Latino older adults.Design A literature search was performed in PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Web of Science between January 2000 – May 2019. Relevant cited references and grey literature were also reviewed. Four independent reviewers evaluated 1,181 abstracts, and full-article screening was subsequently performed for 145 articles. The scoping review consisted of eight studies, which were evaluated according to peer-reviewed original manuscript, non-pharmaceutical intervention, cognitive function as an outcome, separate reporting of results for African American and Latino individuals, minimum age of 40, and conducted in the United States. A total of 8 studies were considered eligible and were analyzed in the present scoping review.Results Eight studies were identified. Four studies focused on African Americans and four focused on Latino individuals. Through the analysis, results indicated cognitive training-focused interventions were effective in improving memory, executive function, reasoning, visuospatial, psychological function, and speed among African Americans. Exercise interventions were effective in improving cognition among Latino individuals.Conclusion This scoping review identified effective non-pharmaceutical interventions among African American and Latino individuals. Effective interventions focused on cognitive training alone for African Americans and exercise combined with group educational sessions for Latino individuals. Future research should explore developing culturally appropriate non-pharmaceutical interventions to reduce disparities and to enhance cognition among older African American and Latino individuals.
Abstract African Americans are disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and are two times more likely to develop ADRD compared to their White counterparts. Despite the higher prevalence of ADRD among older African Americans, recent estimates suggest research enrollment by those who identify as African American remains limited. The purpose of the study is to 1) explore how a culturally tailored community education program impacts clinical trial interest and enrollment in ADRD research studies and to 2) identify how applicable the African American community perceived the culturally tailored curriculum. Using a community-engaged research approach, we collaborated with predominately African American serving community-based organizations to support content development and delivery of Aging with Grace (AWG), a culturally tailored ADRD educational curriculum. A total of five AWG presentations were given to 66 attendees. Most attendees (67%) expressed interest in participating in clinical trials after attending AWG. Enrollment increased within an observational study (84%) and lifestyle prevention clinical trials (52%) from 2018 to 2019. Attendees (32%) also perceived an increase in ADRD knowledge from attending AWG and 89.1% believed more African Americans should participate in research. Our work demonstrates the effectiveness of a culturally tailored community education program to enhance knowledge, clinical trial interest, and recruitment into observational studies and lifestyle ADRD clinical trials among older African Americans. Education programs developed in partnership with the community can serve as bridge to research participation for under-represented minorities in clinical research. Future studies should assess long-term retention of knowledge and research readiness.
Can one be British and Muslim? What does it mean to be a Muslim in a secular society? What are the limits and possibilities of multiculturalism, as practised in the UK? Such questions are at the forefront of current research and policy debate, for instance in work by Tahir Abbas as well as by Tariq Modood on multicultural politics, since 2001, following riots involving Muslim and white youth in the north of England, the terrorist attacks on the USA and the London bombings in the summer of 2005. Against such a backdrop, a study that looks at identity construction among Pakistani and Kashmiri-origin young people in Britain promises to be of considerable interest to both academic and policy debate. Gill Cressey's book is based on doctoral research conducted in the former Cultural Studies and Sociology department at the University of Birmingham, England. The book takes a cultural studies approach and relies on discourse analysis as its main analytical tool. The author recorded and transcribed narrative interviews with 30 young people, aged between 14 and 25, of Pakistani or Kashmiri parentage living in Birmingham, who had visited Pakistan or Azad (Free, or Pakistan-held) Kashmir within the previous four years. She also asked some of the research participants to tell stories of their visits to Pakistan in front of a video camera. The material was analysed thematically with the use of qualitative software and is presented across nine substantive chapters. Collections of interview extracts from different individuals are presented to illustrate young people's views on themes ranging from travel to the ‘homeland’ (the ancestral homeland of Pakistan or Kashmir) to young people's sense of their ethnic and religious identity (of belonging in and to Britain, of being Muslim in the West and being Muslim in the sense of belonging to a global Muslim community). There are also chapters on gender, kinship relationships, inter-generational issues and cultural change, including language-use.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) disproportionately impacts Black Americans, who are three times more likely to develop AD. While heart-healthy diets have shown potential in reducing AD risk, research on adapted dietary interventions for Black American communities remains limited. This pilot study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of an adapted brain healthy diet intervention (MIND + SOUL) and explored changes in cardiometabolic risk and cognition. Twenty-nine participants completed the 12-week intervention, which included culturally tailored health education, cooking classes, health coaching, and groceries. Feasibility was assessed by attendance and retention rates, while acceptability was measured by two questionnaires. Participants had a mean age of 70.3, with 10.3% male. The intervention demonstrated high feasibility (89.3% retention) and acceptability (mean = 71.9, SD = 8.59), with meaningful improvements in body mass index (estimate = -0.54,
Abstract Full and diverse participant enrollment is critical to the success and generalizability of all large-scale Phase III trials. Recruitment of sufficient participants is among the most significant challenges for many studies. The novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic has further changed and challenged the landscape for clinical trial execution, including screening and randomization. The Investigating Gains in Neurocognition in an Intervention Trial of Exercise (IGNITE) study has been designed as the most comprehensive test of aerobic exercise effects on cognition and brain health. Here we assess recruitment into IGNITE prior to the increased infection rates in the United States, and examine new challenges and opportunities for recruitment with a goal of informing the remaining required recruitment as infection containment procedures are lifted. The results may assist the design and implementation of recruitment for future exercise studies, and outline opportunities for study design that are flexible in the face of emerging threats.
(2013). Heritage Meets Social Media: Designing a Virtual Museum Space for Young People. Journal of Museum Education: Vol. 38, Shared Authority: The Key to Museum Education as Social Change, pp. 239-252.
Abstract Background Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD) in the United States (U.S.) disproportionately affects African Americans (AA). Previous research has indicated that healthy eating habits help slow cognitive decline among adults 65 years and older. However, dietary intervention studies that demonstrated preliminary ability to protect against cognitive decline demonstrated low adherence and acceptability among African Americans. Objective The objective of this study is to identify and understand knowledge and attitudes that influence dietary practices among older African Americans using a community-engaged approach. Design A non-interventional mixed methods study designed to inform the development of an adapted brain-healthy soul food diet intervention. A purposive sampling approach was used to conduct 5 semi-structured focus group discussions and an online quantitative survey. The Health Belief Model guided the focus group using the following constructs: susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and cue to action. Participants/setting Inclusion criteria included self-identifying as African American or Black, aged 55 years and older, English proficient, and cognitively normal with an AD8 < 2. Participant were asked to participate in a single 60-minute virtual focus group discussion. In total, 39 individuals (25.6% men, 74.4% women) took part in one of the seven virtual focus group discussion (5-7 per focus group). Main outcome measure Knowledge and attitudes that influence dietary practices among older African Americans. Statistical analysis performed Focus groups were analyzed using a 6-step thematic analysis process, and quantitative survey data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results Five themes emerged: Knowledge of dementia; practices shaping food choices and consumption; barriers impacting healthy dietary consumption; experiential instrumental support; and elements of a culturally tailored brain healthy dietary intervention. Conclusion Older Midwesterner’s perceived an adapted MIND dietary model as most feasible with the incorporation of salient cultural characteristics and strategies within both the design and delivery phases. Research Snapshot Research Question What are the perceptions related to healthy diets and the facilitators and barriers that influence dietary practices among older Midwestern African Americans? Key Finding Five themes emerged from the focus group discussions: Knowledge of dementia; Practices shaping food choices and consumption; Barriers impacting healthy dietary consumption; External instrumental support; and Elements of culturally tailored brain healthy dietary intervention. Facilitators identified to support following a healthy diet included cooking education, food preparation demonstrations, and accessibility guidance. Barriers identified that impact healthy dietary consumption included access, cost, taste, and food spoilage.
Objectives:To compare the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among a wide range of ethnoracial groups in the US.Design:Non-probabilistic longitudinal clinical research.Setting:Participants enrolling into the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Unified Data Set recruited via multiple approaches including clinician referral, self-referral by patients or family members, or active recruitment through community organizations.Participants:Cognitively normal individuals 55 and older at the initial visit, who reported race and ethnicity information, with at least two visits between September 2005 and November 2018.Measurements:Ethnoracial information was self-reported and grouped into non-Latino Whites, Asian Americans, Native Americans, African Americans (AAs), and individuals simultaneously identifying as AAs and another minority race (AA+), as well as Latinos of Caribbean, Mexican, and Central/South American origin. MCI was evaluated clinically following standard criteria. Four competing risk analysis models were used to calculate MCI risk adjusting for risk of death, including an unadjusted model, and models adjusting for non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors.Results:After controlling for sex and age at initial visit, subhazard ratios of MCI were statistically higher than non-Latino Whites among Native Americans (1.73), Caribbean Latinos (1.80), and Central/South American Latinos (1.55). Subhazard ratios were higher among AA+ compared to non-Latino Whites only in the model controlling for all risk factors (1.40).Conclusion:Compared to non-Latino Whites, MCI risk was higher among Caribbean and South/Central American Latinos as well as Native Americans and AA+. The factors explaining the differential MCI risk among ethnoracial groups are not clear and warrant future research.
Full and diverse participant enrollment is critical to the success and generalizability of all large-scale Phase III trials. Recruitment of sufficient participants is among the most significant challenges for many studies. The novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic has further changed and challenged the landscape for clinical trial execution, including screening and randomization. The Investigating Gains in Neurocognition in an Intervention Trial of Exercise (IGNITE) study has been designed as the most comprehensive test of aerobic exercise effects on cognition and brain health. Here we assess recruitment into IGNITE prior to the increased infection rates in the United States, and examine new challenges and opportunities for recruitment with a goal of informing the remaining required recruitment as infection containment procedures are lifted. The results may assist the design and implementation of recruitment for future exercise studies, and outline opportunities for study design that are flexible in the face of emerging threats.
