Dementia Can Strike Before 65—One Group May Be More Affected Than Thought
Summary
A new study found that frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a brain disease affecting behavior and movement, is more common and severe in Hispanic people in the U.S. than previously thought. Hispanic patients often face delays in diagnosis due to barriers like access to specialists and differences in healthcare.Key Facts
- Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) damages brain areas affecting behavior, movement, and speech, mostly in people aged 45 to 64.
- Hispanic Americans have higher rates of dementia and may show more severe FTD symptoms at diagnosis.
- Diagnosis delays for Hispanic patients average about four years after symptom onset.
- The study shows Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients have similar cognitive test results, but Hispanics have more movement-related symptoms.
- Barriers to timely diagnosis in Hispanic communities include limited specialist access, cultural and language factors, and possible biases.
- Symptoms in Hispanic patients are often mistaken for psychiatric problems, delaying proper care.
- The research was led by UT Health San Antonio and published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring.
- The study used data from multiple research centers and included both Hispanic and non-Hispanic white participants.
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