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Maribel Calvillo
causes the individual to lose their cognitive function and cause them to forget not only their
family and friends, but also how to care for themselves independently. Although forgetfulness is
a common symptom, it does not definitely mean that they have dementia. Actually, dementia is
the most common form of Alzheimer’s disease (Healthy people 2020, 2016). A study was done,
for the first time ever, to show how prevalent dementia was in the Native American population.
The results showed that Native Americans were dementia was 5 percent higher than non-Indian
population (Nauman, 2015). There are varying factors that would lead to this result and once
identified, the Native American population should be educated on what they can do to reduce
With any disorder, the best way to treat dementia is to correctly diagnose it, so that it will
not be confused with other mental disorders that cause loss of cognitive functioning. Some
treatable conditions that cause loss of function include medication side effects, chronic
alcoholism, some brain tumors and infections, B12 deficiency, dehydration, depression and
delirium (Healthy people 2020, 2016). According to Healthy people 2020, 2016, some risk
factors include age, gender, family history and access to a primary care provider. After age sixty-
five the risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease doubles every five years. Women are at higher
risk than men. And researchers have found nineteen new genes that are related to Alzheimer’s
disease. For minorities, including Native Americans, they have a hard time acquiring a primary
care and they often go undiagnosed if they have the mental disorder already.
Some additional risk factors associated with dementia include diabetes, depression,
hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. In a group study they followed 4,543 Native American
adults that were 64 years old and older. In that group that had depression had increased risk of
Running head: Dementia and Native Americans 3
dementia by forty-two percent (Nauman, 2015). In another study it shows that depression was
higher in men and women with diabetes. They have also found that treating depression improved
overall daily functioning and individual’s become more compliant to exercise regimen. These
improvements lead to better control of their diabetes. Another study was done where they
followed diabetic patients for ten years and had found that forty to sixty percent had a greater
risk of dementia compared to Asians, whites and Latinos (Garrett, Baldridge, Benson, Crowder,
Another problem with Dementia is how Native Americans perceive this disorder and
what is stopping them from seeking care until it is too late. With symptoms associated with
dementia like progressive memory loss, it is often perceives in the Native American culture as a
normal consequence of aging. This often makes them believe nothing can be done to help them
and this was just inevitable (Garrett et al., 2015). And they might have had a negative experience
with health care system in the past and this could also contribute to them not wanting to seek
help.
Native American population should be educated about how dementia is an illness and we
should help them understand the prevalence. This way they can seek for help earlier and increase
the affected individual’s quality of life as the illness progresses (Garrett et al., 2015). When they
seek for help too late in the illness progression, they often have multiple chronic disorders. This
can complicated the medical management of these conditions, which would require the need for
coordination of different specialists. As Healthy People 2020 had said, “Lack of diagnosis of
dementia can seriously reduce a person’s access to available treatments and valuable
information.”
Running head: Dementia and Native Americans 4
The Alzheimer’s Association has given ten tips to help reduce the risk of dementia. They
explain how the brain is an organ to take care of as much as you would your heart or stomach.
One tip was to engage in physical activity that increases blood flow and heart rate. Studies have
shown that being active reduces cognitive decline. They have also mentioned take a class at any
Some more ways to reduce cognitive decline include quitting smoking, protecting your
head from physical injury, eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, stay socially active, and
challenging the mind often. Also if there are any symptoms of depression or even stress, they
should seek medical attention and see what can be done to manage or treat those symptoms
(Nauman, 2015).
Another important factor is to establish trust among the Native American community.
They need to know that medical professionals are there to help them and educate them on
whatever medical dilemma they may be in. Past experiences may hinder them from seeking
medical care. In order to have a better outcome with illnesses like dementia, they need to seek
Many intercorrelating factors lead to dementia in the Native American population. With
them being a minority, they do not have much access to medical care or may not want to go. It is
up to us to educate them on how dementia is not a normal part of aging and things can be done to
reduce the risk of having getting it. Promoting good health practices such as exercise, eating
balanced meals and smoke practices are a few ways to prevent this illness. Educating the
population about early diagnosis is essential in treating the illness before it progresses to severe
stages.
Running head: Dementia and Native Americans 5
References
Healthy People 2020. (2016, August 4). Dementias, Including Alzheimer's Disease. Retrieved
objectives/topic/dementias-including-alzheimers-disease \
Garrett, M. D., Baldridge, D., Benson, W., Crowder, J., & Aldrich, N. (2015). Mental Health
doi:10.1093/geront/gnu181
Nauman, T. (2015, July 28). Study shows Indians have higher dementia risk. Retrieved August
indians-have-higher-dementia-risk