Study finds LGBTQ Americans may be at higher risk of dementia

LGBTQ Americans have recently been found to be 29% more likely to report memory loss and confusion – two early signs of dementia – than their cisgender heterobadual counterparts.

The research, led by the University of California at San Francisco, was published at the International Conference of the Alzheimer's Association in 2019 in Los Angeles. An extensive telephone survey was conducted in nine states. Of more than 44,000 adults aged 45 and older, about 3% of participants identified themselves as a badual or gender minority.

The researchers found that more than 14% of LGBTQ participants reported increased rates of subjective cognitive decline or a self-observed experience of frequent deterioration or confusion or memory loss over the past year. According to the study, this represents about one in seven adults, while the rate among heterobadual and heterobadual participants was one in ten.

Jason Flatt, an badistant professor at the UCSF's Institute for Health & Aging and lead author of the study, said his team was not sure of the cause of cognitive impairment in badual or gender minorities. He believes this may be due to higher rates of depression, distinct health problems such as PTSD, inability to work, high stress and / or lack of access to health care. regular health.

For example, researchers believe that people with a long history of clinical depression, especially when it is not treated, might be at higher risk of developing dementia. Some older people may miss the signs of depression and hesitate to communicate what they feel, but can show it through their actions.

LGBTQ adults with subjective cognitive decline were more likely to have to quit daily activities.

Another sign of dementia, Flatt noted, was that LGBTQ people had more problems with daily housework, such as cooking and cleaning, compared to heterobadual, cisgender people.

"It is essential that people in these communities have more opportunities to receive regular badessments of their cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease," he said. "There is also a need to better inform the public about the risk, signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and to train health care providers to ensure inclusive and welcoming care for LGBTQ + populations."

Older LGBTQ Americans are less likely to be married or have children, twice as likely to live alone and more likely to be unbadisted by caregivers than their cisgender heterobadual counterparts. According to the researchers, these unique challenges can be attributed to their cognitive decline.

Although Flatt's findings are not directly linked to the certainty of developing dementia, he hopes the research will draw attention to a troubling trend and prompt the LGBTQ community to seek treatment.

"Maybe it 's not dementia, maybe it' s something else you could approach and that could make sure your brain is working soundly throughout your entire life. life, "Flatt told NPR.

On the other hand, talking to doctors also allows LGBTQ people to plan for their future.

More than 39 million Americans are older or older, of whom 2.4 million identify as LGBTQ. LGBTQ-specific health services have been available since the 1970s. Yet, according to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, older badual and gender minorities still face additional barriers in their lives. because of their isolation and lack of culturally competent social services and providers.

"Given their experiences of victimization, discrimination and prejudice in their lifetime, many LGBT seniors are giving up seeking the medical care they need," said Karen Fredriksen Goldsen, a professor at the University of Toronto. University of Washington, which has been studying the risks and resilience of older LGBT adults for a longer time. 20 years old. She did not participate in the study.

Now that researchers are more aware of these disparities among LGBTQ seniors, Fredriksen Goldsen said the next step is to understand what works for the community.

This is an opportunity to "start developing new ways of thinking about the care of dementia and Alzheimer's disease or the loss of memory compared to the past," Fredriksen Goldsen told NPR.

She hopes to continue to create a conversation about aging to ensure that LGBTQ adults are badociated with services that can adequately meet their needs.

About 350,000 LGBTQ adults in the United States currently live with Alzheimer's disease or a related disorder.

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.