Last Updated on June 1, 2024 by BVN
Overview: California has identified Alzheimer’s disease as the third leading cause of death in the state, with an estimated 720,000 people living with the disease. The California Department of Public Health has launched a state-wide campaign called “Take on Alzheimer’s” to increase education and raise awareness about the disease. The campaign aims to reduce stigma around Alzheimer’s disease and provide accessible information to the public. The state is launching a series of events across different counties that feature experts, community partners, and community-based organizations.
Breanna Reeves
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has identified Alzheimer’s disease as the third leading cause of death in the state.
An estimated 720,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s disease in California, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, More people, aged 65 and older, are living with Alzheimer’s disease in California than in any other state.
By 2040, the number of people with Alzheimer’s is expected to double in California.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, and it affects a person’s memory, thinking and behavior.
To address Alzheimer’s disease as a growing public health crisis in the state, the CDPH launched a state-wide campaign called “Take on Alzheimer’s” to increase education and raise awareness about the disease. As part of the campaign, the state is launching a series of events across different counties that feature experts, community partners and community-based organizations.
“Take on Alzheimer’s” seeks to reduce the stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s disease by increasing public awareness. Stigma related to an Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia-related diagnoses can include fear of being looked at differently by one’s community, fear of losing some civil rights and fear of being shunned and isolated by others.
“By educating Californians about the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease, providing accessible, easily usable information, and inspiring hope and conversations like this one, we could turn around some of that stigma,” said Dr. María P. Aranda, a professor of social work, and Gerontology and Neurology at the University of Southern California (USC).
Dr. Aranda was one of five panelists who spoke about the importance of educating the public about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), brain health and reducing stigma around the disease during an event on May 23. Hosted by the CDPH and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH), the panel addressed how to engage communities of color in the conversation about Alzheimer’s and how to practice culturally relevant outreach.
A 2021 Alzheimer’s Association report showed that Hispanic and Black communities will experience a disproportionate increase in the prevalence of Alzheimer’s. Black Americans are twice as likely as older white Americans to have Alzheimer’s or another dementia.
By 2040, the number of Hispanic Californians living with Alzheimer’s will more than triple and Black Californians living with Alzheimer’s will nearly triple.
Dr. Soo Borson, a clinical professor of Family Medicine at Keck Medicine of USC, addressed the role racism plays in access to health and how it contributes to disparities in Alzheimer’s disease.
“People of color in California, and elsewhere, especially those with lower access to high quality health care, are diagnosed with dementia in later stages,” Dr. Borson said. As the co-lead of the BOLD Center of Excellence on Early Detection of Dementia, Dr. Borson’s work focuses on improving systems of care through her intimate knowledge of dementia detection and diagnosis.
Talking to loved ones and older adults about Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias can be difficult due to fear of the future, stigma and misinformation regarding the disease. Part of the statewide campaign seeks to address all of these challenges while providing the public with information on how to approach the topic.
Experts on the panel urged the public to learn how to recognize the signs of Alzheimer’s beyond what is considered to be normal aging such as memory loss that disrupts daily life, difficulty completing familiar tasks and confusion with time or place, among others. By recognizing the signs of Alzheimer’s symptoms early, families can take action by consulting a doctor and preparing a plan to move forward.
Like thousands of Californians, Reverend Douglas Nelson of TrueLA Church was a family caregiver for his 89-year-old grandmother before she passed away. He explained that talking about such personal topics like Alzheimer’s and the weight of caregiving can be challenging, especially in Black communities that value privacy. As a community leader, Nelson explained that it’s important to speak to community members who may be dealing with these challenges in a way that is dignified and supportive.
“We ascribe to C.E.I.: Celebrate, Educate and Identify. We’re celebrating unsung heroes who are caregivers,” Nelson shared. “When you celebrate people, this helps others to want to be celebrated.”
By celebrating and recognizing caregivers and the individuals they care for, Nelson explained that this encourages other people in the community to step forward and be identified. The celebration will be hosted with the Western Baptist State Convention on June 1 and will also educate the community about Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
According to the California Department of Aging, nearly five million family caregivers support a loved one who needs assistance with everyday tasks. Of these five million caregivers, almost two million are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia.
“Caregivers are heroes. I can’t describe the way a caregiver gives his or her life for someone that they don’t know,” said event emcee Dunia Elvir, an award winning news anchor with Noticiero Telemundo 52. “Without caregivers, families [couldn’t] continue with our regular life. That caregiver is the backbone of all of our family members suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia.”
California is home to the largest population of older adults, most of whom will need some form of care and who will be at risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Experts from the panel emphasized the importance of learning more about Alzheimer’s in order to recognize the signs and symptoms, talking to loved one’s about the disease in an honest and empathetic way, and reducing the risk and stigma associated with it by having conversations about the disease.