The Hidden Burden: How Alzheimer's Disease Disproportionately Impacts Communities of Color
Communities of color shoulder a disproportionate burden of Alzheimer’s disease, both as patients and as caregivers. We are dedicated to shining a light on this inequity, raising awareness of the unique challenges these communities face, and supporting caregivers who navigate the journey with strength and resilience.
November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to honor the millions of unpaid family caregivers who sacrifice daily for their loved ones. This year, we must shine a light on a reality that too few people understand: Alzheimer's disease does not affect all communities equally, and people of color bear a disproportionate burden—both as patients and as caregivers.
Alzheimer's disease strikes communities of color at alarming rates. Black Americans are approximately twice as likely as White Americans to develop Alzheimer's and related dementias, with 21.3% of Black Americans ages 70 and older living with the disease. Hispanic Americans face similarly elevated risks—about 1.5 times more likely than White Americans to develop Alzheimer's.
The numbers tell a sobering story about the future: cases among Black adults are expected to more than double between 2024 and 2060, while cases among Hispanic adults are projected to increase fourfold during that same period. These aren't just statistics—they represent millions of families who will face the heartbreak of watching loved ones slowly fade.
The Root Causes: These disparities are not primarily genetic. They are the result of systemic inequities that accumulate across a lifetime. Higher rates of heart disease and diabetes—both significant risk factors for dementia—are more prevalent in Black and Hispanic communities. But these conditions don't appear in a vacuum. They emerge from neighborhoods with limited access to healthy food, from jobs that offer little flexibility for preventive care, and from the daily weight of discrimination.
Lower levels of education and higher poverty rates compound these risks. Research has shown that socioeconomic disadvantage is a powerful predictor of Alzheimer's risk—and poverty in America remains deeply intertwined with race. Perhaps most insidious is the role of chronic stress. A lifetime of experiencing racism and discrimination triggers inflammatory responses in the body that, over time, contribute to cognitive decline. The very act of navigating a society that devalues you can damage your brain.
Help Can Become Another Barrier: For families of color caring for loved ones with dementia, the healthcare system itself often becomes another source of pain. Half or more of non-white caregivers report experiencing discrimination when seeking medical help for their care recipients. The most common concern? That healthcare providers simply don't listen to them because of their race or ethnicity. This concern is especially prevalent among Black caregivers (42%), followed by Native American (31%), Asian American (30%), and Hispanic (28%) caregivers—compared to only 17% of White caregivers.
Many Black Americans believe their race directly affects the quality of dementia care they receive—and research supports their perception. Studies consistently show that minoritized populations are less likely to receive timely and accurate diagnoses, less likely to be prescribed anti-dementia medications, and more likely to experience delays in treatment.
Amplified Caregiver Burden: Behind every person with Alzheimer's stands a caregiver—usually a family member—whose own health is quietly eroding under the strain of care. Nearly 60% of dementia caregivers report high to very high emotional stress, and 38% report significant physical stress from caregiving. More than half of Alzheimer's family caregivers have chronic health conditions themselves. Among older caregivers (65+), over half have two or more chronic diseases. Even younger caregivers, ages 45–64, show concerning rates: about 35% report two chronic conditions.
This isn't a coincidence. Caregivers routinely sacrifice their own medical appointments, skip their own medications, lose sleep, and abandon the exercise and healthy eating habits that protect long-term health. They do this out of love and duty—but the cost is devastating.
For caregivers from racial and ethnic minority groups, the burden is compounded. They face the same systemic barriers their loved ones encounter, while simultaneously providing more intensive daily care. Black and Hispanic caregivers report managing care on a daily basis at higher rates (43% and 45% respectively) than White caregivers (31%), while often having fewer resources and less support.
A Call for Awareness and Action: This National Family Caregivers Month, we must expand our understanding of who is affected by Alzheimer's disease and how deeply the impact cuts. People of color are not only at higher risk for developing this devastating disease—they face greater obstacles to diagnosis and treatment, experience more discrimination in healthcare settings, and shoulder heavier caregiving burdens with fewer resources.
Addressing these disparities requires action at every level: increased research funding focused on diverse populations, healthcare provider training to reduce bias, expanded community-based support services in underserved areas, and policies that address the social determinants of health driving these inequities.
But it also requires something simpler: seeing the invisible. Recognizing the grandmother who has spent three years caring for her husband while her own health declines. Acknowledging the daughter who fights to be heard in every medical appointment. Honoring the son who gave up his career to ensure his mother receives dignified care.
They deserve to be seen. They deserve support. They deserve a healthcare system that works as hard for them as they work for their loved ones. Let's work together to support those who need it most. Contact us to learn how we can help.