Frequency of Unrecognized and Undertreated Dementia Risk Factors in Community‐dwelling Latino and Black Americans

Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies

105 participants (47 Latino, 55 Black), 64.7 (±8.8) years-old, female 66 (63%), with 16 (±2.3) years of education were assessed. Black participants experienced higher socioeconomic deprivation than Latino participants (median ADI 7 vs 3; p <0.001). Dementia risk factors were common in Latino and Black participants. These included, hypertension (55.3%, 70.3%; p = 0.291), hyperlipidemia (58.7%, 55.8%; p = 0.908), obesity (29.8%, 45.5%; p = 0.263), hyperglycemia (51.1%, 49.1%; p = 0.834), low vitamin B12 (23.9%, 28.0%; p = 0.270), hearing loss (19.1%, 7.3%; p = 0.111), vision loss (85.1%, 85.2%; p = 0.771), and depression (6.4%, 5.5%; p = 0.168). Objective measures revealed a higher frequency of risk factors compared with participant-provided history, highlighting a substantial proportion of unrecognized or inadequately treated risk factors: hypertension (62.3%, 45.1%; p = 0.067), hyperlipidemia (57.6%, 47.5%; p = 0.004), hyperglycemia (49%, 20%; p = <0.001), vitamin B12 deficiency (27.8%, 9.3%; p = 0.170), and depression (6.9%, 11.9%; p = 0.009). Modifiable dementia risk factors were detected in most cognitively normal Latino and Black adults engaged in a longitudinal study of memory and aging. Objective measures highlighted unrecognized and undertreated risk factors. Active surveillance programs are needed to detect and treat modifiable ADRD risk factors in underrepresented populations.

Key findings

• 105 participants (47 Latino, 55 Black), 64.7 (±8.8) years-old, female 66 (63%), with 16 (±2.3) years of education were assessed.
• Black participants experienced higher socioeconomic deprivation than Latino participants (median ADI 7 vs 3; p <0.001).
• Dementia risk factors were common in Latino and Black participants.
• These included, hypertension (55.3%, 70.3%; p = 0.291), hyperlipidemia (58.7%, 55.8%; p = 0.908), obesity (29.8%, 45.5%; p = 0.263), hyperglycemia (51.1%, 49.1%; p = 0.834), low vitamin B12 (23.9%, 28.0%; p = 0.270), hearing loss (19.1%, 7.3%; p = 0.111), vision loss (85.1%, 85.2%; p = 0.771), and depression (6.4%, 5.5%; p = 0.168).
• Objective measures revealed a higher frequency of risk factors compared with participant-provided history, highlighting a substantial proportion of unrecognized or inadequately treated risk factors: hypertension (62.3%, 45.1%; p = 0.067), hyperlipidemia (57.6%, 47.5%; p = 0.004), hyperglycemia (49%, 20%; p = <0.001), vitamin B12 deficiency (27.8%, 9.3%; p = 0.170), and depression (6.9%, 11.9%; p = 0.009).

Why it matters

In this small longitudinal study of 105 Latino and Black adults, many modifiable dementia risk factors were found, and objective measures revealed more unrecognized or undertreated factors than participants reported. It suggests active surveillance to detect and treat risk factors, but does not test a treatment, cure or prevention.

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Study details

• Study designlongitudinal study
• Participants105
• Effect size5.6%; 55.3%; 70.3%
• Evidence strengthModerate

Read the original

• DOI: 10.1002/alz70860_107565
• PubMed: 41433883
• Original source →
• Free full text: Alzheimer s & Dementia →

Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).

@article{lachner2025-41433883,
  author  = {Lachner, Christian and Piura, Yoav D. and Aduen, Paula A. and Schecter, Leah and Carrasquillo, Minerva M. and White, Richard O. and Graff‐Radford, Neill R. and Day, Gregory Scott},
  title   = {{Frequency of Unrecognized and Undertreated Dementia Risk Factors in Community‐dwelling Latino and Black Americans}},
  journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
  year    = {2025},
  doi     = {10.1002/alz70860_107565},
  pmid    = {41433883},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz70860_107565}
}

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