Ethnic/Racial Differences of Risk Factors for Cognitive Aging

Ethnic/Racial Differences of Risk Factors for Cognitive Aging is organized by California Psychological Association (CPA).

Start Date: 3/27/2024
End Date:12/1/2024

Course Description: 
The self-identified, non-Hispanic Black population is disproportionately affected by cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) relative to the White population. A number of tools have been leveraged to identify risk factors (e.g., genetic, neuroimaging, socioeconomic status, neurocognitive testing) of cognitive decline years before overt symptoms of dementia are present. This provides an important opportunity to understand the earliest changes that occur in the asymptomatic stage of AD. Unfortunately, the majority of research has been performed in predominantly non-Hispanic White populations, and it’s increasingly recognized that disease predictors do not behave the same in Black individuals. The goal of this presentation is to identify risk factors for cognitive impairment and dementia in the Black community.

After attending this Online Course, attendees will be able to:
• Define at least two health disparity risk factors and understand the difference between the types.
• Characterize at least two dementia-specific risk factors specific to the Black community.
• Identify gaps to address in order to minimize cultural bias in recruitment for clinical trials and cohort studies.