Developing Dementia Prevalence Rates Among Latinos: A Locally-Attuned, Data-Based, Service Planning Tool

Abstract

The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and associated disorders (ADAD) determines the level of need for ADAD services. Since services need to be made available locally, therefore local—rather than national—prevalence levels are instrumental in guiding services to meet these emerging needs. This study employed a three-stage methodology to establish Latino ADAD prevalence estimates within San Diego and Imperial Counties in California for the period 2000–2050. The first stage involved the development of a working algorithm for the ADAD estimates combining existing demographic data with small-scale prevalence data from recent clinical studies of ADAD among Latinos. Results from this algorithm projected an 1,123 % increase of ADAD impacted Latinos in San Diego County and 1,213 % in Imperial County by 2050. Stage two encompassed examining the face validity and efficacy of these projections at the local provider level through focus groups. This stage confirmed the findings that a large sector of the local Latino ADAD community had a profile of lower education and socioeconomic status, more traditional cultural orientations, and high rates of diabetes mellitus and vascular disease which resulted in earlier onset of ADAD. The third stage in the methodology employed a 36-month observational window tracking the impact of the local ADAD prevalence estimates on various programs. The authors of this study argue for the efficacy, and external validity of the methodology employed to define local ADAD prevalence rates for other ethnic groups. This knowledge will promote local communities in developing culturally competent services for their own diverse local service areas based on local estimates.