Surveying Willingness to Learn About and Share Results of Brain MRIs in South and East Asian Adults

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundDementia in South Asian (SA) and East Asian (EA) adults is often under‐reported by family due to stigma or under‐recognized by medical practitioners due to language barriers. Older SA and EA adults are also underrepresented in dementia research. While recruiting for a memory and aging study in the New York City/New Jersey (NYC/NJ) area, we noted hesitancy among older SA adults towards undergoing brain MRI analysis. We hypothesized that differences in attitudes towards MRI and brain health research may differ between older SA and other adults.MethodWe recruited a convenience sample of community‐dwelling adults in the NYC/NJ area from August 2022 to January 2023 to complete an anonymous survey on knowledge and attitudes towards MRIs and dementia. Topics and wording reflected concerns reported in the literature, including potential harms from MRI, desire to learn about incidental MRI findings, and stigmatizing beliefs. We specifically targeted SAs, but also recruited older Chinese and Korean adults.Result210 participants (n = 151 for 50+) completed the survey, including 69 (33%) SA adults. Chinese and Korean respondents had similar attitudes and perceptions, and were hereafter analyzed together as an EA group. Compared to non‐Hispanic White (White) respondents, SA and EA respondents were less interested in learning about incidental brain MRI findings. EA and White respondents were much more likely to share de‐identified brain MRI for research purposes than SA respondents, and this was mediated by future concern for dementia/stroke in EA, but not White, respondents. There was no difference in perception of MRI‐related harm or dementia‐related stigma.ConclusionSA and EA adults were both less interested in learning about incidental brain MRI findings than White adults, but the two Asian groups differed in willingness to share de‐identified MRI for research and concern for future dementia/stroke. In the absence of knowledge differences, these may be explained by cultural attitudes towards health and locus of control. Future studies on these factors are needed to promote research participation and dementia prevention among older SA adults.