This project, led by the Great Lakes Native American Elder Association (GLNAEA), aimed to to educate and empower tribal communities while creating or harnessing existing resources to serve families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs). American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) individuals have been identified to be at high risk for ADRDs, with higher incidences of early- and late-onset dementias compared to other ethnic groups. To address this, GLNAEA hosted nine educational events that focused on promoting awareness of ADRDs and discussing their effects on the community. Awareness grew over time, with 120 individuals Attendance grew over time, with the most well-attended event attracting 120 individuals, reflecting a strong interest among elders. These events featured Indigenous speakers, including clinicians and researchers specializing in dementia and aging, who were crucial in building the trust needed for the elders to engage with the content.
The Challenge
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs) are estimated to affect 5.7 million people in the United States, and that number is projected to rise to more than 14 million in 2050 as the number of people over the age of 65 increases. While no prevalence data is available for American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) populations, dementia has been identified as a growing health issue in these communities. Previous studies have demonstrated that AI/NA individuals were more likely to have early onset ADRDs than white individuals and the incidence of late-onset dementia was more than 40% higher in AI/AN individuals than Asian Americans, the group with the lowest risk. In AI/AN individuals with type 2 diabetes, the incidence of dementia was 60% higher than in Asian Americans, suggesting an interaction between dementia and type 2 diabetes.
Project Goals
With almost 70,000 AI/AN individuals residing in Wisconsin, this project aimed to educate and empower tribal communities and create or harness existing resources to serve families affected by ADRDs. This goal was addressed by hosting between eight and ten educational events in conjunction with already-scheduled Great Lakes Native American Elder Association (GLNAEA) meetings to:
Promote awareness of ADRDs in Native Americans
Cover topics related to effects of ADRD in the community, including caregiving, advanced directives and importance of timely detection
Results
GLNAEA hosted nine educational events in partnership with the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. To enhance the relevance and impact of the sessions, partnerships were made with UW Centers and National organizations to bring Indigenous speakers to these events, including clinicians and scientists working in areas of dementia and aging and a member of the Menominee Nation with expertise in mindfulness. Attendees were primarily older Native American adults, many of whom were caregivers for a person with dementia or who were worried about their own cognitive health. Attendance grew over time, reaching a high mark of 120 GLNAEA members at one event demonstrating the constituency’s interest in and need for these educational events.
