Trends in Alzheimer Disease Mortality Among American Indian and Alaska Native People Between 2011 and 2019 : Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders

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Trends in Alzheimer Disease Mortality Among American Indian and Alaska Native People Between 2011 and 2019

Amiri, Solmaz DDes*; Jiang, Luohua PhD; Manson, Spero M. PhD; Buchwald, Dedra S. MD*

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Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders 37(2):p 93-99, April–June 2023. | DOI: 10.1097/WAD.0000000000000555

Abstract

Purpose: 

The number of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people living with dementia is expected to increase 5-fold by 2060. Social determinants of health may explain disparities in the incidence of Alzheimer disease (AD) but remain largely overlooked.

Methods: 

We examined the time trend of AD mortality rates and associations of the percentage of AI/ANs, density of primary care physicians and neurologists, area deprivation index, rurality, and Indian Health Service region with AD mortality in 646 purchased/referred care delivery area counties.

Results: 

AD mortality rates significantly increased over time. Counties with higher concentrations of AI/AN people had lower AD mortality. More deprived counties had 34% higher AD mortality compared with less deprived counties. AD mortality was 20% lower in nonmetro counties than in metro counties.

Conclusions: 

Findings have implications for prioritizing areas where more resources for AD care, education, or outreach are needed.

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