Many Blacks, Hispanics Misinformed About Alzheimer's

WEDNESDAY, March 14 (HealthDay News) -- Black and Hispanic communities harbor many misconceptions about Alzheimer's disease, a new survey shows.
Conducted by Harris Interactive for the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, the survey results showed, among other things, that black and Hispanic caregivers were more likely (37 percent and 33 percent) than caregivers of other races (23 percent) to believe that Alzheimer's is a normal part of aging.
"Many of African-Americans and Hispanics thought it was almost normal that people would get Alzheimer's disease as they age," said foundation CEO Eric J. Hall. "This says a lot about the need for education in these communities."
The problem is especially acute in black and Hispanic communities, said Dr. Warachal E. Faison, clinical director of Alzheimer's Research and Clinical Programs at the Medical University of South Carolina. "In minority communities, there is this misconception that Alzheimer's disease is a normal part of aging," she said. "Those subtle symptoms that occur in Alzheimer's disease are often missed in these communities."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20070314/hl_hsn/manyblackshispanicsmisinformedaboutalzheimers