Public beliefs and knowledge about risk and protective factors for Alzheimer's disease.

TitlePublic beliefs and knowledge about risk and protective factors for Alzheimer's disease.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsJ Roberts, S, McLaughlin, SJ, Connell, CM
JournalAlzheimers Dement
Volume10
Issue5 Suppl
PaginationS381-9
Date Published2014 Oct
ISSN Number1552-5279
KeywordsAged, Alzheimer disease, Female, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Protective factors, United States
Abstract

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess public beliefs and knowledge about risk and protective factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS: A brief survey module was added to the Health and Retirement Study, a longstanding national panel study of the U.S. population over the age of 50.

RESULTS: Respondents were 1641 adults (mean age=64.4 years, 53.6% female, 81.7% White). Most (60.1%) indicated interest in learning their AD risk, with 29.4% expressing active worry. Many failed to recognize that medications to prevent AD are not available (39.1%) or that having an affected first-degree relative is associated with increased disease risk (32%). Many respondents believed that various actions (e.g., mental activity, eating a healthy diet) would be effective in reducing AD risk.

CONCLUSION: Older and middle-aged adults are interested in their AD risk status and believe that steps can be taken to reduce disease risk. Tailored education efforts are needed to address potential misconceptions about risk and protective factors.

Notes

Export Date: 21 April 2014 Source: Scopus Article in Press

URLhttp://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84895853906andpartnerID=40andmd5=336a2df47951d1d5c021f44b8055d10e
DOI10.1016/j.jalz.2013.07.001
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24630852?dopt=Abstract

Endnote Keywords

Attitudes and beliefs/Health education/Illness perceptions/National survey/Public understanding

Endnote ID

999999

Alternate JournalAlzheimers Dement
Citation Key8062
PubMed ID24630852
PubMed Central IDPMC4163539
Grant ListU01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
T32HD007422 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States