Barriers Preventing Black Participation in Alzheimer’s Clinical Trials: And the Fix

Although African Americans and Hispanics face an elevated risk of Alzheimer's disease, they remain significantly underrepresented in clinical trials. A recent study conducted by the Keck School of Medicine at USC highlights that specific racial groups often do not qualify for Alzheimer’s studies, primarily due to lower detectable amyloid levels among Black participants. The research examined blood tests and brain scans from 4,905 individuals aged 55 to 80.According to Doris P. Molina-Henry, PhD, the lead researcher, this discrepancy raises critical questions about the underlying causes of Alzheimer’s development. Among the participants, only 35.1 percent qualified for clinical trials, with even fewer from Hispanic Black (13.3 percent) and non-Hispanic Black (24.7 percent) backgrounds.To improve representation, diverse participants are vital in trials aiming to address early-stage Alzheimer’s effectively. Increasing awareness of screening and managing dementia risk factors through healthy lifestyle choices can positively affect brain health outcomes for these communities.