Latinos are about 1.5 times more likely than Anglos to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. Between the years 2000 and 2050, the number of affected Latinos is projected to increase by 600 percent. Latinos may be at higher risk due to higher amounts of diabetes mellitus, obesity, cardiovascular disease and hypertension, each of which is also a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers have proposed using the same brain imaging techniques in healthy APOE4 carriers to evaluate promising treatments to prevent Alzheimer's disease without having to wait many years to determine whether they go on to develop symptoms. Among other things, the present study supports the inclusion of APOE4 carriers from Latino community in these studies.

SOURCE Banner Alzheimer's Institute