Latino Americans are 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than white Americans, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

In Colorado, nearly a quarter of the overall population identifies as Hispanic or Latino. As Coloradans age, more individuals and families in these communities will be affected by dementia.

Today approximately 11,000 of the 91,000 Coloradans ages 65 years and older who live with Alzheimer’s disease are Latino. Many face barriers to timely diagnoses, medical treatments and coordination of care.

Nearly 9 in 10 Latinos say it is important for dementia care providers to understand their cultural backgrounds, according to an Alzheimer’s Association 2021 report. Two years later, another study found that dementia care often misses or overlooks unique perspectives and needs of Latinos. The study described the importance of reducing stigma about cognitive decline, helping people care for their brains to decrease dementia risk and acknowledging the impacts dementia has on families and households.

As a geriatrician, palliative care physician and researcher in dementia care and caregiving, my work focuses on improving dementia care across cultural backgrounds, including in Latino communities.

I am also the founding medical director of the University of Colorado Medicine GUIDE Program. GUIDE stands for Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience........

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