1. Health Disparities in Alzheimer’s Patients: Veteran Population
- Author
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Evans, Eden Mae, Kaplan, Sherrie1, Evans, Eden Mae, Evans, Eden Mae, Kaplan, Sherrie1, and Evans, Eden Mae
- Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) currently has no cure and typically affects adults ages 65 and older, although some AD patients are younger. Current AD research studies genetic biomarkers and potential causes and treatments, but research in the veteran population is limited. The incidence of AD in veterans is important to study because the veteran population often experience risk factors that may contribute to onset of AD, such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The aim of this thesis is to focus on the veteran population and its sub-populations to investigate if they are at a higher risk of AD. Improved understanding of the risk of AD within the veteran population may help to facilitate improvements in preventative measures, and treatment. Data from the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics6 , U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Statistical Projections of Alzheimer’s Dementia for VA Patients, VA enrollees, and US Veterans for Fiscal Years 2021 and 20338 , and the Alzheimer's Association4 were grouped into age categories of 65-74, 75-74, and 85+ and used for estimation of the number of veterans and non-veterans with and without AD in each age band. These population estimates were then used for Chi-Squared tests due to the categorical nature of the data. This study found that the veteran population overall, as well as the female veteran population, African American veterans, veterans with PTSD, and veterans experiencing housing insecurities, have higher rates of AD diagnosis than that of the general population cohorts. These results suggest that further studies need to be done to enhance patient care and preventative strategies, and that the veteran population may be integral for motivating research into future medications, therapies, and practices for AD indications.
- Published
- 2024