Ever wonder why some areas seem to be hit harder by memory loss than others? It turns out, where someone lives might play a bigger role than we once thought when it comes to dementia rates in older adults. Dr. Gladys Maestre, who leads the Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, recently conducted a study that “astounded her.”
She discovered that nearly 1 in 5 people over the age of 65 in the Rio Grande Valley have memory loss, far higher than the national average of 12%. Even more concerning, she suspects the real number could be closer to 40% due to underreporting. While the exact cause remains unclear, she said the impact is “unmistakable.” More details are highlighted in the CBS News article titled South Texas families grapple with high rates of dementia as leading researcher seeks answers.
Texas alone has nearly half a million people living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association and the Texas Department of State Health Services. The concern has grown so significant that lawmakers recently approved a $3 billion non‑partisan bill to fund dementia research over the next decade. It still requires voter approval this fall, yet Lt. Governor Dan Patrick noted, “I’ve never had a bigger response than this bill,” adding, “It is only getting worse.” Researchers continue exploring possible contributors, including diabetes, pollution, trauma, and poverty, but the numbers continue to rise.
Are you and your staff trained to recognize early cognitive decline? Many residents arrive with a dementia diagnosis; however, how quickly the disease progresses depends on many factors. At the end of the day, recognizing when a resident begins to decline is essential to providing an environment that focuses on quality of life and the prevention of negative outcomes. Tune up your skills, continue offering education on identifying changes in condition, and above all, love what you do as it will brighten the lives of those you care for. And as dementia rates in older adults increase, your awareness and compassion become even more vital.
Stay well and stay informed!
