MADISON, Wis. — As a new drug for Alzheimer's disease hit the market, some researchers said they are troubled by the lack of clinical data available on its effectiveness in Black patients.

According to UW Health, Black adults are almost twice as likely to develop the disease compared to white peers, but less likely to be included in research.

What You Need To Know

  • Black adults are almost twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's than their white counterparts

  • They are also less likely to be diagnosed or included in clinical trials

  • UW study is focused on making Alzheimer's research more inclusive, which includes determing if new drugs are effective for Black patients

  • "African Americans Fighting Alzheimer's in Midlife" study is entering its second, five-year cycle

Carey Gleason, associate professor of medicine and geriatrics researcher at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, told us she puts the lack of research "squarely in the laps of the research community, in terms of creating inclusive types of recruitment practices and welcoming environments for African Americans to participate in research."

In its second, five-year cycle, Gleason said the UW study is focused on increasing participation in biomarker research, which will identify if Black patients have certain protein deposits in their brain. She said this is the key to the lastest FDA-approved drug, which targets that protein and removes it.

Gleason explained Alzheimer's starts many years before people show cognitive impairment.

"Removing that protein before the damage has been done could be a real key to really intervening and changing the course of this illness," she said.

Watch the full interview with Gleason above. Learn more about "African Americans Fighting Alzheimer's in Midlife," here. 

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