Ci. Cohen et L. Carlin, RACIAL-DIFFERENCES IN CLINICAL AND SOCIAL VARIABLES AMONG PATIENTS EVALUATED IN A DEMENTIA ASSESSMENT-CENTER, Journal of the National Medical Association, 85(5), 1993, pp. 379-384
Despite increased interest in dementia and the concomitant creation of
dementia assessment centers, there has been a paucity of reports exam
ining racial differences in the social and clinical presentation of de
mentia. Such information can enhance knowledge about dementia and assi
st in the planning of diagnostic centers located in areas with large m
inority populations. This study reviewed the charts of patients evalua
ted at a dementia assessment center in New York City. The sample compr
ised 102 white and 68 black patients. There were no racial differences
in types of dementia nor reported length of illness. However, bivaria
te analysis revealed many significant differences between the groups i
n social, medical, and psychiatric variables. Most notably, a stepwise
discriminant analysis identified seven variables-Medicaid recipient,
gender, age, sleep disturbances, delusions of stealing, hypertension,
and concentration-as correctly being able to classify 75% of cases. Ra
cial differences in cognitive and behavioral symptoms may reflect the
interaction of dementia with physical health, premorbid history, envir
onment, or some basic difference in disease course.