One of the first studies to investigate the prevalence of unrecognized cognitive impairment among patients seen at Federally Qualified Health Centers, has found that it is ubiquitous, especially among minoritized older adults. These facilities provide primary care and preventive services regardless of ability to pay or health insurance status to more than 30 million patients, including a growing number of older adults. Early and equitable detection of cognitive impairment can benefit patients and their families.
Delaying diagnosis leads to poor health outcomes for patients and their care partners and limits access to resources for treatment and care management services. The study of 204 socially and economically vulnerable older adults (average age 70 years) determined that African American individuals had more than twice the odds of unrecognized cognitive impairment (mild cognitive impairment or dementia). Approximately 82 percent of Black patients had undiagnosed dementia or mild cognitive impairment, compared with 64 percent of White patients.
Only 26 percent of all study participants had no cognitive impairment. The study population was slightly more than half African American and predominantly female. The association between race and cognitive impairment did not differ by sex, age or years of education.
On average each study participant was receiving primary care for three chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension or chronic obstructive pul.
