U.S. Latinos under-enrolled in clinical trials for Alzheimer's drugs

Alzheimer’s among U.S. Latinos is forecast to grow almost 600% in the next 25 years, but they’re chronically under-enrolled in clinical trials of drugs to treat the disease, according to the National Institutes of Health.

The big picture: U.S. Latinos are more likely to have Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia than white non-Hispanics, according to the organization UsAgainstAlzheimer’s.

• The N.I.H. report also found that communities in Latino areas where the disease is prevalent have little or no access to federally funded research sites, which limits the research pool. The sites also provide timely diagnoses and support groups for families.

Between the lines: The higher likelihood of Latinos being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia has a secondary impact on family finances. Barriers to medical care mean family members, especially Hispanic women, tend to leave the workforce to become caregivers.