Perceptions of brain health and aging among middle-aged latinos: A qualitative paper

IF 2.9 2区医学 Q2 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH Patient Education and Counseling Pub Date : 2024-10-11 DOI:10.1016/j.pec.2024.108462

Sophia W. Light , Francesca Tomasino , Myriam del Salto , Alyssa Vela , Emily Rogalski , Katherine L. Possin , Frank J. Penedo , Michael S. Wolf , Alissa Bernstein Sideman

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Abstract

Objectives

Latinos living in the US are disproportionately impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). To develop culturally-informed interventions, a first step is engaging with key stakeholders. The present study aimed to explore perspectives on brain health and aging among middle-aged Latinos living in Chicago, IL.

Methods

Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 English- or Spanish-speaking Latinos between 35 to 64 years old. Questions from a previously used interview guide were leveraged and addressed knowledge about the brain, perceptions of healthy and unhealthy aging, ideas of how to care for the brain, where knowledge was acquired, and suggestions for disseminating brain health education. Responses were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

The following themes were identified: (1) Understanding of the brain is varied (including cognitive, behavioral, anatomical, and psychological descriptions); (2) Perceptions surrounding healthy aging are broad and demonstrate a depth of understanding (e.g., physical and cognitive abilities, independence, positive emotions, and sociability), yet understanding of signs of an unhealthy brain is somewhat limited (e.g., focus on memory); (3) Brain health promotion is largely viewed as actionable (spanning physical health, cognitively stimulating activities, emotional wellbeing, medical self-management, and social connectedness); (4) Suggestions for disseminating education included media, clinics, churches, libraries, and community centers, with consideration of possible barriers and facilitators to behavior change (e.g., finances, prioritizing family).

Conclusions

Results showed significant heterogeneity in understanding of the brain, albeit with promising attitudes that actions can be taken to protect one’s brain from ADRD.

Practice Implications

Takeaways include the need for increasing education on normative versus nonnormative memory loss and signs of ADRD beyond memory impairment. Messaging may benefit from utilizing analogies, considering familism and spirituality, and highlighting lifestyle changes that do not carry a financial burden or place blame on individuals.

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中年拉丁人对大脑健康和衰老的看法：定性论文

目标生活在美国的拉美人受到阿尔茨海默病和相关痴呆症 (ADRD) 的影响尤为严重。要制定有文化背景的干预措施，第一步就是要让主要利益相关者参与进来。本研究旨在探讨居住在伊利诺伊州芝加哥市的中年拉美人对大脑健康和老龄化的看法。方法对 30 名 35 至 64 岁讲英语或西班牙语的拉美人进行了个人半结构式访谈。访谈中使用了以前使用过的访谈指南中的问题，这些问题涉及对大脑的认识、对健康和不健康老龄化的看法、对如何护理大脑的想法、从哪里获得的知识以及对传播大脑健康教育的建议。结果确定了以下主题：(1) 对大脑的了解是多方面的（包括认知、行为、解剖和心理方面的描述）；(2) 对健康老龄化的看法是广泛的，并显示出对健康老龄化的深入了解（例如，身体和认知能力、独立性、积极情绪和社交能力），但对大脑不健康迹象的了解则有些有限（例如，对记忆力的关注）；(3) 对健康老龄化的看法是广泛的，并显示出对健康老龄化的深入了解（例如，身体和认知能力、独立性、积极情绪和社交能力）、(3) 脑健康促进在很大程度上被认为是可操作的（涵盖身体健康、刺激认知的活动、情感健康、医疗自我管理和社会联系）；(4) 传播教育的建议包括媒体、诊所、教堂、图书馆和社区中心，并考虑到行为改变可能遇到的障碍和促进因素（如：经济、家庭优先）、结论结果显示，人们对大脑的理解存在很大差异，但对可以采取行动保护大脑免受 ADRD 影响的态度很有希望。实践启示包括需要加强有关规范性记忆丧失与非规范性记忆丧失的教育，以及除记忆损伤以外的 ADRD 征兆。利用类比、考虑家庭主义和精神信仰以及强调改变生活方式不会带来经济负担或使个人受到责备，都会对信息传递有所裨益。

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来源期刊

Patient Education and Counseling 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

5.60

自引率

11.40%

发文量

384

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Patient Education and Counseling is an interdisciplinary, international journal for patient education and health promotion researchers, managers and clinicians. The journal seeks to explore and elucidate the educational, counseling and communication models in health care. Its aim is to provide a forum for fundamental as well as applied research, and to promote the study of organizational issues involved with the delivery of patient education, counseling, health promotion services and training models in improving communication between providers and patients.