Memory and thinking problems that aging Latinos in New York City would bring to a doctor’s attention

AI Summary

Disorientation was the memory problem most often reported as prompting medical attention.
Many participants normalised symptoms or attributed them to benign causes, reducing likelihood of seeking care.
Identifying factors linked to wanting or avoiding medical help can guide educational interventions to promote earlier diagnosis.

PLoS One. 2026 May 20;21(5):e0349635. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0349635. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

The number of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease will grow dramatically in the coming decades. Early diagnosis benefits patients, caregivers and society, but depends heavily on afflicted individuals or their family members recognizing early symptoms as possible indications of a medical problem and seeking medical care. To examine the kinds of memory or thinking problems, Latinos ages 40-64 would seek medical care for, we analyzed data from 161 participants in a community-based study in northern Manhattan of the impact of receiving information about one’s risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Participants were asked whether experiencing each of 5 different memory or thinking problems multiple times over 2-3 months would make them seek medical care. Participants often offer a benign or normalizing attributions for symptoms. Disorientation was the most frequently endorsed problem. Considerations found to be associated with an inclination or disinclination to want to see a doctor about a symptom were identified. A better understanding of what Latinos would consider in deciding whether or not to bring different memory problems to a doctor’s attention can help guide the development of educational interventions to encourage help-seeking and facilitate earlier diagnosis.

PMID:42160315 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0349635

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