The Dementia Literacy Assessment (DeLA): A novel measure of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders health literacy in diverse populations

Abstract INTRODUCTION Low health literacy about Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) may limit help‐seeking, early detection, and enrollment in clinical trials, particularly in minoritized communities. We created the Dementia Literacy Assessment (DeLA) to improve ADRD health literac...

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Main Authors: James E. Galvin, Deborah M. Germain, Claudia P. Moore, Jennifer A. Jeanty, Vaatausili Tofaeono, Lisa K. Wiese
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/trc2.70054
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author James E. Galvin
Deborah M. Germain
Claudia P. Moore
Jennifer A. Jeanty
Vaatausili Tofaeono
Lisa K. Wiese
author_facet James E. Galvin
Deborah M. Germain
Claudia P. Moore
Jennifer A. Jeanty
Vaatausili Tofaeono
Lisa K. Wiese
author_sort James E. Galvin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract INTRODUCTION Low health literacy about Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) may limit help‐seeking, early detection, and enrollment in clinical trials, particularly in minoritized communities. We created the Dementia Literacy Assessment (DeLA) to improve ADRD health literacy. METHODS The DeLA, a storytelling method that included culturally adaptable vignettes embedded with important factoids about ADRD, was administered to 213 participants from urban and rural regions of Palm Beach and Broward County in Florida and 193 participants in American Samoa. RESULTS The DeLA increased dementia health literacy and performed well across different participant characteristics (age, sex, education, geographic locale, race, ethnicity, and cognitive performance). Gains in ADRD health literacy were associated with older age, more education, better socioeconomic status, greater resilience, and better cognitive performance. DISCUSSION Increasing ADRD health literacy could increase health‐seeking behaviors in diverse populations for treatment, enrich recruitment into clinical trials, and may help reduce disparities in health outcomes. Highlights Low health literacy about Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) may limit help‐seeking, early detection, and enrollment in clinical trials, particularly in minoritized communities. The Dementia Literacy Assessment (DeLA), a storytelling method that included culturally adaptable vignettes embedded with important factoids about ADRD, was administered to 406 participants from urban and rural regions of Palm Beach and Broward County in Florida and American Samoa (11.8% White, 39.8% Black or African American, and 48.4% Pacific Islander [predominantly Samoan] individuals). The DeLA increased dementia health literacy and performed well across different participant characteristics (age, sex, education, geographic locale, race, and cognitive performance). Gains in ADRD health literacy were associated with older age, more education, better socioeconomic status, greater resilience, and better cognitive performance. Increasing ADRD health literacy could increase health‐seeking behaviors in diverse populations for treatment, enrich recruitment into clinical trials, and help reduce disparities in health outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-8a612f5e0b744c2a9e3d7d2ac63ced212025-08-20T02:48:22ZengWileyAlzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions2352-87372025-01-01111n/an/a10.1002/trc2.70054The Dementia Literacy Assessment (DeLA): A novel measure of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders health literacy in diverse populationsJames E. Galvin0Deborah M. Germain1Claudia P. Moore2Jennifer A. Jeanty3Vaatausili Tofaeono4Lisa K. Wiese5Department of Neurology Comprehensive Center for Brain Health Miller School of Medicine University of Miami Boca Raton Florida USADepartment of Neurology Comprehensive Center for Brain Health Miller School of Medicine University of Miami Boca Raton Florida USADepartment of Neurology Comprehensive Center for Brain Health Miller School of Medicine University of Miami Boca Raton Florida USADepartment of Neurology Comprehensive Center for Brain Health Miller School of Medicine University of Miami Boca Raton Florida USAAmerican Samoa Community Cancer Coalition Pago American Samoa USAChristine E. Lynn College of Nursing Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton Florida USAAbstract INTRODUCTION Low health literacy about Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) may limit help‐seeking, early detection, and enrollment in clinical trials, particularly in minoritized communities. We created the Dementia Literacy Assessment (DeLA) to improve ADRD health literacy. METHODS The DeLA, a storytelling method that included culturally adaptable vignettes embedded with important factoids about ADRD, was administered to 213 participants from urban and rural regions of Palm Beach and Broward County in Florida and 193 participants in American Samoa. RESULTS The DeLA increased dementia health literacy and performed well across different participant characteristics (age, sex, education, geographic locale, race, ethnicity, and cognitive performance). Gains in ADRD health literacy were associated with older age, more education, better socioeconomic status, greater resilience, and better cognitive performance. DISCUSSION Increasing ADRD health literacy could increase health‐seeking behaviors in diverse populations for treatment, enrich recruitment into clinical trials, and may help reduce disparities in health outcomes. Highlights Low health literacy about Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) may limit help‐seeking, early detection, and enrollment in clinical trials, particularly in minoritized communities. The Dementia Literacy Assessment (DeLA), a storytelling method that included culturally adaptable vignettes embedded with important factoids about ADRD, was administered to 406 participants from urban and rural regions of Palm Beach and Broward County in Florida and American Samoa (11.8% White, 39.8% Black or African American, and 48.4% Pacific Islander [predominantly Samoan] individuals). The DeLA increased dementia health literacy and performed well across different participant characteristics (age, sex, education, geographic locale, race, and cognitive performance). Gains in ADRD health literacy were associated with older age, more education, better socioeconomic status, greater resilience, and better cognitive performance. Increasing ADRD health literacy could increase health‐seeking behaviors in diverse populations for treatment, enrich recruitment into clinical trials, and help reduce disparities in health outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1002/trc2.70054Alzheimer's diseasedementiahealth disparitieshealth literacyvascular cognitive impairment
spellingShingle James E. Galvin
Deborah M. Germain
Claudia P. Moore
Jennifer A. Jeanty
Vaatausili Tofaeono
Lisa K. Wiese
The Dementia Literacy Assessment (DeLA): A novel measure of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders health literacy in diverse populations
Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions
Alzheimer's disease
dementia
health disparities
health literacy
vascular cognitive impairment
title The Dementia Literacy Assessment (DeLA): A novel measure of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders health literacy in diverse populations
title_full The Dementia Literacy Assessment (DeLA): A novel measure of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders health literacy in diverse populations
title_fullStr The Dementia Literacy Assessment (DeLA): A novel measure of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders health literacy in diverse populations
title_full_unstemmed The Dementia Literacy Assessment (DeLA): A novel measure of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders health literacy in diverse populations
title_short The Dementia Literacy Assessment (DeLA): A novel measure of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders health literacy in diverse populations
title_sort dementia literacy assessment dela a novel measure of alzheimer s disease and related disorders health literacy in diverse populations
topic Alzheimer's disease
dementia
health disparities
health literacy
vascular cognitive impairment
url https://doi.org/10.1002/trc2.70054
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