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According to research conducted by the Alzheimer's Association, the number of older Hispanics with Alzheimer's and related dementias could rise more than six-fold from fewer than 200,000 cases today to as many as 1.3 million by 2050. Studies also show that there is a higher level of responsibility among Hispanic families to care for elders and accept cognitive impairment and dementia as a normal part of aging. While the family's commitment to caregiving is strong, without having adequate information on Alzheimer's disease family members' needs may not be properly addressed. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NPC) announced an initiative that aims to educate and inform the Hispanic community about Alzheimer's disease.
As part of their efforts, NPC is collaborating with Univision, the leading media company serving Hispanic America, to focus on delivering educational content through Univision's broadcast programing, including the healthcare platform "Salud es Vida" (Lead a Healthy Life), digital platforms and community outreach efforts.
NPC, the makers of medications for Alzheimer's, collaborated with Univision due to the network's effectiveness in driving action for various issues impacting U.S. Hispanics. The main focus of the collaboration is educational and aims to raise awareness about Alzheimer's disease among Hispanics. Informative discussions about Alzheimer's will be featured on some of the network's top rated shows and there is a dedicated online space where consumers can access information about the disease in Spanish. Additionally, NPC will be on the ground, providing Hispanic families with educational collaterals at some of the network's key local events.
"Education is the best tool for empowerment in our community. As we strive to improve the health of the Hispanic population, initiatives such as this will help address the importance of conditions that may go undetected, such as Alzheimer's," said Jane Delgado, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive and devastating condition that gradually causes the loss of memory and complications with thinking and behavior. Hispanics are 1.5 times more likely to develop the disease vs. the Caucasian population. Research has also shown that Hispanics have very low awareness levels about the condition, which results in them not being diagnosed or treated.
Extending the effort, a local grassroots outreach will roll out in top Hispanic markets where NPC will participate in key community events disseminating Spanish language educational materials.
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