Racial/ethnic disparities in initiation and persistent use of anti-dementia medications

Racial/ethnic disparities in anti-dementia medications use in longitudinally followed research participants are unclear.

The study included initially untreated participants followed in National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set who were ≥65 at baseline with Alzheimer's disease dementia.

Outcomes for acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) treatment included (1) any new AChEI treatment during follow-up, and (2) persistence of treatment during follow-up categorized into: intermittent treatment (< 50% follow-ups reporting treatment), persistent (≥50% follow-ups), and always treated. Outcomes for memantine treatment were similarly constructed.

Controlling for participant characteristics, Black and Hispanic participants remained less likely than White participants to report any new AChEI or memantine treatment during follow-up. Among those who reported new treatment during follow-up, both Black and Hispanic participants were less likely than White participants to be persistently treated with AChEI and memantine.

Substantial racial/ethnic treatment disparities remain in controlled settings of longitudinal research in which participants have access to dementia experts, suggesting wider disparities in the larger community.