Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026
06:58
Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing
Published on: January 24, 2020
6.3K
Four Common Beliefs About Patient Memory Evaluations: Who Has Them and What Modifies Them?
Shana D Stites1,2, Carolyn Kuz1, Emily A Largent3
1Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Summary
Public beliefs about memory center patients often view their condition as typical aging and biological. However, perceptions of mental illness and psychological origins differ significantly across racial and gender groups, influencing Alzheimer's disease understanding.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Public understanding of conditions treated at memory centers is crucial for early Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis.
- Beliefs about AD etiology and presentation can impact patient engagement and clinical interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate public beliefs regarding patients presenting at memory centers.
- To explore how demographic factors and Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarker information influence these beliefs.
Main Methods:
- Survey of 3,527 adults who read vignettes about a fictional memory center patient.
- Vignettes manipulated AD biomarker status, symptom stage, and treatment availability.
- Participants rated the condition as mental illness, typical aging, or having psychological/biological origins.
Main Results:
- Participants predominantly viewed the condition as typical aging and biological in origin.
- Black and Asian participants showed stronger beliefs in mental illness and psychological origins compared to White participants.
- Men endorsed mental illness, psychological origins, and typical aging beliefs more strongly than women.
- Positive AD biomarker results increased biological attributions and decreased psychological attributions.
Conclusions:
- Public perceptions of memory center patients are complex and influenced by race, gender, and biomarker information.
- These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve understanding of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- Addressing public beliefs can facilitate earlier diagnosis and enhance communication regarding AD.
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