{"id":2679,"date":"2018-11-30T11:52:15","date_gmt":"2018-11-30T19:52:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/culturally-tailored-text-messages-improve-alzheimers-education-among-african-americans\/"},"modified":"2023-11-26T08:27:13","modified_gmt":"2023-11-26T16:27:13","slug":"culturally-tailored-text-messages-improve-alzheimers-education-among-african-americans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/culturally-tailored-text-messages-improve-alzheimers-education-among-african-americans\/","title":{"rendered":"Culturally tailored text messages improve Alzheimer\u2019s education among African-Americans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Culturally tailored text messages improve Alzheimer\u2019s education among African-Americans<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
\n \n November 30, 2018<\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n \n
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A new USC study shows that older African-Americans who received culturally tailored text messages about Alzheimer\u2019s disease had the highest increase in Alzheimer\u2019s disease literacy levels when compared with other participants.<\/p>\n

Researchers say the study, published in the American Journal for Geriatric Psychiatry, shows culturally competent educational formats are an important way to reduce health disparities.<\/p>\n

While a cure for Alzheimer\u2019s remains elusive, experts agree that earlier diagnosis provides greater treatment and planning options \u2014 including organizing ongoing care and planning for financial and social well-being \u2014 for patients and caregivers.<\/p>\n

Enter the BrainWorks study by\u00a0Karen Lincoln<\/a>, an associate professor at the\u00a0USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work<\/a>\u00a0and founder of Advocates for African American Elders at the\u00a0USC Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging. The study tested an intervention that began with participants attending an hourlong\u00a0\u201ctalk show\u201d<\/a>\u00a0in an African-American community setting that delivered information about Alzheimer\u2019s. The next phase incorporated a monthlong regimen of daily text messages to promote Alzheimer\u2019s literacy \u2014 defined as knowledge about the disease and understanding of its causes, consequences, symptoms and treatment.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlzheimer\u2019s education is important for everyone,\u201d Lincoln said. \u201cHowever, increasing Alzheimer\u2019s literacy among African-Americans is crucial for increasing their awareness of their personal risk for the disease, improving care, reducing disparities and ultimately enhancing the quality of life of people diagnosed and their caregivers.\u201d<\/p>\n