A recent study led by the University of California, Irvine, reveals that machine learning algorithms can effectively predict two-year dementia risk among American Indian and Alaska Native elders. This research, published in The Lancet Regional Health—Americas, highlights the potential of AI to address health disparities in these historically underserved communities. The study utilized electronic health records to develop predictive models, identifying several new predictors for dementia diagnosis. These findings are particularly significant given the projected increase in the population of older American Indian and Alaska Native adults, which is expected to nearly triple between 2020 and 2060. Dementia, a leading…
Author: Disparity Matters
A new national study reveals that Black men and women are experiencing a rapidly growing burden of fatal drug overdoses, surpassing their White counterparts in mortality rates and years of potential life lost. Researchers analyzed over 518,000 unintentional drug poisoning deaths from 2010 to 2020 and found that Black men now have the highest age-adjusted mortality rate—23.25 per 100,000—surpassing White men by 2016 and widening the gap through 2020.The study also found that Black women’s overdose mortality rate overtook that of White women by 2019. Maryland saw the most dramatic increase for Black men, with a 485.4% rise in overdose…
Black women in the United States are significantly more likely to undergo cesarean sections than white women—even when medical risk, hospital, and physician are the same. A recent study led by economist Molly Schnell at Northwestern’s Institute for Policy Research found that Black mothers were over 20% more likely to have a C-section, despite preferring vaginal birth and having no greater medical need.“Our findings are another data point in a large and troubling literature showing how the U.S. healthcare system too often leaves certain mothers and certain patients behind,” Schnell said. The study analyzed birth records from New Jersey hospitals…
A recent study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session reveals persistent racial disparities in survival rates for young athletes experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. The research, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, analyzed 641 cases of sudden cardiac arrest in athletes aged 11 to 29 from 2014 to 2023. The findings show that Black athletes and those of other non-White, non-Black races have significantly lower survival rates compared to their White counterparts.The study found that 57% of Black athletes and 54% of other non-White, non-Black athletes who suffered sudden cardiac arrest during exertion…
A recent report by the Alaska Beacon highlights the ongoing struggle of Native American tribes to gain access to their own health data, a critical step towards achieving health sovereignty. The article, authored by Nada Hassanein, details how tribes have been historically excluded from accessing health data collected by federal and state agencies, hindering their ability to address health disparities within their communities.Stephanie Russo Carroll, an associate professor of public health at the University of Arizona and a citizen of the Native Village of Kluti-Kaah, has been at the forefront of this fight. Carroll co-founded the U.S. Indigenous Data Sovereignty…
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that everyday discrimination significantly increases the risk of anxiety and depression across all demographic groups in the United States. The research, led by Monica Wang from Boston University, analyzed data from the 2023 National Health Interview Survey, which included nearly 30,000 U.S. adults. The study found that 56% of participants experienced at least occasional everyday discrimination, with 3.6% facing high levels of discrimination frequently.Everyday discrimination refers to subtle, routine ways people are treated unfairly based on characteristics such as skin color, perceived background, or general appearance. Examples include waiting longer for…
A recent report from the Steve Fund reveals encouraging mental health trends among students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The study, which surveyed over 1,800 HBCU students, challenges prevailing narratives about mental health disparities in minority communities.Contrary to expectations, HBCU students reported lower rates of anxiety and depression compared to their peers at predominantly white institutions (PWIs). Only 27% of HBCU students screened positive for anxiety, and 19% for depression, significantly lower than the national averages of 39% and 33% respectively.These findings highlight the unique supportive environment fostered by HBCUs. Students cited strong connections with faculty and staff,…
Black infants are less likely to receive breastmilk at six months compared to white infants—49 percent versus 61 percent. Breastfeeding offers lifelong health benefits, and unequal access to support can deepen health gaps that begin at birth.A recent randomized trial of over 2,000 new mothers found that telelactation—virtual visits with lactation consultants—can help close this gap. Among Black women who had access to telelactation, 65 percent were breastfeeding at six months postpartum, compared to 57 percent in the control group. That’s a meaningful improvement for both mothers and babies.Yet access to lactation support remains uneven. Many new mothers lose contact…
A recent study published in Neurology reveals that individuals living in disadvantaged neighborhoods are at a higher risk of developing dementia compared to those in more affluent areas. The research, led by Dr. Pankaja Desai of Rush University, analyzed data from 6,781 participants with an average age of 72, residing in four Chicago communities. The study found that people in neighborhoods with the highest levels of disadvantage were more than twice as likely to develop dementia as those in the least disadvantaged areas.Dr. Desai emphasized the importance of community-level factors in influencing dementia risk, noting that most studies focus on…
A recent study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session reveals that maternal mortality due to cardiovascular disease has more than doubled in the United States between 1999 and 2022. This alarming trend is particularly pronounced among Black women and those living in Southern states. Researchers analyzed data from the CDC’s Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database, finding that the rate increased from 3.6 per million in 1999 to a peak of 10.5 per million in 2021, before slightly declining to 9.1 per million in 2022. Dr. Mohammad Ahabab Hossain, the study’s lead author,…