Association Between Generational Trauma and Progressive Dementia Types

Abstract

BIPOC individuals (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color) aged 75+ in the U.S. are over 4 times more likely to die from dementia than non-BIPOC individuals. Generational trauma and the epigenetic effects of stress could be a critical underlying factor for this stark difference. To date, no large-scale quantitative studies have explored the relationship between generational trauma and dementia. A first step in addressing that gap is to establish racial disparities in the rates of dementia between racial/ethnic communities. This project investigates whether, Black/African American, Indigenous/Native American, and Latinx American individuals have a higher rate of death due to dementia than White/European Americans. Mortality data from years 2017 through 2019 was gathered from the CDC WONDER public database. Results suggest that there are differences in the rate of dementia deaths between the racial/ethnic groups (p < .001). The difference in dementia mortality rates between the white/European group and the BIPOC groups is alarming and raises many questions as to why this is. Generational trauma and epigenetic stress could be a potential reason, however there is very little research discussing this theory or the phenomenon of generational trauma in general. This investigation opens a discussion regarding accurate reporting and surveillance documentation, especially regarding vulnerable communities. With a better understanding of generational trauma and the transgenerational effects of stress we can better understand the importance of trauma-informed care and in turn create and implement appropriate, effective, culturally relevant preventative strategies targeted for individuals who are uniquely predisposed to dementia.