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Table 2 Percentage of Participants Who Correctly Answered Each ADKS Item (n = 186), by Ethnicity

From: Knowledge and perceptions of Alzheimer’s disease in three ethnic groups of younger adults in the United Kingdom

ADKS item

Domain

Answer

White

(n = 125; 67.2%)

Black

(n = 31; 16.7%)

Asian

(n = 30; 16.1%)

Total

(n = 186; 100%)

1. People with Alzheimer’s disease are particularly prone to depression.

Life Impact

True

49 (39.2%)

18 (58.1%)

14 (46.7%)

81 (43.5%)

2. It has been scientifically proven that mental exercise can prevent a person from getting Alzheimer’s disease.

Risk Factors

False

25 (20.0%)

4 (12.9%)

3 (10.0%)

32 (17.2%)

3. After symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease appear, the average life expectancy is 6 to 12 years.

Course of the Disease

True

43 (34.4%)

8 (25.8%)

6 (20.0%)

57 (30.6%)

4. When a person with Alzheimer’s disease becomes agitated, a medical examination might reveal other health problems that caused the agitation.

Assessment and Diagnosis

True

55 (44.0%)

18 (58.1%)

10 (33.3%)

83 (44.6%)

5. People with Alzheimer’s disease do best with simple, instructions giving one step at a time.

Caregiving

True

99 (79.2%)

23 (74.2%)

25 (83.3%)

147 (79.0%)

6. When people with Alzheimer’s disease begin to have difficulty taking care of themselves, caregivers should take over right away.

Caregiving

False

35 (28.0%)

7 (22.6%)

9 (30.0%)

51 (27.4%)

7. If a person with Alzheimer’s disease becomes alert and agitated at night, a good strategy is to try to make sure that the person gets plenty of physical activity during the day.

Caregiving

True

54 (43.2%)

12 (38.7%)

14 (46.7%)

80 (43.0%)

8. In rare cases, people have recovered from Alzheimer’s disease.

Course of the Disease

False

55 (44.0%)

10 (32.3%)

10 (33.3%)

75 (40.3%)

9. People whose Alzheimer’s disease is not yet severe can benefit from psychotherapy for depression and anxiety.

Treatment and Management

True

62 (49.6%)

19 (61.3%)

15 (50.0%)

96 (51.6%)

10. If trouble with memory and confused thinking appears suddenly, it is likely due to Alzheimer’s disease.

Assessment and Diagnosis

False

61 (48.8%)

21 (67.7%)

10 (33.3%)

92 (49.5%)

11. Most people with Alzheimer’s disease live in nursing homes.

Life Impact

False

51 (40.8%)

10 (32.3%)

13 (43.3%)

74 (39.8%)

12. Poor nutrition can make the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease worse.

Treatment and Management

True

57 (45.6%)

16 (51.6%)

8 (26.7%)

81 (43.5%)

13. People in their 30s can have Alzheimer’s disease.

Risk Factors

True

62 (49.6%)

16 (51.6%)

15 (50.0%)

93 (50.0%)

14. A person with Alzheimer’s disease becomes increasingly likely to fall down as the disease gets worse.

Course of the Disease

True

67 (53.6%)

15 (48.4%)

13 (43.3%)

95 (51.1%)

15. When people with Alzheimer’s disease repeat the same question or story several times, it is helpful to remind them that they are repeating themselves.

Caregiving

False

67 (53.6%)

15 (48.4%)

9 (30.0%)

91 (48.9%)

16. Once people have Alzheimer’s disease, they are no longer capable of making informed decisions about their own care.

Caregiving

False

49 (39.2%)

11 (35.5%)

12 (40.0%)

72 (38.7%)

17. Eventually, a person with Alzheimer’s disease will need 24­hour supervision

Course of the Disease

True

83 (66.4%)

15 (48.4%)

18 (60.0%)

116 (62.4%)

18. Having high cholesterol may increase a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Risk Factors

True

26 (20.8%)

4 (12.9%)

6 (20.0%)

36 (19.4%)

19. Tremor or shaking of the hands or arms is a common symptom in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Symptoms

False

46 (36.8%)

6 (19.4%)

6 (20.0%)

58 (31.2%)

20. Symptoms of severe depression can be mistaken for symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Assessment and Diagnosis

True

49 (39.2%)

11 (35.5%)

7 (23.3%)

67 (36.0%)

21. Alzheimer’s disease is one type of dementia.

Assessment and Diagnosis

True

86 (68.8%)

23 (74.2%)

22 (73.3%)

131 (70.4%)

22. Trouble handling money or paying bills is a common early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease.

Symptoms

True

52 (41.6%)

11 (35.5%)

9 (30.0%)

72 (38.7%)

23. One symptom that can occur with Alzheimer’s disease is believing that other people are stealing one’s things.

Symptoms

True

71 (56.8%)

17 (54.8%)

10.(33.3%)

98(52.7%)

24. When a person has Alzheimer’s disease, using reminder notes is a crutch that can contribute to decline.

Treatment and Management

False

43 (34.4%)

10 (32.3%)

7 (23.3%)

60 (32.3%)

25. Prescription drugs that prevent Alzheimer’s disease are available.

Risk Factors

False

56 (44.8%)

14 (45.2%)

9 (30.0%)

79 (42.5%)

26. Having high blood pressure may increase a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Risk Factors

True

22 (17.6%)

4 (12.9%)

10 (33.3%)

36 (19.4%)

27. Genes can only partially account for the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Risk Factors

True

84 (67.2%)

20 (64.5%)

14 (46.7%)

118 (63.4%)

28. It is safe for people with Alzheimer’s disease to drive, as long as they have a companion in the car at all times.

Life Impacts

False

84 (67.2%)

26 (83.9%)

19 (63.3%)

129 (69.4%)

29. Alzheimer’s disease cannot be cured.

Treatment and Management

True

80 (64.0%)

16 (51.6%)

19 (63.3%)

115 (61.8%)

30. Most people with Alzheimer’s disease remember recent events better than things that happened in the past.

Symptoms

False

73 (58.4%)

11 (36.7%)

17 (56.7%)

101 (54.6%)

Total Mean ADKS Score

  

14.0 (SD ± 5.6)

13.3 (SD ± 4.7)

12.0 (SD ± 5.6)

13.5 (SD ± 5.5)