April is National Minority Health Month, a time to address the health disparities that disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minority communities. Black adults are twice as likely, and Hispanic adults 1.5 times as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease compared to white adults. Yet, they often face systemic barriers to receiving timely and effective care.  One of the most pressing challenges is their underrepresentation in clinical research, which directly affects the development of effective treatments for all populations.

Despite making up a large portion of the U.S. population, racial and ethnic minorities are significantly underrepresented in clinical trials. According to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), in 2020, 75% of clinical trial participants were white, while only 11% were Hispanic, 8% were Black, and 6% were Asian. This lack of diversity skews research findings and their applicability across populations.

Barriers to participation include mistrust of healthcare system, difficulty accessing trial sites, lack of awareness, and inequalities in trial design that create financial, cultural, and medical challenges – factors that prevent many from engaging in research that could improve care. This month serves as a call to action to ensure equitable access to early diagnosis, treatment, and care. To close this gap, we must break down barriers that prevent participation in clinical trials. Expanding diversity in research is essential to ensuring that every person affected by Alzheimer’s disease receives the most effective care possible.