Culturally Tailored Text Messages Improve Alzheimer's Education Among African Americans

A University of Southern California (USC) study published in the American Journal for Geriatric Psychiatry showed that older African Americans who received culturally tailored text messages about Alzheimer's had the highest increase in Alzheimer's literacy levels compared with other participants, reports USC News . The assessed intervention started with participants attending a 60-minute "talk show" in an African American community setting that delivered information about the disease, followed by a month-long regimen of daily text messages to promote Alzheimer's literacy (defined as knowledge about the disease and understanding of its causes, effects, symptoms, and treatment). One cohort received standard printed materials on Alzheimer's and attended the talk show, while a second received the same materials, attended the talk show, and also were given daily text messages to "nudge" people to engage in healthy brain behaviors. A third group received all of these materials in addition to text messages that addressed the same kind of information as the general messages while using colloquialisms, language, and style that is more resonant with older African Americans. All three cohorts exhibited quantifiable growth in Alzheimer's literacy from baseline, but the group that received the culturally tailored text messages had the greatest literacy increases.