AFTD Director of Research Engagement Shana Dodge, PhD, presented data suggesting that obtaining an FTD diagnosis can be more difficult for Latino Americans in a June 4 interview with KJZZ, a Phoenix-based National Public Radio member station.

Drawing from data originally gathered for the FTD Insights Survey, conducted by AFTD and the FTD Disorders Registry from October 2020 through March 2021, Dr. Dodge said that more than half of Latino survey respondents (53 percent) said that they had been incorrectly diagnosed with a different condition before getting their FTD diagnosis. Just 43 percent of non-Latino respondents said they were first misdiagnosed.

“It’s really difficult to get a diagnosis for anyone; you need to really be very healthcare literate,” Dr. Dodge told KJZZ reporter Kathy Ritchie. “Most people find they really need to push to advocate for themselves or for their loved ones.”

An analysis of data gathered from Latino respondents to the FTD Insights Survey was first presented by FTD Disorders Registry Director Dianna Wheaton, MS, PhD, CHES, at the Latinos and Alzheimer’s Symposium in April.

FTD Insights Survey data informed the AFTD-hosted Externally Led Patient-Focused Drug Development meeting, held in March 2021.