Graduation Year

2024

Date of Submission

12-2023

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Neuroscience

Second Department

W.M. Keck Science Department

Reader 1

Brian Duistermars

Reader 2

Tessa Solomon-Lane

Rights Information

Cristi J Cruz

Abstract

Healthcare disparities exist in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) based on race and socioeconomic status (SES). The lack of representation of minority groups within the healthcare field, physicians’ implicit biases against minority groups, the extensive and expensive treatment for AD, and the negative effects of social determinants of health all influence whether a person with AD can receive care and the quality of care they receive. Through a review of existing literature on AD and healthcare treatment, this paper aims to explore healthcare disparities between the treatment of Black/Latinx and white Alzheimer’s patients. This paper also describes the formation of a Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) and simulates data to observe the effect of a PFAC on the quality of medical care, patient comfort with the physician, patients feeling heard by the physician, and feeling that their suggestions were implemented to improve overall hospital service, based on race and SES.

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This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.

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