HMN 2025: How Alzheimer’s disease digital resources are lacking for Latinos, Hispanics in Los Angeles years after COVID-19

Although Latinos and Hispanics are at elevated risk for Alzheimer’s disease and account for almost half of Los Angeles County’s population, a recent UCLA Health study finds that accessible digital resources for these communities remain in short supply since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, found only a handful of the 15 websites from the county’s top Alzheimer’s disease organizations had features or tools to improve access for Latino and Hispanic families during and amid the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senior author Dr. Mirella Diaz-Santos said the pandemic has only widened the existing digital divide among Latino and Hispanic communities as more health care tools and resources migrated online.

“The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in Latino and Hispanic communities is estimated to triple by 2040. Yet, the digital divide keeps too many families from accessing essential Alzheimer’s resources,” said Diaz-Santos, director and founder of the Equity for Latinx-Hispanic Healthy Aging (ELHA) Lab at the UCLA Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Care.

“It is critical that we develop accessible, culturally competent digital solutions to close this gap.”

In the study, researchers evaluated 15 of Los Angeles County’s top Alzheimer’s disease organizations or institutions, including UCLA, based on four criteria: type and number of services available in Spanish; web accessibility tools; support for familial dialog and community-based approaches, or “familismo”; and the inclusion of linguistic or cultural barriers. The initial survey took place in early 2022 with an additional post-hoc evaluation occurring in early 2025.

Of the 15 websites, the study found:

• Four offered Spanish-language services in 2022; up to six in 2025.
• Five offered web accessibility tools (font size adjustments, screen reader compatibility) in 2022; down to four in 2025.
• Two included support for familial dialog and community-based approaches in 2022; up to three in 2025.
• Structural barriers included required email sign-ups, English-language forms, and limited Spanish-speaking support staff impeded access.

While the findings are limited to Los Angeles institutions, the findings serve as a case study of how digital health disparities can be addressed for populations at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, Diaz-Santos said.

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