Underrepresentation of African-Americans in Alzheimer's Trials: A Call for Affirmative Action

Personalized medicine aims to tailor diagnosis and treatment based on an individual's personal genetic make-up and other predictive biomarkers-rather than a one-size fits all approach. African-Americans comprise 13.2% of the U.S. population (U.S. Census Bureau, 2014) and minorities (consisting of all but non-Hispanic Caucasian), now 37% of the U.S. population, are projected to reach closer to 57% in 2060 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012). Indeed in coming decades minority population, including African-Americans, may exceed the Caucasian population in the U.S.