2024 Alzheimer's Association Research Grant to Promote Diversity (AARG-D)

Optimising interpreter mediated dementia diagnostic assessments

How can we improve the way foreign language interpreters help doctors diagnose dementia?

Naaheed Mukadam, Ph.D.
University College London (UCL)
London, United Kingdom

Background

There is an increase in older adults from ethnically diverse backgrounds seeking medical care to address memory problems. For individuals who speak different languages, doctors may have difficulty in providing accurate and timely tests to diagnose  dementia or other cognitive impairment.

Foreign language interpreters can help avoid misunderstandings between the individual and their doctor and improve the process for individuals from diverse backgrounds. However, often the interpreter does not have experience or training with special memory tests, which may lead to difficulty in obtaining an accurate diagnosis.

Researchers in Australia are working to address this issue by offering a series of online workshops for interpreters that indicated significant improvement in dementia knowledge. While promising, the workshop has not yet been adapted for other countries.

Research Plan

Dr. Naaheed Mukadam and colleagues aim to improve the training for interpreters who assist in dementia care cases  in different European countries. The researchers will examine existing programs for interpreters that already exist, including the online workshops used in Australia. They will also use interviews, surveys and focus groups with interpreters, healthcare workers, and people with dementia to determine relevant topics to include  in the training program. To further test the training program,, the research team will translate the program for each country and have interpreters complete the program followed by a survey to understand the overall success of the training.

Impact

Results from this study may provide better dementia assessments and care for people from ethnically diverse backgrounds who speak different languages.