Emory University neuroscientist Negar Fani and Harvard Medical School psychiatrist Nathaniel Harnett have revealed that racial discrimination can lead to significant brain alterations and increased disease risk, particularly dementia, in Black populations. Their research, part of the nearly two-decade-long Grady Trauma Project, focuses on the trauma and stress experienced by Black individuals in Atlanta, Georgia.
The findings come at a time when the United States is grappling with a racial reckoning, highlighted by the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black communities. This public health crisis has cast a spotlight on the persistent health disparities that have been documented by researchers for years. Black Americans face a notably higher risk of developing health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and dementia, with the risk of Alzheimer’s disease being twice as high as that of white individuals.
The research team’s work indicates that the daily experiences of racism—ranging from overt threats to subtle exclusions—translate into tangible increases in disease risk. The societal invalidation that often accompanies racial trauma exacerbates its invisibility and insidious effects on health.
This emerging understanding of how discrimination affects biology and overall health is crucial in addressing the systemic issues that contribute to health disparities. The study underscores the need for a broader recognition of the role of racism in public health and the development of interventions that target these deep-rooted inequities.
See “Racism Causes Brain Changes, Ups Dementia Risk in Black Populations” by Negar Fani and Nathaniel Harnett on the BeingPatient website (February 8th, 2024)
