Perceived Discrimination in Health Care for LGBTQIA+ People Living With Parkinson's Disease

Safer dementia care spaces: Perspectives from LGBTQ+ people with cognitive impairment and caregivers

The number of caregivers and people living with dementia and other related forms of cognitive impairment is increasing worldwide. Compared to heterosexual and cisgender individuals, studies suggest that lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, or other sexual and/or gender minority people (LGBTQ+) are at a higher risk for known risk factors for cognitive impairment and dementia, stemming from minority stress experiences. Limited research has explored the distinct obstacles that LGBTQ+ people with cognitive impairment and caregivers encounter, especially within dementia care. The purpose of this study was to deepen our understanding regarding LGBTQ+ people with cognitive impairment and caregivers' experiences with dementia care spaces, and to identify the strategies that they perceive as effective in creating safer and more inclusive spaces. Fourteen LGBTQ+ participants aged 27-78 (M = 58.07), consisting of two individuals with cognitive impairment and 12 caregivers, were interviewed about the care needs of LGBTQ+ people with cognitive impairment and caregivers, and their experiences with dementia care spaces. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identified three overarching themes from the data, indicating that LGBTQ+ people with cognitive impairment and caregivers feel left "on the margins" of dementia care and express a desire for their identities to be celebrated and recognized. Additionally, they proposed recommendations for policy change to foster safer and more inclusive spaces for dementia care. The findings call attention to the negative experiences of LGBTQ+ people with cognitive impairment and caregivers with dementia care, but also highlight the ways in which care practices can be transformed to effectively address their care needs.

Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Experiences During, Awareness of, and Attitudes Toward Research for People With Parkinson Disease

Background and Objectives

Presentation, progression, and treatment of Parkinson disease (PD) can differ based on sex and gender. However, knowledge on PD is limited by the characteristics of research participants, and most of the participants are men. In this study, we aimed to identify the attitudes toward and barriers to research participation for people with PD (PwP) based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Fox Insight on March 16, 2023, for PwP who completed the Attitudes and Beliefs Regarding Research and Genetic Testing for PD. Responses were compared between sexual and gender minorities (SGM) (n = 136), cisgender heterosexual women (n = 1,479), and cisgender heterosexual men (n = 1,445). Associations between age, socioeconomic variables, and the responses that differed between the groups were assessed with linear models.

Results

More than 68% of the participants were willing to participate in research; only 43.7% heard about research opportunities, and 52.3% knew where to find a study. Approximately 86.8% of the participants reported hearing about a study from their doctor would make them more likely to participate. A higher percentage of SGM were concerned about transportation and researchers not understanding or respecting their beliefs; a higher percentage of cisgender heterosexual women were concerned about transportation, data privacy, and their family's reaction to genetic results; and a higher percentage of cisgender heterosexual men were concerned about time required for research activities and complex forms. Age and socioeconomic variables were significantly associated with approach toward research that differed between the groups.

Discussion

PwP are willing to participate in research, and health care providers can facilitate their participation. Barriers to research participation related to sexual and gender identity exist and must be addressed to increase our understanding of PD in underrepresented populations.

Risk of impairment in cognitive instrumental activities of daily living for sexual and gender minority adults with reported Parkinson's disease

Objective: To investigate the risk of impairment in cognitive instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) for people with Parkinson's (PwP) identifying as sexual and/or gender minorities (SGM). Method: Data were obtained from Fox Insight, an online, longitudinal study with self/informant-report questionnaires from PwP and people without Parkinson's. Groups consisted of PwP without cognitive IADL impairment at baseline, identifying as (1) SGM with female sex assigned at birth (SGM-F, n = 75); (2) cisgender, heterosexual with female sex assigned at birth (CH-F, n = 2046); (3) SGM with male sex assigned at birth (SGM-M, n = 84); (4) cisgender, heterosexual with male sex assigned at birth (CH-M, n = 2056). Impairment in cognitive IADL was based on Penn Parkinson's Daily Activities Questionnaire-15 (PDAQ-15). Group differences for PDAQ-15 and impairment likelihood during follow-up were assessed with unadjusted models and adjusting for variables that differed between the groups. Results: SGM-F were the youngest at Parkinson's diagnosis; SGM-M had the lowest PDAQ-15 at baseline (p ≤ .014 for all). Scores declined more for males than females in unadjusted and adjusted models (p < .001 for both). In unadjusted models, SGM-M had a higher impairment risk than PwP identifying as cisgender and heterosexual (p ≤ .018). In adjusted models, females had a lower impairment risk than males (p < .001). Age, education, and discrimination level were significant moderators (p < .001 for all). Conclusions: SGM-M can be at a higher risk for impairment in cognitive IADL, associated with social determinants. Female sex assigned at birth may be associated with a lower level of impairment risk, although this advantage can disappear with social determinants.

Neurological care for LGBT+ people

Sexual and gender minority (LGBT+) people face unique health disparities that must be considered by health-care providers to ensure equitable and inclusive care. Although traditionally LGBT+ health has not been integrated into neurology training, sexual orientation and gender identity have direct relevance to neurological health, driven by both systemic and interpersonal factors. In this Review, we summarize the evidence for associations between sexual orientation and gender identity with the prevalence and outcomes of various neurological conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, stroke and neurodevelopmental disorders, among others. We describe important clinical considerations pertaining to LGBT+ people and recommend language and practices to promote inclusive care, as well as highlight gaps in need of further research and possible strategies to minimize these, including systematic collection of sexual orientation and gender identity and use of inclusive language.

Sex differences for clinical correlates of substantia nigra neuron loss in people with Lewy body pathology

BACKGROUND

Lewy body dementia (LBD) phenotype is associated with the presence and degree of Lewy body, Alzheimer's pathologies, and substantia nigra neuron loss. Nigral neuron loss is associated with parkinsonism in LBD, and females with LBD are less likely than males to have parkinsonism. As sex differences were reported for clinical correlates of Lewy body and Alzheimer's pathologies, we aimed to investigate whether there are also sex differences for correlates of nigral neuron loss.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center for females (n = 159) and males (n = 263) with brainstem, limbic, and neocortical Lewy body pathology. Sex differences for the nigral neuron loss' association with Lewy body pathology staging and core clinical LBD features (cognitive fluctuations, visual hallucinations, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, parkinsonism) during follow-up were analyzed with generalized linear models adjusting for age and Alzheimer's pathology staging. Whether any of the core clinical features at the time of dementia onset can predict underlying nigral neuron loss for females and males were also analyzed with generalized linear models.

RESULTS

Compared to males, females died older and had higher levels of Braak tau staging, but had similar levels of Lewy body pathology staging and nigral neuron loss. Females were less likely than males to have a clinical Lewy body disease diagnosis during follow-up. More advanced Lewy body pathology staging was associated with more nigral neuron loss, more so for males than females. More nigral neuron loss was associated with parkinsonism and clinical LBD diagnosis during follow-up, more so for males than females. Across the subgroup with dementia (40 females, 58 males), core LBD features at first visit with dementia were not associated with nigral neuron loss.

CONCLUSIONS

Nigral neuron loss' association with Lewy body pathology staging and core LBD features can differ by sex. Compared to males, females with Lewy body pathology have a higher risk of underdiagnosis. There is a need to elucidate the mechanisms underlying sex differences for pathology and clinicopathological correlations to advance diagnostic and therapeutic efforts in LBD.