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Dr Mitzi Joi Williams: We Need More Education on MS Presentation in Minority Populations
Mitzi Joi Williams, MD, FAAN, medical director and CEO, Joi Life Wellness Neurology Clinic, addresses several reasons that have potential to delay a correct multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis in minority patient populations, including social determinants of health.
Mitzi Joi Williams, MD, FAAN, medical director and CEO, Joi Life Wellness Neurology Clinic, in an interview from this year’s American Academy of Neurology annual meeting, addresses several reasons that have potential to delay a correct multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis in minority patient populations, including social determinants of health (SDOH).
Transcript
Beyond SDOH, what might lead to a delayed MS diagnosis in minority and underserved patient populations?
I think that the biggest reason that we may see delay in diagnosis is social determinants of health. But I think also, there needs to be more education amongst the general medical community. When most of us came through training, we thought of MS as a disease of young white European women or women of European descent, and so because the symptoms of MS can mimic many other conditions—they often may resolve after a couple of weeks—it's important for people to think about MS in these populations and to recognize that anyone can get MS. And just like it may be high on the list for a young White woman presenting with certain symptoms, it should also be high on the list for people of Black and African American, as well as Hispanic and Latinx, descent.
Laundromats as a New Frontier in Community Health, Medicaid Outreach
May 29th 2025Lindsey Leininger, PhD, and Allister Chang, MPA, highlight the potential of laundromats as accessible, community-based settings to support Medicaid outreach, foster trust, and connect families with essential health and social services.
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Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias Cause Surging Economic Burden for Minoritized Communities
June 5th 2025African American and Latino older adults with Alzheimer disease and related dementias and their families are likely to face disproportionately high burdens, primarily associated with unpaid caregiving, suggesting the need for policies that may reduce economic burdens for all US residents.
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