title: Development and validation of the Alzheimer's prevention beliefs measure in a multi-ethnic cohort-a behavioral theory approach.
abstract: Understanding health beliefs and how they influence willingness will enable the development of targeted curricula that maximize public engagement in Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk reduction behaviors.
  
  
  
  Literature on behavioral theory and community input was used to develop and validate a health beliefs survey about AD risk reduction among 428 community-dwelling adults. Principal component analysis was performed to assess internal consistency. Linear regression was performed to identify key predictors of Willingness to engage in AD risk reduction behaviors.
  
  
  
  The measure as well as the individual scales (Benefits, Barriers, Severity, Susceptibility and Social Norm) were found to be internally consistent. Overall, as Benefits and Barriers scores increased, Willingness scores also increased. Those without prior AD experience or family history had lower willingness scores. Finally, we observed an interaction between age and norms, suggesting that social factors related to AD prevention may differentially affect people of different ages.
  
  
  
  The Alzheimer Prevention Beliefs Measure provides assessment of several health belief factors related to AD prevention. Age, Family History, Logistical Barriers and total Benefits are significant determinants of willingness to engage in AD risk reduction behaviors, such as seeing a doctor or making a lifestyle change.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Division of Memory Disorders, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, 525 East 68th Street, F-610, New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seifan
authors.affiliation: Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, Hunter College 425 E 25th Street, Rm 429, New York, NY 10010, USA.
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ganzer
authors.affiliation: College of Human Ecology, Division of Nutritional Science, Cornell University, 170 Martha Van Rensselaer Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853-4401, USA.
authors.forename: Francoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vermeylen
authors.affiliation: College of Human Ecology, Division of Nutritional Science, Cornell University, 170 Martha Van Rensselaer Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853-4401, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medicine, Clinical and Translational Science Center, 407 East 61st Street, second Floor RR-214, New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Jifeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medicine, Clinical and Translational Science Center, 407 East 61st Street, second Floor RR-214, New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, 525 East 68th Street, F-616, New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Isaacson
authors.affiliation: Australian National University College of Medicine Biology and Environment, Centre for Research on Aging, Health & Wellbeing, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D057566:Self Report / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: beliefs; health promotion; measurement