Kandi Burruss revealed that her aunt Bertha Jones had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease during an Amazon Live session. The Grammy winner, actress, and beloved Bravolebrity shared the news in response to an inquiry about her Atlanta-based Old Lady Gang restaurant.
“We’re having a really hard time because my Aunt Bertha has Alzheimer’s,” Burruss told viewers of the live-streaming session.
We are twice as likely to get Alzheimer’s
“Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that mostly affects the elderly population worldwide, and which is characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive function,” according to the Journal of Biomedical Science. The CDC reports that it is a type of dementia that impacts 6.5 million people. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience reports that Black Americans are twice as likely to develop dementia as others.
Get familiar with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease can include severe memory loss, a drastic shift in personality, physical and psychological aggression, and sudden mood swings. It is a disease that can be extremely difficult for loved ones and caregivers to support the afflicted person through. They are forced to watch them transform into someone unfamiliar. This can cause mental and emotional distress.
How may this diagnosis impact Burruss, her family, and the restaurant
“If anyone’s ever dealt with somebody in your family going through that, and it gets worse, it’s not easy,” continued Burruss. “So…it’s a time.” She regained her composure after briefly appearing distressed due to the intimacy of the topic.
Burruss went on to change the subject, expressing that she did want to get “emotional” when discussing her aunt.
Old Lady Gang is a soul food eatery that offers “delicious down-home Southern recipes” developed by Jones, Burruss’ mother, “Mama” Joyce Jones, and Burruss’ other aunt, Nora Wilcox. Burruss and her husband, Todd Tucker, came up with the idea for the restaurant in 2016. The family shared their journey opening Old Lady Gang on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, where Burruss was a cast member.
Bertha played a minor role with a major impact on the reality show. She became a fan favorite when she uttered the memorable catchphrase “a scheme that Todd set up” during episode 13 of season 7. This is often quoted on social media, where people mimic her memorable expression during the scene. Patrons flooded the restaurant, hoping for a glimpse of Bertha’s trademark snark to accompany their meals.
Alzheimer’s and Women, Especially Black Women
Women have double the chance of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease as men.
A 2023 article in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience reported that Black women have a “disproportionately high risk” for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
The same article detailed how Black women face barriers to accessing treatment that could diagnose them faster and help them navigate. Those barriers are particularly troubling as many are not diagnosed during the preclinical phase, where symptoms have not yet begun manifesting in the patient.
This phase often occurs in midlife, and recent studies have theorized that there could be a connection between Alzheimer’s disease and the onset of perimenopause and menopause.
But in our day-to-day lives, The Journal of PEC Innovation reports that we don’t have an acute perception of the risks hanging over our heads in our community about developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Our Lifestyle Puts Us at Increased Risk for Dementia
Lifestyle can impact one’s risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. The CDC identifies binge drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and failing to exercise routinely as modifiable habits to reduce risk.
Other risks for Alzheimer’s disease include the presence of cerebrovascular diseases, depression, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and dyslipidemia.
Resources
Neurodegenerative Disorders
Journal of Biomedical Science: Alzheimer’s disease risk factors
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience: Black Americans are twice as likely to develop dementia as others
NIH: What Are the Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease?
Nature Medicine: Women are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as men, but scientists don’t know why.
