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Camacho D, Pacheco K, Moxley J, Aranda MP, Reid C, Wethington E. Loneliness and global cognitive functioning in racially and ethnically diverse US midlife and older adults. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1344044. [PMID: 38962235 PMCID: PMC11221402 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1344044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Few studies have examined the association of loneliness and cognitive functioning in the US. We used two common measures of loneliness and examined their association in a large sample of US Black, Latino, and White adults (ages ≥ 50). Methods We analyzed Wave 3 of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (N = 2,757). We examined loneliness using one item from the CES-D and the Felt Loneliness Measure (NFLM); cognitive functioning was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tool, where higher scores indicated better functioning. We used weighted ordinary least squares regressions to examine the effects of loneliness (CES-D loneliness and NFLM in separate models) on MoCA scores. In exploratory analyses, we examined if these relationships varied by race and ethnicity. We adjusted all models for sociodemographic and other salient factors (e.g., chronic disease, depressive symptoms, living alone). Results Mean age was 63.49 years, 52% were female, and 9% were Black and 6% Latino persons. Approximately 54% endorsed feeling lonely on at least one measure; 31% (CES-D) and 46% (NFLM). The relationship between loneliness measures was positive and significant, X 2 (1, N = 2,757) = 435.493 p < 0.001. However, only 40% of lonely individuals were identified as lonely on both assessments. CES-D loneliness was inversely (βˆ = -0.274, p = 0.032) associated with MoCA scores and this association did not vary by race and ethnicity. Greater NFLM loneliness was positively associated (βˆ = 0.445, p < 0.001) with higher MoCA scores for Latino participants only. Discussion Loneliness appears to be an important predictor of cognitive functioning. However, the association of loneliness and cognitive functioning varied when using the CES-D loneliness item or the NFLM. Future work is needed to understand how loneliness and its clinically relevant dimensions (social, emotional, existential, chronicity) relate to global and individual cognitive domains. Research is needed with racially and ethnically diverse midlife and older adults, particularly to understand our counterintuitive finding for Latino participants. Finally, findings also support the need for research on interventions to prevent cognitive decline targeting loneliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Camacho
- Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Kelly Pacheco
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jerad Moxley
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Maria P. Aranda
- USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Edward R. Roybal Institute on Aging, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Cary Reid
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Elaine Wethington
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
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Janssen I, Powell LH, Dugan SA, Derby CA, Kravitz HM. Cardiovascular Health, Race, and Decline in Cognitive Function in Midlife Women: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. J Am Heart Assoc 2024; 13:e031619. [PMID: 38656121 PMCID: PMC11179880 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.031619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive decline may progress for decades before dementia onset. Better cardiovascular health (CVH) has been related to less cognitive decline, but it is unclear whether this begins early, for all racial subgroups, and all domains of cognitive function. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of CVH on decline in the 2 domains of cognition that decline first in White and Black women at midlife. METHODS AND RESULTS Subjects were 363 Black and 402 White women, similar in baseline age (mean±SD, 46.6±3.0 years) and education (15.7±2.0 years), from the Chicago site of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Cognition, measured as processing speed and working memory, was assessed annually or biennially over a maximum of 20 years (mean±SD, 9.8±6.7 years). CVH was measured as Life's Essential 8 (blood pressure, body mass index, glucose, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking, physical activity, diet, sleep). Hierarchical linear mixed models identified predictors of cognitive decline with progressive levels of adjustment. There was a decline in processing speed that was explained by race, age, and the 3-way interaction of race, CVH, and time (F1,4308=8.8, P=0.003). CVH was unrelated to decline in White women but in Black women poorer CVH was associated with greater decline. Working memory did not decline in the total cohort, by race, or by CVH. CONCLUSIONS In midlife Black women, CVH promotion may be a target for preventing the beginnings of cognitive decline, thereby enhancing independent living with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imke Janssen
- Department of Family and Preventive MedicineRush University Medical CenterChicagoILUSA
| | - Lynda H. Powell
- Department of Family and Preventive MedicineRush University Medical CenterChicagoILUSA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesRush University Medical CenterChicagoILUSA
- Department of PharmacologyRush University Medical CenterChicagoILUSA
| | - Sheila A. Dugan
- Department of Family and Preventive MedicineRush University Medical CenterChicagoILUSA
- Department of Physical Medicine and RehabilitationRush University Medical CenterChicagoILUSA
| | - Carol A. Derby
- Department of Neurology and of Epidemiology and Population HealthAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronxNYUSA
| | - Howard M. Kravitz
- Department of Family and Preventive MedicineRush University Medical CenterChicagoILUSA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesRush University Medical CenterChicagoILUSA
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Rahmani A, Najand B, Sonnega A, Akhlaghipour G, Mendez MF, Assari S. Intersectional Effects of Race and Educational Attainment on Memory Function of Middle-Aged and Older Adults With Alzheimer's Disease. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024; 11:81-91. [PMID: 36576695 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-022-01499-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High educational attainment may protect individuals, particularly middle-aged and older adults, against a wide range of health risks, including memory decline with age; however, this protection is less clear in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). In addition, this effect may differ across racial groups. According to the Marginalized-Related Diminished Return (MDR) theory, for example, the protective effect of high educational attainment on mental and physical health shows a weaker protective effect for racial minority groups, particularly Black people compared to White individuals. OBJECTIVES This longitudinal study used data of middle-aged and older adults with AD with two aims: first, to test the association between educational attainment and memory, and second, to explore racial differences in this association in the USA. METHODS Data came from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) study. The total sample was 1673 American middle-aged and older adults. The independent variable was educational attainment measured as years of education. The main outcome was memory operationalized as Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) Verbal Forgetting percentage (VF%). Age, gender, and follow-up duration were covariates. Race was the effect modifier. Linear regression model was utilized to analyze the data. RESULTS Of all participants, 68 (4.1%) were Black, and the remaining were White, with a mean age of 75 years old. In the pooled sample, educational attainment did not show a significant association with memory, independent of confounders. Educational attainment showed a significant interaction with race on memory, with higher educational attainment having a different effect on memory in White patients compared to Black patients. CONCLUSION The effect of higher educational attainment on memory differs for Black patients with AD compared to White patients. To prevent cognitive disparities by race, we need to go beyond racial inequality in access to resources (e.g., education) and minimize diminished returns of educational attainment for racial minorities. To tackle health inequalities, social policies should not be limited to equalizing socioeconomic status but also help minority groups leverage their available resources, such as educational attainment, and secure tangible outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arash Rahmani
- Marginalized-Related Diminished Returns (MDRs) Research Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Babak Najand
- Marginalized-Related Diminished Returns (MDRs) Research Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Amanda Sonnega
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Golnoush Akhlaghipour
- Marginalized-Related Diminished Returns (MDRs) Research Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mario F Mendez
- Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shervin Assari
- Marginalized-Related Diminished Returns (MDRs) Research Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Family Medicine, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Urban Public Health, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Atilano-Barbosa D, Barrios FA. Brain morphological variability between whites and African Americans: the importance of racial identity in brain imaging research. Front Integr Neurosci 2023; 17:1027382. [PMID: 38192686 PMCID: PMC10773238 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2023.1027382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
In a segregated society, marked by a historical background of inequalities, there is a consistent under-representation of ethnic and racial minorities in biomedical research, causing disparities in understanding genetic and acquired diseases as well as in the effectiveness of clinical treatments affecting different groups. The repeated inclusion of small and non-representative samples of the population in neuroimaging research has led to generalization bias in the morphological characterization of the human brain. A few brain morphometric studies between Whites and African Americans have reported differences in orbitofrontal volumetry and insula cortical thickness. Nevertheless, these studies are mostly conducted in small samples and populations with cognitive impairment. For this reason, this study aimed to identify brain morphological variability due to racial identity in representative samples. We hypothesized that, in neurotypical young adults, there are differences in brain morphometry between participants with distinct racial identities. We analyzed the Human Connectome Project (HCP) database to test this hypothesis. Brain volumetry, cortical thickness, and cortical surface area measures of participants identified as Whites (n = 338) or African Americans (n = 56) were analyzed. Non-parametrical permutation analysis of covariance between these racial identity groups adjusting for age, sex, education, and economic income was implemented. Results indicated volumetric differences in choroid plexus, supratentorial, white matter, and subcortical brain structures. Moreover, differences in cortical thickness and surface area in frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital brain regions were identified between groups. In this regard, the inclusion of sub-representative minorities in neuroimaging research, such as African American persons, is fundamental for the comprehension of human brain morphometric diversity and to design personalized clinical brain treatments for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fernando A. Barrios
- Institute of Neurobiology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Juriquilla, Mexico
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Lor Y, George KM, Gilsanz P, Meunier CC, Peterson RL, Hayes-Larson E, Barnes LL, Mungas D, Whitmer RA. What is the association between adverse childhood experiences and late-life cognitive decline? Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans (STAR) cohort study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e072961. [PMID: 37918928 PMCID: PMC10626853 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with higher risk of chronic disease, but little is known about the association with late life cognitive decline. We examined the longitudinal association between ACEs and late-life cognitive decline in the Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans (STAR). DESIGN Linear mixed models with random intercepts and slope examined the association of individual and composite ACEs with cognitive change adjusting for years from baseline (timescale), baseline age, sex, parental education, childhood socioeconomic status and childhood social support. Participants reported whether they had experienced nine types of ACEs. Executive function and verbal episodic memory were measured up to three times over a 3-year period using the Spanish and English Neuropsychological Assessment Scales. SETTINGS Kaiser Permanente Northern California members living in the Bay Area. PARTICIPANTS STAR is a cohort study of cognitive ageing launched in 2018 that has enrolled 764 black Americans ages ≥50 years (mean age=67.5; SD=8.5). RESULTS Twenty-one per cent of participants reported no ACEs, 24% one ACE, 20% two ACEs, 17% three ACEs and 17% four or more ACEs. Compared with no ACEs, two ACEs (β=0.117; 95% CI 0.052 to 0.182), three ACEs (β=0.075; 95% CI 0.007 to 0.143) and four or more ACEs (β=0.089; 95% CI 0.002 to 0.158) were associated with less decline in executive function. There were no significant associations between number of ACEs and baseline or longitudinal verbal episodic memory or between individual ACEs and executive function or verbal episodic memory. CONCLUSION In this cohort of older black Americans, there was no association between ACEs and baseline cognition or cognitive change in verbal episodic memory; however, experiencing ≥ 2 ACEs was associated with less decline in executive function. These results may indicate that participants who survived to age 50+ and experienced ACEs may have cognitive resilience that warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Lor
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Kristen M George
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Paola Gilsanz
- Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Claire C Meunier
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Rachel L Peterson
- School of Public and Community Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Eleanor Hayes-Larson
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Lisa L Barnes
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Dan Mungas
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Rachel A Whitmer
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
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Wiese LAK, Gibson A, Guest MA, Nelson AR, Weaver R, Gupta A, Carmichael O, Lewis JP, Lindauer A, Loi S, Peterson R, Radford K, Rhodus EK, Wong CG, Zuelsdorff M, Saidi LG, Valdivieso-Mora E, Franzen S, Pope CN, Killian TS, Shrestha HL, Heyn PC, Ng TKS, Prusaczyk B, John S, Kulshreshtha A, Sheffler JL, Besser L, Daniel V, Tolea MI, Miller J, Musyimi C, Corkey J, Yank V, Williams CL, Rahemi Z, Park J, Magzamen S, Newton RL, Harrington C, Flatt JD, Arora S, Walter S, Griffin P, Babulal GM. Global rural health disparities in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias: State of the science. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:4204-4225. [PMID: 37218539 PMCID: PMC10524180 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Individuals living in rural communities are at heightened risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), which parallels other persistent place-based health disparities. Identifying multiple potentially modifiable risk factors specific to rural areas that contribute to ADRD is an essential first step in understanding the complex interplay between various barriers and facilitators. METHODS An interdisciplinary, international group of ADRD researchers convened to address the overarching question of: "What can be done to begin minimizing the rural health disparities that contribute uniquely to ADRD?" In this state of the science appraisal, we explore what is known about the biological, behavioral, sociocultural, and environmental influences on ADRD disparities in rural settings. RESULTS A range of individual, interpersonal, and community factors were identified, including strengths of rural residents in facilitating healthy aging lifestyle interventions. DISCUSSION A location dynamics model and ADRD-focused future directions are offered for guiding rural practitioners, researchers, and policymakers in mitigating rural disparities. HIGHLIGHTS Rural residents face heightened Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) risks and burdens due to health disparities. Defining the unique rural barriers and facilitators to cognitive health yields insight. The strengths and resilience of rural residents can mitigate ADRD-related challenges. A novel "location dynamics" model guides assessment of rural-specific ADRD issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Ann Kirk Wiese
- C.E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, USA
| | - Allison Gibson
- University of Kentucky College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Marc Aaron Guest
- Center for Innovation in Healthy and Resilient Aging, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Amy R Nelson
- Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine, Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA
| | - Raven Weaver
- Department of Human Development, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Aditi Gupta
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Neurology, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Owen Carmichael
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Jordan P Lewis
- Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Allison Lindauer
- Oregon Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Samantha Loi
- Neuropsychiatry, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rachel Peterson
- University of Montana School of Public and Community Health Sciences, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Kylie Radford
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Elizabeth K Rhodus
- University of Kentucky College of Social Work, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
- University of Kentucky College of Medicine, for Health Equity Transformation, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Christina G Wong
- Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Megan Zuelsdorff
- School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Ladan Ghazi Saidi
- Department of Communication Disorders, Center for Brain Biology and Behavior (CB3), University of Nebraska at Kearney, and Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Esmeralda Valdivieso-Mora
- Department of Psychology and Public Health, Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas, El Salvador, El Salvador
| | - Sanne Franzen
- Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Center, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Caitlin N Pope
- Department of Health, Behavior, & Society, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Timothy S Killian
- Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
| | - Hom L Shrestha
- School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patricia C Heyn
- Center for Optimal Aging, Department of Physical Therapy, Marymount University, Arlington, Virginia, USA
| | - Ted Kheng Siang Ng
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Beth Prusaczyk
- Institute for Informatics (I2), Center for Population Health Informatics at I2, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Samantha John
- Department of Brain Health, School of Integrated Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Ambar Kulshreshtha
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Division of Hospital Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Division of Hospital Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Julia L Sheffler
- Center for Translational Behavioral Science, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Lilah Besser
- Comprehensive Center for Brain Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Boca Raton, Florida, USA
| | - Valerie Daniel
- Comprehensive Center for Brain Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Boca Raton, Florida, USA
| | - Magdalena I Tolea
- Comprehensive Center for Brain Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Boca Raton, Florida, USA
| | - Justin Miller
- Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Christine Musyimi
- Africa Mental Health Research and Training Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Veronica Yank
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Christine L Williams
- C.E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, USA
| | - Zahra Rahemi
- Clemson School of Nursing, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
| | - JuYoung Park
- Sandler School of Social Work, College of Social Work and Criminal Justice, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, USA
| | - Sheryl Magzamen
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Robert L Newton
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | | | - Jason D Flatt
- School of Public Health, Department of Social & Behavioral Health, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA
| | - Sonakshi Arora
- Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - Sarah Walter
- Department of Clinical Research and Leadership, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Percy Griffin
- Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute, Alzheimer's Clinical Trials Consortium, University of Southern California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Ganesh M Babulal
- Scientific Engagement, Medical & Scientific Relations, Alzheimer's Association, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Savold J, Cole M, Thorpe RJ. Barriers and solutions to Alzheimer's disease clinical trial participation for Black Americans. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (NEW YORK, N. Y.) 2023; 9:e12402. [PMID: 37408664 PMCID: PMC10318422 DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Black Americans are disproportionately burdened by Alzheimer's disease (AD) relative to other racial groups in the United States and continue to be underrepresented in AD clinical trials. This review explores the primary barriers for participation in clinical trials among Black Americans and provides literature-based recommendations to improve the inclusion of Black Americans in AD clinical trials. Methods We searched electronic databases and gray literature for articles published in the United States through January 1, 2023, ultimately identifying 26 key articles for inclusion. Results Barriers to participation in clinical trials for Black Americans are rooted in social determinants of health, including access to quality education and information, access to health care, economic stability, built environment, and community context. Best practices to improve the inclusion of Black Americans in clinical trials require pharmaceutical companies to adopt a multifaceted approach, investing in innovative strategies for site selection, development of local partnerships, outreach, and education. Discussion While multisectoral action must occur to effectively address the disproportionate burden of AD on Black Americans, the pharmaceutical industry has an important part to play in this space due to their central role in product development and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Savold
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Michele Cole
- Global Market Access, Neuroscience Therapeutic AreaJohnson & JohnsonRaritanNew JerseyUSA
| | - Roland J. Thorpe
- Johns Hopkins Alzheimer's Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging ResearchBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Johns Hopkins Center for Health Disparities SolutionsBaltimoreMarylandUSA
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McDonough IM, Byrd DR, Choi SL. Resilience resources may buffer some middle-aged and older Black Americans from memory decline despite experiencing discrimination. Soc Sci Med 2023; 316:114998. [PMID: 35537879 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Experiences of discrimination have been associated with poorer episodic memory in Black Americans. However, resilience resources at multiple levels (individual, social, and endowed) may act as a buffer to protect future memory decline, especially in the face of discrimination. OBJECTIVE Using longitudinal data from the 2006-2016 Health and Retirement Study (N = 1862), we tested whether Black Americans aged 50 and older would show different trajectories of episodic memory depending on their reported experiences of discrimination (everyday and major lifetime) and resilience resources. METHODS Analyses were conducted in three steps: (1) joint latent cluster mixed modeling (JLCMM) to estimate the number of classes, (2) barycentric discriminant analyses (BADA) to model the combined influence of discrimination and resilience resources between each memory class, and (3) multinomial regression analyses to explore interactions between discrimination and resilience resources. RESULTS JLCMM resulted in three memory classes that differentiated baseline from longitudinal memory performance: "High Decliners," "Low Decliners," and "Low Stable." Two independent patterns described the relationships between the three classes in the context of discrimination and resilience resources. First, compared with High Decliners, the two lower baseline memory classes (Low Decliners and Low Stable) reported more everyday discrimination and lower individual and endowed resilience resources. Second, although the Low Stable class did not report different levels of discrimination, they had more social resilience resources (greater social support and more social contact) than both declining classes. CONCLUSIONS Black Americans in later life have heterogeneous patterns of memory trajectories as demonstrated by the three memory classes identified. Those with lower baseline memory experienced more everyday discrimination and had fewer resilience resources compared to those with high baseline performance (High Decliners). Greater social resilience resources were associated with maintained episodic memory over time in Black Americans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - DeAnnah R Byrd
- Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, USA
| | - Shinae L Choi
- Department of Consumer Sciences, The University of Alabama, USA
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Chen R, Weuve J, Misra S, Cuevas A, Kubzansky LD, Williams DR. Racial Disparities in Cognitive Function Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: The Roles of Cumulative Stress Exposures Across the Life Course. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2022; 77:357-364. [PMID: 33824971 PMCID: PMC8824673 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glab099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Racial disparities in cognitive function are well documented, but factors driving these disparities remain underexplored. This study aims to quantify the extent to which cumulative stress exposures across the life course explain Black-White disparities in executive function and episodic memory in middle-aged and older adults. METHOD Data were drawn from the 2004-2006 wave of the Midlife Development in the United States Study (MIDUS 2) and the MIDUS Refresher study (N = 5,947; 5,262 White and 685 Black). Cumulative stress exposures were assessed by 10 stressor domains (ie, childhood stress, stressful life events in adulthood, financial stress, work psychological stress, work physical stress, work-family conflicts, neighborhood disorder, relationship stress, perceived inequality, and perceived discrimination). Cognitive function was assessed using the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone. Marginal structural models were used to quantify the proportion of the effect of race/ethnicity status on cognitive function mediated through cumulative stress exposures. RESULTS After adjusting for age, sex, and sample, on average, Black participants had lower levels of executive function (difference: -0.83 SD units, 95% CI: -0.91, -0.75) and episodic memory (difference: -0.53 SD units, 95% CI: -0.60, -0.45) scores than White participants. Cumulative stress exposures accounted for 8.4% of the disparity in executive function and 13.2% of the disparity in episodic memory. CONCLUSIONS Cumulative stress exposures across the life course explained modest proportions of Black-White disparities in cognitive function in this large cross-sectional study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruijia Chen
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jennifer Weuve
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Supriya Misra
- Department of Public Health, San Francisco State University, California, USA
| | - Adolfo Cuevas
- Department of Community Health, School of Arts and Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Laura D Kubzansky
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David R Williams
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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10
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Rubin L, Ingram LA, Resciniti NV, Ashford-Carroll B, Leith KH, Rose A, Ureña S, McCollum Q, Friedman DB. Genetic Risk Factors for Alzheimer's Disease in Racial/Ethnic Minority Populations in the U.S.: A Scoping Review. Front Public Health 2021; 9:784958. [PMID: 35004586 PMCID: PMC8739784 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.784958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: As the United States (U.S.) population rapidly ages, the incidence of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRDs) is rising, with racial/ethnic minorities affected at disproportionate rates. Much research has been undertaken to test, sequence, and analyze genetic risk factors for ADRDs in Caucasian populations, but comparatively little has been done with racial/ethnic minority populations. We conducted a scoping review to examine the nature and extent of the research that has been published about the genetic factors of ADRDs among racial/ethnic minorities in the U.S. Design: Using an established scoping review methodological framework, we searched electronic databases for articles describing peer-reviewed empirical studies or Genome-Wide Association Studies that had been published 2005-2018 and focused on ADRD-related genes or genetic factors among underrepresented racial/ethnic minority population in the U.S. Results: Sixty-six articles met the inclusion criteria for full text review. Well-established ADRD genetic risk factors for Caucasian populations including APOE, APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2 have not been studied to the same degree in minority U.S. populations. Compared to the amount of research that has been conducted with Caucasian populations in the U.S., racial/ethnic minority communities are underrepresented. Conclusion: Given the projected growth of the aging population and incidence of ADRDs, particularly among racial/ethnic minorities, increased focus on this important segment of the population is warranted. Our review can aid researchers in developing fundamental research questions to determine the role that ADRD risk genes play in the heavier burden of ADRDs in racial/ethnic minority populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey Rubin
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Lucy A. Ingram
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Nicholas V. Resciniti
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Brianna Ashford-Carroll
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Katherine Henrietta Leith
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Aubrey Rose
- School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Stephanie Ureña
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Quentin McCollum
- College of Social Work, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Daniela B. Friedman
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
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11
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Beydoun MA, Noren Hooten N, Maldonado AI, Beydoun HA, Weiss J, Evans MK, Zonderman AB. BMI and Allostatic Load Are Directly Associated with Longitudinal Increase in Plasma Neurofilament Light among Urban Middle-Aged Adults. J Nutr 2021; 152:535-549. [PMID: 34718678 PMCID: PMC8826916 DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxab381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a novel biomarker for age-related neurodegenerative disease. We tested whether NfL may be linked to cardiometabolic risk factors, including BMI, the allostatic load (AL) total score (ALtotal), and related AL continuous components (ALcomp). We also tested whether these relations may differ by sex or by race. METHODS We used data from the HANDLS (Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span) study [n = 608, age at visit 1 (v1: 2004-2009): 30-66 y, 42% male, 58% African American] to investigate associations of initial cardiometabolic risk factors and time-dependent plasma NfL concentrations over 3 visits (2004-2017; mean ± SD follow-up time: 7.72 ± 1.28 y), with outcomes being NfLv1 and annualized change in NfL (δNfL). We used mixed-effects linear regression and structural equations modeling (SM). RESULTS BMI was associated with lower initial (γ01 = -0.014 ± 0.002, P < 0.001) but faster increase in plasma NfL over time (γ11 = +0.0012 ± 0.0003, P < 0.001), a pattern replicated for ALtotal. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), serum total cholesterol, and resting heart rate at v1 were linked with faster plasma NfL increase over time, overall, while being uncorrelated with NfLv1 (e.g., hsCRP × Time, full model: γ11 = +0.004 ± 0.002, P = 0.015). In SM analyses, BMI's association with δNfL was significantly mediated through ALtotal among women [total effect (TE) = +0.0014 ± 0.00038, P < 0.001; indirect effect = +0.00042 ± 0.00019, P = 0.025; mediation proportion = 30%], with only a direct effect (DE) detected among African American adults (TE = +0.0011 ± 0.0004, P = 0.015; DE = +0.0010 ± 0.00048, P = 0.034). The positive associations between ALtotal/BMI and δNfL were mediated through increased glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) concentrations, overall. CONCLUSIONS Cardiometabolic risk factors, particularly elevated HbA1c, should be screened and targeted for neurodegenerative disease, pending comparable longitudinal studies. Other studies examining the clinical utility of plasma NfL as a neurodegeneration marker should account for confounding effects of BMI and AL.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicole Noren Hooten
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging/NIH/Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ana I Maldonado
- Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Catonsville, MD, USA
| | - Hind A Beydoun
- Department of Research Programs, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, Fort Belvoir, VA, USA
| | - Jordan Weiss
- Department of Demography, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Michele K Evans
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging/NIH/Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alan B Zonderman
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging/NIH/Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
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12
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Majoka MA, Schimming C. Effect of Social Determinants of Health on Cognition and Risk of Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias. Clin Ther 2021; 43:922-929. [PMID: 34103175 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2021.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, work, live, and age and the wider set of forces and systems that shape the conditions of daily life. They affect every area of life, particularly health and health care. There is increasing focus on modifiable factors that affect cognition and risk of Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRDs). This article examines the impact of various social determinants of health, which are potentially reversible, on the incidence, prevalence, and risk of ADRDs and cognition. Various social determinants of health affect cognition and risk of ADRDs. Lower socioeconomic status (SES) and less education are associated with a higher incidence of ADRDs, whereas higher SES and education level appear to be protective, leading to a deceleration of time to diagnosis. In terms of employment, manual labor is associated with a higher risk of ADRDs. Higher body mass index in midlife and a decreasing body mass index in old age are associated with a higher risk of ADRDs. Furthermore, lower food security in early and late life is associated with a higher risk of ADRD diagnosis. Neighborhoods that are economically disadvantaged with fewer physical resources are associated with a higher risk of ADRDs. Higher levels of social engagement have a protective effect on diagnosis of ADRDs. Higher levels of stress are associated with a higher likelihood of developing ADRDs. Early-life adversity is associated with an increased risk of ADRDs, and further work in this area will be illuminating. Racial discrimination also leads to higher risk of ADRDs through the direct effect of discrimination and indirectly through lower SES, educational level, employment, and residential segregation. With an aim of reducing of ADRDs, future work in enhancing education, improving socioeconomic conditions, work, and neighborhood environments, and eliminating racial discrimination could potentially have a drastic impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muniza Anum Majoka
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
| | - Corbett Schimming
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York
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13
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Garcia MA, Downer B, Chiu CT, Saenz JL, Ortiz K, Wong R. Educational Benefits and Cognitive Health Life Expectancies: Racial/Ethnic, Nativity, and Gender Disparities. THE GERONTOLOGIST 2021; 61:330-340. [PMID: 32833008 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnaa112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES To examine racial/ethnic, nativity, and gender differences in the benefits of educational attainment on cognitive health life expectancies among older adults in the United States. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We used data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2014) to estimate Sullivan-based life tables of cognitively healthy, cognitively impaired/no dementia, and dementia life expectancies by gender for older White, Black, U.S.-born Hispanic, and foreign-born Hispanic adults with less than high school, high school, and some college or more. RESULTS White respondents lived a greater percentage of their remaining lives cognitively healthy than their minority Black or Hispanic counterparts, regardless of level of education. Among respondents with some college or more, versus less than high school, Black and U.S.-born Hispanic women exhibited the greatest increase (both 37 percentage points higher) in the proportion of total life expectancy spent cognitively healthy; whereas White women had the smallest increase (17 percentage points higher). For men, the difference between respondents with some college or more, versus less than high school, was greatest for Black men (35 percentage points higher) and was lowest for U.S.-born Hispanic men (21 percentage points higher). DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS Our results provide evidence that the benefits of education on cognitive health life expectancies are largest for Black men and women and U.S.-born Hispanic women. The combination of extended longevity and rising prevalence of Alzheimer's disease points to the need for understanding why certain individuals spend an extended period of their lives with poor cognitive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc A Garcia
- Department of Sociology and Institute for Ethnic Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
| | - Brian Downer
- Division of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
| | - Chi-Tsun Chiu
- Institute of European and American Studies, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Joseph L Saenz
- Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
| | - Kasim Ortiz
- Department of Sociology & Criminology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
| | - Rebeca Wong
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Population Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
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14
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Peterson RL, Butler EA, Ehiri JE, Fain MJ, Carvajal SC. Mechanisms of Racial Disparities in Cognitive Aging: An Examination of Material and Psychosocial Well-Being. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2021; 76:574-582. [PMID: 31942631 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbaa003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We tested the hypothesis that education's effect on cognitive aging operates in part through measures of material and psychosocial well-being. METHOD Our sample was of non-Latino black and white participants of the National Social Life Health and Aging Project who had valid cognitive assessments in Waves 2 and 3 (n = 2,951; age range: 48-95). We used structural equation modeling to test for mediation and moderated mediation by income, assets, perceived stress, social status, and allostatic load on the relationships between race, education, and cognition at two time points. RESULTS Education consistently mediated the race-cognition relationship, explaining about 20% of the relationship between race and cognition in all models. Income and assets were moderated by race; these factors were associated with cognition for whites but not blacks. Social status mediated the association between race and cognition, and social status and perceived stress mediated the education-cognition pathway. Allostatic load was not a mediator of any relationship. DISCUSSION Education remains the best explanatory factor for cognitive aging disparities, though material well-being and subjective social status help to explain a portion of the racial disparity in cognitive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Peterson
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis
| | - Emily A Butler
- Department of Family Studies and Human Development, University of Arizona, Tucson
| | - John E Ehiri
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson
| | - Mindy J Fain
- University of Arizona Center on Aging; Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson
| | - Scott C Carvajal
- Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona; Arizona Prevention Research Center, Tucson
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15
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Umberson D, Donnelly R, Xu M, Farina M, Garcia MA. Death of a Child Prior to Midlife, Dementia Risk, and Racial Disparities. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2020; 75:1983-1995. [PMID: 31760426 PMCID: PMC7566971 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbz154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study considers whether experiencing the death of a child prior to midlife (by parental age 40) is associated with subsequent dementia risk, and how such losses, which are more common for black than for white parents, may add to racial disparities in dementia risk. METHODS We use discrete-time event history models to predict dementia incidence among 9,276 non-Hispanic white and 2,182 non-Hispanic black respondents from the Health and Retirement Study, 2000-2014. RESULTS Losing a child prior to midlife is associated with increased risk for later dementia, and adds to disparities in dementia risk associated with race. The death of a child is associated with a number of biosocial variables that contribute to subsequent dementia risk, helping to explain how the death of child may increase risk over time. DISCUSSION The death of a child prior to midlife is a traumatic life course stressor with consequences that appear to increase dementia risk for both black and white parents, and this increased risk is explained by biosocial processes likely activated by bereavement. However, black parents are further disadvantaged in that they are more likely than white parents to experience the death of a child, and such losses add to the already substantial racial disadvantage in dementia risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra Umberson
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin
- Department of Sociology, The University of Texas at Austin
| | - Rachel Donnelly
- Department of Sociology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Minle Xu
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin
- Department of Sociology, The University of Texas at Austin
| | - Matthew Farina
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin
- Department of Sociology, The University of Texas at Austin
| | - Michael A Garcia
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin
- Department of Sociology, The University of Texas at Austin
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16
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Amini R, Sahli M, Ganai S. Cigarette smoking and cognitive function among older adults living in the community. NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENT, AND COGNITION. SECTION B, AGING, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2020; 28:616-631. [PMID: 32783580 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2020.1806199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Background. The present study aimed to examine the long-term impact of CS on Executive Function (EF) and memory among older adults living in the community. Methods. Clock Drawing Test (CDT) and Delayed Word Recall Test (DWRT) were used to examine EF and memory, respectively, using four waves of National Health and Aging Trend Study. The respondents were asked whether they have ever smoked, length of smoking, and age of start and quit smoking. Results. CS can have a long-term impact on both EF and memory. However, current smoking can increase the risk of EF impairment compared to former smokers. Lung disease and current smoking can have a synergic effect of impairment in EF. Conclusion. In the long-term, smoking can negatively affect cognitive. Lung diseases and smoking can synergize their impacts on EF. The impact of smoking on cognition varies across ethnic groups; hence, educational programs targeting minorities can reduce discrepancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Amini
- Department of Public Health and Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Michigan-Flint , Flint, MI, USA
| | - M Sahli
- Department of Public Health and Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Michigan-Flint , Flint, MI, USA
| | - S Ganai
- Department of Public Health and Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Michigan-Flint , Flint, MI, USA
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