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Simons RL, Ong ML, Lei M, Beach SRH, Zhang Y, Philibert R, Mielke MM. Racial discrimination during middle age predicts higher serum phosphorylated tau and neurofilament light chain levels a decade later: A study of aging black Americans. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:3485-3494. [PMID: 38597292 PMCID: PMC11095429 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13751] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Recent evidence suggests that exposure to the stress of racism may increase the risk of dementia for Black Americans. METHODS The present study used 17 years of data from a sample of 255 Black Americans to investigate the extent to which exposure to racial discrimination predicts subsequent changes in serum Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) biomarkers: serum phosphorylated tau181(p-tau181), neurofilament light (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). We hypothesized that racial discrimination assessed during middle age would predict increases in these serum biomarkers as the participants aged into their 60s. RESULTS Our findings indicate that exposure to various forms of racial discrimination during a person's 40s and early 50s predicts an 11-year increase in both serum p-tau181 and NfL. Racial discrimination was not associated with subsequent levels of GFAP. DISCUSSION These findings suggest that racial discrimination in midlife may contribute to increased AD pathology and neurodegeneration later in life. HIGHLIGHTS A 17-year longitudinal study of Black Americans. Assessments of change in serum p-tau181, neurofilament light, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Exposure to racial discrimination during middle age predicted increases in p-tau181 and neurofilament light. Education was positively related to both p-tau181 and exposure to racial discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mei Ling Ong
- Center for Family ResearchUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
| | - Man‐Kit Lei
- Department of SociologyUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
| | | | - Yue Zhang
- Department of SociologyUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
| | - Robert Philibert
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Iowa School of MedicineIowa CityIowaUSA
| | - Michelle M. Mielke
- Department of Epidemiology and PreventionWake Forest University School of MedicineWinston‐SalemNorth CarolinaUSA
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Heilenbach N, Ogunsola T, Elgin C, Fry D, Iskander M, Abazah Y, Aboseria A, Alshamah R, Alshamah J, Mooney SJ, Maestre G, Lovasi GS, Patel V, Al-Aswad LA. Novel Methods of Identifying Individual and Neighborhood Risk Factors for Loss to Follow-Up After Ophthalmic Screening. J Glaucoma 2024; 33:288-296. [PMID: 37974319 PMCID: PMC10954411 DOI: 10.1097/ijg.0000000000002328] [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: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
PRCIS Residence in a middle-class neighborhood correlated with lower follow-up compared with residence in more affluent neighborhoods. The most common explanations for not following up were the process of making an appointment and lack of symptoms. PURPOSE To explore which individual-level and neighborhood-level factors influence follow-up as recommended after positive ophthalmic and primary care screening in a vulnerable population using novel methodologies. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS From 2017 to 2018, 957 participants were screened for ophthalmic disease and cardiovascular risk factors as part of the Real-Time Mobile Teleophthalmology study. Individuals who screened positive for either ophthalmic or cardiovascular risk factors were contacted to determine whether or not they followed up with a health care provider. Data from the Social Vulnerability Index, a novel virtual auditing system, and personal demographics were collected for each participant. A multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine which factors significantly differed between participants who followed up and those who did not. RESULTS As a whole, the study population was more socioeconomically vulnerable than the national average (mean summary Social Vulnerability Index score=0.81). Participants whose neighborhoods fell in the middle of the national per capita income distribution had a lower likelihood of follow-up compared with those who resided in the most affluent neighborhoods (relative risk ratio=0.21, P -value<0.01). Participants cited the complicated process of making an eye care appointment and lack of symptoms as the most common reasons for not following up as instructed within 4 months. CONCLUSIONS Residence in a middle-class neighborhood, difficulty accessing eye care appointments, and low health literacy may influence follow-up among vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah Heilenbach
- New York University, Grossman School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology
| | | | | | - Dustin Fry
- Drexel University, Dornsife School of Public Health, Urban Health Collaborative
| | - Mina Iskander
- University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Department of Medicine
| | - Yara Abazah
- New York University, Grossman School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology
| | - Ahmed Aboseria
- State University of New York, Downstate Health Sciences University College of Medicine
| | - Rahm Alshamah
- New York University, Grossman School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology
| | - Jad Alshamah
- New York University, Grossman School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology
| | | | - Gladys Maestre
- University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
| | - Gina S. Lovasi
- Drexel University, Dornsife School of Public Health, Urban Health Collaborative
| | - Vipul Patel
- New York University, Grossman School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology
| | - Lama A. Al-Aswad
- University of Pennsylvania, Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology
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Jenkins AIC, Fredman SJ, Gamaldo AA, King V, Almeida DM. Love, health, and the 'hood: An examination of romantic relationship adjustment and perceived neighborhood quality as predictors of partnered Black Americans' long-term psychological health. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND CLINICAL SCIENCE 2023; 132:531-541. [PMID: 37104791 PMCID: PMC10293036 DOI: 10.1037/abn0000821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Existing disparities regarding Black Americans' psychological health warrant further investigation of socioecological factors that may be associated with negative and positive dimensions of psychological health in this population. Romantic relationship functioning and neighborhood context are two domains relevant to Black Americans' mental health. However, less is known about how they may serve as independent and interactive prospective predictors of Black Americans' psychological health and potentially in distinctive ways for Black men and women. Using data from 333 partnered Black Americans who participated in the Midlife in the United States study, we investigated relationship adjustment and neighborhood quality as independent and interactive predictors of negative and positive affect 10 years later and examined gender differences in these linkages. Higher neighborhood quality predicted lower levels of negative affect and higher levels of positive affect for both men and women a decade later. Additionally, for Black men, the longitudinal association between relationship adjustment and negative affect differed by neighborhood quality such that better relationship adjustment predicted higher subsequent negative affect only for men in lower quality neighborhoods. Findings demonstrate the connections among romantic relationship functioning, ecological resources, and gender in this population and highlight the importance of incorporating socioecological and intersectional perspectives for predicting Black Americans' long-term psychological health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- August I. C. Jenkins
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies,
University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL
| | - Steffany J. Fredman
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
| | - Alyssa A. Gamaldo
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
- Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State
University, University Park, PA
| | - Valarie King
- Department of Sociology, The Pennsylvania State University,
University Park, PA
| | - David M. Almeida
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
- Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State
University, University Park, PA
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Ong ML, Klopack ET, Carter S, Simons RL, Beach SRH. School Disengagement Predicts Accelerated Aging among Black American Youth: Mediation by Psychological Maladjustment and Moderation by Supportive Parenting. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12034. [PMID: 36231334 PMCID: PMC9564392 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Early experiences of school disengagement may serve as a warning sign for later young adult adjustment difficulties and eventually contribute to accelerated aging among Black American youth. At the same time, supportive parenting may play a protective role. Using longitudinal data from the Family and Community Health Study (FACHS), we examined psychological maladjustment (comprising depression, lack of self-regulation, and low self-esteem) as a mediator of the relationship between school disengagement and accelerated aging. We also examined the effect of supportive parenting in buffering the impact of school disengagement on adulthood outcomes by controlling for covariates. Hypotheses were examined in a sample of 386 (Mean age = 28.68; Females = 62.7%; Males = 37.3%) Black American youth who were followed into young adulthood. Path modeling was used to test hypothesized relationships. We found school disengagement, i.e., problems with school attendance, performance, and engagement, reported across ages 10-18, predicted psychological maladjustment, which, in turn, predicted accelerated aging at age 29. We also found a buffering effect for supportive parenting. No significant gender difference in the indirect effect or buffering effect was found. This study highlights the potential importance of greater attention to school disengagement to identify and potentially influence long-term health trajectories and adult outcomes for Black American youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Ling Ong
- Center for Family Research, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | - Eric T. Klopack
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Sierra Carter
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Ronald L. Simons
- Department of Sociology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | - Steven R. H. Beach
- Center for Family Research, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA
- Department of Psychology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA
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Lei MK, Beach SRH, Simons RL, Ye K. The Impact of Harsh Parenting on the Development of Obesity in Adulthood: An Examination of Epigenetic/Gene Expression Mediators Among African American Youth. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:755458. [PMID: 34805311 PMCID: PMC8602565 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.755458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: We examined the association of prospectively assessed harsh parenting during adolescence with body mass index (BMI) in young adulthood among African American youth. We also assessed the role of methylation of obesity-related genes and gene expression markers of obesity as mediators of this association, providing a pathway for the biological embedding of early harsh parenting and its long-term impact on young adult health. Methods: Hypotheses were tested with a sample of 362 African American youth for whom harsh parenting was assessed at ages 10–15, BMI was assessed at age 10 and 29, and both DNA methylation (DNAm) and gene expression of obesity genes were assessed at age 29. Mediational analyses were conducted using bootstrap methods to generate confidence intervals. Results: Controlling for genetic risk for obesity and health-related covariates, harsh parenting across childhood and adolescence was associated with change in BMI (Δ BMI) from ages 10–29. In addition, we found that the indirect effect of harsh parenting on Δ BMI was mediated through obesity-related DNAm and accounted for 45.3% of the total effect. Further, obesity-related DNAm mediated the effect of harsh parenting on gene expression of obesity-related genes (GEOG), and GEOG, in turn, mediated the impact of obesity-related DNAm on ΔBMI. This pathway accounted for 3.4% of the total effect. There were no gender differences in the magnitude of this indirect effect. Conclusions: The results suggest that alterations in methylation and gene expression mediate the impact of harsh parenting on change in obesity from childhood to young adulthood, illustrating plausible biological pathways from harsh parenting to obesity and bolstering the hypothesis that harsh parenting in childhood and adolescence can become biologically embedded and contribute to obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man-Kit Lei
- Department of Sociology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Steven R H Beach
- Department of Psychology, Center for Family Research, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Ronald L Simons
- Department of Sociology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Kaixiong Ye
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
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Olsen TA, Martini DJ, Goyal S, Liu Y, Evans ST, Magod B, Brown JT, Yantorni L, Russler GA, Caulfield S, Goldman JM, Harris WB, Kucuk O, Carthon BC, Master VA, Nazha B, Bilen MA. Racial Differences in Clinical Outcomes for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients Treated With Immune-Checkpoint Blockade. Front Oncol 2021; 11:701345. [PMID: 34222024 PMCID: PMC8242950 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.701345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune-checkpoint-inhibitors (ICIs) have become the cornerstone of metastatic renal-cell-carcinoma (mRCC) therapy. However, data are limited regarding clinical outcomes by race. In this study, we compared the real-world outcomes between African American (AA) and Caucasian mRCC patients treated with ICIs. METHODS We performed a retrospective study of 198 patients with mRCC who received ICI at the Emory Winship Cancer Institute from 2015-2020. Clinical outcomes were measured by overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall response rate (ORR) defined as a complete or partial response maintained for at least 6 months per response evaluation criteria in solid tumors version 1.1. Univariate and multivariable analyses were carried out for OS and PFS by Cox proportional-hazard model and ORR by logistical-regression model. Descriptive statistics compared rates of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and non-clear-cell-RCC (nccRCC) histology were assessed using Chi-square test. RESULTS Our cohort was comprised of 38 AA and 160 Caucasian patients. Most were diagnosed with clear-cell-RCC (ccRCC) (78%) and more than half received (57%) PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapy. Most patients were intermediate or poor-risk groups (83%). Comparing to Caucasians, our AA cohort contained more females and nccRCC cases. Kaplan-Meier method showed AAs had no statistically different median OS (17 vs 25 months, p=0.368) and PFS (3.1 vs 4.4 months, p=0.068) relative to Caucasian patients. On multivariable analysis, AA patients had significantly shorter PFS (HR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.01-2.3, p=0.045), similar ORR (OR=1.04, 95% CI: 0.42-2.57, p=0.936) and comparable OS (HR=1.09, 95% CI: 0.61-1.95, p=0.778) relative to Caucasians. CONCLUSIONS Our real-world analysis of ICI-treated mRCC patients showed that AAs experienced shorter PFS but similar OS relative to Caucasians. This similarity in survival outcomes is reassuring for the use of ICI amongst real-world patient populations, however, the difference in treatment response is poorly represented in early outcomes data from clinical trials. Thus, the literature requires larger prospective studies to validate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. Anders Olsen
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Dylan J. Martini
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Subir Goyal
- Departments of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Yuan Liu
- Departments of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Sean T. Evans
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Benjamin Magod
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jacqueline T. Brown
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Lauren Yantorni
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Greta Anne Russler
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Sarah Caulfield
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Services, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jamie M. Goldman
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Wayne B. Harris
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Omer Kucuk
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Bradley C. Carthon
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Viraj A. Master
- Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Bassel Nazha
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Mehmet Asim Bilen
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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