Lifestyle and incident dementia: A COSMIC individual participant data meta­analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The LIfestyle for BRAin Health (LIBRA) index yields a dementia risk score based on modifiable lifestyle factors and is validated in Western samples. We investigated whether the association between LIBRA scores and incident dementia is moderated by geographical location or sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: We combined data from 21 prospective cohorts across six continents (N = 31,680) and conducted cohort-specific Cox proportional hazard regression analyses in a two-step individual participant data meta-analysis. RESULTS: A one-standard-deviation increase in LIBRA score was associated with a 21% higher risk for dementia. The association was stronger for Asian cohorts compared to European cohorts, and for individuals aged ≤75 years (vs older), though only within the first 5 years of follow-up. No interactions with sex, education, or socioeconomic position were observed. DISCUSSION: Modifiable risk and protective factors appear relevant for dementia risk reduction across diverse geographical and sociodemographic groups. HIGHLIGHTS: A two-step individual participant data meta-analysis was conducted. This was done at a global scale using data from 21 ethno-regionally diverse cohorts. The association between a modifiable dementia risk score and dementia was examined. The association was modified by geographical region and age at baseline. Yet, modifiable dementia risk and protective factors appear relevant in all investigated groups and regions.

Effect of Low-Fat Dietary Modification on Incident Open-Angle Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: We tested whether dietary modification (DM) altered the risk for incident primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a randomized intervention trial. PARTICIPANTS: We linked Medicare claims data to 45 203 women in the Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial, of which 23 776 participants were enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare Part B and had physician claims. METHODS: Women were randomized to follow either DM (a low-fat diet, with increased vegetable, fruit, and grain intake) or their usual diet without modification. Nine thousand three hundred forty women were randomized to the DM intervention, whereas 13 877 women were randomized to the control group. Our analyses were based on an intention-to-treat design, with a follow-up to the end of continuous Medicare coverage, death, or the last claims date (12/31/2018), whichever occurred first. Primary open-angle glaucoma was defined as the first claim with the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth or Tenth Revision, codes. Dietary data were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We used Cox proportional hazards models to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for risk of POAG. Subgroup analyses were performed with P values for interaction. RESULTS: After exclusion of women with Medicare-derived glaucoma before randomization, the final analysis included 23 217 women (mean age, 64.4 ± 5.8 years). Baseline characteristics were balanced between the intervention and control groups. Primary open-angle glaucoma incidence was 11.1 per 1000 woman-years (mean follow-up, 11.6 ± 7.4 years; mean DM duration, 5.2 ± 3.2 years). We found no overall benefit of DM in reducing incident POAG (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.96-1.12). Race and participant age did not modify this relation (P = 0.08 and P = 0.24 for interaction, respectively). In further analysis of baseline nutrient and food intake stratified by quartile groups, risk of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in DM participants in the lowest quartile group for percentage calories (kilocalories) from total fat (33.8 or lower) was increased (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.05-1.41; P = 0.007 for interaction). CONCLUSIONS: Analysis suggests that DM in participants in the lowest quartile group for percentage calories from total fat at baseline increased the risk of incident OAG among women regardless of age or race. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Dose-response relationship between late-life physical activity and incident dementia: A pooled analysis of 10 cohort studies of memory in an international consortium.

INTRODUCTION: Though consistent evidence suggests that physical activity may delay dementia onset, the duration and amount of activity required remains unclear. METHODS: We harmonized longitudinal data of 11,988 participants from 10 cohorts in eight countries to examine the dose-response relationship between late-life physical activity and incident dementia among older adults. RESULTS: Using no physical activity as a reference, dementia risk decreased with duration of physical activity up to 3.1 to 6.0 hours/week (hazard ratio [HR] 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.67 to 1.15 for 0.1 to 3.0 hours/week; HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.89 for 3.1 to 6.0 hours/week), but plateaued with higher duration. For the amount of physical activity, a similar pattern of dose-response curve was observed, with an inflection point of 9.1 to 18.0 metabolic equivalent value (MET)-hours/week (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.22 for 0.1 to 9.0 MET-hours/week; HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.93 for 9.1 to 18.0 MET-hours/week). DISCUSSION: This cross-national analysis suggests that performing 3.1 to 6.0 hours of physical activity and expending 9.1 to 18.0/MET-hours of energy per week may reduce dementia risk.

Sex differences in dementia risk and risk factors: Individual-participant data analysis using 21 cohorts across six continents from the COSMIC consortium.

INTRODUCTION: Sex differences in dementia risk, and risk factor (RF) associations with dementia, remain uncertain across diverse ethno-regional groups. METHODS: A total of 29,850 participants (58% women) from 21 cohorts across six continents were included in an individual participant data meta-analysis. Sex-specific hazard ratios (HRs), and women-to-men ratio of hazard ratios (RHRs) for associations between RFs and all-cause dementia were derived from mixed-effect Cox models. RESULTS: Incident dementia occurred in 2089 (66% women) participants over 4.6 years (median). Women had higher dementia risk (HR, 1.12 [1.02, 1.23]) than men, particularly in low- and lower-middle-income economies. Associations between longer education and former alcohol use with dementia risk (RHR, 1.01 [1.00, 1.03] per year, and 0.55 [0.38, 0.79], respectively) were stronger for men than women; otherwise, there were no discernible sex differences in other RFs. DISCUSSION: Dementia risk was higher in women than men, with possible variations by country-level income settings, but most RFs appear to work similarly in women and men.

Red blood cell fatty acids and age-related macular degeneration in postmenopausal women.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between red blood cell (RBC) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels, and dietary PUFA and fish intake, with prevalent and incident age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a US cohort of postmenopausal women. METHODS: This analysis included 1456 postmenopausal women from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Clinical Trials. RBC PUFAs were measured from fasting serum samples collected at WHI baseline. Dietary PUFAs and fish intake were assessed via food frequency questionnaires at baseline. There were 240 women who had prevalent AMD and 138 who self-reported AMD development over 9.5 years. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for prevalent AMD by RBC PUFA levels, dietary PUFA intake, and frequency of fish consumption. Adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for incident AMD. A p-for-trend was estimated for continuous measures of dietary PUFA and fish intake. RESULTS: No significant association was found between prevalent or incident AMD and RBC docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) + eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), EPA, DHA, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), linoleic acid (LA), or arachidonic acid (AA). A positive association was found between dietary intake of AA and odds of prevalent AMD (p-for-trend for continuous AA intake = 0.02) and between intake of LA/ALA and incident AMD (p-for-trend for continuous ratio of LA/ALA intake = 0.03). No statistically significant associations were found between AMD and dietary intake of PUFAs or fish. CONCLUSIONS: RBC PUFAs were not associated with AMD in this cohort. Overall, dietary analyses of PUFAs supported this, excepting dietary AA intake and intake of LA in proportion to ALA of which there were trends of increased risk.

US Migration Status of Adult Children and Cognitive Decline Among Older Parents Who Remain in Mexico.

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are experiencing rapid aging, a growing dementia burden, and relatively high rates of out-migration among working-age adults. Family member migration status may be a unique societal determinant of cognitive aging in LMIC settings. We aimed to evaluate the association between adult child US migration status and change in cognitive performance scores using data from the Mexican Health and Aging Study, a population-based, national-level cohort study of Mexico adults aged ≥50 years at baseline (2001), with 2-, 12-, and 14-year follow-up waves (2003, 2012, and 2015). Cognitive performance assessments were completed by 5,972 and 4,939 respondents at 11 years and 14 years of follow-up, respectively. For women, having an adult child in the United States was associated with steeper decline in verbal memory scores (e.g., for 9-year change in immediate verbal recall z score, marginal risk difference (RD) = -0.09 (95% confidence interval (CI): -0.16, -0.03); for delayed verbal recall z score, RD = -0.10 (95% CI: -0.17, -0.03)) and overall cognitive performance (for overall cognitive performance z score, RD = -0.04, 95% CI: -0.07, -0.00). There were mostly null associations for men. To our knowledge, this is the first study to have evaluated the association between family member migration status and cognitive decline; future work should be extended to other LMICs facing population aging.

Longitudinal Associations of US Acculturation With Cognitive Performance, Cognitive Impairment, and Dementia.

US Latinos, a growing, aging population, are disproportionately burdened by cognitive decline and dementia. Identification of modifiable risk factors is needed for interventions aimed at reducing risk. Broad sociocultural context may illuminate complex etiology among culturally diverse Latinos. Among 1,418 older (≥60 years), low-socioeconomic position (SEP) Latinos (predominantly of Mexican descent) in Sacramento, California, we examined whether US acculturation was associated with cognitive performance, cognitive decline, and dementia/ cognitive impairment without dementia over a 10-year period and whether education modified the associations (Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging, 1998-2008). Analyses used linear mixed models, competing-risk regression, and inverse probability of censoring weights for attrition. Participants with high US acculturation had better cognitive performance (0.21 fewer cognitive errors at grand-mean-centered age 70 years) than those with low acculturation after adjustment for sociodemographic factors, practice effects, and survey language. Results may have been driven by cultural language use rather than identity factors (e.g., ethnic identity, interactions). Rate of cognitive decline and risk of dementia/cognitive impairment without dementia did not differ by acculturation, regardless of education (ß = 0.00 (standard error, 0.00) and hazard ratio = 0.81 (95% confidence interval: 0.49, 1.35), respectively). High US acculturation was associated with better cognitive performance among these older, low-SEP Latinos. Acculturation may benefit cognition when SEP is low. Future studies should incorporate extended longitudinal assessments among more diverse groups.

Mediation of the Associations of Physical Activity With Cardiovascular Events and Mortality by Diabetes in Older Mexican Americans.

Low physical activity (PA) among older adults increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality through metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes. We aimed to elucidate the extent to which diabetes mediates the effect of nonoccupational PA levels on CVD and mortality among older Mexican Americans. This study included 1,676 adults from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (1998-2007). We employed Cox proportional hazards regression models to investigate associations of PA level with all-cause mortality, fatal CVD, and nonfatal CVD events. Utilizing causal mediation analysis within a counterfactual framework, we decomposed the total effect of PA into natural indirect and direct effects. Over a median of 8 years of follow-up, low PA (<25th percentile) was associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06, 1.75), fatal CVD (HR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.42, 2.97), and nonfatal CVD events (HR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.37) in comparison with high PA (>75th percentile). Diabetes mediated 11.0%, 7.4%, and 5.2% of the total effect of PA on all-cause mortality, fatal CVD, and nonfatal CVD events, respectively. Our findings indicate that public health interventions targeting diabetes prevention and management would be a worthwhile strategy for preventing CVD and mortality among older Mexican Americans with insufficient PA levels.

Heterogeneous Exposure Associations in Observational Cohort Studies: The Example of Blood Pressure in Older Adults.

Heterogeneous exposure associations (HEAs) can be defined as differences in the association of an exposure with an outcome among subgroups that differ by a set of characteristics. In this article, we intend to foster discussion of HEAs in the epidemiologic literature and present a variant of the random forest algorithm that can be used to identify HEAs. We demonstrate the use of this algorithm in the setting of the association between systolic blood pressure and death in older adults. The training set included pooled data from the baseline examination of the Cardiovascular Health Study (1989-1993), the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study (1997-1998), and the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (1998-1999). The test set included data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2002). The hazard ratios ranged from 1.25 (95% confidence interval: 1.13, 1.37) per 10-mm Hg increase in systolic blood pressure among men aged ≤67 years with diastolic blood pressure greater than 80 mm Hg to 1.00 (95% confidence interval: 0.96, 1.03) among women with creatinine concentration ≤0.7 mg/dL and a history of hypertension. HEAs have the potential to improve our understanding of disease mechanisms in diverse populations and guide the design of randomized controlled trials to control exposures in heterogeneous populations.

Traffic-related Noise Exposure and Late-life Dementia and Cognitive Impairment in Mexican-Americans.

BACKGROUND: Recently, it has been suggested that environmental exposures from traffic sources including noise may play a role in cognitive impairment in the elderly. The objective of the study was to investigate the association between local traffic-related noise pollution and incident dementia or cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND) during a 10-year follow-up period. METHODS: 1612 Mexican-American participants from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (SALSA) were followed every 12-15 months via home visits from 1998 to 2007. We used the SoundPLAN software package to estimate noise originating from local traffic with the input of Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) data from Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) based on geocoded residential addresses at baseline (1998-1999). We estimated the risks of incident dementia or CIND from 24-hour and nighttime noise exposure using Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: During the follow-up, we identified 159 incident dementia or CIND cases in total. Per 11.6 dB (interquartile range width) increase in 24-hour noise, the hazard of developing dementia or CIND increased (hazard ratio = 1.3 [1.0, 1.6]) during follow-up; estimates were slightly lower (hazard ratio = 1.2 [0.97, 1.6]) when adjusting for modeled local air pollution exposure from traffic sources. Overall, the risk of dementia/CIND was elevated when 24-hour and nighttime noise were higher than 75 and 65 dB respectively. See video Abstract: http://links.lww.com/EDE/B728. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, traffic-related noise exposure was associated with increased risk of dementia or CIND in elderly Mexican-Americans. Future studies taking into account other noise sources and occupational noise exposure before retirement are needed.

A Biopsychosocial Model of Chronic Pain for Older Adults.

POPULATION: Comprehensive evaluation of chronic pain in older adults is multifaceted. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: Research on chronic pain in older adults needs to be guided by sound conceptual models. The purpose of this paper is to describe an adaptation of the Biopsychosocial Model (BPS) of Chronic Pain for older adults. The extant literature was reviewed, and selected research findings that provide the empiric foundation for this adaptation of the BPS model of chronic pain are summarized. The paper concludes with a discussion of specific recommendations for how this adapted model can be used to guide future research. CONCLUSIONS: This adaptation of the BPS model of chronic pain for older adults provides a comprehensive framework to guide future research in this vulnerable population.

A cross-national study of depression in preclinical dementia: A COSMIC collaboration study.

INTRODUCTION: Depression commonly accompanies Alzheimer's disease, but the nature of this association remains uncertain. METHODS: Longitudinal data from the COSMIC consortium were harmonized for eight population-based cohorts from four continents. Incident dementia was diagnosed in 646 participants, with a median follow-up time of 5.6 years to diagnosis. The association between years to dementia diagnosis and successive depressive states was assessed using a mixed effect logistic regression model. A generic inverse variance method was used to group study results, construct forest plots, and generate heterogeneity statistics. RESULTS: A common trajectory was observed showing an increase in the incidence of depression as the time to dementia diagnosis decreased despite cross-national variability in depression rates. DISCUSSION: The results support the hypothesis that depression occurring in the preclinical phases of dementia is more likely to be attributable to dementia-related brain changes than environment or reverse causality.

Determinants of cognitive performance and decline in 20 diverse ethno-regional groups: A COSMIC collaboration cohort study.

BACKGROUND: With no effective treatments for cognitive decline or dementia, improving the evidence base for modifiable risk factors is a research priority. This study investigated associations between risk factors and late-life cognitive decline on a global scale, including comparisons between ethno-regional groups. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We harmonized longitudinal data from 20 population-based cohorts from 15 countries over 5 continents, including 48,522 individuals (58.4% women) aged 54-105 (mean = 72.7) years and without dementia at baseline. Studies had 2-15 years of follow-up. The risk factors investigated were age, sex, education, alcohol consumption, anxiety, apolipoprotein E ε4 allele (APOE*4) status, atrial fibrillation, blood pressure and pulse pressure, body mass index, cardiovascular disease, depression, diabetes, self-rated health, high cholesterol, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, physical activity, smoking, and history of stroke. Associations with risk factors were determined for a global cognitive composite outcome (memory, language, processing speed, and executive functioning tests) and Mini-Mental State Examination score. Individual participant data meta-analyses of multivariable linear mixed model results pooled across cohorts revealed that for at least 1 cognitive outcome, age (B = -0.1, SE = 0.01), APOE*4 carriage (B = -0.31, SE = 0.11), depression (B = -0.11, SE = 0.06), diabetes (B = -0.23, SE = 0.10), current smoking (B = -0.20, SE = 0.08), and history of stroke (B = -0.22, SE = 0.09) were independently associated with poorer cognitive performance (p < 0.05 for all), and higher levels of education (B = 0.12, SE = 0.02) and vigorous physical activity (B = 0.17, SE = 0.06) were associated with better performance (p < 0.01 for both). Age (B = -0.07, SE = 0.01), APOE*4 carriage (B = -0.41, SE = 0.18), and diabetes (B = -0.18, SE = 0.10) were independently associated with faster cognitive decline (p < 0.05 for all). Different effects between Asian people and white people included stronger associations for Asian people between ever smoking and poorer cognition (group by risk factor interaction: B = -0.24, SE = 0.12), and between diabetes and cognitive decline (B = -0.66, SE = 0.27; p < 0.05 for both). Limitations of our study include a loss or distortion of risk factor data with harmonization, and not investigating factors at midlife. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that education, smoking, physical activity, diabetes, and stroke are all modifiable factors associated with cognitive decline. If these factors are determined to be causal, controlling them could minimize worldwide levels of cognitive decline. However, any global prevention strategy may need to consider ethno-regional differences.

The Roles of Physical Activity and Inflammation in Mortality, Cognition, and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Mexican Americans.

A higher level of physical activity (PA) is associated with decreased risk of mortality, dementia, and depression, yet the mechanisms involved are not well understood, and little evidence exists for Mexican Americans. With data from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (1998-2007), we used Cox proportional hazards regression to separately evaluate associations of baseline PA level with mortality, dementia/cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND), and depressive symptoms, and we estimated the mediating effects of inflammatory markers in additive hazard models. A low level of PA (<35 metabolic equivalent of task-hours/week) was associated with increased mortality (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.50, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20, 1.88), dementia/CIND (HR = 1.37, 95% CI: 0.96, 1.96), and depressive symptoms (HR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.52). A low PA level added 512 (95% CI: -34, 1,058) cases of dementia/CIND per 100,000 person-years at risk (direct effect), while, through a mediating path, interleukin 6 (IL-6) added another 49 (95% CI: 5, 94) cases, or 9% of the total effect. For mortality, 8%-10% of the PA total effect was mediated through IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), or TNF-α receptors. None of the inflammatory markers mediated the association between PA and depressive symptoms. Our results suggest that antiinflammation (especially as assessed by IL-6 and TNF-α levels) may partly explain how PA protects against dementia/CIND and mortality.

Ambient Air Pollution, Noise, and Late-Life Cognitive Decline and Dementia Risk.

Exposure to ambient air pollution and noise is ubiquitous globally. A strong body of evidence links air pollution, and recently noise, to cardiovascular conditions that eventually may also affect cognition in the elderly. Data that support a broader influence of these exposures on cognitive function during aging is just starting to emerge. This review summarizes current findings and discusses methodological challenges and opportunities for research. Although current evidence is still limited, especially for chronic noise exposure, high exposure has been associated with faster cognitive decline either mediated through cerebrovascular events or resulting in Alzheimer's disease. Ambient environmental exposures are chronic and affect large populations. While they may yield relatively modest-sized risks, they nevertheless result in large numbers of cases. Reducing environmental pollution is clearly feasible, though lowering levels requires collective action and long-term policies such as standard setting, often at the national level as well as at the local level.

Perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms among US Latinos: the modifying role of educational attainment.

OBJECTIVE: Despite growing evidence that discrimination may contribute to poor mental health, few studies have assessed this association among US Latinos. Furthermore, the interaction between discrimination and educational attainment in shaping Latino mental health is virtually unexplored. This study aims to examine the association between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms and the modifying role of education among a population of Mexican-origin adults. DESIGN: We utilized population-based data from 629 Mexican-origin adults (mean age = 52.8 years) participating the Niños Lifestyle and Diabetes Study (2013-2014). Perceived discrimination was defined as responding 'sometimes' or 'often' to at least one item on the 9-item Everyday Discrimination Scale. High depressive symptoms were defined as scoring ≥10 on the CESD-10. We used log-binomial and linear-binomial models to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and prevalence differences (PD), respectively, of high depressive symptoms for levels of perceived discrimination. Final models were adjusted for age, sex, education, cultural orientation, and nativity. General estimating equations were employed to account for within-family clustering. RESULTS: Prevalence of perceived discrimination and high depressive symptoms were 49.5% and 29.2%, respectively. Participants experiencing discrimination had higher depressive symptom prevalence than those never or rarely experiencing discrimination [PR = 1.94, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46-2.58; PD = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.12-0.27]. The strength of this association varied by education level. The association between discrimination and depressive symptoms was stronger among those with >12 years of education (PR = 2.69; PD = 0.24) compared to those with ≤12 years of education (PR = 1.36; PD = 0.09). CONCLUSION: US Latinos suffer a high burden of depressive symptoms, and discrimination may be an important driver of this burden. Our results suggest that effortful coping strategies, such as achieving high education despite high perceived discrimination, may magnify discrimination's adverse effect on Latino mental health.

Progress and future challenges in aging and diversity research in the United States.

In 2016, the UC Davis Latino Aging Research Resource Center and UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Center brought together experts from across the country to consolidate current knowledge and identify future directions in aging and diversity research. This report disseminates the research priorities that emerged from this conference, building on an earlier Gerontological Society of America preconference. We review key racial/ethnic differences in cognitive aging and dementia and identify current knowledge gaps in the field. We advocate for a systems-level framework for future research whereby environmental, sociocultural, behavioral, neuropathological, genetic, and psychometric levels of analysis are examined together to identify pathways and mechanisms that influence disparities. We then discuss steps to increase the recruitment and retention of racial/ethnic minorities in aging studies, as none of the recommendations will be possible without strong collaboration between racial/ethnic minority communities and researchers. This approach is consistent with the National Institute on Aging Health Disparities Research Framework.

Spanish Language Use Across Generations and Depressive Symptoms Among US Latinos.

Acculturation markers, such as language use, have been associated with Latino depression. Language use may change between generations; however, few studies have collected intergenerational data to assess how language differences between generations impact depression. Using the Niños Lifestyle and Diabetes Study (2013-2014), we assessed how changes in Spanish language use across two generations of Mexican-origin participants in Sacramento, California, influenced offspring depressive symptoms (N = 603). High depressive symptoms were defined as CESD-10 scores ≥ 10. We used log-binomial and linear-binomial models to calculate prevalence ratios and differences, respectively, for depressive symptoms by language use, adjusting for identified confounders and within-family clustering. Decreased Spanish use and stable-equal English/Spanish use across generations protected against depressive symptoms, compared to stable-high Spanish use. Stable-low Spanish use was not associated with fewer depressive symptoms compared to stable-high Spanish use. Exposure to multiple languages cross-generationally may improve resource access and social networks that protect against depression.

Educational Mobility Across Generations and Depressive Symptoms Over 10 Years Among US Latinos.

Few studies have collected intergenerational data to assess the association between educational mobility across multiple generations and offspring depression. Using data from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (1998-2008), we assessed the influence of intergenerational education on depressive symptoms over 10 years among 1,786 Latino individuals (mean age = 70.6 years). Educational mobility was classified as stable-low (low parental/low offspring education), upwardly mobile (low parental/high offspring education), stable-high (high parental/high offspring education), or downwardly mobile (high parental/low offspring education). Depressive symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D); higher scores indicated more depressive symptoms. To quantify the association between educational mobility and CES-D scores over follow-up, we used generalized estimating equations to account for repeated CES-D measurements and adjusted for identified confounders. Within individuals, depressive symptoms remained relatively stable over follow-up. Compared with stable-low education, stable-high education and upward mobility were associated with significantly lower CES-D scores (ß = -2.75 and -2.18, respectively). Downwardly mobile participants had slightly lower CES-D scores than stable-low participants (ß = -0.77). Our results suggest that sustained, low educational attainment across generations may have adverse mental health consequences, and improved educational opportunities in underresourced communities may counteract the adverse influence of low parental education on Latino depression.

Cognitive decline, mortality, and organophosphorus exposure in aging Mexican Americans.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is a major health concern among older Mexican Americans, associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and may be influenced by environmental exposures. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether agricultural based ambient organophosphorus (OP) exposure influences 1) the rate of cognitive decline and mortality and 2) whether these associations are mediated through metabolic or inflammatory biomarkers. METHODS: In a subset of older Mexican Americans from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (n = 430), who completed modified mini-mental state exams (3MSE) up to 7 times (1998-2007), we examined the relationship between estimated ambient OP exposures and cognitive decline (linear repeated measures model) and time to dementia or being cognitively impaired but not demented (CIND) and time to mortality (cox proportional hazards model). We then explored metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers as potential mediators of these relationships (additive hazards mediation). OP exposures at residential addresses were estimated with a geographic information system (GIS) based exposure assessment tool. RESULTS: Participants with high OP exposure in the five years prior to baseline experienced faster cognitive decline (ß = 0.038, p = 0.02) and higher mortality over follow-up (HR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.12, 3.26). The direct effect of OP exposure was estimated at 241 (95% CI = 27-455) additional deaths per 100,000 person-years, and the proportion mediated through the metabolic hormone adiponectin was estimated to be 4% 1.5-19.2). No other biomarkers were associated with OP exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides support for the involvement of OP pesticides in cognitive decline and mortality among older Mexican Americans, possibly through biologic pathways involving adiponectin.