Cigarette Smoking Status, Cigarette Exposure, and Duration of Abstinence Predicting Incident Dementia and Death: A Multistate Model Approach.

BACKGROUND: To fully characterize the risk for dementia associated with cigarette smoking, studies must consider competing risks that hinder the observation of dementia or modify the chance that dementia occurs (i.e., death). Extant research examining the competing risks fails to account for the occurrence of death following dementia, limiting our understanding of the relation between smoking and dementia. OBJECTIVE: Examine the impact of smoking status, lifetime smoking exposure, and duration of abstinence on incident dementia, death following dementia, and death without dementia. METHODS: Multi-state models estimated hazard ratios (HR) for 95% confidence interval (CI) of 10,681 cognitively healthy adults for transition from baseline to dementia, baseline to death, and dementia to death based on smoking status, lifetime cigarette exposure, and abstinence duration. RESULTS: Compared to never smokers, current smokers had increased risk of dementia (HR = 1.66; 95% CI 1.18- 2.32; p = 0.004), and death from baseline (HR = 2.98; 95% CI 2.24- 3.98; p < 0.001) and incident dementia (HR = 1.88; 95% CI 1.08- 3.27; p = 0.03). Pack years increased risk of death from baseline (HR = 1.01; 95% CI 1.00- 1.01; p < 0.001), but not dementia risk (HR = 1.00; 95% CI 1.00- 1.00; p = 0.78) or death following dementia (HR = 1.01; 95% CI 1.00- 1.01; p = 0.05). Recent quitters (quit < 10 years), compared to never smokers, had increased risk of death after baseline (HR = 2.31; 95% CI 1.55- 3.43; p < 0.001), but not dementia (HR = 1.17; 95% CI 0.73- 1.88; p = 0.52) or death following dementia (HR = 1.01; 95% CI 0.42- 2.41; p = 0.99). CONCLUSION: Current smoking increases the risk for dementia and death, but dementia is better attributed to smoking recency than lifetime exposure. Smoking cessation at any age might reduce these risks for cognitively healthy individuals.

Association of Cardiovascular Risk Factors with Cerebral Perfusion in Whites and African Americans.

BACKGROUND: Midlife cardiovascular risk factors increase risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite disproportionately high cardiovascular disease and dementia rates, African Americans are under-represented in studies of AD risk and research-based guidance on targeting vascular risk factors is lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated relationships between specific cardiovascular risk factors and cerebral perfusion in White and African American adults enriched for AD risk. METHODS: Participants included 397 cognitively unimpaired White (n = 330) and African American (n = 67) adults enrolled in the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center who underwent pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling MRI. Multiple linear regression models examined independent relationships between cardiovascular risk factors and mean cerebral perfusion. Subsequent interaction and stratified models assessed the role for APOE genotype and race. RESULTS: When risk factor p-values were FDR-adjusted, diastolic blood pressure was significantly associated with mean perfusion. Tobacco use, triglycerides, waist-to-hip ratio, and a composite risk score were not associated with perfusion. Without FDR adjustment, a relationship was also observed between perfusion and obesity, cholesterol, and fasting glucose. Neither APOE genotype nor race moderated relationships between risk factors and perfusion. CONCLUSION: Higher diastolic blood pressure predicted lower perfusion more strongly than other cardiovascular risk factors. This relationship did not vary by racial group or genetic risk for AD, although the African American sample had greater vascular risk burden and lower perfusion rates. Our findings highlight the need to prioritize inclusion of underrepresented groups in neuroimaging studies and to continue exploring the link between modifiable risk factors, cerebrovascular health, and AD risk in underrepresented populations.

Learning from Transmasculine Experiences with Health Care: Tangible Inlets for Reducing Health Disparities Through Patient-Provider Relationships.

Purpose: We examined health care experiences of transmasculine young adults to clarify factors contributing to mistrust in the health care system and identify tangible and modifiable means to address health disparities through improved patient-provider interactions. Thematic analysis highlights patterns within historical relationships between medical models and transmasculine embodiment, and provides guidance for health care clinicians, researchers, and policy makers to deliver competent services for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals. Methods: The study team used qualitative methodology guided by interpretive phenomenological analysis. Semistructured interviews with 12 participants who self-identified as transmasculine were conducted, transcribed, and coded thematically. Results: Participants were a community sample of 12 young adults 18-35 years of age (M=23, standard deviation=3.74), who self-identified as transmasculine. Three participants identified as a racial/ethnic minority. Participants were highly educated, with most completing at least some college. The superordinate thematic domain Perspectives on Health Care emerged, under which three subthemes were nested: (1) an essentialist, binary medical model is inaccurate and oppressive, (2) consequences of medicalizing gender (i.e., gender as a diagnosis), and (3) recommendations to improve health care. Conclusions: Qualitative analysis revealed specific ways in which the relationship between transmasculine individuals and current health care systems are fraught with difficulties, including the impact of stigma, gatekeeping, and inaccuracies, in current diagnostic criteria. Participants shared lived experiences and offered innovative ideas to improve health care delivery, such as challenging socialized biases, increased education, and immersion in TGD communities to advocate for change in research, practice, and policy.

Recruitment and retention of underrepresented populations in Alzheimer's disease research: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) disproportionately impact racial and ethnic minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged adults. Yet, these populations are significantly underrepresented in research. METHODS: We systematically reviewed the literature for published reports describing recruitment and retention of individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in ADRD research or underrepresented participants' perspectives regarding ADRD research participation. Relevant evidence was synthesized and evaluated for quality. RESULTS: We identified 22 eligible studies. Seven studies focused on recruitment/retention approaches, all of which included multifaceted efforts and at least one community outreach component. There was considerable heterogeneity in approaches used, specific activities and strategies, outcome measurement, and conclusions regarding effectiveness. Despite limited use of prospective evaluation strategies, most authors reported improvements in diverse representation in ADRD cohorts. Studies evaluating participant views focused largely on predetermined explanations of participation including attitudes, barriers/facilitators, education, trust, and religiosity. Across all studies, the strength of evidence was low. DISCUSSION: Overall, the quantity and quality of available evidence to inform best practices in recruitment, retention, and inclusion of underrepresented populations in ADRD research are low. Further efforts to systematically evaluate the success of existing and emergent approaches will require improved methodological standards and uniform measures for evaluating recruitment, participation, and inclusivity.