Chronic Health Illnesses as Predictors of Mild Cognitive Impairment Among African American Older Adults.

This study sought to examine whether medical conditions which occur at a higher rate in African American individuals increase the hazard of subsequent MCI development. A secondary data analysis of the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set was employed to examine the associations between health conditions (congestive heart failure, traumatic brain injury, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, B12 deficiency, thyroid disease) and their relationship to MCI. The analytic sample included 2847 participants with 9872 observations. Binary logistic generalized estimating equation modeling was used to examine repeated measures over the course of 1-11 observations. Education was associated with MCI development, specifically those with some college or college graduates (p < 0.001) and more than college (p = 0.002). Female sex was associated with development of MCI (p < 0.001). African Americans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were more likely to develop MCI (p < 0.001) compared to those with no reports of a TBI. Inactive thyroid conditions decreased the risk of MCI development (p = 0.005) compared to those without thyroid disease. Though vascular factors are often attributed to higher mortality and neurodegeneration in African Americans, congestive heart failure, diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, nor seizures were associated with an increased risk of MCI development. Findings from this study provide formative data to deve...
Source: Journal of the National Medical Association - Category: General Medicine Tags: J Natl Med Assoc Source Type: research