Posters
Presentation Type
Poster
Discipline Track
Translational Science
Abstract Type
Research/Clinical
Abstract
Background: Alzheimer’s Disease is the leading cause of dementia in the aging population, and minority groups like Latinos have 3 to 5 times more risk to develop dementias than the overall US population. Several studies have examined for possible causes of this increased risk, but lack of comprehensive information plus a reduced number of minority samples available in those studies have hindered the answers.
Methods: We examined South Texas Medicare/Medicaid data as well as the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center dataset, looking for comorbidities and risk factors related to neurodegeneration in different minority groups. Correlation and regression analyses were used to assess their possible interactions in the studied populations.
Results: Medicare statistics depict the prevalence of dementias in Texas as 12.6%, however, Rio Grande Valley counties have higher rates: Cameron: 15.1%, Hidalgo: 20.2%; Starr: 26.4%. High blood pressure is highly correlated with dementias (R=0.5), also high in TX (59.9% prevalence), and even higher in the RGV: Cameron: 65.6%; Hidalgo: 67.6%; Starr: 74.8%; and Diabetes (R=0.5) is highly prevalent in the RGV: Cameron: 65.6%; Hidalgo: 67.6%; Starr: 74.8%. Other minority groups exhibit very different risk rates, which need to be examined thoroughly using genetic-cultural-environmental interactions.
Conclusions: The Rio Grande Valley is incubating a public health crisis in its aging population. High prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity means that we should expect higher rates of Alzheimer and other dementias in our population when currently affected young adults get older. These disorders have genetic factors with high effect sizes, therefore genetic studies can help to delineate adequate preventive strategies in minority populations. Public health interventions should start with children in schools, by teaching healthy eating habits and providing healthy meals in permanent campaigns.
Academic/Professional Position
Faculty
Mentor/PI Department
Neuroscience
Recommended Citation
Alliey-Rodriguez, Ney; Kunta, Ramya; Jose, Angel; Putegnat, Lily; and Maestre, Cristian, "Leveraging secondary data to study Alzheimer's disease risk factors in minority populations" (2024). Research Symposium. 98.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/somrs/2023/posters/98
Included in
Leveraging secondary data to study Alzheimer's disease risk factors in minority populations
Background: Alzheimer’s Disease is the leading cause of dementia in the aging population, and minority groups like Latinos have 3 to 5 times more risk to develop dementias than the overall US population. Several studies have examined for possible causes of this increased risk, but lack of comprehensive information plus a reduced number of minority samples available in those studies have hindered the answers.
Methods: We examined South Texas Medicare/Medicaid data as well as the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center dataset, looking for comorbidities and risk factors related to neurodegeneration in different minority groups. Correlation and regression analyses were used to assess their possible interactions in the studied populations.
Results: Medicare statistics depict the prevalence of dementias in Texas as 12.6%, however, Rio Grande Valley counties have higher rates: Cameron: 15.1%, Hidalgo: 20.2%; Starr: 26.4%. High blood pressure is highly correlated with dementias (R=0.5), also high in TX (59.9% prevalence), and even higher in the RGV: Cameron: 65.6%; Hidalgo: 67.6%; Starr: 74.8%; and Diabetes (R=0.5) is highly prevalent in the RGV: Cameron: 65.6%; Hidalgo: 67.6%; Starr: 74.8%. Other minority groups exhibit very different risk rates, which need to be examined thoroughly using genetic-cultural-environmental interactions.
Conclusions: The Rio Grande Valley is incubating a public health crisis in its aging population. High prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity means that we should expect higher rates of Alzheimer and other dementias in our population when currently affected young adults get older. These disorders have genetic factors with high effect sizes, therefore genetic studies can help to delineate adequate preventive strategies in minority populations. Public health interventions should start with children in schools, by teaching healthy eating habits and providing healthy meals in permanent campaigns.