UCSF

Background

Despite tremendous advancements in the field, our understanding of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) among Mexican Americans remains limited.

Objective

The aim of this study was to characterize MCI and dementia among Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites.

Methods

Baseline data were analyzed from n = 1,705 (n = 890 Mexican American; n = 815 non-Hispanic white) participants enrolled in the Health and Aging Brain Study-Health Disparities (HABS-HD).

Results

Among Mexican Americans, age (OR = 1.07), depression (OR = 1.09), and MRI-based neurodegeneration (OR = 0.01) were associated with dementia, but none of these factors were associated with MCI. Among non-Hispanic whites, male gender (OR = 0.33), neighborhood deprivation (OR = 1.34), depression (OR = 1.09), and MRI-based neurodegeneration (OR = 0.03) were associated with MCI, while depression (OR = 1.09) and APOEɛ4 genotype (OR = 4.38) were associated with dementia.

Conclusion

Findings from this study revealed that the demographic, clinical, sociocultural and biomarker characteristics of MCI and dementia are different among Mexican Americans as compared to non-Hispanic whites.