Publications by authors named "Alejandra Morlett-Paredes"

Introduction: The potential utility of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) as an early risk marker of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias is under consideration. We examined associations between SCD and cognitive change among middle-aged and older Hispanic/Latino adults living in the United States.

Methods: The short-form Everyday Cognition Scale (ECog-12) was assessed to generate global, executive function, and memory-related SCD scores.

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There is a critical need to increase Latino participation in research on Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD). Applying principles of community-based participatory research, we convened a community advisory board (CAB) to identify barriers and recommend strategies to increase participation of older Latinos in a longitudinal observational research study of ADRD at the Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Six major barriers were identified and programmatic changes to overcome them were implemented.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study focused on the Hispanic/Latino population, one of the largest groups in the U.S. at high risk for dementia, examining how cognitive performance relates to brain health over time.
  • - Researchers analyzed data from nearly 2,000 participants across two visits, finding that lower scores in episodic and working memory were linked to more severe brain changes, like increased white matter hyperintensity and decreased hippocampal volume.
  • - The results suggest that understanding cognitive risk profiles in this group could help with early detection and intervention for neurodegenerative conditions, potentially influencing their progression.
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Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are highly prevalent among Hispanic/Latino adults, while the prevalence of MRI infarcts is not well-documented. We, therefore, sought to examine the relationships between CVD risk factors and infarcts with brain structure among Hispanic/Latino individuals.

Methods: Participants included 1,886 Hispanic/Latino adults (50-85 years) who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as part of the Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging-MRI (SOL-INCA-MRI) study.

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Introduction: Executive functioning and processing speed are crucial elements of neuropsychological assessment. To meet the needs of the Hispanic/Latino population, we aimed to provide normative data for the Digit Symbol Substitution (DSS) test.

Methods: The target population for the Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging included six heritage backgrounds ( = 6177).

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Article Synopsis
  • Hearing loss is linked to negative impacts on cognitive function and increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), but this connection has not been extensively studied among Hispanic and Latino populations who experience hearing health disparities.
  • The study aimed to analyze the relationship between hearing loss and cognitive changes over seven years, focusing on Hispanic/Latino adults aged 50 and older, using data from a community health survey in four major US cities.
  • Results showed that hearing loss at the beginning of the study was correlated with poorer cognitive performance after seven years, equivalent to the cognitive decline typically seen in 4.6 years of aging, and a notable slowing in processing speed.
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Background: Between 29% and 67% of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients have cognitive alterations.

Objective: To assess the frequency of cognitive impairment in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in Mexico using the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis.

Methods: We evaluated 40 neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder patients and 40 healthy controls from Mexico.

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Objective: The study objectives were to estimate the standardized incidence and evaluate factors associated with moderate/severe pediatric traumatic brain injury (p-TBI) in children aged 5-15 years in Western, Mexico.

Methods: The study was cross-sectional in design. We estimated the standardized incidence of moderate/severe p-TBI using the direct methods of the World Health Organization (WHO) standard populations.

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Background: Cognitive impairment is observed in 43-70 % of Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. One of the most widely used batteries for cognitive assessment in this population is the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS). The objective of this study was to validate and assess the reliability of the BICAMS in a Mexican population with MS and to obtain and provide regression-based norms.

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Introduction: This culturally tailored enrollment effort aims to determine the feasibility of enrolling 5000 older Latino adults from California into the Brain Health Registries (BHR) over 2.25 years.

Methods: This paper describes (1) the development and deployment of culturally tailored BHR websites and digital ads, in collaboration with a Latino community science partnership board and a marketing company; (2) an interim feasibility analysis of the enrollment efforts and numbers, and participant characteristics (primary aim); as well as (3) an exploration of module completion and a preliminary efficacy evaluation of the culturally tailored digital efforts compared to BHR's standard non-culturally tailored efforts (secondary aim).

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Introduction: Latinos are underrepresented in brain autopsy research on Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). The study's purpose is to identify Latinos' attitudes about brain donation (BD) to inform methods by which researchers can increase autopsy consent.

Methods: Forty Latinos (mean age: 59.

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The purpose of this study was to examine the relations among discrimination, depression, and health among a sample of diverse Latinx immigrants. A secondary aim was to examine whether direct and indirect effects among these variables were moderated by social support. A sample of 204 Latinx immigrants completed questionnaires in community centers, health clinics, and retail establishments.

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Background: In the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults from vulnerable ethnoracial groups are at high risk of infection, hospitalization, and death. We aimed to explore the pandemic's impact on the well-being and cognition of older adults living in the United States (US), Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and Peru.

Methods: 1,608 (646 White, 852 Latino, 77 Black, 33 Asian; 72% female) individuals from the US and four Latin American countries aged ≥ 55 years completed an online survey regarding well-being and cognition during the pandemic between May and September 2020.

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Objective: In cultures where psychological distress is stigmatized, the presentation of emotional distress as somatic complaints is a frequent occurrence. Understanding factors that contribute to the presentation of somatization in Latinx immigrants is crucial due to its tie to poor quality of life. The purpose of this study was to explore relations among acculturative stress, anxiety, somatization, and resilience in a sample of Latinx immigrants living in the United States.

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Objective: This paper summarizes the findings of the Neuropsychological Norms for the U.S.-Mexico Border Region in Spanish (NP-NUMBRS) Project and offers a roadmap for future research.

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Objective: Verbal fluency tests are sensitive to various disorders affecting the central nervous system and are commonly included in neuropsychological evaluations. We aimed to develop normative data for two verbal fluency tests in a sample of native Spanish-speakers living in the US-Mexico border region.

Method: Participants included 254 adults from the Neuropsychological Norms for the US-Mexico Border Region in Spanish (NP-NUMBRS) Project (Age: range = 19-60; Education: range = 0-20, 59% female).

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Objective: The present introduction to the Neuropsychological Norms for the U.S.-Mexico Border Region in Spanish (NP-NUMBRS) project aims to provide an overview of the conceptual framework and rationale that guided the development of this project.

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Objective: The present paper describes the methodology and sample characteristics of the Neuropsychological Norms for the U.S.-Mexico Border Region in Spanish (NP-NUMBRS) Project, which aimed to generate demographically-adjusted norms for a battery of neuropsychological tests in this population.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study aimed to create and evaluate demographic-adjusted norms for the WAIS-III Digit Symbol Coding and Symbol Search subtests specifically for Spanish speakers living in the US/Mexico border region.
  • - Results showed that older age and higher education levels were linked to lower scores on these tests, but no significant differences were found based on gender.
  • - The findings indicate that tailored normative data can enhance diagnostic accuracy for Spanish speakers and highlights the need for further research on norms for other Spanish-speaking populations in the U.S.
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: The present review paper aimed to identify published neuropsychological test norms developed for Spanish-speakers living in the United States (U.S.).

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Objective: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) Block Design and Arithmetic subtests are frequently used as measures of visuospatial construction and verbal working memory, respectively. As part of a larger test adaptation and norming effort for this population, we generated and investigated demographically-adjusted interpretive norms for WAIS-R Block Design and Arithmetic in Spanish-speaking adults living in the US-Mexico border region.

Method: Participants included 183 community-dwelling adults ages 20-55 (education range: 0-20 years; 58% women) from the NeuroPsychological-Norms for the US-Mexico Border Region in Spanish (NP-NUMBRS) Project.

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Objective: Older adults are at a high risk for loneliness, which impacts their health, well-being, and longevity. While related to social isolation, loneliness is a distinct, internally experienced, distressing feeling. The present qualitative study sought to identify characteristics of loneliness in older adults living independently within a senior housing community, which is typically designed to reduce social isolation.

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Objective: The present study aimed to develop norms applicable to Spanish-speakers living in the United States (U.S.)- Mexico border region for the Halstead Category Test (HCT), a test of executive function.

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