Prevalence of depressive symptoms in new Mexico Hispanic and non-Hispanic white elderly.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence rates, risk factors, and pattern of depressive symptoms in elderly Hispanic and non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs).

Methods: This survey was a community-based, cross-sectional survey of randomly selected Medicare recipients living in Bernalillo County (Albuquerque, New Mexico). The survey's objective was to examine the health and health-related issues of Hispanic and NHW elderly persons (> or =65 years of age).

Emotional responses to APO E genotype disclosure for Alzheimer disease.

The purpose of our study is to assess the emotional responses to disclosing APO E genotype to asymptomatic older adults at increased risk for Alzheimer disease (AD). This is a longitudinal cohort study of volunteer subjects who were aged 50 years or over, asymptomatic for (AD), had a family history of AD, passed a psychological assessment, and participated in pre- and post-test genetic counseling and three follow-up visits over 10 months. We analyzed responses by three emotional constructs: depressed, worried, and relieved.

Impact of subclinical hypothyroidism on serum total homocysteine concentrations, the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD), and CHD risk factors in the New Mexico Elder Health Survey.

The serum/plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration, now recognized as an independent risk factor for accelerated atherosclerotic disease, is increased in overtly hypothyroid patients, and it decreases with thyroid replacement therapy. Whether or not individuals with subclinical hypothyroidism also increase their tHcy concentrations, and whether this elevation might help to explain the increased prevalence of the atherosclerotic diseases observed in this condition, remains unclear. If individuals with subclinical hypothyroidism have higher tHcy concentrations than euthyroid subjects, there would be added incentive to treat this condition earlier.

Serum homocysteine concentrations and their relation to serum folate and vitamin B12 concentrations and coronary artery disease prevalence in an urban, bi-ethnic community.

Objective: To compare fasting serum total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations in a randomly selected sample of elderly (> or = 65 years of age) Hispanic and non-Hispanic White (NHW) men and women, to examine associations of tHcy with folate and vitamin B12, and then to correlate these with the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in these 4 ethnic/ gender groups.

Design And Participants: Equal numbers of Hispanic and NHW men and women were randomly selected from the Healthcare Financing Administration (Medicare) registrant list for Bernalillo County (Albuquerque), New Mexico, and asked to volunteer for a paid home interview, to be followed by a paid, comprehensive interview/examination covering health and health-related issues.

Interventions And Main Outcome Measures: Serum concentrations of tHcy, folate, and vitamin B12 were determined and correlated with the prevalence of CHD, after adjusting for other CHD risk factors (age, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia, adiposity).

The APO E4 allele and cognition in New Mexico Hispanic elderly.

Objective: To determine if the apolipoprotein E E4 (APO E4) allele is associated with cognitive performance in New Mexico Hispanic elderly.

Method: We performed a cross-sectional survey of 105 community volunteers, aged 60 years and older, born in New Mexico, with both parents of Hispanic descent. Subjects were excluded for medical conditions that could influence cognitive performance.