Rate of Cognitive Decline Before and After the Onset of Functional Limitations in Older Persons.

Background: Loss in physical function is indicative of deterioration in physiological health that may also be associated with deterioration in neurological health. The objective of this study was to examine whether the onset of functional limitations and their severity is associated with increases in cognitive decline among older adults.

Methods: The study sample consists of 3825 (65% African Americans and 53% females) participants over the age of 65 with no functional limitations.

Deaths in the United States among persons with Alzheimer's disease (2010-2050).

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) profoundly affects the end-of-life experience. Yet, counts of deaths attributable to AD understate this burden of AD in the population. Therefore, we estimated the annual number of deaths in the United States among older adults with AD from 2010 to 2050.

Contribution of Alzheimer disease to mortality in the United States.

Objective: To assess the burden of mortality attributable to Alzheimer disease (AD) dementia in the United States.

Methods: Data came from 2,566 persons aged 65 years and older (mean 78.1 years) without dementia at baseline from 2 cohort studies of aging with identical annual diagnostic assessments of dementia.

Alzheimer disease in the United States (2010-2050) estimated using the 2010 census.

Objectives: To provide updated estimates of Alzheimer disease (AD) dementia prevalence in the United States from 2010 through 2050.

Methods: Probabilities of AD dementia incidence were calculated from a longitudinal, population-based study including substantial numbers of both black and white participants. Incidence probabilities for single year of age, race, and level of education were calculated using weighted logistic regression and AD dementia diagnosis from 2,577 detailed clinical evaluations of 1,913 people obtained from stratified random samples of previously disease-free individuals in a population of 10,800.

Disability in basic and instrumental activities of daily living is associated with faster rate of decline in cognitive function of older adults.

Background: The purpose of this study is to examine whether physical disability is associated with faster rate of decline in cognitive function.

Methods: A longitudinal population-based cohort of 6,678 initially nondisabled older adults from a biracial urban community was interviewed at 3-year intervals from 1993 to 2012. Cognitive function was assessed using a standardized global cognitive score, and physical disabilities using activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL).

Cognitive and physical functions as determinants of delayed age at onset and progression of disability.

Background: This study examined the association of cognitive and physical functions with age-related transition and progression of activities of daily living (ADL) disability in a population-based longitudinal cohort of nondisabled older adults.

Methods: A longitudinal population-based cohort study of 5,317 initially nondisabled older adults with an average age of 73.6 years of an urban Chicago community were interviewed annually for up to 8 years from 2000 through 2008.

The Relationship Between Mentally Unhealthy Days and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults Over Time.

This article sought to determine the extent to which the number of self-reported mentally unhealthy days (MUDs) in the past 30 days estimates depressive symptoms in older adults. The sample of 4,321 community-dwelling residents aged 65 and above originated from an ongoing population-based study of older Blacks and Whites. Participants' data from 1993 through 2005 included the single MUD question and questions from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale (CES-D).

A prospective population-based study of differences in elder self-neglect and mortality between black and white older adults.

Background: Self-neglect is the behavior of an elderly person that threatens his or her own health and safety, and it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Although report of self-neglect is more common among black older adults, the racial/ethnic differences in mortality remain unclear.

Methods: The Chicago Healthy Aging Project is a population-based cohort study conducted from 1993 to 2005.

Upper and lower extremity motor performance and functional impairment in Alzheimer's disease.

This report examines the relation of upper and lower extremity motor performance to functional impairment among 371 persons with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cognitive and motor performance tests were administered at 6-month intervals for up to 4 years. Motor performance was assessed using 3 lower extremity tests and 2 upper extremity tests.

Neighborhood social cohesion and disorder in relation to walking in community-dwelling older adults: a multilevel analysis.

Objectives. To examine the role of neighborhood social conditions and walking in community-dwelling older adults. Methods.

Change in direct measures of physical performance among persons with Alzheimer's disease.

Objectives: Measures of physical performance were used in intact and community populations. We examined upper and lower extremity physical performance tests among people with Alzheimer's disease.

Method: A total of 367 persons with probable Alzheimer's disease, recruited from an Alzheimer's disease diagnostic center, were given three tests of lower extremity function and two tests of upper extremity function at 6 month intervals for up to 4 years.

Black-white differences in health-related quality of life among older adults.

Very little information exists on racial differences in quality of life among older adults. In this paper, we examine black-white differences in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and identify factors that may account for these differences. The participants were 5,986 community-dwelling persons age 65+ (62% black at baseline) from the Chicago Health and Aging Project.

Dietary copper and high saturated and trans fat intakes associated with cognitive decline.

Background: Evidence from prospective epidemiologic studies and animal models suggests that intakes of dietary fats and copper may be associated with neurodegenerative diseases.

Objective: To examine whether high dietary copper intake is associated with increased cognitive decline among persons who also consume a diet high in saturated and trans fats.

Design: Community-based prospective study.

Early life socioeconomic status and late life risk of Alzheimer's disease.

The authors examined the relation of early life socioeconomic status to incident Alzheimer's disease (AD), level of cognition and rate of cognitive decline in old age. For up to 10 years, 859 older Catholic clergy members without dementia at baseline completed annual clinical evaluations as part of the Religious Orders Study. The evaluations included clinical classification of AD and detailed cognitive testing.

Dietary folate and vitamin B12 intake and cognitive decline among community-dwelling older persons.

Background: Deficiencies in folate and vitamin B12 have been associated with neurodegenerative disease.

Objective: To examine the association between rates of age-related cognitive change and dietary intakes of folate and vitamin B12.

Design: Prospective study performed from 1993 to 2002.

Relation of the tocopherol forms to incident Alzheimer disease and to cognitive change.

Background: High intake of vitamin E from food (tocopherol), but not from supplements (which usually contain alpha-tocopherol), is inversely associated with Alzheimer disease.

Objective: We examined whether food intakes of vitamin E, alpha-tocopherol equivalents (a measure of the relative biologic activity of tocopherols and tocotrienols), or individual tocopherols would protect against incident Alzheimer disease and cognitive decline over 6 y in participants of the Chicago Health and Aging Project.

Design: The 1993-2002 study of community residents aged >or=65 y included the administration of 4 cognitive tests and clinical evaluations for Alzheimer disease.

Alzheimer disease in the US population: prevalence estimates using the 2000 census.

Context: Current and future estimates of Alzheimer disease (AD) are essential for public health planning.

Objective: To provide prevalence estimates of AD for the US population from 2000 through 2050.

Design: Alzheimer disease incidence estimates from a population-based, biracial, urban study, using a stratified random sampling design, were converted to prevalence estimates and applied to US Census Bureau estimates of US population growth.

Incidence of Alzheimer disease in a biracial urban community: relation to apolipoprotein E allele status.

Context: Few studies compare Alzheimer disease (AD) incidence among black and white subjects.

Objective: To estimate incidence and the effect of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon4 allele in these races.

Design: Population-based study of disease incidence using a random, stratified sample.

Dietary intake of antioxidant nutrients and the risk of incident Alzheimer disease in a biracial community study.

Context: Oxidative processes have been suggested as elements in the development of Alzheimer disease (AD), but whether dietary intake of vitamin E and other antioxidant nutrients prevents its development is unknown.

Objective: To examine whether intake of antioxidant nutrients, vitamin E, vitamin C, and beta carotene is associated with incident AD.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Prospective study, conducted from 1993 to 2000, of individuals selected in a stratified random sample of community-dwelling residents.

Association between blood pressure and cognitive function in a biracial community population of older persons.

We examined whether or not blood pressure is related to cognitive function in a cross-sectional study of a biracial community of 5,816 persons aged 65 years and older. Blood pressure had a curvilinear association with cognitive performance in linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, race and education. Scores were lower by 2-5 percentiles at 100 mm Hg systolic pressure compared to scores at the mean of 140 mm Hg and lower by <1 percentile at 180 mm Hg.