Mortality, dementia, and apolipoprotein E genotype in elderly white women in the United States.

Objectives: To assess the risk of death in relation to apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and to evaluate how APOE genotype interacts with dementia and with other major medical conditions to affect survival.

Design: A 6-year prospective cohort study of dementia, APOE genotype and survival.

Setting: Health maintenance organization in southern California.

Social network, cognitive function, and dementia incidence among elderly women.

Objectives: We examined whether social networks had a protective association with incidence of dementia among elderly women.

Methods: We prospectively studied 2249 members of a health maintenance organization who were 78 years or older, were classified as free of dementia in 2001, and had completed at least 1 follow-up interview in 2002 through 2005. We used the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-modified, the Telephone Dementia Questionnaire, and medical record review to assess cognitive status.

Incidence of dementia in long-term hormone users.

Results from epidemiologic studies of postmenopausal hormone use and dementia have been conflicting. Investigators from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study reported that the incidence of dementia in women aged >/=65 years assigned to hormone use was increased. Here the authors report results from a prospective cohort study of 2,906 dementia-free women (1,519 hormone users and 1,387 hormone nonusers) aged > or =75 years who were recruited from a Southern California health plan in 1999 and followed through 2003.

Validation of the Cognitive Assessment of Later Life Status (CALLS) instrument: a computerized telephonic measure.

Background: Brief screening tests have been developed to measure cognitive performance and dementia, yet they measure limited cognitive domains and often lack construct validity. Neuropsychological assessments, while comprehensive, are too costly and time-consuming for epidemiological studies. This study's aim was to develop a psychometrically valid telephone administered test of cognitive function in aging.

Cognitive domains associated with performance on the telephone interview for cognitive status-modified.

Global cognitive screening tests are increasingly used in clinical and research settings. However, many have not been developed following systematic psychometric principles; thus, construct validity is not clearly defined. It is the aim of this study to identify the cognitive domains that are associated with the total score from the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-modified (TICS-m).

Cognitive performance of older women who have survived cancer.

Based on anecdotal reports and a few empirical studies, there is concern about the cognitive effects of cancer and its treatment effects among adults. A cross-sectional comparison of the cognitive performance of 541 elderly women who reported at least one hospitalization for cancer and 3,123 who had no reported hospitalizations for cancer was conducted. The difference between cancer survivors and those with no history of cancer on a screening test of global cognitive functioning was not significant, nor were there differences on a subtest of the global test that assesses verbal memory.

Validation of multi-stage telephone-based identification of cognitive impairment and dementia.

Background: Many types of research on dementia and cognitive impairment require large sample sizes. Detailed in-person assessment using batteries of neuropyschologic testing is expensive. This study evaluates whether a brief telephone cognitive assessment strategy can reliably classify cognitive status when compared to an in-person "gold-standard" clinical assessment.

Blood pressure levels before dementia.

Background: The association between blood pressure (BP) and dementia is not easily interpreted, but some prospective studies suggest that dementia may lower BP.

Objective: To examine the relationship between BP during a 10-year period and the prevalence of dementia.

Design: Comparison of longitudinal BP between participants who had dementia, participants who were cognitively impaired, and unimpaired participants selected from an ongoing cohort study.

Physician recognition of cognitive impairment: evaluating the need for improvement.

Objectives: To assess physician recognition of dementia and cognitive impairment, compare recognition with documentation, and identify physician and patient factors associated with recognition.

Design: Survey of physicians and review of medical records.

Setting: Health maintenance organization in southern California.

Diabetes mellitus and cognitive performance in older women.

Purpose: This cross-sectional study sought to identify diabetes accurately in a study population of 3681 women age 75 and older and to determine the association of diabetes with cognitive performance.

Methods: A previously validated test, the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Screening-Modified (TICSm) was given to assess cognitive status. A diabetes case identification database, medical record review and self-report were used to determine diabetes cases.

Hormone use and cognitive performance in women of advanced age.

Objectives: To explore the association between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and cognitive performance in a group of elderly women (>/=75) using a battery of well-standardized neuropsychological instruments.

Design: Equivalent samples from existing cohort.

Setting: Healthcare provider organization.

Prevalence of dementia in users of hormone replacement therapy as defined by prescription data.

Background: Studies of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and dementia and cognitive impairment show mixed results. This study assessed the prevalence of dementia and cognitive impairment in users and nonusers of HRT defined using computer-stored prescription information.

Methods: The study involved 3924 women 75 years of age and older who were members of the Southern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in 1998.

A preliminary psychometric analysis of a computer-assisted administration of the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status-modified.

Most screening tests of cognitive functioning require face to face administration by trained examiners. This limits their utility in epidemiology and in primary care settings. Further, existing screening tests have not been developed using established psychometric principles.