Background: Mexican Americans are at increased risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease compared to non-Hispanic whites. This study sought to examine the relationship between vascular risk, depression, and cognition in Mexican American elders. Methods: Data from 470 (390 normal controls, 80 MCI patients) Mexican Americans enrolled in the Health and Aging Brain among Latino Elders (HABLE) study were used. The cardiovascular risk was assessed by the Framingham Risk Score. Cognition was assessed with a neuropsychological battery, and depression was assessed based on scores from the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). ANOVAs were utilized to determine the differences in neuropsychological scores of normal controls with and without depression and CVD risk (low vs. high). Follow-up logistic regression was conducted to determine MCI risk. Results: The results of this study indicated that comorbid depression and a high CVD risk were associated with poorer cognitive performance in Mexican Americans. Depressed women with high CVD risk were more likely to have executive dysfunction, language deficits, and poorer global cognition than nondepressed women with a high CVD risk. In Mexican American men, those with a high vascular risk and depression were more likely to have executive dysfunction and poorer immediate memory than the nondepressed high-risk group. Higher GDS scores (OR = 1.10; 95% CI 1.02–1.10, p = 0.001) and higher vascular risk scores (OR = 1.05; 95% CI 1.02–1.10, p = 0.001) significantly predicted MCI status in Mexican Americans. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that comorbid depression and a high CVD risk were associated with poorer cognitive performance and increased risk of MCI in Mexican Americans.

These preliminary data suggest a potential effect of creatine on inflammation-based nociception that may be mediated via ASIC3. While preliminary, this study warrants further research on the potential of creatine as an analgesic and can serve as a stepping stone for the development of ASIC-based therapeutics.

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Background: Recruitment of older adults into aging research is a challenge. Several research studies and clinical trials have failed due to low participant enrollment. Older adults face many barriers to study participation (mistrust of research, lack of transportation, health status, etc.), so special efforts must be made to recruit them into research. We created a recruitment questionnaire with the goal of understanding how to better promote the study and to obtain participant suggestions of groups and locations where the study team could recruit new participants. Method:The Health and Aging Brain Study: Health Disparities (HABS-HD) is a community based research study of cognitive aging in diverse communities. We designed a voluntary exit questionnaire for current study participants regarding their recruitment preferences. The questionnaire included the following questions: 1) How did you find out about the study? 2) How can we promote the study to someone similar to you?3)Which of the following advertising methods do you prefer? 4) Do you know any organization/group that would benefit from the study information? Questionnaire data was compiled and analyzed to assess recruitment preferences and suggestions. Result:The total number of participants who responded to the questionnaire was 413. 26.9% of respondents stated that they would prefer TV as their main advertising method, followed by the internet (23%) and postal service (mail) (22.7%). Word of mouth was listed as the best way to promote the study (26.9%) followed by community engagement (16.2%) and church (8.2%). When asked for names of organizations, participants recommended tradition groups such as churches, senior centers, and retirement homes. Participants also recommended groups such as rotary clubs, veterans associations, libraries, and the community college senior education program. Conclusion:Participants can assist in recruitment efforts through suggesting organizations that study personnel may not have reached out to. The input allows for assessment of recruitment and the suggestions can broaden the study's reach.