ABSTRACT
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 within and outside of the United States (US). Method 1,747 (646 White, 991 Latino, 77 Black, 33 Asian;72% female) individuals from the US and 14 Latin American countries completed an online survey regarding well-being and cognition during the pandemic. Outcome variables (pandemic impact, discrimination, loneliness, purpose of life, subjective cognitive concerns) were compared across four US ethnoracial groups, and Latinos living in the US and Latin America. Result Mean age was 66·5 (SD = 7·70) years and mean education was 15·4 (SD = 2·76) years. We found no differences in the pandemic?s overall impact across US ethnoracial groups. Compared to Whites, Latinos reported greater economic impact (p < ·001, ?p2 = .031);while Blacks reported experiencing discrimination more often (p < ·001, ?p2 = .050). Blacks and Latinos reported more positive coping (p < ·001, ?p2 = 040). Latin American Latinos reported greater pandemic impact (p < ·001, ?p2 =.013 ), more positive coping (p =·006, ?p2 =.008 ), and less discrimination than US Latinos (p < ·001, ?p2 = .013 ). Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has differentially impacted the well-being of older ethnically diverse individuals in the US and Latin America. Future studies should examine how mediators like income and coping skills modify the pandemic?s impact.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The historical development, frequency, and impact of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are less clear in Latin America than in high-income countries. Although there is a growing number of dementia studies in Latin America, little is known collectively about FTD prevalence studies by country, clinical heterogeneity, risk factors, and genetics in Latin American countries. Methods: A systematic review was completed, aimed at identifying the frequency, clinical heterogeneity, and genetics studies of FTD in Latin American populations. The search strategies used a combination of standardized terms for FTD and related disorders. In addition, at least one author per Latin American country summarized the available literature. Collaborative or regional studies were reviewed during consensus meetings. Results: The first FTD reports published in Latin America were mostly case reports. The last two decades marked a substantial increase in the number of FTD research in Latin American countries. Brazil (165), Argentina (84), Colombia (26), and Chile (23) are the countries with the larger numbers of FTD published studies. Most of the research has focused on clinical and neuropsychological features (n = 247), including the local adaptation of neuropsychological and behavioral assessment batteries. However, there are little to no large studies on prevalence (n = 4), biomarkers (n = 9), or neuropathology (n = 3) of FTD. Conclusions: Future FTD studies will be required in Latin America, albeit with a greater emphasis on clinical diagnosis, genetics, biomarkers, and neuropathological studies. Regional and country-level efforts should seek better estimations of the prevalence, incidence, and economic impact of FTD syndromes.