ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: APOE is the biomarker with the greatest known influence on cognitive function; however, the effect of complex haplotypes involving polymorphisms rs449647, rs405509, rs440446, rs429358 and rs7412 has never been studied in older populations. METHODS: We evaluated APOE polymorphisms using multiplex PCR for genotyping and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) to evaluate cognitive function in 819 individuals from VA Normative Aging Study. RESULTS: Combinatorial analysis of all polymorphisms and individual analysis of polymorphisms rs449647, rs405509, rs440446 and rs7412 did not show any association with cognitive performance. Polymorphism rs429358 was associated with better cognitive performance (odds of MMSE ≤ 25 = 0.63, 95% CI 0.42-0.95; p = 0.03) in the oldest subsample (5th quintile of age) (odds of MMSE ≤ 25 = 0.34; 95% CI 0.13-0.86; p = 0.02). APOE allele ε4 was also associated with better cognitive performance (odds of MMSE ≤ 25 = 0.61, 95% CI 0.40-0.94; p = 0.02), also in the oldest subsample (odds of MMSE ≤ 25 = 0.35, 95% CI 0.14-0.90; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a beneficial effect of polymorphism rs429358 in the oldest men.
Subject(s)
Aging/psychology , Apolipoproteins E/genetics , Cognition/physiology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cognition Disorders , Genotype , Haplotypes , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neuropsychological Tests , Polymorphism, Genetic , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to document the associations of stressors (combat exposure, retirement concerns, and late-life stressful events), personal resources (social support, sense of mastery, and positive appraisal of military experiences), and functional health (both physical and mental) with life satisfaction in older veterans. METHODS: Participants were 562 male combat veterans (mean age = 70). Self-report questionnaires were administered via mail survey. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Each step of the regression analysis demonstrated a significant contribution to variance in life satisfaction (48% in total). Although stressors were significant when entered as a set, their influence dissipated in the presence of personal resources and functional health. For the full model, seven of 11 independent variables were unique and significant predictors, including all personal resource factors and both functional health indices. Sense of mastery was most potent. CONCLUSIONS: Even in the presence of stressors, personal resources and functional health appear to serve protective roles in explaining levels of life satisfaction among aging veterans.
Subject(s)
Aging/psychology , Combat Disorders/psychology , Personal Satisfaction , Quality of Life/psychology , Veterans/psychology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Health Status , Humans , Life Change Events , Male , Middle Aged , Regression Analysis , Retirement , Sense of Coherence , Social Support , Surveys and Questionnaires , United States , Vietnam ConflictABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to understand factors that influence the oral health-related behaviors of Latino children, as reported by their parents. METHODS: Focus groups and in-depth interviews assessed parental perceptions, experiences, attributions, and beliefs regarding their children's oral health. Guiding questions focused on a) the participant's child dental experiences; b) the impact of dental problems on the child's daily activities, emotions, self-esteem; c) parental experiences coping with child's dental problems; and d) hygienic and dietary habits. Participants were purposively sampled from dental clinics and public schools with a high concentration of Latinos; 92 urban low-income Latino Spanish-speaking parents participated. Transcriptions of the audio files were thematically analyzed using a grounded theory approach. RESULTS: Parents' explanations of their children's dental experiences were categorized under the following themes: caries and diet, access to dental care, migration experiences, and routines. CONCLUSIONS: Findings revealed fundamental multilevel (i.e., individual/child, family, and community) factors that are important to consider for future interventions to reduce oral health disparities: behaviors leading to caries, parental knowledge about optimal oral health, access to sugary foods within the living environment and to fluoridated water as well as barriers to oral health care such as lack of health insurance or limited health insurance coverage, among others.
