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Geographical Variation in Dementia Mortality in Italy, New Zealand, and Chile: The Impact of Latitude, Vitamin D, and Air Pollution
Tom C. Russ, Laura Murianni, Gloria Icaza, Andrea Slachevsky, John M. Starr. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 2016-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Dementia SMRs were higher in northern than central or southern Italy. The inverse pattern was seen in women in New Zealand, with rates higher on South Island than North Island. However, dementia risk was raised in eight regions in the north and centre of Chile in both men and women. Geographical variation plays a key role in dementia risk, but patterns vary in men and women. In the northern hemisphere, dementia mortality is higher in the north, but the pattern in the southern hemisphere is more complex.
Key findings
- Dementia SMRs were higher in northern than central or southern Italy.
- The inverse pattern was seen in women in New Zealand, with rates higher on South Island than North Island.
- However, dementia risk was raised in eight regions in the north and centre of Chile in both men and women.
- Geographical variation plays a key role in dementia risk, but patterns vary in men and women.
- In the northern hemisphere, dementia mortality is higher in the north, but the pattern in the southern hemisphere is more complex.
Why it matters
This study found that dementia death rates vary by latitude and region, but the pattern differs between the northern and southern hemispheres and between men and women. It does not test any treatment or prevention, so it cannot show how to cure or prevent dementia.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders: journal h-index 149 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2016 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 45 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 3.8 citations a year over 12 year(s) since 2016 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author John M. Starr: h-index 111 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Edinburgh: institution h-index 1,378 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 27536986) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1159/000447449
- PubMed: 27536986
- Original source →
- Free full text: Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Russ, T. C., Murianni, L., Icaza, G., Slachevsky, A., & Starr, J. M. (2016). Geographical Variation in Dementia Mortality in Italy, New Zealand, and Chile: The Impact of Latitude, Vitamin D, and Air Pollution. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1159/000447449
Vancouver
Russ TC, Murianni L, Icaza G, Slachevsky A, Starr JM. Geographical Variation in Dementia Mortality in Italy, New Zealand, and Chile: The Impact of Latitude, Vitamin D, and Air Pollution. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders. 2016. doi:10.1159/000447449. PMID: 27536986.
BibTeX
@article{russ2016-27536986,
author = {Russ, Tom C. and Murianni, Laura and Icaza, Gloria and Slachevsky, Andrea and Starr, John M.},
title = {{Geographical Variation in Dementia Mortality in Italy, New Zealand, and Chile: The Impact of Latitude, Vitamin D, and Air Pollution}},
journal = {Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.1159/000447449},
pmid = {27536986},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1159/000447449}
}
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