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Inequalities in dementia incidence between six racial and ethnic groups over 14 years
Mayeda ER, Glymour MM, Quesenberry CP, Whitmer RA.. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 2016-02-11
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Plain-language summary
Introduction Reducing racial/ethnic disparities is a primary objective of the National Alzheimer's Plan (NAPA), yet direct comparisons within large samples representing diversity of the United States are lacking. Methods Dementia incidence from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2013 and a 25-year cumulative risk in 274,283 health care members aged 64+ (n = 18,778 African-American, n = 4543 American Indian/Alaska Native [AIAN], n = 21,000 Latino, n = 440 Pacific Islander, n = 206,490 white, n = 23,032 Asian-Americans). Cox proportional hazard models were adjusted for age, sex, medical utilization, and comorbidities. Results Dementia incidence (n = 59,555) was highest for African-Americans (26.6/1000 person-years) and AIANs (22.2/1000 person-years); intermediate for Latinos (19.6/1000 person-years), Pacific Islanders (19.6/1000 person-years), and whites (19.3/1000 person-years) and lowest among Asian-Americans (15.2/1000 person-years). Risk was 65% greater for African-Americans (hazard ratio = 1.65; 95% confidence interval = 1.58-1.72) versus Asian-Americans. Cumulative 25-year risk at age 65 was as follows: 38% African-Americans, 35% AIANs, 32% Latino, 25% Pacific Islanders, 30% white, and 28% Asian-Americans. Discussion Dementia rates varied over 60% between groups, providing a comprehensive benchmark for the NAPA goal of reducing disparities.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Low
The record lists 18,778 participants. In 274,283 health-plan members aged 64 and over followed from 2000 to 2013, dementia incidence ranged from 26.6 per 1,000 person-years in African-Americans and 22.2 in American Indian/Alaska Native members down to 15.2 in Asian-Americans. That is a 65% higher risk for African-Americans than Asian-Americans (hazard ratio 1.65, 95% CI 1.58–1.72) after adjusting for age, sex, medical use and other illnesses.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Mayeda, E. R., Glymour, M. M., Quesenberry, C. P., & Whitmer, R. A. (2016). Inequalities in dementia incidence between six racial and ethnic groups over 14 years. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2015.12.007
Vancouver
Mayeda ER, Glymour MM, Quesenberry CP, Whitmer RA. Inequalities in dementia incidence between six racial and ethnic groups over 14 years. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. 2016. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2015.12.007. PMID: 26874595.
BibTeX
@article{mayeda2016-26874595,
author = {Mayeda, E. R. and Glymour, M. M. and Quesenberry, C. P. and Whitmer, R. A.},
title = {{Inequalities in dementia incidence between six racial and ethnic groups over 14 years}},
journal = {Alzheimer's \& dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.1016/j.jalz.2015.12.007},
pmid = {26874595},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2015.12.007}
}
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.
Key findings
- Results Dementia incidence (n = 59,555) was highest for African-Americans (26.6/1000 person-years) and AIANs (22.2/1000 person-years); intermediate for Latinos (19.6/1000 person-years), Pacific Islanders (19.6/1000 person-years), and whites (19.3/1000 person-years) and lowest among Asian-Americans (15.2/1000 person-years).
- Risk was 65% greater for African-Americans (hazard ratio = 1.65; 95% confidence interval = 1.58-1.72) versus Asian-Americans.
Why it matters
In 274,283 health-plan members aged 64 and over followed from 2000 to 2013, dementia incidence ranged from 26.6 per 1,000 person-years in African-Americans and 22.2 in American Indian/Alaska Native members down to 15.2 in Asian-Americans. That is a 65% higher risk for African-Americans than Asian-Americans (hazard ratio 1.65, 95% CI 1.58–1.72) after adjusting for age, sex, medical use and other illnesses. The authors present these rates as a benchmark for the national goal of reducing disparities. This is an observational study: it shows that rates differ, not why, and it does not test any way of lowering them.
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Study details
- Participants18,778
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 62/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (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 | 4 / 4 | 18,778 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 875 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 72.9 citations a year over 12 year(s) since 2016 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 36.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 4 / 6 | Cited by 83 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 310 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Rachel A. Whitmer: h-index 63 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of California, San Francisco: institution h-index 1,915 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 26874595) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 62 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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