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Rates of dementia in three ethnoracial groups
Gurland BJ, Wilder DE, Lantigua R, Stern Y, Chen J, Killeffer EH, Mayeux R.. International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 1999-06-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Rates of dementia may vary among ethnoracial groups. Any real and substantial such difference would merit serious attention by health planners, clinicians and those seeking to advance our understanding of the etiology of this group of disorders. Methods Randomly selected elderly persons from each of three ethnoracial groups (Latinos, African-Americans, non-Latino Whites) residing in a geographic area of northern Manhattan in New York City were screened for dementia and assessed with respect to functioning in daily tasks and other qualities of life. Systematic samples of each group were clinically evaluated for presence and subtype of dementia. Subjects were reassessed at an average of 18 months following the baseline interview. Results Age-specific prevalence of dementia was found to be higher in Latinos and African-Americans than in non-Latino Whites; incidence rates were consistent with this finding. Ethnoracial groups did not vary in the proportion of dementias diagnosed as Alzheimer's disease. Prevalence differences between ethnoracial groups remained consistent as diagnostic criteria were varied in breadth and when the possible mislabelling of depression was taken into account. However, level of education was strongly associated with rates of dementia and, when age and education were simultaneously controlled, the ethnoracial differences in rates were not consistently found. Conclusions Planning for the wide range of services necessary for care of those suffering from dementia should take into account ethnoracial differences in rates. The higher rates found in Latino and African-American groups, relative to non-Latino Whites, are associated with clear and substantial functional dependencies and hence have important implications for qualities of life and service needs.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Gurland, B. J., Wilder, D. E., Lantigua, R., Stern, Y., Chen, J., Killeffer, E. H., et al. (1999). Rates of dementia in three ethnoracial groups. International journal of geriatric psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199906)14:6<481::aid-gps959>3.0.co;2-5
Vancouver
Gurland BJ, Wilder DE, Lantigua R, Stern Y, Chen J, Killeffer EH, et al. Rates of dementia in three ethnoracial groups. International journal of geriatric psychiatry. 1999. doi:10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199906)14:6<481::aid-gps959>3.0.co;2-5. PMID: 10398359.
BibTeX
@article{gurland1999-10398359,
author = {Gurland, B. J. and Wilder, D. E. and Lantigua, R. and Stern, Y. and Chen, J. and Killeffer, E. H. and Mayeux, R.},
title = {{Rates of dementia in three ethnoracial groups}},
journal = {International journal of geriatric psychiatry},
year = {1999},
doi = {10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199906)14:6<481::aid-gps959>3.0.co;2-5},
pmid = {10398359},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199906)14:6<481::aid-gps959>3.0.co;2-5}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Results Age-specific prevalence of dementia was found to be higher in Latinos and African-Americans than in non-Latino Whites; incidence rates were consistent with this finding.
- However, level of education was strongly associated with rates of dementia and, when age and education were simultaneously controlled, the ethnoracial differences in rates were not consistently found.
- The higher rates found in Latino and African-American groups, relative to non-Latino Whites, are associated with clear and substantial functional dependencies and hence have important implications for qualities of life and service needs.
Why it matters
In a random sample of older Latino, African-American and non-Latino White residents of northern Manhattan, dementia was more common, and new cases arose more often, among Latinos and African-Americans; the groups had the same share of dementia diagnosed as Alzheimer's disease, and the gap held when diagnostic criteria or possible depression mislabelling were varied. Education was strongly linked to dementia, and once age and education were accounted for together the ethnic differences were not consistently found, so this observational study does not show that ethnicity itself causes dementia. The authors note the higher rates came with substantial dependence in daily tasks and argue dementia care services should be planned with these differences in mind.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 49/100
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 (International journal of geriatric psychiatry) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry: journal h-index 190 (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 | 1999 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| 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 | 6 / 7 | Cited 419 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 14.4 citations a year over 29 year(s) since 1999 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 4 / 6 | Cited by 49 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 55 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Richard P Mayeux: h-index 158 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Columbia University: institution h-index 1,824 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 10398359) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1166(199906)14:6<481::aid-gps959>3.0.co;2-5
- PubMed: 10398359
- Original source →
- Free full text: Columbia Academic Commons (Columbia University) →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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