Prevalence of Dementia in Older Latinos: The Influence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Stroke and Genetic Factors

Abstract

Dementia prevalence in this ethnic group is similar to that reported in Canadian and European studies but lower than in Caribbean-Hispanics residing in the United States. The etiological fraction of dementia attributable to type 2 diabetes mellitus and stroke is substantial and points toward the need for intervention research and treatment with the goal of reducing neurological sequelae in groups with high prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The allele frequency of ApoE was similar to that in other published studies on Mexican Americans. The low frequency of the E4 allele may contribute to the difference in etiology of dementia in older Mexican Americans and older people of European background. Dementia in this ethnic group may be related to preventable causes, with a smaller genetic component than in Europeans.