Sex difference in the associations of socioeconomic status, cognitive function and brain volume with dementia in old adults: Findings from the OASIS study

AbstractBackgroundSex differences in the association of cognitive function and imaging measures with dementia have not been fully investigated while sex-based investigation of dementia has been discussed. Understanding sex differences in the dementia-related socioeconomic, cognitive, and imaging measurements is important for uncovering sex-related pathways to dementia and facilitating early diagnosis, family planning, and cost control.MethodsWe selected data from the Open Access Series of Imaging Studies with longitudinal measurements of brain volumes on 150 individuals aged 60 to 96 years. Dementia status was determined using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale, and Alzheimer’s disease was diagnosed as a CDR of ≥ 0.5. Generalized estimating equation models were used to estimate the associations of socioeconomic, cognitive and imaging factors with dementia in men and women.ResultsLower education affected dementia more in women than in men. Age, education, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and normalized whole-brain volume (nWBV) were associated with dementia in women whereas only MMSE and nWBV were associated with dementia in men. Lower socioeconomic status was associated with a reduced estimated total intracranial volume in men, but not in women. Ageing and lower MMSE scores were associated with reduced nWBV in both men and women.ConclusionsThe association between education and prevalence of dementia differs in men and women. Women may have more risk factors for dementia than men.</jats:sec

Sex Difference in the Associations of Socioeconomic Status, Cognitive Function, and Brain Volume with Dementia in Old Adults: Findings from the OASIS Study

Background: Sex differences in the association of cognitive function and imaging measures with dementia have not been fully investigated. Understanding sex differences in the dementia-related socioeconomic, cognitive, and imaging measurements is crucial for uncovering sex-related pathways to dementia and facilitating early diagnosis, family planning, and cost control. Methods: We selected data from the Open Access Series of Imaging Studies, with longitudinal measurements of brain volumes, on 150 individuals aged 60 to 96 years. Dementia status was determined using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale, and Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease was diagnosed as a CDR of &ge;0.5. Generalized estimating equation models were used to estimate the associations of socioeconomic, cognitive, and imaging factors with dementia in men and women. Results: The study sample consisted of 88 women (58.7%) and 62 men (41.3%), and the average age of the subjects was 75.4 years at the initial visit. A lower socioeconomic status was associated with a reduced estimated total intracranial volume in men, but not in women. Ageing and lower MMSE scores were associated with a reduced nWBV in both men and women. Lower education affected dementia more in women than in men. Age, education, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and normalized whole-brain volume (nWBV) were associated with dementia in women, while only MMSE and nWBV were associated with dementia in men. Conclusions: The association between education and the prevalence of dementia differs in men and women. Women may have more risk factors for dementia than men

Comparison of efficacy, safety, and cost of low-molecular-weight heparin with continuous-infusion unfractionated heparin for initiation of anticoagulation after mechanical prosthetic valve implantation

We compared the efficacy, safety, and impact on postoperative hospital length of stay and inpatient hospital costs of low-molecular-weight heparin with that of unfractionated heparin as a "bridge" to achieving therapeutic levels of anticoagulation with warfarin in patients with newly implanted prosthetic heart valves. The patients who received low-molecular-weight heparin had a shorter length of stay and decreased postoperative costs compared with the control subjects receiving unfractionated heparin