title: Vascular risk factors, depression, and cognitive change among African American older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vascular burden has been linked to future depression and cognitive change in predominately European American samples. This study investigated these relationships in older African Americans.
  
  
  METHODS
  To examine the connection between vascular risk factors, depression, and cognitive change, this study utilized data from 435 older African Americans. Specifically, the study examined the link between vascular risk at baseline with depression and cognitive functioning at a 2.5-year follow-up visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High baseline vascular risk was associated with increased odds of future depression while controlling for age and current depression. A series of path analyses demonstrated links between baseline vascular risk, increases in depression, and decreases in processing speed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that African Americans with greater vascular burden are at greater risk for depression and cognitive change.
authors.affiliation: Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Carmasin
authors.forename: Benjamin T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Mast
authors.forename: Jason C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Allaire
authors.forename: Keith E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Whitfield
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications*
keywords: African Americans; cognitive change; depression; vascular risk factors