title: The Hachinski ischemic scale and cognition: the influence of ethnicity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  cardiovascular burden is considered a risk factor for the development of cognitive dysfunction and dementia. While this link is well established in the literature, implementing this work in primary care settings remains a challenge. The goal of this study is to examine the utility of the Hachinski Ischemic Scale (HIS) in identifying cognitive dysfunction and diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in an ethnically diverse sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  data were analysed on 517 participants (211 Mexican Americans and 306 non-Hispanic Whites) recruited from Project FRONTIER, a study of rural health. Neuropsychological measures were utilised to assess for cognitive functioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  among non-Hispanic Whites, HIS scores were significantly related to poorer performance on tasks of global cognition [B (SE) = -0.13 (0.06), P = 0.02], immediate memory [B (SE) = -0.85 (0.26), P < 0.001], attention [B (SE) = -1.6 (0.36), P < 0.001] and executive functioning [B (SE) = 0.46 (0.12), P < 0.001], and significantly predicted diagnosis of MCI [odds ratio (OR) = 1.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2-1.6]. For Mexican Americans, HIS scores were significantly related to immediate memory [B (SE) = -0.78 (0.28), P = 0.01], attention [B (SE) = -0.74 (0.36), P = 0.04] and executive functioning [B (SE) = 0.37 (0.14), P = 0.01]; however, HIS scores were not significantly related to diagnosis of MCI in Mexican Americans (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 0.96-1.4, P = 0.116).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HIS scores were related to cognitive functioning; however, these results differed by ethnicity. It is possible that these findings indicate that vascular factors may increase risk for MCI among non-Hispanic Whites but not for Mexican Americans. These findings are consistent with past research that suggests risk factors for MCI may differ by ethnicity.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, University of North Texas Health Sciences Center, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
authors: Leigh A
authors: LA
authors: Johnson
authors: Blair
authors: B
authors: Cushing
authors: Geoffrey
authors: G
authors: Rohlfing
authors: Melissa
authors: M
authors: Edwards
authors: Hedieh
authors: H
authors: Davenloo
authors: Darrin
authors: D
authors: D'Agostino
authors: James R
authors: JR
authors: Hall
authors: Sid E
authors: SE
authors: O'Bryant
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D014894:Weights and Measures; D044465:White People
keywords: Cognition; Ethnic differences; Hachinski Ischemic Scale; Mexican American; Older people