title: Profiling of Alzheimer's disease patients in Puerto Rico: A comparison of two distinct socioeconomic areas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Latino/Hispanic community in the United States is at higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease than other ethnic groups. Specifically, Caribbean Hispanics showed a more severe Alzheimer's disease symptomatology than any other ethnic group. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the mortality rate associated with Alzheimer's disease in Puerto Rico is higher than that reported in the United States. Moreover, the mortality rate associated with Alzheimer's disease was higher among Puerto Rican living in Puerto Rico than those in the mainland United States. There is also a differential geographical distribution of mortality rate associated with Alzheimer's disease in Puerto Rico, which may be associated with differential socioeconomic status and/or access to healthcare. However, there is no information regarding the clinical profile of Alzheimer's disease patients in Puerto Rico.
  
  
  METHODS
  Here, we present the results of a retrospective study directed to profile Alzheimer's disease patients clustered into two groups based on areas previously determined with low (Metro Region) and high (Northwest-Central Region) mortality rate associated with Alzheimer's disease in Puerto Rico.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant difference in the age-at-diagnosis and years of education was found among patients within the two studied regions. Despite these differences, both regions showed comparable levels of initial and last Mini Mental State Examination scores and rate of cognitive decline. Significant difference was also observed in the occurance of co-morbidities associated with Alzheimer's disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The differential profile of Alzheimer's disease patients correlated with differences in socioeconomic status between these two regions, suggesting that covariant associated with social status may contribute to increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Further studies should be conducted to determine the role of socioeconomic factors and healthy living practices as risk factors for Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Rio Piedras Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Clara L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Camacho-Mercado
authors.affiliation: Demographics Assistance Group, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.affiliation: Caribbean Center for the Study of Memory and Cognition, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Heriberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Penn Memory Center, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Science & Molecular Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Irving E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Vega
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Hispanics; aging; ethnicity; risk factors