Neuroepidemiology
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Diabetes predicts late-life dementia, but the association with rate of cognitive decline is inconsistent and has rarely been examined in non-white populations, despite the high prevalence of diabetes in African Americans. We evaluated the effect of diabetes on cognitive decline in middle-aged African Americans and whites. ⋯ Prevalent diabetes was associated with greater cognitive decline in middle-aged African Americans, possibly reflecting adverse effects of longer duration and more advanced diabetes.
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Meta Analysis
Prevalence of traumatic brain injury in the general adult population: a meta-analysis.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant public-health concern. To understand the extent of TBI, it is important to assess the prevalence of TBI in the general population. However, the prevalence of TBI in the general population can be difficult to measure because of differing definitions of TBI, differing TBI severity levels, and underreporting of sport-related TBI. ⋯ Across 15 studies, all originating from developed countries, which included 25,134 adults, 12% had a history of TBI. Men had more than twice the odds of having had a TBI than did women, suggesting that male gender is a risk factor for TBI. The adverse behavioral, cognitive and psychiatric effects associated with TBI coupled with the high prevalence of TBI identified in this study indicate that TBI is a considerable public and personal-health problem.
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To describe the epidemiology of spinal cord injury (SCI) in the developing world. ⋯ Through an understanding of the epidemiology of SCI in developing countries, appropriate preventative strategies and resource allocation may decrease the incidence and improve the care of these injuries.
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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major risk factor for stroke, especially in the elderly. Increased life expectancies mean that AF-related stroke is a growing global public health concern. Improvements in the detection, treatment and prevention of the consequences of AF have occurred in recent years. ⋯ Evidence on changes in the prevalence of AF, the risk of stroke associated with AF and the excess cost of AF-related stroke over the last 30 years was summarised. The results provide evidence that the age-adjusted prevalence of AF and the relative risk of stroke associated with AF has remained relatively constant. Unless action is taken to improve detection of AF and reduce its consequences, a considerable increase in the social and economic burden associated with AF-related stroke is likely.