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Characteristics of Mexican-American elders with dementia presenting to a community-based memory evaluation program
David V Espino1, David DelAguila, Charles P Mouton
1Division of Community Geriatrics, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, USA. espino@uthscsa.edu
Objective:
To determine sociodemographic characteristics associated with the initial presentation of Mexican-American elders to a community-based memory evaluation clinic.
Methods:
Retrospective review of the charts of 89 Mexican Americans presenting consecutively to an outpatient memory evaluation clinic in San Antonio, Texas.
Principal Findings:
Mexican Americans presented for evaluation with more moderate-to-severe cognitive impairment than previously reported. They also tended to have high levels of IADL (83.1%) and gait/balance (52.3%) impairment, as well as high levels of depressive symptoms (63.1%).
Conclusions:
Mexican Americans present for initial evaluation for memory decline with moderate-to-severe cognitive decline and significant dementia-associated co-morbidities. In Mexican Americans, caregiver burden, fall risks, depressive symptoms, and need for IADL support should be addressed on the initial visit for memory decline.