Are Race and Ethnicity Associated with Incident Dementia?

Given the diversity of the U.S. population, researchers in this study analyzed retrospective data to determine if the incidence of dementia varied by race and ethnicity within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system. Data from 1.9 million participants ≥55 years (mean age, 69 years; 2% women) who were dementia-free at baseline were included. Self-reported racial and ethnicity data were obtained from a national database, and participants were divided into 10 U.S. regions based on residential zip code data. Demographics included age, sex, and education. Comorbid conditions included hypertension, obesity, stroke or transient ischemic attack, diabetes, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and alcohol use disorder. Deme…