Prevalence of dementia in Latin America: a collaborative study of population-based cohorts

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Hunger and malnutrition in the countries of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS)

Includes bibliography

High Prevalence of Dementia in a Community-Based Survey of Older People from Brazil: Association with Intellectual Activity Rather than Education

Although several surveys have been conducted around the world, few surveys have investigated the prevalence of dementia in Latin America. The aim of this study was to estimate dementia prevalence in a community sample in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, and to evaluate its distribution across several socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and habits. The population was aged 60 years and older and a representative sample from three different social regions. The screening instruments used in the first phase were the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Fuld Object-Memory Evaluation, the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly, and the Bayer Activities of Daily Living Scale. In the second phase, the Cambridge Examination was employed to diagnose dementia according to the DSM-IV criteria. The estimate of dementia prevalence was adjusted for screening instrument performance, using the positive and negative predictive values. The data were weighted to compare frequencies, considering the sampling and the non-response effect, and subjected to multivariate analysis. In all, 1.145 elderly subjects were evaluated (mean age: 70.9 years), of whom 63.4% were female and 52.8% had up to 4 years of schooling (participation rates at the first and the second phases were 62.6 and 60%, respectively). The observed and estimated prevalences of dementia were 5.9% and 12.5%, respectively (n = 68). Alzheimer's disease was the main cause (60.3%). Dementia was associated with old age, low education, stroke, absence of arthritis, and not reading books. The estimated prevalence of dementia was higher than the prevalence previously found. Associated factors confirmed the importance of intellectual activities in prevention.

Latin American Agricultural Trade: The Role of the WTO in Sustainable Virtual Water Flows, European Association of Agricultural Economists

International agricultural trade has been growing significantly during the last decade. Many countries rely on imports to ensure adequate food supplies to the people. A few are becoming food baskets of the world. This process raises issues about the food security in depending countries and potentially unsustainable land and water use in exporting countries. In this paper, we analyse the impacts of amplified farm trade on natural resources, especially water. Farm exports and imports of five Latin America countries (Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Peru and Chile) are examined carefully. A preliminary analysis indicates that virtual water imports can save valuable water resources in water-short countries, such as Mexico and Chile. Major exporting countries, including Brazil and Argentina, have become big exporters due to abundant natural resource endowments. The opportunity costs of agricultural production in those countries are identified as being low, because of the predominant green water use. It is concluded that virtual water trade can be a powerful tool to alleviate water stress in semi-arid countries. However, for exporting nations a sustainable water use can only be guaranteed if environmental production costs are fully reflected in the commodity prices. There is no basis for erecting environmental trade tariffs on exporters though. Setting up legal foundations for them in full compliance with WTOs processes would be a daunting task.

Proceedings of the first annual session of the Southern immigration association of America, held at Nashville, Tenn., March 11, 12 and 13, 1884.

Mode of access: Internet.

Industrial housing developments in America; a development of group houses: Sawyer Park, Williamsport, Pa.

No. 47.

Classified list of educational periodicals : prepared by the Committee on standards of the Educational press association of America for the Department of superintendence of the National education association.

"A revision of the list pub. ... in the 5th Year-book of the Educational press association of America, April, 1929."

Transactions of the Railway Association of America.

3rd annual meeting also called No. 6.

The Bulletin of the College Art Association of America.

Place of publication varies.

Krētē : monthly publication of the Pancretan Association of America.

Latest issue consulted: Vol. 65, no. 665 (July 1995).

Aberdeen-Angus cattle, a brief history of their origin in Scotland and development in America.

Mode of access: Internet.

Lilacs for America; report of 1953 Lilac Survey Committee of the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboretums.

Preface signed: John C. Wister, Chairman.

The American mathematical monthly : the official journal of the Mathematical Association of America

Mode of access: Internet.

Report to the President by the Emergency Board appointed January 14, 1948 pursuant to section 10 of the Railway labor act, as amended, to investigate unadjusted disputes between the Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee Railway Company and certain of its employees represented by International Union of Amalgamated Association of Street Electric Railway and Motor Coach Employees of America, a labor organization.

Signed, Harry H. Schwartz, chairman, Russell Wolfe, Robert E. Stone.