Comparison of dementia, MCI and mental health status between older adults with
same sex partners and opposite sex partners
 
   Lead Investigator:    Jaime Perales Puchalt
   Institution      :    University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Center
   E-Mail           :    jperales@kumc.edu
   Proposal ID      :    959


   Publications:


1  Perales-Puchalt J,   Gauthreaux K , Flatt J,   Teylan M , Resendez J,  Kukull W, Chan K , Burns JM, Vidoni E
   Risk of Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment among older adults in same-sex relationships
   Journal Article  Int J Geriatr Psychiatry,34:828-835,2019,PMC6502266

   PUBLISHED





   Proposal Description:
   Research on sexual orientation disparities in aging and dementia is nearly  non-existant. Part of the reason for the lack of research on the topic is the  fact that surveys do not include direct questions on sexual orientation. Early  literature on tobacco LGBT disparities used information on the sex of the  participant and that of their loving partner/spouse as a proxy for sexual  orientation. NACC's dataset includes data on the sex of the participant and  their study partner, who is frequently the spouse. My project aims to use this  data to analyze disparities in dementia, MCI and mental health among        individuals who live in same sex relationships. Comparisons will be made with  participants whose study partner is their loving partner or spouse and are of  the opposite sex.  Goal1. To explore the association between being in a same sex relationship,  dementia and MCI.                                                    Hypothesis 1: individuals in same sex relationships will have a higher  prevalence/incidence and an earlier age of onset of dementia and MCI than  individuals living in opposite sex relationships. Goal 2. To explore the association between being in a same sex relationship and  mental health among cognitively normal, demented and MCI individuals. Hypothesis 2: individuals in same sex relationships will have lower levels of  mental health (i.e. higher depression) than individuals living in opposite sex  relationships.