Latest news with #GladysMaestre
New York Post
01-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
This Texas county has more than twice as much dementia as the rest of the US — what's behind it
A county in southern Texas, near the US-Mexico border, is suffering from a bit of an epidemic. Starr County has emerged as a national hotspot — not for tourism or industry, but for having one of the highest rates of dementia in the country. Roughly one in five seniors here have dementia, which is more than twice the average rate in the US. Advertisement 3 A county in southern Texas is in the limelight for having one of the highest rates of dementia in the country. Getty Images Gladys Maestre, director of the Rio Grande Valley Alzheimer's Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research, told the Daily Mail that this figure is likely only the 'tip of the iceberg,' as the real number is probably 'much, much higher.' 'I have also seen so many people aged around 50 already sick,' she said. 'The only way to give accurate estimations is by doing an epidemiological study, door by door in this case.' The reasons for this phenomenon, however, are harder to define. Advertisement 'Patients will come in and say, 'So have you figured it out? What is it?'' Jessica Cantú, a county resident who works in its first Alzheimer's-specific research site, El Faro Health and Therapeutics, told The Atlantic this week. 'I don't know what it is that's causing all of this.' Dementia — the progressive decline in thinking, remembering and reasoning skills — affects about one in 10 Americans 65 and older. The neuro-cognitive disorder accounts for more than 100,000 deaths each year. Advertisement Dementia isn't caused by a single factor, but rather by damage to brain cells that affects their ability to communicate. There are many risk factors for dementia, including physical inactivity, smoking, obesity, depression, lower levels of education, social isolation, traumatic brain injury and air pollution. The Atlantic reported that the poverty rate in Starr County hovers around 30%, and diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease are prevalent. Access to healthcare is limited, and many adults don't have health insurance. 3 Starr County boasts about 66,000 residents — around 97% of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino. jaflippo – Advertisement The average temperature in Texas in the summer is a high of 98 degrees Fahrenheit. Studies show extreme heat increases hospitalization rates among people with dementia. Maestre believes pollution — especially toxins recently found in the water in their homes — are to blame. 'I think this is a perfect storm, where environmental issues and adverse early life experiences come together to make the brain more vulnerable,' she said. 'When I say life experiences I mean not only pollutants, I mean extreme heat, and a car-centric environment.' In this county, these factors compound over time. But there is one silver lining: Many people here are living longer than expected, even with high rates of dementia. 3 Many people here are living longer than expected, even with high rates of dementia. pikselstock – Advertisement This longevity, often observed among Hispanic populations despite health and economic challenges, may be supported by cultural attitudes that view dementia as a natural part of aging. Of Starr County's 66,000 residents, around 97% identify as Hispanic or Latino. Here, seniors with dementia often remain at home and are cared for by friends and family. Advertisement 'He was never, never — since the day I brought him to my home — he was never one day alone,' Juan 'Manny' Saenz told The Atlantic of his father, who recently died after battling dementia. 'We take care of our own.' This is important, given that research shows social isolation can worsen dementia — and loneliness can even increase your risk of developing the disease by as much as 60%. In fact, residents of Ikaria, Greece credit their strong sense of community as one of the reasons behind their impressively low rates of dementia. A recent study identified six modifiable lifestyle factors that could dramatically reduce your risk of dementia and late-life depression, including alcohol intake, cognitive exercises, diet, physical activity, a sense of purpose and social fitness.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Unassuming US town being gripped by DEMENTIA epidemic: 'Everybody's got it'
While it might appear like just another sleepy border town, Rio Grande City in southern Texas has a dark secret. The community of just over 15,000 residents has one of the highest dementia rates in America. One in four people here over the age of 65 have it compared to around one in 10 nationally. And that is probably only the 'tip of the iceberg', according to Dr Gladys Maestre, director of a dedicated dementia and Alzheimer's research program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She told the Daily Mail the number of sufferers is likely 'much, much higher', as many people don't have health insurance and cases therefore go unreported. Residents in the city and the surrounding Starr County area say that almost everyone has someone in their family impacted by the condition, which causes loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities. Dr Maestre: 'Access to health is difficult in the area, so I believe we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg. I have also seen so many people aged around 50 already sick. 'The only way to give accurate estimations is by doing an epidemiological study, door by door in this case. Asked what is behind the staggering number of dementia patients in Starr County, Dr Maestre says poverty is one big factor. The region has a poverty rate of around 30 percent, which is more than double the national average of just under 12 percent. Experts believe lower wages and disadvantaged neighborhoods can put people at a greater risk of dementia due to various factors including poorer air quality, a greater reliance on cars or bus transportation over walking, fewer social interactions and more stress. But Dr Maestre says she believes that pollutants in the area are another big contributor. She identifies a handful of toxins that have been found in the water supply and in the town's old houses, many of which date back to the early and mid 19th century. These include arsenic which has been linked to reduced memory and intellectual abilities in children and adolescents, and cadmium, which is a carcinogen released into the environment through industrial and agricultural activities, known for contributing to the development of dementia. Another factor Dr Maestre highlights is the extreme heat in south Texas. A growing body of research has indicated a link between extreme heat and an increased risk of dementia-related deaths and hospitalizations, particularly among older adults. One study of over three million Medicare patients in New England found that temperature increases of 1.5C (34.7F) led to a 12 per cent rise in hospital admissions for dementia sufferers. The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation explains that heat can trigger dementia because 'prolonged exposure to the hot summer sun can place too much stress on the body, which negatively impacts cognitive function.' In Starr County, temperatures range from an average minimum of 44F in January to an average maximum of 99F in July, while the average annual temperature is 74F. There is another factor creating a 'perfect storm' for dementia, says the doctor. The region is also heavily Hispanic and this demographic group is 1.5 times more likely to be affected by dementia. While the exact reasons for this disparity are still being investigated, research suggests several factors may contribute, including cardiovascular disease, socioeconomic status, and potential genetic predispositions. Along with Dr Maestre, another leading dementia specialist in the region is Dr James Falcon, who has been working with his physician father Antonio to lead more research into the problems plaguing Starr County. The former soldier, who served in Afghanistan before returning to Rio Grande City, previously told Today: 'There isn't a single one of us that works here [in the clinic] that doesn't know somebody personally that has been affected by this. 'For a while growing up we were the poorest county in the country, that's the reality of where we live. 'Working here in the clinic, there isn't a day that goes by where we don't see somebody with some kind of memory loss. 'A lot of people are early in the course of their disease [but] you see pretty advanced patients.' Mayra Garza, who has been helping as a volunteer at the Falcon's El Faro Health and Therapeutics clinic in Rio Grande City on Alzheimer's research, explains that it is an issue close to her heart. She told this website: 'My family has been highly impacted by this Alzheimer's disease, both my parents have / had it. 'It is important to understand why this is impacting me and my family.' Earlier this month it emerged that the remains of an 84-year-old woman suffering from dementia had been found in the city of Roma in Starr County after her family reported her missing. Authorities confirmed that Maria Soprano suffered from dementia and Alzheimer's, which may have contributed to her becoming disoriented and lost. Dr Maestre told this website that urgent action needs to be taken to prevent such devastating events from happening. She concludes: 'I think this is a perfect storm, where environmental issues and adverse early life experiences come together to make the brain more vulnerable. 'When I say life experiences I mean not only pollutants, I mean extreme heat, and a car-centric environment. 'To make progress, we need more research on what is going on, and more infrastructure for care and prevention.' Last week the Texas House passed a Senate bill that would create a $3 billion Texas research fund for dementia. The Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, if it goes ahead, would issue grants for research and encourage collaboration among universities, medical institutions and other experts. The Texas Department of State Health Services reports that 459,000 Texans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, around 12 percent of the state's population over the age of 65. Common symptoms include forgetfulness, irritability, struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word and being confused about time and place.
Atlantic
29-04-2025
- Health
- Atlantic
The Texas County Where ‘Everybody Has Somebody in Their Family' With Dementia
In Starr County, Texas, near the state's southern tip along the U.S.-Mexico border, escaping dementia can feel impossible. The condition affects about one in five adults on Medicare—more than double the national rate. 'Everybody has somebody in their family' with dementia, Gladys Maestre, a neuroepidemiologist who studies aging at the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley, told me. For Jessica Cantú, it was her father, Tomas. He asked her, his eldest daughter, never to put him in a nursing home. She promised. 'We take care of our own,' she told me. As Tomas's dementia progressed, the former pastor held to his routines. He played with his 19 grandchildren. He preached Wednesday-night services and hand-delivered donations of rice, beans, and oil across the border. He fed his chickens and sheep, and ate his favorite homemade foods—pineapple upside-down cake, enchiladas with saltine crackers, and cream-of-mushroom chicken over rice. Dementia looms over the Cantú family tree. Two of Tomas's 10 siblings had it; Jessica wondered whether more might have, if they'd lived longer. Her maternal grandmother had dementia too. Seven months after her dad's death, she began working as a nurse practitioner at the county's first private Alzheimer's-specific research site, El Faro Health and Therapeutics. 'Patients will come in and say, 'So have you figured it out? What is it?'' she told me. She tells them the truth. 'I don't know what it is that's causing all of this.' Dementia has no single trigger. As with many cancers, it can emerge from a lifetime of accumulated strain—from genetics, environment, and behavior. Researchers have identified a dozen risk factors that, if mitigated, could theoretically delay or prevent roughly 40 percent of cases worldwide: traumatic brain injury; conditions including high blood pressure, hearing loss, diabetes, and depression; habits such as smoking, inactivity, and heavy drinking; environmental and social forces including air pollution, social isolation, and limited education. These 'risk factors usually do not come [as] one; they come in clusters,' Maestre said—and in Starr County, an almost entirely Hispanic community, they quickly stack up. Nearly one in three people lives in poverty; a quarter lack health insurance. Chronic conditions are widespread—especially diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease—while access to care is limited: There's just one primary-care physician for every 3,000 to 4,000 people, and few dementia specialists. Low education, language barriers, poor air quality, and extreme heat all compound the threat. These accumulate in cycles of grief and stress: The people I spoke with talked about deaths in the family followed by strokes that cascade into cognitive decline. Dementia isn't simply a diagnosis. It's a structural outcome. Still, many in Starr County struggle to make sense of it. And no matter the cause—no matter which conglomeration of causes—they must live with dementia's reality. In the Rio Grande Valley, people are also outliving their odds. The area's high dementia rate, Maestre has come to believe, may reflect not just risk but endurance: people living longer with the condition. In general, research shows that Hispanic people tend to live longer than non-Hispanic white people, despite facing higher rates of chronic disease and steeper socioeconomic disadvantages—a pattern sometimes called the 'Hispanic paradox.' And in the Rio Grande Valley, part of what might sustain people through dementia, Maestre suspects, is the culture: Dementia is seen less as a medical emergency and more as a natural, if difficult, phase of life. Elsewhere, people with dementia may live in nursing homes or take expensive new Alzheimer's drugs with modest benefit. In Starr County, many older adults remain at home, surrounded by family who offer familiarity and stimulation. The care is physical, intimate—not clinical, but constant—and backed by research showing that familiar environments and home-based care can enhance both quality of life and cognitive function for people with dementia. 'He was never, never—since the day I brought him to my home—he was never one day alone,' says Juan 'Manny' Saenz of his father, Francisco 'Pancho,' who died at home last month at age 94. A professional body-shop painter, offshore fisherman, and lifelong jokester, Pancho began to grow forgetful and repetitive about a decade ago. Before Manny's mom, Amaro, died, she made him promise not to put his father in a nursing home. Under Manny's care, Pancho's appearance was impeccable: He was bathed and perfumed, with trimmed nails and a neat mustache. He ate his meals on ceramic dishes, and relished his coffee-and-cookie merienda snack break—or breaks, on days he'd forget the previous ones. Manny, who lives in Rio Grande City, told me exactly what Jessica Cantú had: 'We take care of our own.' Monica Saenz Silva made a similar decision for her mother, Ramona—a bookkeeper at heart, the kind of person who kept every receipt for taxes and reminded her adult children to change their tires. She kept a running calendar of birthdays, not just for family and friends, but also for acquaintances, so she could wish them well. By 2019, a few years after her dementia symptoms appeared, 'that was out the door,' Monica told me Today, Ramona will approach a taco or hamburger quizzically; she's forgotten how to bite into them. At times, she doesn't recognize the house where she's lived for decades. Still, Monica is determined to keep her at home. 'You want to keep them home, so they're in a familiar surrounding,' she said. 'It's not all the time that she doesn't know she's home.' The response of many families here to dementia is shaped, partly, by limited treatment options: Alzheimer's and related dementias have no cure, and available medicines can be expensive, be limited in their benefits, and come with potentially life-threatening side effects. In Starr County, some caregivers eschew pharmaceuticals for aromatic teas, herbal compresses, and prayers to soothe loved ones, Maestre said. Theirs is an ethic of endurance: If dementia is here, families ask, why not build a life, tenderly, around it? Still, many don't speak of it openly. Cantú told me that in her community, many still consider Alzheimer's to be a normal part of aging—at most, a mental illness of old age, but almost never a neurodegenerative disease. 'It's okay to just be forgetful at the age of 70. It's okay because Grandma and Grandpa were forgetful at the age of 70,' she said. 'There's no reason to discuss it.' Still, some caregivers live with a sense of dread: In many cases, the disease does have a genetic component, and the structural forces that compounded their loved ones' risk haven't disappeared. They know their turn could be coming. Cantú frets about her mind; Monica Saenz Silva checks her memory every day. And they don't necessarily want for themselves what they did for their parents: If his time comes, Manny Saenz wants to go to a nursing facility. 'You won't know anything, so it doesn't matter,' he said. For him, the person with Alzheimer's is spared the memory of their decline; the burden belongs to those who remember, and that's a risk he doesn't want to pass on. Hispanic Americans face a significantly higher risk of dementia than white Americans, and are also one of the country's fastest-aging groups. And yet, for decades, scientific understanding of dementia has drawn from data from mostly white, urban, and affluent populations; Hispanics make up fewer than 5 percent of participants in Alzheimer's clinical trials. That limits researchers' understanding of the condition. And the more they look, the less dementia seems like a single disease with a uniform pattern, and the more it appears to be a spectrum of diseases—each unfolding with its own course of symptoms, progression, and brain damage. In some studies, researchers have detected amyloid plaques—the sticky protein clumps long considered hallmarks of Alzheimer's—more frequently in the brains of white participants with dementia or mild cognitive impairment than in their Black, Asian, or Hispanic counterparts. In several studies that measured tau proteins, another key Alzheimer's biomarker, Black adults with—or without—symptoms of dementia had lower levels than white participants. The genetic variant most strongly linked to Alzheimer's disease is less common—and possibly less potent—among people with certain Hispanic backgrounds than among white people. In 2021, the National Institute on Aging designated a new Alzheimer's Disease Research Center in South Texas, co-directed by Maestre and Sudha Seshadri, a neurologist at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Their goal is to understand the Rio Grande Valley's dementia cluster—and what can be done about it—in part by examining the effects of environmental hardship and linguistic isolation, and by investigating protective factors such as bilingualism and family networks. Eventually, Maestre hopes that urban design (such as shaded walkways, gardens, and spaces for intergenerational interaction) could help reduce the region's risks. 'It's not possible to put all the responsibility on the individual,' she told me. 'You cannot do that on your own.' And yet, resources remain scarce. Texas is home to about 460,000 people living with Alzheimer's disease, but compared with other large states such as Florida and New York, it spends much less on dementia-related programs. (The Texas statehouse is considering a bill to establish a $3 billion fund for dementia research.) For now, families like Jessica Cantú's are left to do what they can. When her father was a pastor, he would tell her about the sick people he visited who would reach up with their arms (toward the kingdom of heaven, he said) before dying peacefully. In the final weeks of his life, he was still going to church and chatting with people at the H-E-B grocery store. But then Tomas lost his appetite and grew frail. One night, Jessica kept vigil at his bedside, afraid he'd fall trying to get up. In the quiet hours, she said, he lifted both arms toward the ceiling. 'He was reaching up to the heavens, to the sky,' she said. 'It just gave me that comfort to know that he was ready, and that everything was going to be okay.' Masha Hamilton contributed reporting.
