Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences Large Type Edition
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]
Author:
Keyword(s):
Year:  Vol:  Page: 


This Article
Full Text
Full Text (PDF)
Alert me when this article is cited
Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Similar articles in this journal
Similar articles in PubMed
Alert me to new issues of the journal
Download to citation manager
Cited by other online articles
Google Scholar
Articles by Watkins, R. A.
Articles by Janowsky, J. S.
Articles citing this Article
PubMed
PubMed Citation
Articles by Watkins, R. A.
Articles by Janowsky, J. S.
The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 56:M176-M179 (2001)
© 2001 The Gerontological Society of America

Informants' Knowledge of Reproductive History and Estrogen Replacement

Rebecca A. Watkinsa, Robin Guarigliaa, Jeffrey A. Kayea,b and Jeri S. Janowskya

a Department of Neurology, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland
b Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon

Jeri S. Janowsky, Department of Neurology CR131, Oregon Health Sciences University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97201-3098 E-mail: janowskj{at}ohsu.edu.

Decision Editor: William B. Ershler, MD

Background. There has been much interest in assessing estrogen use in healthy older women and those with Alzheimer's disease. However, data for the women with Alzheimer's disease must be obtained from an informant. The aim of this study was to better understand what informants are likely to know about reproductive history and estrogen use.

Methods. Reproductive history data from informants of Alzheimer's patients were modeled by comparing responses from 40 cognitively healthy older women with that of a designated informant. The designated informants were similar in demographics to informants for patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Results. Informant data regarding reproductive history was likely to be accurate, when known. However, 30% of the subjects did not identify an informant who had personal knowledge of them. Of those informants who had personal knowledge of the subject, accuracy for those who reported that they knew the information varied depending on the aspect of reproductive history assessed (age of menarche, 29%; age of menopause, 20%; pregnancies, 63%; live births, 92%; hysterectomy, 92%; and postmenopausal estrogen use, 82%). Daughters served as the most likely and most accurate informants in this study.

Conclusion. This study demonstrates that information obtained from informants for patients with Alzheimer's disease is likely to be accurate for some but not all aspects of reproductive history. Of concern for such studies will be the 30% of patients who do not have an informant with personal knowledge about them.




This article has been cited by other articles: (Search Google Scholar for Other Citing Articles)


Home page
Obstet GynecolHome page
Cognition and Dementia
Obstet. Gynecol., October 1, 2004; 104(4_suppl): 25S - 40S.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med SciHome page
J. E. Morley and H. M. Perry III
Androgens and Women at the Menopause and Beyond
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., May 1, 2003; 58(5): M409 - 416.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med SciHome page
S. Asthana
Estrogen and Cognition: The Story So Far
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., April 1, 2003; 58(4): M322 - 323.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med SciHome page
W. A. Banks and J. E. Morley
Memories Are Made of This: Recent Advances in Understanding Cognitive Impairments and Dementia
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., April 1, 2003; 58(4): M314 - 321.
[Full Text] [PDF]




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
All GSA journals The Gerontologist
Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Copyright © 2001 by The Gerontological Society of America.