LATINO HEALTH: Study Seeks Subjects For General Population Research

      Researchers at the University of California-Davis are conducting a multiple county study of Latinos over age 60 in order "to assess the incidence of certain health problems in the general population," but they are having trouble finding enough people to participate. Giving their study the "catchy acronym SALSA, for Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging," researchers "specifically are exploring whether a link exists between cardiovascular diseases" such as hypertension and diabetes and dementia, specifically Alzheimer's disease. So far, the Sacramento Bee reports, researchers have enrolled 200 participants but need 2,000, and they are seeking eligible candidates from Sacramento, Yolo, San Joaquin or Solano counties. Study leaders held a forum yesterday to introduce community leaders to the project. Dr. Mary Haan, head of the study and the director of UC-Davis' Center For Aging and Health, said, "We just need to get the word out. All studies take a while to get off the ground."

Study Says
      Researchers plan to "track the participants for five years," assessing the "overall health of their subjects"; participants are not required to have a specific health condition. Researchers will visit the participants in their homes to "quiz them about their lifestyle, test their memories, take their weights, measure their blood pressure and collect a blood sample." For those program participants "who lack insurance and regular health care," researchers "will attempt to find a doctor" (Lau, 5/14).