Eduardo Cabrero, PhD, joined the Center in February 2022 as visiting scholar from Mexico and post-doctoral fellow. Dr. Cabrero is currently working with Dr. Brian Downer to conduct research on Hispanic health and aging, in particular epidemiology and health care services for dementia and cognitive decline in Mexico.

Dr. Rodriguez is an internationally recognized senior scholar of rheumatology and immunology. He completed research work with Drs. Wong, Al Snih, Milani, and other Sealy Center on Aging scholars on such topics as falls in Mexican older adults. He also worked on three MHAS factsheet publications on frailty, disability, and obesity in Mexican older adults.

Peer-reviewed articles:

Milani SA, Howrey B, Rodriguez MA, Samper-Ternent R, Wong R. Gender differences in activity-limiting pain trajectories over a 17-year period in the Mexican Health and Aging Study. Pain. 2021 Apr 7. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 33863866; PMCID: PMC8494819.

Rodriguez MA, Chou LN, Sodhi JK, Markides KS, Ottenbacher KJ, Snih SA. Arthritis, physical function, and disability among older Mexican Americans over 23 years of follow-up. Ethn Health. 2021 Nov 22:1-17. doi: 10.1080/13557858.2021.2002271. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34802363; PMCID: PMC9124228.

Patino J, Rodriguez MA, Al Snih S. Depressive symptoms predict low physical performance among older Mexican Americans. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2021 Sep;33(9):2549-2555. doi: 10.1007/s40520-020-01781-z. Epub 2021 Jan 15. PMID: 33449338; PMCID: PMC8280240.

Aponte I, Garcia-Francis MV, Garcia-Becerra JA, Fuentes-Silva YJ, Tovar-Bastidas DB, Nieto JC, Al Snih S, Rodriguez MA. Prevalence and factors associated with lupus nephritis in Venezuela. Global Rheumatol 2021. DOI:10.46856/grp.10.et098

Rivas-Vargas D, Snih SA, Rodríguez MA. Characterization of Venezuelan patients with systemic sclerosis: a study in a tertiary hospital in Caracas. Reumatol Clin (Engl Ed). 2021 Dec;17(10):601-606. doi: 10.1016/j.reumae.2020.06.015. PMID: 34823828.

Milani S, Rodriguez M, Ternent RS, Wong R. Sex Differences in the Prevalence of Pain Trajectories Over a 14-Year Period in the Mexican Health and Aging Study. Innov Aging. 2020 Dec 16;4(Suppl 1):507. doi: 10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1637. PMCID: PMC7742394.

Snih SA, Rodriguez M, Chou LN, Markides KS, Ottenbacher K. Frailty and Trajectories of Blood Pressure Among Older Mexican Americans Over Time. Innov Aging. 2020 Dec 16;4(Suppl 1):269. doi: 10.1093/geroni/igaa057.862. PMCID: PMC7740824.

Johnson J, Rodriguez MA, Al Snih S. Life-Space Mobility in the Elderly: Current Perspectives. Clin Interv Aging. 2020 Sep 15;15:1665-1674. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S196944. PMID: 32982200; PMCID: PMC7501960.

Rodríguez MA, Rivero-Carrera NN, Rey-Puente JC, Serra-Bonett N, Al Snih S. Role of depressive symptoms in the health-related quality of life of Venezuelan patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Results from a tertiary care center. Qual Life Res. 2020 Aug;29(8):2129-2136. doi: 10.1007/s11136-020-02485-7. Epub 2020 Mar 28. PMID: 32222930.

Valderrama-Hinds LM, García-Carrión E, Hernández E, Agostini MI, Reyes-Morales OR, Fung L, Al Snih S, Rodríguez MA. Prevalence of undifferentiated inflammatory arthropathy in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis in an endocrinology clinic. Int J Rheum Dis. 2019 Nov;22(11):1985-1989. doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.13722. Epub 2019 Oct 16. PMID: 31621191.

Posters:

Milani SA, Samper-Ternent R, Rodriguez M, Wong R. Pain Among Older Mexicans: Findings from the Mexican Health and Aging Study. Paper presented at the Geological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting; 2019, Phoenix, AZ.

Rodriguez MA, Chou LN, Sodhi J, Markides KS, Ottenbacher K, Al Snih S. Arthritis, Physical Function, and Disability Among Older Mexican Americans over 20-Years of Follow-up. Annual Meeting American College of Rheumatology, Atlanta, November 2019. Online supplement of Arthritis & Rheumatology 

Rodriguez MA, Sodhi J, Al Snih S. Arthritis, Physical Function, and Disability Among Older Mexican Americans over 20-Years of Follow-up. Annual Meeting American College of Rheumatology, Atlanta, November 2019. Online supplement of Arthritis & Rheumatology 

Fuentes-Silva Y, García A, Anés M, Maldonado I, Acosta C, Ortega LV, Rondón CA, Camargo E, Rauseo M, Rodriguez MA. Achieving remission and low disease activity in lupus: A challenge in Venezuela. 21st PANLAR Meeting, Quito, Ecuador, April 2019. J Clin Rheumatol vol 25, Number 3S, 2019

Rivas-Vargas D, Bustamante F, Al Snih S, Rodriguez MA. Relationship between body mass index and interstitial lung disease in scleroderma. 21st PANLAR Meeting, Quito, Ecuador, April 2019. J Clin Rheumatol vol 25, Number 3S, 2019

Milani S, Rodriguez MA, Samper-Ternent R, Wong R. Sex Differences in the Prevalence of Pain Trajectories Over a 14-Year Period in the Mexican Health and Aging Study. Presentation prepared for the Geological Society of America (GSA) Annual Scientific Meeting; 2020, Virtual Conference.

Milani SA, Rodriguez MA, Samper-Ternent R, Wong R. The association of pain with dementia: Findings from the Mexican Health and Aging Study, 2012-2015. Poster presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) Annual Meeting; 2020, Virtual Conference.

MHAS Factsheets:

Aging in Mexico: Frailty, October 2020

Aging in Mexico: Disability, April 2020

Aging in Mexico: Obesity, July 2019

Dr Silvia Mejia-Arango collaborated with Dr. Wong in the Mexican Cognitive Aging Ancillary Project (MexCog) and used the MHAS 2015 data to establish the criteria for mild and severe cognitive impairment.

Peer-reviewed articles:

Avila JC, Meija SM, Jupiter D, Downer B, Wong R. The Effect of Diabetes on the Cognitive Trajectory of Older Adults in Mexico and the United States. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2020 Jul 17. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbaa094. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 32678911.

Meija-Arango S, Nevarez R, Michaels-Obregon A, Trejo-Valdivia B, Mendoza-Alvarado LR, Sosa-Ortiz AL, Martinez-Ruiz A, Wong R. The Mexican Cognitive Aging Ancillary Study (Mex-Cog): Study Design and Methods. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2020 Jul 27;91:104210. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 32781379.

Posters:

Avila J, Downer B, Mejia S, Wong R. The Moderating Role of Education in the Relationship Between Diabetes and Cognitive Function Among Mexican Older Adults. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America; 2018, Denver, CO.

Avila J, Jupiter D, Downer B, Mejia-Arango S, Wong R. The Effect of Diabetes on the Cognition Trajectory of Older Adults in Societies of Different Aging Contexts: A Study of Mexico and the United States. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America; 2019, Austin, TX.

Cantu P, Angel J, López-Ortega M, Mejia-Arango S, Angel R. Living Arrangements and Cognitive Impairment in Mexican-Origin Older Adults in the United States and Mexico. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America; 2019, Austin, TX.

Dr. Valderrama-Hinds came to UTMB from the University Hospital of Caracas in Venezuela. Dr. Valderrama Hinds graduated from the University of Carabobo and pursued a Specialization in Rheumatology at the Central University of Venezuela. Currently, he is working on a database of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and studying the prevalence of inflammatory arthropathy and associated factors at the University Hospital of Caracas. During his visit at UTMB, Dr. Valderrama Hinds conducted research on the relationship between arthritis, vitamin D, physical disability, and falls among older adults, using secondary data from Mexico. His visit was an opportunity to develop new research interests and collaborations with other researchers.

Working Papers

Valderrama-Hinds, LM, Al Snih, S, Rodriguez, MA, Wong, R. Association of arthritis and vitamin D insufficiency with physical disability in Mexican older adults - Findings from the Mexican Health and Aging Study.

Valderrama-Hinds, LM, Al Snih, S, Rodriguez, MA, Wong, R. Incidence of falls and predictor factors in Mexican older adults.

Posters

Valderrama-Hinds, LM, Al Snih, S, Rodriguez, MA, Wong, R. Association of arthritis and vitamin D insufficiency with physical disability in Mexican older adults - Findings from the Mexican Health and Aging Study. Presented at The 2016 International Conference on Aging in the Americas. San Antonio, Texas - September 14-16, 2016.

Valderrama-Hinds, LM, Al Snih, S, Rodriguez, MA, Wong, R. Association of arthritis and vitamin D insufficiency with physical disability in Mexican older adults - Findings from the Mexican Health and Aging Study. Presented at The 20th Annual Forum on Aging. Galveston, Texas - October 20, 2016.

Valderrama-Hinds, LM, Al Snih, S, Rodriguez, MA, Wong, R. Incidence of falls and predictor factors in Mexican older adults. Presented at The 20th Annual Forum on Aging. Galveston, Texas - October 20, 2016.

Dr. Gonzalez was a Research Scientist at the National Institute of Geriatrics (INGer) in Mexico. He holds a PhD in Population Studies, MA in Demography, and BA in Economics from Mexico. His research focuses on the economic and residential changes due to health and aging. During this second stay at UTMB, he participated in the planning and execution of wave 4 of the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS), including the conceptual design and review of the survey instrument and the training of field personnel. He collaborated in the preparation of presentations and scientific publications derived from the MHAS findings. Dr. Gonzalez also worked in the Future Elderly Model project with researchers from the University of Southern California, incorporating the MHAS to this project.

Peer-Reviewed Articles

González-González C, Palloni A, Wong R. Mortality and its association with chronic and infectious diseases in Mexico: A panel data analysis of the elderly. Salud Publica Mex. 2015;57 Suppl 1:S39-45. PMID: 26172233; PMCID: PMC4730875.

Wong R, Michaels-Obregón A, Palloni A, Gutiérrez-Robledo LM, González-González C, López-Ortega M, Téllez-Rojo MM, Mendoza-Alvarado LR. Progression of aging in Mexico: the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS) 2012. Salud Publica Mex. 2015;57 Suppl 1:S79-89. PMID: 26172238; PMCID: PMC4705907.

Downer B, Gonzalez-Gonzalez C, Goldman N, Wong R. The Effect of Adult Children Living in the United States on the Likelihood of Cognitive Impairment for Older Parents Living in Mexico. Ethn Health. [Forthcoming].

Poster

Gonzalez-Gonzalez C, Wong R, Pebley A, Downer B, Goldman N. Parents in Mexico with Adult Children in the United States: Child Availability, Social Support, and Social Engagement. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the population Association of America; 2016, Washington, DC.

Dr. Díaz-Venegas received his PhD, degree in Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin. During his doctoral studies, he worked as a graduate research assistant with the research team of the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (H-EPESE). Dr. Díaz-Venegas' research interests are mortality, aging, and health issues in Mexico and in the Mexican-American community in the United States. As a postdoctoral fellow at UTMB, Dr. Díaz-Venegas examined the connection between sociodemographic and economic factors (e.g., life course stage at migration, educational attainment, income, etc.) and outcomes (e.g., physical and mental disability, depression, prevalence of chronic illness, financial strain, etc.) in order to gain better understanding of the aging process in Mexico.

Posters

Díaz-Venegas, Carlos, Timothy A. Reistetter, Ching-Yi Wang, and Rebeca Wong. "Gender Differences in the Disablement Process: The Case of Mexico". Presented at the 25th REVES (Network on Health Expectancy) Meeting, Austin, TX, May 27-29, 2013.

Díaz-Venegas C, de la Vega S, Wong R. Trajectories of Limitations in Activities of Daily Living in Mexico, 2001-2012. Presented at the 2013 International Conference on Aging in the Americas, Austin, TX, September 14-16, 2013.

Díaz-Venegas C, Sáenz JL, Wong R. Family Size and Old Age Well Being: Effects of the Fertility Transition in Mexico. Presented at the 2014 International Conference on Aging in the Americas, Boulder, CO, September 23-25, 2014.

Peer-reviewed Articles

Díaz-Venegas C, De La Vega S, Wong R. Transitions in activities of daily living in Mexico, 2001-2012. Salud Publica Mex. 2015;57 Suppl 1:S54-61. PMID: 26172235; PMCID: PMC4688039.

Díaz-Venegas C, Reistetter TA, Wang CY, Wong R. The progression of disability among older adults in Mexico. Disabil Rehabil. 2016 Jan 5:1-12. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 26729017. NIHMS ID: NIHMS749775.

Díaz-Venegas C, Wong R. Trajectories of limitations in activities of daily living among older adults in Mexico, 2001-2012. Disabil Health J. 2016;9(3):524-532. PMID: 26993585; PMCID: PMC4903877.

Díaz-Venegas C, Sáenz JL, Wong R. Family Size and Old Age Well-Being: Effects of the Fertility Transition in Mexico. Ageing Soc. Published online: 29 October 2015.

Díaz-Venegas C, Reistetter TA, Wang CY, Wong R. The progression of disability among older adults in Mexico. Disabil Rehabil. 2016 Oct;38(20):2016-27. PMID: 26729017; PMCID: PMC4935629.

Dr. Alexandre received his PhD from the School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. As a visiting scholar, Tiago's learning objectives were to study and apply longitudinal models methodology and survival analysis to his research in epidemiology and aging. While in residence, Tiago wrote three papers on the prevalence of sarcopenia, incidence of disability due to sarcopenia, and incidence of mortality due to sarcopenia.

Peer-reviewed Articles

Alexandre Tda S, Duarte YA, Santos JL, Wong R, Lebrão ML. Prevalence and Associated Factors of Sarcopenia among Elderly in Brazil: Findings from the SABE Study. The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 2014;18(3):284-90. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12603-013-0413-0

Alexandre Tda S, Duarte YA, Santos JL, Wong R, Lebrão ML. Sarcopenia according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) versus Dynapenia as a Risk Factor for Disability in the Elderly. The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 2014;18(5):547-553. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12603-014-0465-9#page-1

Alexandre Tda S, Duarte YA, Santos JL, Wong R, Lebrão ML. Sarcopenia according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) versus dynapenia as a risk factor for mortality in the elderly. The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 2014;18(8):751-6.

Dr. Runzer-Colmenares received his MD degree from Universidad de San Martin de Porres, Lima, Peru. He is a third year Geriatrics fellow at the Peruvian Navy Medical Center. Dr. Runzer is a member of the Center for Research on Aging at Universidad de San Martin de Porres (CIEN - USMP) and the Peruvian Mental Health Working Group. His clinical and research interests are mental health, frailty, and rural aging. During his stay at UTMB, Dr. Ruzner's main goal is to improve his research skills and to advance his research agenda on frailty and mental health.

Peer-reviewed Articles

Runzer-Colmenares FM, Ternent-Samper R, Al Snih S, Ottenbacher KJ, Parodi JF, Wong R. "Prevalence and Associated Factors of Frailty among Peruvian Older Adults".
Arch. Gerontol Geriatric: 2014; 58(1):69-73. PMCID: PMC3808461

Dr. Mafra received her PhD degree in Engineering (Ergonomics) from the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Dr. Mafra is an associate professor at the Federal University of Viscosa, at Brazil. Her main research interests are changes in family structure due to the process of population aging and functionality in the residential space.

Dr. Mafra's stay at UTMB was sponsored by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimiento Cientifico e Tecnologico and she was hosted by the WHO/PAHO Collaborating Center on Aging and Health.

Dr. Gonzalez-Gonzalez received his Masters degree in Demography from el Colegio de la Frontera Norte (COLEF). Following his graduation he participated in several secondary data research projects, including "Demography of the elderly: Implications for development and welfare" and "Analysis of the Mexican household survey of older adults." He finished his doctoral degree in Population Studies at the Colegio de Mexico (COLMEX). Cesar's research interests include health consequences in old age, including economic and residential changes due to health deterioration. His stay at UTMB was supported by the WHO/PAHO Center and supplementary funds from the Mexican Science Council (CONACYT). His visit was an opportunity to develop new research interests and collaborations with other researchers, which continue as he begins his new position as researcher at the Instituto de Geriatría in Mexico.

Peer-reviewed Articles

Wong R, Gonzalez-Gonzalez C. Old-Age Disability and Wealth Among Return Mexican Migrants From the United States. Journal of Aging and Health, 2010; 22(7):932-954. http://jah.sagepub.com/content/22/7/932.abstract

Posters

Gonzalez C, Wong R, Samper-Ternent R. “Mortality Risk in Older Adults in Mexico: the Role of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases”. Award-Wining Poster Presented at The 2009 International Conference on Aging in the Americas. Austin, Texas - September 15-17, 2009.

Dr. Samper-Ternent received his MD degree from Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, Colombia. He worked in the Geriatric Unit at Fundación Cardio Infantil and collaborated with the research project Interdisciplinary Care of Frail Elderly. His main interests in research during his visit at WHO/PAHO were successful aging, frailty, and cognition; he also wanted to learn about geriatric education and curriculum development. During his visit, he participated in the Scholars in Education lectures, which provide basic knowledge to students on how to become medical educators. He also took the Clinical Research Tools and Technics Course and had the opportunity to observe the Acute Care for Elderly (ACE) Unit, a nursing home, and attended most academic lectures given to Geriatric Fellows.

Peer-Reviewed Articles

Samper-Ternent R, Al Snih S, Raji MA, Markides KS, Ottenbacher KJ. Relationship between Frailty and Cognitive Decline in Older Mexican Americans. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2008; 56(10):1845-1852 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2628807/

Al Snih S, Graham J, Samper-Ternent R, Ray LA, Markides KS, Ottenbacher KJ. Frailty and incidence of ADL disability among older Mexican Americans. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 2009; 41(11):892-897. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19841840

Ottenbacher, KJ, Graham J, Al Snih S, Raji M, Samper-Ternent R, Ostir GV, Markides KS. Mexican Americans and Frailty: Findings From the Hispanic Established Populations Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly. American Journal of Public Health 2009; 99:673-679. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19197079

Posters

Samper-Ternent R, Reyes-Ortiz C, Ju H, Ottenbacher KJ. The Association Between Physical Activity and Nutrients Among Older Persons. Presented at the 11th Annual Forum on Aging. University of Texas Medical Branch. Galveston, Texas – October 3rd, 2007

Dr. Matallana is a psychologist from Colombia. She pursued doctoral studies in Experimental Neuropsychology, Memory and Naloxone, at American University in Washington. As a Research Coordinator of the Institute of Aging of Universidad Javeriana, she has conducted research in dementia, cognitive decline, degenerative diseases, and memory. She has also conducted research in Alzheimer disease and related disorders with Dr. Carlos Cano. Her work as a visiting scholar established a research network in cognitive decline. She worked on two posters and presented them at the American Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting 2008 in Washington, DC.

Posters

D. Matallana, C. A. Reyes-Ortiz, C. A. Cano, C. de Santacruz, P. Reyes, K. S. Markides, K. J. Ottenbacher. "Education Level and the Minimental State Examination Domains among Older Mexican Americans"

C.A. Reyes-Ortiz, D. Matallana, C. Cano, C. de Santacruz, P. Reyes, K. S. Markides, K. J. Ottenbacher. "Memory Domain Is A Better Predictor For History Of Alzheimer's Disease Or Failure In An Executive Clock Drawing Task Than The Total Minimental State Examination"

Dr. Barragan-Berlanga is a physician from Del. Tlalpan, Mexico and was pursuing a Geriatric Medicine Fellowship at the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutrición "Salvador Zubirán" at Mexico City. He obtained his medical degree from "Ignacio A. Santos" School of Medicine of the ITESM (Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey) and completed his Internal Medicine residency at the Hospital San Jose - Tecnológico de Monterrey, at Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. During his visit at WHO/PAHO center, he developed a curriculum for a geriatric medicine fellowship program in Mexico.

Posters

A.J. Barragan-Berlanga, O. Morey, L.F. Amador, L.M. Gutierrez-Robledo. "International Collaboration for Development of Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Curriculum"

Dr. Acha is a physician from Madrid, Spain. She finished her geriatric fellowship training in 2005 at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Dr. Acha's main interest is in neurological aspects of aging, including dementia, frailty, and disability and functional decline in older adults. She has also conducted research work on functional and physical performance outcomes in frail older adults. As a visiting scholar she interacted with different research groups from the Sealy Center on Aging.

Peer-reviewed Articles

Alfaro-Acha A, Al Snih S, Raji MA, Markides KS, Ottenbacher KJ. Does 8-foot walk time predict cognitive decline in older Mexicans Americans? Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2007;55(2):245-51. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17302662

Alfaro-Acha A, Ostir GV, Markides KS, Ottenbacher KJ. Cognitive status, body mass index, and hip fracture in older Hispanic adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2006;54(8):1251-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16913994

Alfaro-Acha A, Al Snih S, Raji MA, Kuo YF, Markides KS, Ottenbacher KJ. Handgrip strength and cognitive decline in older Mexican Americans. Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 2006;61(8):859-65. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16912105

Dr. Duarte is from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. Dr. Duarte graduated from the School of Nursing and pursued a Master and Doctoral degree in Nursing at the University of Sao Paulo. She had extensively worked in epidemiology of aging and in tracking measures of health and wellness among older adults in Brazil, particularly in Sao Paulo.

As a visiting scholar at UTMB, she received training and developed a geriatric nursing curriculum for her home institution. She also received training on analysis of longitudinal data for the follow up of the survey SABE.