The Latinx population is rapidly aging and growing in the US and is at increased risk for stroke and dementia. We examined whether bilingualism confers cognitive resilience following stroke in a community-based sample of Mexican American (MA) older adults.

Participants included predominantly urban, non-immigrant MAs aged 65+ from the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi- Cognitive study. Participants were recruited using a two-stage area probability sample with door-to-door recruitment until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic; sampling and recruitment were then completed via telephone. Cognition was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA; 30-item in-person, 22-item via telephone) in English or Spanish. Bilingualism was assessed via a questionnaire and degree of bilingualism was calculated (range 0%-100% bilingual). Stroke history was collected via self-report. We harmonized the 22-item to the 30-item MoCA using published equipercentile equating. We conducted a series of regressions with the harmonized MoCA score as the dependent variable, stroke history and degree of bilingualism as independent variables, and age, sex/gender, education, assessment language, assessment mode (in-person vs. phone), and self-reported vascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, heart disease) as covariates. We included a stroke history by bilingualism interaction to examine whether bilingualism modifies the association between stroke history and MoCA performance.

Participants included 841 MA older adults (59% women; age M(SE) = 73.5(0.2); 44% less than high school education). Most (77%) of the sample completed the MoCA in English. 93 of 841 participants reported a history of stroke. In an unadjusted model, degree of bilingualism (b = 3.41, p < .0001) and stroke history (b = -1.98, p = .003) were associated with MoCA performance. In a fully adjusted model, stroke history (b = -1.79, p = .0007) but not bilingualism (b = 0.78, p = .21) was associated with MoCA performance. When an interaction term was added to the fully adjusted model, the interaction between stroke history and bilingualism was not significant (b= -0.47, p = .78).

Degree of bilingualism does not modify the association between stroke history and MoCA performance in Mexican American older adults. These results should be replicated in samples of validated strokes, more comprehensive bilingualism and cognitive assessments, and in other bilingual populations.

Investigations of drinking behavior across military deployment cycles are scarce, and few prospective studies have examined risk factors for post-deployment alcohol misuse.

Prevalence of alcohol misuse was estimated among 4645 US Army soldiers who participated in a longitudinal survey. Assessment occurred 1–2 months before soldiers deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 (T0), upon their return to the USA (T1), 3 months later (T2), and 9 months later (T3). Weights-adjusted logistic regression was used to evaluate associations of hypothesized risk factors with post-deployment incidence and persistence of heavy drinking (HD) (consuming 5 + alcoholic drinks at least 1–2×/week) and alcohol or substance use disorder (AUD/SUD).

Prevalence of past-month HD at T0, T2, and T3 was 23.3% (s.e. = 0.7%), 26.1% (s.e. = 0.8%), and 22.3% (s.e. = 0.7%); corresponding estimates for any binge drinking (BD) were 52.5% (s.e. = 1.0%), 52.5% (s.e. = 1.0%), and 41.3% (s.e. = 0.9%). Greater personal life stress during deployment (e.g., relationship, family, or financial problems) – but not combat stress – was associated with new onset of HD at T2 [per standard score increase: adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.20, 95% CI 1.06–1.35, p = 0.003]; incidence of AUD/SUD at T2 (AOR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.25–1.89, p < 0.0005); and persistence of AUD/SUD at T2 and T3 (AOR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.08–1.56, p = 0.005). Any BD pre-deployment was associated with post-deployment onset of HD (AOR = 3.21, 95% CI 2.57–4.02, p < 0.0005) and AUD/SUD (AOR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.27–2.70, p = 0.001).

Alcohol misuse is common during the months preceding and following deployment. Timely intervention aimed at alleviating/managing personal stressors or curbing risky drinking might reduce risk of alcohol-related problems post-deployment.

Data on the lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders in South Africa are of interest, not only for the purposes of developing evidence-based mental health policy, but also in view of South Africa's particular historical and demographic circumstances.

A nationally representative household survey was conducted between 2002 and 2004 using the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) to generate diagnoses. The data-set analysed included 4351 adult South Africans of all ethnic groups.

Lifetime prevalence of DSM–IV/CIDI disorders was determined for anxiety disorders (15.8%), mood disorders (9.8%), substance use disorders (13.4%) and any disorder (30.3%). Lifetime prevalence of substance use disorders differed significantly across ethnic groups. Median age at onset was earlier for substance use disorders (21 years) than for anxiety disorders (32 years) or mood disorders (37 years).

In comparison with data from other countries, South Africa has a particularly high lifetime prevalence of substance use disorders. These disorders have an early age at onset, providing an important target for the planning of local mental health services.