So much has been said about the long periods of time that it often takes for research to wind up rendering a useful application that it can almost feel pointless to raise the argument yet again.
In her characteristically incisive manner, Sharon Begley -Newsweek's science editor- has found a way of getting directly to the heart of the problem with the science-to-practice gap that cuts directly to its important consequence, society pays the price when science remains only science any longer than is necessary.
Though Begley's piece is focused on biomedical research and practice, it is clear that her argument is of relevance to those of us who spend a little more of our time in the psychosocial side.
You can read a full copy of Ms. Begley's piece at http://www.newsweek.com/id/166856
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Pew Hispanic Center Releases a Report on the Hispanic Vote in the Presidential Election
Hispanics voted for Democrats Barack Obama and Joe Biden over Republicans John McCain and Sarah Palin by a margin of more than two-to-one in the 2008 presidential election, 66% versus 32%, according to a new report from the Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center. The report finds that 8% of the electorate was Latino, unchanged from 2004.
Nationwide, the Latino vote was significantly more Democratic this year than in 2004, when President Bush captured an estimated 40% of the Hispanic vote, a modern high for a Republican presidential candidate (1). Obama carried the Latino vote by sizeable margins in all states with large Latino populations. His biggest breakthrough came in Florida, where he won 57% of the Latino vote. President Bush carried 56% of the Latino vote in Florida in 2004. Obama's margins were much larger in other states with big Latino populations. He carried 78% in New Jersey, 76% of the Latino vote in Nevada, 74% in California, and 73% in Colorado. This report contains an analysis of exit poll results for the Latino vote nationally and in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico and Texas.
The report is available on the Center's website at www.pewhispanic.org.
The Pew Hispanic Center, an initiative of the Pew Research Center, is a nonpartisan, non-advocacy research organization based in Washington, D.C. and is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts.
______________________________
(1)There is continuing uncertainty over whether President Bush received 40% of the Hispanic vote in 2004, as indicated by exit polls in the 50 states and the District of Columbia conducted on Election Day, or 44%, as indicated by the nationwide National Election Pool exit poll. Reasons for the differing estimates are spelled out in "Hispanics and the 2004 Election: Population, Electorate and Voters," by Roberto Suro, Richard Fry and Jeffrey Passel (2005).
Nationwide, the Latino vote was significantly more Democratic this year than in 2004, when President Bush captured an estimated 40% of the Hispanic vote, a modern high for a Republican presidential candidate (1). Obama carried the Latino vote by sizeable margins in all states with large Latino populations. His biggest breakthrough came in Florida, where he won 57% of the Latino vote. President Bush carried 56% of the Latino vote in Florida in 2004. Obama's margins were much larger in other states with big Latino populations. He carried 78% in New Jersey, 76% of the Latino vote in Nevada, 74% in California, and 73% in Colorado. This report contains an analysis of exit poll results for the Latino vote nationally and in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico and Texas.
The report is available on the Center's website at www.pewhispanic.org.
The Pew Hispanic Center, an initiative of the Pew Research Center, is a nonpartisan, non-advocacy research organization based in Washington, D.C. and is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts.
______________________________
(1)There is continuing uncertainty over whether President Bush received 40% of the Hispanic vote in 2004, as indicated by exit polls in the 50 states and the District of Columbia conducted on Election Day, or 44%, as indicated by the nationwide National Election Pool exit poll. Reasons for the differing estimates are spelled out in "Hispanics and the 2004 Election: Population, Electorate and Voters," by Roberto Suro, Richard Fry and Jeffrey Passel (2005).
Saturday, November 1, 2008
From kaisernetwork.org: Hispanics Have More Risk Factors For Developing Alzheimer's Disease Than Other Groups, Research Suggests
The New York Times on Tuesday examined research that found "many Hispanics may have more risk factors for developing dementia than other groups" and that a "significant number appear to be getting Alzheimer's earlier" than most U.S. residents, who commonly develop the disease in their 70s or 80s. According to the Alzheimer's Association, about 200,000 Hispanics in the U.S. have the condition but the number could increase to 1.3 million by 2050. "This is the tip of the iceberg of a huge public health challenge," Yanira Cruz, president of the National Hispanic Council on Aging, said, adding, "We really need to do more research in this population to really understand why it is that we're developing these conditions much earlier."
Overall, the number of U.S. residents with Alzheimer's is expected to increase from five million in 2008 to 16 million in 2050. According to experts, Hispanics are not more genetically predisposed to Alzheimer's but factors related to low income or cultural dislocation -- such as higher rates of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, stroke and high blood pressure -- may put them at a higher risk for dementia. Cruz said the immigration experience, along with the changes in diet and social network that it entails, could play a role in increased the risk of Alzheimer's. She said, "As you acculturate, you lose those protective factors linked to nutrition, physical activity [and a] social support system that come with you when you first arrive here."
According to the Times, less education also could make this group more vulnerable to risk factors and to dementia because, scientists say, education may increase the plasticity of the brain and its ability to compensate for symptoms. Some research also cites stress related to financial troubles or cultural adjustment as risk factors for dementia. In addition, Hispanics, who are less likely to see doctors because of financial and language barriers, often mistake the symptoms of dementia as a result of aging, according to the Times. "There's some taboos," Liany Arroyo, director of the Institute for Hispanic Health at the National Council of La Raza, said, adding that surveys his group completed indicated that some Hispanics "do not necessarily understand" what Alzheimer's is.
Alzheimer's and Hispanic groups have responded to such findings by setting up health fairs and support groups, the Times reports. Some Alzheimer's centers have opened offices in Hispanic neighborhoods, according to the Times (Belluck, New York Times, 10/21).
Overall, the number of U.S. residents with Alzheimer's is expected to increase from five million in 2008 to 16 million in 2050. According to experts, Hispanics are not more genetically predisposed to Alzheimer's but factors related to low income or cultural dislocation -- such as higher rates of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, stroke and high blood pressure -- may put them at a higher risk for dementia. Cruz said the immigration experience, along with the changes in diet and social network that it entails, could play a role in increased the risk of Alzheimer's. She said, "As you acculturate, you lose those protective factors linked to nutrition, physical activity [and a] social support system that come with you when you first arrive here."
According to the Times, less education also could make this group more vulnerable to risk factors and to dementia because, scientists say, education may increase the plasticity of the brain and its ability to compensate for symptoms. Some research also cites stress related to financial troubles or cultural adjustment as risk factors for dementia. In addition, Hispanics, who are less likely to see doctors because of financial and language barriers, often mistake the symptoms of dementia as a result of aging, according to the Times. "There's some taboos," Liany Arroyo, director of the Institute for Hispanic Health at the National Council of La Raza, said, adding that surveys his group completed indicated that some Hispanics "do not necessarily understand" what Alzheimer's is.
Alzheimer's and Hispanic groups have responded to such findings by setting up health fairs and support groups, the Times reports. Some Alzheimer's centers have opened offices in Hispanic neighborhoods, according to the Times (Belluck, New York Times, 10/21).
Pew Hispanic Center Releases a Fact Sheet on Hispanic Registered Voters in Florida
WASHINGTON - The Pew Hispanic Center today released a fact sheet about Hispanic registered voters in Florida. Final 2008 general election voter registration figures from Florida, along with recent data from the U.S. Census, show significant changes in both the political leanings and the demographics of Latinos in the electoral-rich Sunshine State. This year more Hispanics in Florida are registered as Democrats (513,252) than as Republicans (445,526). As recently as 2006, the reverse was true: among Latino registered voters in Florida, more were Republican (414,185) than Democratic (369,906). The fact sheet is available on the Center's website at www.pewhispanic.org. Pew Hispanic Center, an initiative of the Pew Research Center, is a non-partisan, non-advocacy research organization based in Washington, D.C. and is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts.
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