A significant portion of sample respondents (representing the national population) were socioeconomically disadvantaged. A total of 25.6% of the weighted sample reported 0 % to 11 years of education, and 19.2% reported annual in comes of less than $10000 at ACL wave 1. A total of 546 respondents (15.1% of the overall sample and 9.9% of the weighted sample) died during the 7.5 year follow-up period.The deaths included 255 males and 291 females, 338 non blacks and 208 blacks, and 147 persons younger than 65 year and 399 persons aged 65 year and older.