Analysis of Dementia Risks among African Immigrants Compared with Caucasian Americans in Retirement

TitleAnalysis of Dementia Risks among African Immigrants Compared with Caucasian Americans in Retirement
Publication TypeThesis
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsBibio, DK
Academic DepartmentSchool of Nursing and Health Sciences
DegreeD.P.H.
Number of Pages119
UniversityCapella University
Thesis Typephd
ISBN Number9781392544235
Keywords0308:Biostatistics, 0347:Mental health, 0631:Ethnic studies, 0766:Epidemiology, Alzheimer's disease, Biostatistics, Demography, Epidemiologic transition, Epidemiology, Ethnic studies, Foreign-born African immigrant, Health and Retirement Study, Mental Health
Abstract

This dissertation investigated the differential risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and dementias among foreign-born African immigrants and native-born Americans in retirement. As immigrants integrate and assimilate, other behavioral processes such as adoption of host nation lifestyle practices endanger immigrant health status that adversely impact cognitive functioning at old age. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and dementia diagnoses among the study subjects. The results showed that acculturation between 10–15 years in the United States puts foreign-born African immigrants at 1.71 OR unadjusted:1.71; 98% CI (1.16, 2.51); p = 0.0012] times higher risk of being diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's disease compared with Caucasian Whites. Similarly, African race OR adjusted=1.39; 98% CI (0.97, 2); p = 0.0361] indicated the lack of sufficient and statistically significant evidence that being Black race plays a statistically significant role in the risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or dementias in retirement compared with Caucasian Whites. Higher educational attainment OR adjusted=0.45; 98% CI (0.29, 0.68); p < 0.0001] was statistically significant protective factor against the risk of being diagnosed as demented or Alzheimer's disease among African immigrants compared with Caucasian Whites. Also, when educational attainments were equivalent among African immigrants and native Caucasians, the risk was substantially higher OR adjusted=1.11; 98% CI (0.71, 2.91); p = 0.073] but not statistically significant among African immigrants compared with Caucasian Whites. In conclusion, as foreign-born African immigrants adopt host nation health behaviors and dietary practices, live in the United States for at least 10 years, and had fewer than 13 years of educational attainment were at increased risks of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Notes

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Citation Key10561