Title | Racial/Ethnic Differences in Trajectories of Cognitive Function in Older Adults. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2016 |
Authors | Vasquez, E, Botoseneanu, A, Bennett, JM, Shaw, BA |
Journal | J Aging Health |
Volume | 28 |
Issue | 8 |
Pagination | 1382-1402 |
Date Published | 2016 Dec |
ISSN Number | 1552-6887 |
Keywords | Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Black People, Cognition, Cognition Disorders, Female, Health Behavior, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Male, White People |
Abstract | OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to (a) examine racial/ethnic differences in trajectories of cognitive function and (b) evaluate the role of education and health behaviors (physical activity [PA] and smoking) as mediators of racial/ethnic differences in the rate of decline in cognitive function in older adults. METHOD: Data for this study came from the Health and Retirement Study ( n = 3,424). Hierarchical linear models were used to define the trajectory of cognitive function between 2002 and 2008. Participants were classified based on PA as non-vigorously active, intermittent vigorously active, and consistently vigorously active. RESULTS: After adding education, the Hispanic's and Black's disparities in cognitive performance were slightly attenuated (Hispanics, β = -1.049, p < .001; Blacks, β = -3.397, p < .001) but were still different from Whites. Smoking was not associated with the cognition intercept or rate of decline. DISCUSSION: We found education had a partial mediating effect on racial differences in levels of cognition but not on the rate of change over time. |
URL | http://jah.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/12/29/0898264315620589.abstract |
DOI | 10.1177/0898264315620589 |
User Guide Notes | |
Endnote Keywords | cognition/education/ethnicity/physical activity/smoking |
Endnote ID | 999999 |
Alternate Journal | J Aging Health |
Citation Key | 6460 |
PubMed ID | 26719488 |
Grant List | R01 AG031109 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States |