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Cognitive function in UK community-dwelling African Caribbean elders: normative data for a test battery
R Stewart1, M Richards, C Brayne
1Clinical Research Fellow, Section of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK. r.stewart@iop.kcl.ac.uk
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
|May 29, 2001
Summary
This study provides crucial cognitive test norms for UK African Caribbean elders, addressing a gap in dementia risk assessment. Findings highlight differences in verbal fluency and naming tests compared to African Americans.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Public Health
Background:
- First-generation UK African Caribbean residents are aging, increasing dementia risk.
- High prevalence of cognitive-impairing conditions (hypertension, diabetes, stroke) exists in this population.
- A significant lack of normative cognitive data for this demographic has been identified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative data for cognitive tests in UK African Caribbean individuals aged 55-75.
- To identify demographic factors influencing cognitive test performance.
- To compare performance with existing African American normative data.
Main Methods:
- Cognitive assessments conducted on 285 participants in South London.
- Utilized the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) battery and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) items.
- Included Boston Naming Test, verbal fluency, word list recall, Trailmaking Tests A/B, orientation, and Clock Drawing Test.
Main Results:
- Age, sex, education, and occupation independently affected most cognitive test scores.
- Lower scores observed for verbal fluency and Boston Naming Test compared to African American norms.
- Memory test scores were comparable to African American normative data.
Conclusions:
- Normative data for cognitive tests in UK African Caribbean populations are presented, stratified by education.
- This data is vital for accurate cognitive impairment and dementia risk assessment in this group.
- Highlights the need for culturally sensitive cognitive health evaluations.