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Updated: Jun 3, 2025
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Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing
Published on: January 24, 2020
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Ethnic Differences in the Association Between Cognitive Performance and Informant-rated Cognitive Decline
Emily M Briceño1, Barbara Mendez Campos2, Roshanak Mehdipanah3
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (EMB), University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Neurology (EMB, DAL, NG, DBZ, LBM), University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI.
Summary
Cognitive test scores are less associated with informant-rated cognitive decline in Hispanic/Latino-a-e-x (H/L) older adults compared to non-Hispanic white (NHW) older adults. This suggests potential underestimation of cognitive impairment in diverse populations.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Cognitive decline assessment is crucial for aging populations.
- Cultural and linguistic diversity may impact cognitive assessment validity.
- Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) offers a standardized cognitive evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between cognitive domain scores from the HCAP and informant-rated cognitive decline.
- To compare these associations across Hispanic/Latino-a-e-x (H/L) and non-Hispanic white (NHW) older adults.
Main Methods:
- Combined data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi-Cognitive (BASIC-C) studies.
- Included H/L (n=566) and NHW (n=2,145) older adults.
- Utilized HCAP cognitive domain scores (memory, attention/executive function, language, etc.) and the Informant Questionnaire of Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE).
Main Results:
- Cognitive domain scores showed stronger associations with IQCODE scores for NHW than H/L participants in four domains (general cognitive performance, executive function, visuospatial, orientation).
- Informants reported greater cognitive decline in NHW compared to H/L individuals for similar cognitive test scores.
- The difference in reported decline was more pronounced at lower cognitive test scores.
Conclusions:
- Associations between cognitive performance and informant-rated decline were weaker in H/L older adults compared to NHW older adults.
- Findings suggest potential cultural or linguistic measurement differences in cognitive assessments.
- These differences may lead to an underestimation of cognitive impairment in H/L populations.
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