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Associations between discriminatory experiences and dementia in the Health and Retirement Study
Jean Tyan1, Roland J Thorpe2, Christine Ladd-Acosta1
1Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA.
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
|February 7, 2025
Summary
Frequent experiences of everyday discrimination are linked to increased odds of developing dementia, particularly among non-Hispanic Black individuals. Addressing psychosocial stressors is key to mitigating dementia disparities.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Public Health
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Racial and ethnic disparities in dementia prevalence are significant.
- Understanding psychosocial risk factors is crucial for dementia prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between everyday and major discrimination and dementia development.
- To examine disparities in these associations by race, ethnicity, and sex.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 13,733 older US residents (2006-2016).
- Self-reported discrimination data collected via questionnaires.
- Probable dementia status determined using cognitive tests and logistic regression.
Main Results:
- Higher frequency of everyday discrimination was associated with increased odds of dementia (OR=1.18).
- This association was strongest in non-Hispanic Black participants (OR=1.30).
- No significant association was found for major discrimination.
Conclusions:
- Everyday discrimination is a psychosocial risk factor for dementia.
- Targeting psychosocial stressors may help reduce dementia disparities.
- Interventions are needed to address health inequities in cognitive aging.
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