Religiosity, Religious Beliefs, and Cognitive Impairment Among Black and White Men With Modest Incomes

Area of Science:

• Social Epidemiology
• Neuroscience
• Gerontology

Background:

• Cognitive impairment poses a significant public health challenge, particularly among aging populations.
• Understanding protective factors for cognitive health is crucial for developing effective interventions.
• Religious practices are prevalent and may influence health outcomes, including cognitive function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between religious practices, beliefs, and cognitive impairment.
• To examine these associations separately among Black and White men with modest incomes.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study.
• Inclusion of 926 Black and White men with annual incomes at or below $50,000.
• Assessment of cognitive impairment using the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status and religious variables (service attendance, private prayer, beliefs).

Main Results:

• Religious service attendance showed an inverse relationship with cognitive impairment in White men.
• Private prayer and religious beliefs were inversely associated with cognitive impairment in Black men.
• These findings suggest potential cognitive benefits associated with specific religious practices in different racial groups.

Conclusions:

• Religious practices and beliefs may play a role in cognitive preservation for men across racial groups.
• Further longitudinal research is necessary to confirm these associations and elucidate potential causal pathways.
• Interventions incorporating religious or spiritual components could be explored for cognitive health promotion.