Subjective appraisal of cognition among American racial groups

While subjective appraisal of cognition (SAC) has been shown to differ by race, it is unknown whether the consistency between self- and informant reports of cognition varies by race. The present study investigated this gap using a large, community-based cohort of healthy older adults.

Participants and close informants from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center reported the presence or absence of participant memory decline. Four groups were created by combining the participants' and informants' appraisal of the participants' cognition. Bayesian contingency tables and t-tests examined racial group differences.

Native Americans reported more cases of cognitive decline compared to Black (BF₁₀ = 7) and White (BF₁₀ = 3.6) Americans. No differences in reports of cognitive decline were found between White, Black, and Asian Americans (BF₁₀ < 0.1). There was also strong evidence that Native Americans reported more depressive symptoms compared to Black (BF₁₀ = 10.5) and White (BF₁₀ = 6.3) Americans after correcting for memory complaints.

Reports of cognitive decline were similar amongst most racial groups, although Native American participants and their close informants reported cognitive decline more frequently. A limited set of objective cognitive measures did not differ between racial groups. However, slightly greater reported depressive symptoms among Native Americans may partially contribute to the observed differences.