Heterogeneity in healthy aging among U.S. Latinos: a dual functionality perspective

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Healthy aging is complex and varies across diverse populations.
• Dual functionality (absence of cognitive and physical limitations) is a key indicator of healthy aging.
• Latino subgroups exhibit distinct patterns in aging due to heritage, nativity, and sex.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine heterogeneity in healthy aging among U.S. Latinos using a dual functionality framework.
• To quantify age-related changes and disparities in dual functionality by Latino subgroup (heritage, nativity, sex).

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 16 years of nationally representative data (American Community Survey, 2008-2023) from 1,902,870 Latino adults.
• Logistic regression models to estimate age-specific probabilities of dual functionality.
• Stratified analyses by sex and subgroup deviations from pan-ethnic Latino averages.

Main Results:

• Dual functionality declines with age, with significant subgroup differences.
• South Americans showed the highest dual functionality, while island-born Puerto Ricans had the lowest.
• Foreign-born Latinos generally had higher dual functionality, but this advantage shifted with age, especially for women.

Conclusions:

• Deep inequities in functional aging emerge before old age.
• Dual functionality serves as a culturally relevant metric for assessing aging equity.
• Addressing disparities requires interventions prioritizing functional health and dignity across the life course.