Effects of Minority Status on Sensory Outcomes, Cognition, and Depression

To evaluate the association between minority status and sensory function, sleep quality, depressive symptoms, and cognitive performance in an aging population.

Prospective, cross-sectional study.

Participants were recruited from the Department of Otolaryngology and the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging at a large academic medical center.

Adults aged 50 to 90 years underwent audiologic, visual, olfactory, and cognitive testing. Olfaction was assessed using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test. Depressive symptoms and sleep quality were measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, respectively. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination-2 (brief and standard versions). Participants were stratified by minority status. Group comparisons and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of cognitive performance.

A total of 164 participants were included. Minority participants were younger but demonstrated poorer olfactory performance, memory recall, and Mini-Mental State Examination-2 scores. Minority individuals also reported more depressive symptoms and longer sleep latency. Hearing thresholds were also worse among non-minority participants. Multivariable regression identified minority status, olfactory function, and depressive symptoms as independent predictors of cognitive performance, although overall model explanatory power was modest.

Minority status, depressive symptoms, and olfactory dysfunction were independently associated with lower cognitive performance despite younger age. These findings highlight potential disparities in sensory and cognitive health and support incorporation of olfactory and mood assessment in geriatric otolaryngologic evaluation.