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Racial differences in cognitive decline in a sample of community-dwelling older adults: the mediating role of education and literacy.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Sachs-Ericsson, N; Blazer, DG
Published in: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry
November 2005

OBJECTIVE: The authors examined racial differences in cognitive decline (CD) and the role of education and literacy in mediating this relationship. METHODS: The relationship between race and CD was examined over a 3-year period in a biracial community sample of older adults (N = 3,097) living in North Carolina. RESULTS: African Americans, as compared with White participants, had fewer years of education and were more likely to be assessed by the interviewer as not literate. Race predicted CD such that African Americans had higher rates than Whites. When education and literacy were entered into the analysis, the association between race and CD, although remaining statistically significant, was reduced and was of relatively weak magnitude. Also, physical functioning problems also predicted CD and were found to be greater in African Americans than in Whites. CONCLUSIONS: Education and literacy may be protective factors against CD. Socioeconomic disadvantages experienced by older African Americans in the South early in life, leading to poorer educational opportunities, may explain, in part, the increased rates of CD in older African Americans versus Whites.

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Published In

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

1064-7481

Publication Date

November 2005

Volume

13

Issue

11

Start / End Page

968 / 975

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • White People
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Risk Factors
  • North Carolina
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Mental Status Schedule
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Geriatrics
 

Citation

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Sachs-Ericsson, N., & Blazer, D. G. (2005). Racial differences in cognitive decline in a sample of community-dwelling older adults: the mediating role of education and literacy. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, 13(11), 968–975. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajgp.13.11.968
Sachs-Ericsson, Natalie, and Dan G. Blazer. “Racial differences in cognitive decline in a sample of community-dwelling older adults: the mediating role of education and literacy.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 13, no. 11 (November 2005): 968–75. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajgp.13.11.968.
Sachs-Ericsson, Natalie, and Dan G. Blazer. “Racial differences in cognitive decline in a sample of community-dwelling older adults: the mediating role of education and literacy.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, vol. 13, no. 11, Nov. 2005, pp. 968–75. Pubmed, doi:10.1176/appi.ajgp.13.11.968.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Geriatr Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

1064-7481

Publication Date

November 2005

Volume

13

Issue

11

Start / End Page

968 / 975

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • White People
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Risk Factors
  • North Carolina
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Mental Status Schedule
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Geriatrics