Black and white differences in cognitive function test scores: what explains the difference? - PubMed (original) (raw)

Comparative Study

Black and white differences in cognitive function test scores: what explains the difference?

Kala M Mehta et al. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004 Dec.

Abstract

Several studies have reported that older black and Latino adults have lower cognitive function test scores than older white adults, but few have comprehensively examined reasons for score differences. This study evaluates whether differences in health and socioeconomic indicators, including literacy level, can explain differences in cognitive function test scores between older black and white adults.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Modified Mini-Mental State Examination score in the 3,062 black and white Health, Aging and Body Composition participants: the effect of multivariate adjustments. SES = socioeconomic status.

Figure 2

Figure 2

Digit Symbol Substitution Test score in the 3,032 black and white Health, Aging and Body Composition participants: the effect of multivariate adjustments. SES =socioeconomic status.

References

    1. Lyketsos CG, Chen LS, Anthony JC. Cognitive decline in adulthood: An 11.5-year follow-up of the Baltimore epidemiologic catchment area study. Am J Psychiatry. 1999;156:58–65. - PubMed
    1. Manly JJ, Jacobs DM, Sano M, et al. Cognitive test performance among nondemented elderly African Americans and whites. Neurology. 1998;50:1238–1245. - PubMed
    1. Kramer M, German PS, Anthony JC, et al. Patterns of mental disorders among the elderly residents of eastern Baltimore. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1985;33:236–245. - PubMed
    1. Teresi JA, Golden RR, Cross P, et al. Item bias in cognitive screening measures: Comparisons of elderly white, Afro-American, Hispanic and high and low education subgroups. J Clin Epidemiol. 1995;48:473–483. - PubMed
    1. Kuller LH, Lopez OL, Newman A, et al. Risk factors for dementia in the cardiovascular health cognition study. Neuroepidemiology. 2003;22:13–22. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources