Psychology ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 7-1-2020

Abstract

The current study examined the interactive effects of race/ethnicity and sex/gender on cognitive trajectories of older adults. Participants were a total of 5258 non-Hispanic White (NHW), Black, and Hispanic men and women in the Washington/Hamilton Heights/Inwood Columbia Aging Project. Multiple-group latent growth curve modeling was used to examine trajectories across sex/gender by racial/ethnic groups and to determine the relationship between specific socio-cultural/health indicators and cognitive decline, including childhood socioeconomic position, years of education, adult income and occupation, cardiovascular risk factors, and marital status. Sex/gender differences in baseline cognitive test performance varied as a function of race/ethnicity and racial/ethnic differences in rate of cognitive decline varied as a function of sex/gender. Although differences in socio-cultural/health indicators explained a substantial proportion of the racial/ethnic differences in cognitive trajectories, the extent to which each socio-cultural/health indicator accounted for racial/ethnic differences varied across men and women. This study takes an important first step in understanding interactions between race/ethnicity and sex/gender on cognitive trajectories by demonstrating variability in sex/gender differences across race/ethnicity. Examining interactions between sex/gender and race/ethnicity provides a more nuanced understanding of mechanisms of AD disparities and may lead to the development of new strategies to prevent or slow AD-related cognitive decline.

Degree Name

Psychology

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Psychology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Steven P. Verney

Second Committee Member

Jennifer Manly

Third Committee Member

Katie Witkiewitz

Fourth Committee Member

Jennifer Monzones

Language

English

Keywords

Sex/gender differences, racial/ethnic disparities, cognitive aging, cognitive trajectories, dementia

Document Type

Dissertation

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