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. 2019 Mar 14;59(2):281-289.
doi: 10.1093/geront/gnx142.

Racial/Ethnic and Nativity Differences in Cognitive Life Expectancies Among Older Adults in the United States

Marc A Garcia  1 , Brian Downer  2 , Chi-Tsun Chiu  3 , Joseph L Saenz  4 , Sunshine Rote  5 , Rebeca Wong  6
Affiliations

Racial/Ethnic and Nativity Differences in Cognitive Life Expectancies Among Older Adults in the United States

Marc A Garcia et al. Gerontologist. .

Abstract

Background and objectives: To document racial/ethnic and nativity differences by gender in cognitive life expectancies among older adults in the United States.

Research design and methods: Sullivan-based life tables were used to estimate cognitively normal, cognitively impaired/no dementia (CIND), and dementia life expectancies by gender for White, Black, U.S.-born Hispanic, and foreign-born Hispanic adults 50 years and older in the Health and Retirement Study.

Results: Among women, the number of years spent living with dementia for Whites, Blacks, U.S.-born Hispanics, and foreign-born Hispanics was 1.6, 3.9, 4.7, and 6.0 years, respectively. For men, Whites lived 1.1 years with dementia compared to 3.1 years for Blacks, 3.0 years for U.S.-born Hispanics and 3.2 years for foreign-born Hispanics. Similar patterns were observed for race/ethnic and nativity differences in CIND life expectancies. Blacks and Hispanics spend a larger fraction of their remaining years with CIND and dementia relative to Whites, regardless of gender. Foreign-born Hispanic men and women and Black men are particularly disadvantaged in the proportion of years spent after age 50 with CIND and/or dementia.

Discussion and implications: Disparities in cognitive life expectancies indicate that intervention strategies should target the specific needs of minority and immigrant older adults with dementia. Given that education is a strong predictor of cognitive health, improving access to the social and economic resources that delay dementia onset is key to improving the well-being of diverse older adults.

Keywords: Cognitive impairment; Dementia; Life expectancy; Nativity; Race/ethnicity.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Cognitive-related life expectancies and years of education at age 50 by race/ethnicity, nativity, and sex. Source: HRS 1998–2012 and NHIS-LMF (1997–2009). CIND = cognitive impairment no dementia; FB = foreign born; US = U.S. born.
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