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. 2024 Feb;20(2):1137-1148.
doi: 10.1002/alz.13527. Epub 2023 Oct 28.

Psychosocial factors associated with 7-year change in cognition among middle-aged and older Hispanics/Latinos: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA) and Sociocultural ancillary studies

Mayra L Estrella  1   2 , Wassim Tarraf  3 , Sayaka Kuwayama  4 , Linda C Gallo  5 , Benson Wu  4 , María J Marquine  6 , Krista M Perreira  7 , Priscilla M Vasquez  8 , Carmen R Isasi  9 , Richard B Lipton  10 , Josiemer Mattei  11 , Hector M González  4 , Martha L Daviglus  2 , Melissa Lamar  2   12
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Psychosocial factors associated with 7-year change in cognition among middle-aged and older Hispanics/Latinos: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA) and Sociocultural ancillary studies

Mayra L Estrella et al. Alzheimers Dement. 2024 Feb.

Abstract

Introduction: Few studies have examined the associations of psychosocial factors with cognitive change in Hispanics/Latinos.

Methods: Data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (HCHS/SOL INCA) and Sociocultural studies were used (n = 2,155; ages ≥45 years). Psychosocial exposures included intrapersonal (ethnic identity, optimism, purpose in life), interpersonal (family cohesion, familism, social networks, social support), and social factors (ethnic discrimination, loneliness, subjective social status). Survey-linear regression models examined associations between psychosocial exposures and 7-year cognitive change (global cognition [GC], verbal learning, memory, word fluency [WF], and digit symbol substitution [DSS]).

Results: Familism predicted decline in GC, verbal learning, and memory; family cohesion predicted DSS decline; and loneliness predicted memory decline. Ethnic identity was protective against decline in GC and memory, optimism and social support were protective against decline in memory, and purpose in life was protective against WF decline.

Discussion: Psychosocial factors are differentially related to cognitive changes. Culturally relevant factors should be explored in Hispanic/Latino cognitive aging research.

Highlights: Psychosocial factors are differentially related to cognitive changes in Latinos. Role of culturally relevant factors on cognition should be further explored. Familism predicted decline in global cognition, verbal learning, and memory. Ethnic identity predicted increase in global cognition and memory.

Keywords: Hispanics/Latinos; cognition; ethnic discrimination; ethnic identity; familism; family cohesion; loneliness; optimism; psychosocial factors; purpose in life; social networks; social support; subjective social status.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest to report. Author disclosures are available in the supporting information.

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