Acculturation is associated with cognitive performance but not changes in cognition among middle-aged and older Hispanic/Latino adults: Findings from the HCHS/SOL and SOL-INCA

Authors:
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Background: Hispanic/Latino adults are not a monolithic group. Individuals vary in a range of factors, including levels of acculturation (adoption of Anglo-American culture). Objective: To investigate the relationships between acculturation with cognition, changes in cognition, and risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: We included Hispanic/Latino adults (unweighted n = 5976) from the Study of Latinos - Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA), a Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos ancillary study. Three acculturation measures were collected at Visit 1 (Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics (SASH) – Social and Language subscales and the MESA Acculturation score). Participants were grouped into quartiles per measure with higher scores reflecting greater acculturation. Outcomes included cognition and MCI prevalence 7-years after Visit 1 and 7-year change in cognition from Visit 1 to 2. Survey linear regressions were performed to model the associations between acculturation measures and cognitive outcomes, controlling for sociodemographic factors. Results: The lowest SASH Social and Language acculturation groups had lower global cognition scores than all other groups (all p -valuesb = 0.10; SE = 0.04; p < 0.05). However, there were no acculturation differences in cognitive change or MCI. Conclusions: Though low acculturation was associated with lower cognitive performance, it does not seem to be related to increased risk for cognitive decline or pathological cognitive aging (i.e., prevalent MCI).
Funding Information
  • National Cancer Institute (U54CA267789)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HHSN268201300001I / N01-HC-65233, HHSN268201300004)
  • National Institute on Aging (R01AG048642, R56AG048642 RF1AG054548, RF1AG061022,)

This publication has 56 references indexed in Scilit: