2022 International Conference on Aging in the Americas

Abstract

The Hispanic/Latinx community in the U.S. is very diverse based on their acculturation levels and present differences in cognitive performance (CP). However, social determinants related to the CP differences across acculturation levels are understudied. This study examines the effects of sociodemographic and socially patterned health behaviors as social determinants of Latinx differences in CP among older adults. Participants included 616 Latinx individuals from the cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014 [Mage= 67.15 years]. CP was assessed with Digit Symbol Substitution Test. Approximately 48% of the Latinx participants were from Mexico and were grouped by language as a measure of acculturation (only/mostly Spanish (low acculturated), Spanish and English/bilingual, only/mostly English (high acculturated)). Adjusted linear regression evaluated the link among acculturation levels and sociodemographic and health behavioral factors with CP. Three models were created for adjusted linear regression. Model 1 examined the association between acculturation and CP controlled for- age, sex, country of origin, citizenship status and marital status. Results indicated poorer CP among only/mostly Spanish-speakers and bilinguals compared to only/mostly English-speakers (p<.001). To create Model 2, sociodemographic factors were introduced in Model 1 and lower education, lower income, and no housing ownership were found significantly associated with poorer CP. β-estimate of CP of both only/mostly Spanish-speakers and bilinguals decreased (from -14.17 to -6.94 and -8.52 to - 3.33, respectively) compared to only/mostly English-speakers but remained only significant for only/mostly Spanish-speakers (p<.001). Model 3 examined if Latinx within-group differences can be further explained by differences in physical activity, smoking, alcohol use and BMI. Although none of these health behaviors were found significantly associated, β-estimate of CP further decreased (-6.94 to -6.03) among only/mostly Spanish-speakers (p<.001). In conclusion, the difference in CP among the low acculturated Latinx compared to the high acculturated subgroup was partly mediated by sociodemographic inequalities.