AP32844

Science Summary

A large study by researchers with the UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Center and the University of Victoria has found that early life experiences such as childhood socioeconomic status and literacy may have a greater influence on the risk of cognitive impairment late in life than demographic characteristics such as race and ethnicity. The research was conducted in a group of over 300 diverse men and women who spoke either English or Spanish. They were recruited from senior citizen social, recreational and residential centers, as well as churches and health-care settings. At the time of recruitment, all study participants were 60 or older, and had no major psychiatric illnesses or life threatening medical illnesses. Participants were Caucasian, African-American or Hispanic. The study found that non-Latino Caucasians scored 20 to 25 percent higher on tests of semantic memory (general knowledge) and 13 to 15 percent higher on tests of executive functioning compared to the other ethnic groups. However, ethnic differences in executive functioning disappeared and differences in semantic memory were reduced by 20 to 30 percent when group differences in childhood socioeconomic status, adult literacy and extent of physical activity during adulthood were considered.The study challenges earlier research that suggests that associations between race and ethnicity lead to an increased risk of late-life cognitive impairment and dementia.

References: 1) University of California - Davis Health System. "Experiences at every stage of life contribute to cognitive abilities in old age." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 25 July 2014. . 2) Paul W. H. Brewster, Rebecca J. Melrose, María J. Marquine, Julene K. Johnson, Anna Napoles, Anna MacKay-Brandt, Sarah Farias, Bruce Reed, Dan Mungas.**Life Experience and Demographic Influences on Cognitive Function in Older Adults.**. //Neuropsychology//, 2014; DOI: 10.1037/neu0000098

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