Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring (Apr 2024)

Characterizing cognitive profiles in diverse middle‐aged and older Hispanics/Latinos: Study of Latinos‐Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (HCHS/SOL)

  • Lisa V. Graves,
  • Wassim Tarraf,
  • Kevin Gonzalez,
  • Mark W. Bondi,
  • Linda C. Gallo,
  • Carmen R. Isasi,
  • Martha Daviglus,
  • Melissa Lamar,
  • Donglin Zeng,
  • Jianwen Cai,
  • Hector M. González

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12592
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 16, no. 2
pp. n/a – n/a

Abstract

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Abstract Introduction We investigated cognitive profiles among diverse, middle‐aged and older Hispanic/Latino adults in the Study of Latinos–Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL‐INCA) cohort using a cross‐sectional observational study design. Methods Based on weighted descriptive statistics, the average baseline age of the target population was 56.4 years, slightly more than half were women (54.6%), and 38.4% reported less than a high school education. We used latent profile analysis of demographically adjusted z scores on SOL‐INCA neurocognitive tests spanning domains of verbal memory, language, processing speed, and executive function. Results Statistical fit assessment indices combined with clinical interpretation suggested five profiles: (1) a Higher Global group performing in the average‐to‐high‐average range across all cognitive and instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) tests (13.8%); (2) a Higher Memory group with relatively high performance on memory tests but average performance across all other cognitive/IADL tests (24.6%); (3) a Lower Memory group with relatively low performance on memory tests but average performance across all other cognitive/IADL tests (32.8%); (4) a Lower Executive Function group with relatively low performance on executive function and processing speed tests but average‐to‐low‐average performance across all other cognitive/IADL tests (16.6%); and (5) a Lower Global group performing low‐average‐to‐mildly impaired across all cognitive/IADL tests (12.1%). Discussion Our results provide evidence of heterogeneity in the cognitive profiles of a representative, community‐dwelling sample of diverse Hispanic/Latino adults. Our analyses yielded cognitive profiles that may assist efforts to better understand the early cognitive changes that may portend Alzheimer's disease and related dementias among diverse Hispanics/Latinos. Highlights The present study characterized cognitive profiles among diverse middle‐aged and older Hispanic/Latino adults. Latent profile analysis of neurocognitive test scores was the primary analysis conducted. The target population consists of middle‐aged and older Hispanic/Latino adults enrolled in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos and ancillary Study of Latinos ‐ Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging.

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