Acculturation in context: The relationship between acculturation and socioenvironmental factors with level of and change in cognition in older Latinos

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundLatinos are 1.5 times as likely to develop Alzheimer’s dementia as non‐Latino Whites. This health disparity may arise from multiple influences with culturally‐relevant factors receiving increasing attention. Models of acculturation stress the importance of considering acculturation‐related factors within the context of socioenvironmental factors to better capture the Latino experience in the US.MethodWe measured 10 acculturation and contextually‐related variables in 199 Latinos (age∼69.7yrs) without dementia participating in Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center studies. We subjected these variables to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to study their interrelationships; then investigated how the resulting components associated with level of and longitudinal change in domain‐specific cognition using separate linear mixed effects models adjusted for relevant confounders and their interactions with time.ResultThe PCA revealed a 3‐factor unrotated solution (variance explained ∼70%). Factor 1, representing acculturation‐related aspects of nativity, language‐ and social‐based acculturation, was positively associated with level, but not change, in semantic memory and perceptual speed. Factor 2, representing contextually‐related socioenvironmental experiences of discrimination, social isolation, and social networks, was associated with lower levels of episodic memory and working memory and faster longitudinal decline in visuospatial ability (Figure 1). Factor 3 (familism only) did not associate with level or change in any cognitive outcome. We are actively investigating the role of cardiovascular health on these associations.ConclusionAcculturation‐ and contextually‐related factors differentiated from each other and differentially contributed to cognition and cognitive decline in older Latinos. Providers should query multiple social determinants of health when evaluating older Latinos including acculturation‐ and contextually‐related lived experiences.