Cognitive performance and normative data between Hispanic and non‐Hispanic cohorts: Results from the South Texas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC)

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) in the United States was estimated as 6.5 million people in 2022, with a five‐fold increase for the Hispanic/Latinx population expected by 2060. The South Texas Alzheimer’s Disease Center (STAC) was designated as a new ADRC in 2021 by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) with a specific aim to serve the growing needs of the local underrepresented Hispanic population. As cultural and linguistic factors can impact performance on cognitive tests, the goal of the study was to compare UDS‐3 cognitive test raw scores and normative data in Hispanic and non‐Hispanic adults without cognitive impairment residing in South Texas.MethodParticipants from the STAC cohort completed the Uniform Data Set (UDS), V.3.0, which includes demographics and neuropsychological battery. All batteries were administered in the participants’ preferred language, English. Normative data was calculated using Weintraub et al. (2018)’s age, sex, and education adjusted regression models for UDSNB 3.0. Mean differences between baseline visit raw scores and normative data were compared using independent sample t‐tests among Hispanic and non‐Hispanic participants.ResultThirty‐four Hispanic (mean age = 70.4, 67.6% female) and thirty‐eight non‐Hispanic (mean age = 71.9, 57.9% female) participants were included. Hispanic participants had fewer years of education relative to non‐Hispanic participants [M(SD)] = [14.7(2.5)] to [16.5(2.5)], respectively; (t(70.1) = 3.0, p = 0.004); although, the groups did not differ in age or sex distribution (p>0.05). Hispanic and non‐Hispanic participants generally performed equivalently on the neuropsychological battery. However, Hispanics had lower mean raw scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (t(70.8) = 3.6, p<0.001) and the Multilingual Naming Test (MINT) (t(71) = 4.0, p<0.001) relative to non‐Hispanic participants, which persisted when normative data was applied (MoCA: t(71) = 2.3, p = 0.024, MINT: t(71) = 2.8, p = 0.006).ConclusionOverall, Hispanic and non‐Hispanic participants performed similarly on the UDS‐3 neuropsychological battery. However, Hispanics had lower mean raw and normative scores on the MINT, as well as the MoCA which also includes language measures. Our findings highlight the importance of future research validating the sensitivity and specificity of normative data used in underrepresented populations, especially those at higher risk for ADRD.