RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIFFERENCES IN HEALTH OF SPOUSES OF COGNITIVELY IMPAIRED OLDER ADULTS

Abstract

Abstract Introduction A large body of research in the U.S. shows that non-Hispanic black (black) and Hispanic older adults have higher rates of cognitive impairment and dementia compared to Whites. Little research has examined how cognitive life courses differentially affect spouses of cognitively impaired older adults. Objectives This paper will describe the different life courses of spouses of cognitively impaired older adults by race and ethnicity in the U.S. Methods Using data from the 2010 Health and Retirement Survey, we examine differences in the health of spousal dyads where one partner becomes cognitively impaired over follow up, by 2016. Spousal dyads are limited to Hispanic (n=464 dyads), i black (n=345 dyads), or white (n=2,409 dyads) couples who were both cognitively normal at baseline and had cognition information at follow up. Results Hispanic and Black dyads were more likely to have at least one partner become cognitively impaired over the follow up period despite being younger than White dyads. A total of 23% of Hispanic dyads, 26% of Black dyads and 16% of White dyads were N/CI at follow up. Despite fewer chronic conditions at baseline, a higher proportion of Hispanic dyads with no chronic conditions had at least one member become cognitively impaired (20%) compared to Whites (6.28%). Conclusion Our results show that health of couples changes differently by race and ethnicity. A higher proportion of Hispanic and Black dyads have partners with cognitive impairment and the cognitive impairment happens earlier in life.