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The role of social and behavioral risk factors in explaining racial disparities in age-related cognitive impairment: a structured narrative review

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a growing public health concern with large disparities in incidence and prevalence between African Americans (AAs) and non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). The aim of this review was to examine the evidence of association between six modifiable risk factors (education, smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, social isolation, and psychosocial stress) and Alzheimer’s disease risk in AAs and NHWs. We identified 3,437 studies; 45 met inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Of the examined risks, education provided the strongest evidence of association with cognitive outcomes in AAs and NHWs. This factor may operate directly on Alzheimer’s disease risk through the neurocognitive benefits of cognitive stimulation or indirectly through social status.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)173-196
Number of pages24
JournalAging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition
Volume27
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 3 2020

Funding

This work was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [Healthy Brain Research Network U48 DP 005002]. We are grateful to Carol Howe, MD, MLS, and Jean McClelland, MLS, for their time and expertise in designing a review process that met our needs for flexibility and rigor.

FundersFunder number
U48DP005002
Centers for Disease Control and PreventionU48 DP 005002

    UN SDGs

    This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

    1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
      SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

    Keywords

    • African American
    • Alzheimer’s disease
    • cognitive decline
    • disparities
    • education

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