Education and physical activity mediate the relationship between ethnicity and cognitive function in late middle-aged adults

Abstract

Objective Minority status has been implicated as a risk factor for disparate scores on cognitive function tests in older adults. Research on ethnicity and cognitive function has yielded socioeconomic status (SES), particularly education, as a primary reason for the discrepancy. Other factors, such as physical activity may provide insight into the relationship. Despite this knowledge, few studies have thoroughly examined the mediating characteristics of education or physical activity in the relationship between ethnicity and cognitive function in younger aged groups. Most research conducted focuses only on older adults during a time when degeneration of brain tissue may complicate the exploration of the relationships among ethnicity and cognitive function. The current research will expand existing knowledge about education, physical activity, and cognitive function in minority groups. Design The study presents data from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative sample of late middle aged white, black, and Hispanic adults (n=9,204, mean age +-sd=55.8+-3.1). Regression and mediation testing determined the mediating effects of education and physical activity in the relationship between ethnicity and cognitive function. Results Significant association between white ethnicity and higher scores on cognitive tests was evident as early as late middle age. The magnitude of the association significantly diminished on adjusting for education and leisure time physical activity. Conclusion Our data suggest a potential mediating role of education and physical activity on the ethnic differences in cognitive tests in late middle aged white, black, and Hispanic adults. Our findings suggest a need for studies to understand if adult education and culturally-appropriate physical activity interventions in middle age influence ethnic disparities in prevalence of cognitive impairment in old age.

Do Depression and Educational Attainment Mediate the Association between Ethnicity and Dementia?

“…The observed significant mediating effect of education on the association between ethnicity and dementia in the current study supports previous results showing that education substantially mediates the relationship between ethnicity and cognitive function [29,30,31]. This finding was not surprising given that education disparities between Malays and Chinese elderly were previously documented [32], and that education has been found to be a significant factor of better cognitive function in previous studies [29,33,34].…”

“…This finding was not surprising given that education disparities between Malays and Chinese elderly were previously documented [32], and that education has been found to be a significant factor of better cognitive function in previous studies [29,33,34]. …”

Cognitive Function and the Risk of Death in Chronic Kidney Disease

“…As in the general population, cognitive impairment might lead to non-adherence with medications [30] or increased risk of accidents or falls [31] in those with CKD, which may account for the increased risk of death observed. Other studies have found associations between cognitive impairment and metabolic syndrome [32], inflammation [33,34,35], insulin resistance [36], muscle strength [37], physical inactivity [38], and subsequent dementia [39]. However, adjusting for several of these factors did not attenuate the hazard of death in individuals with CKD and low cognitive score.…”

Attitudes of students to physical activity

“…Физичка активност смањује ризик од превремене смрти, односно ризик од уми-рања услед исхемијске болести срца или можданог удара, а такође смањује ризик од појаве дијабетес мелитуса тип 2 5 . У домену психичког живота физичка активност унап-ређује психичко здравље, смањује стрес, анк-сиозност, осећај депресије и усамљености, а деци и млађим одраслим особама помаже у контроли и превенцији ризичног понашања, у вези са пушењем, алкохолом, коришћењем психоактивних супстанци, нездравом исхра-ном и насиљем 6 . Још једна предност физичке активности која указује на њен значај је да помаже у контроли телесне тежине и снижава ризик за настанак гојазности до 50% у по-ређењу са особама које воде "седећи" начин живота.…”

“…Доза мора бити индивидуално одређена, а то значи при-мерена полу, годинама старости, здравстве-ном стању, физичкој способности, занимању особе и мора бити такође индивидуално про-грамирана и свакако контролисана 8 . Не по-стоји биолошка и психичка функција органи-зма на коју одговарајућа физичка активност не делује позитивно 6 . Па ипак, глобална процена преваленције физичке неактивности међу одраслима износи 17%.…”