Department of Recreation and Leisure, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2022 Jun 1;77(6):1105-1117. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbab084.
Maintaining cognitive function is an important component of healthy aging. There is increasing recognition that extraneous factors expedite the typical cognitive aging process. Risk factors for cognitive decline cluster around inequalities and disproportionally affect minority and vulnerable groups. Taking a minority stress approach, we examined the relationship between proxy measures of minority stress and cognitive health in a large sample of Canadians aged 45-85 years.
Data were drawn from the baseline of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, a prospective cohort study. Memory (n = 36,849) and executive function (n = 36,266) were assessed using standardized assessment tools. We ran multiple linear regression models with memory and executive function as the outcomes. Explanatory variables included known correlates of cognitive health (i.e., demographic, health, and cognitive reserve) and proxy measures of minority stress (i.e., sexual orientation, race, and perceived social standing).
Results were consistent with existing evidence showing that demographic and health variables were associated with cognitive performance. Modifiable health variables, walking, and fruit/vegetable consumption were associated with better cognitive performance, as were cognitive reserve and social support measures. Within the models, racial minority status was consistently associated with lower cognitive performance. As one's perceived social standing within their own community increased, so too did cognitive function.
These findings identify factors that may put people at risk for cognitive decline. There is a need to support the cognitive health of racialized Canadians and members of other disadvantaged groups, while promoting health equity.
保持认知功能是健康老龄化的重要组成部分。人们越来越认识到，外在因素会加速典型的认知衰老过程。认知能力下降的风险因素集中在不平等上，并且不成比例地影响少数群体和弱势群体。采用少数群体应激方法，我们在一个由 45-85 岁加拿大成年人组成的大样本中，研究了代理少数群体应激指标与认知健康之间的关系。
数据来自加拿大老龄化纵向研究的基线，这是一项前瞻性队列研究。使用标准化评估工具评估记忆（n=36849）和执行功能（n=36266）。我们运行了多个线性回归模型，以记忆和执行功能为结果。解释变量包括认知健康的已知相关因素（即人口统计学、健康和认知储备）和少数群体应激的代理指标（即性取向、种族和感知社会地位）。
结果与现有证据一致，表明人口统计学和健康变量与认知表现相关。可改变的健康变量，如步行和水果/蔬菜的摄入与更好的认知表现有关，认知储备和社会支持措施也是如此。在这些模型中，少数族裔身份与较低的认知表现始终相关。随着一个人在自己社区中的感知社会地位的提高，认知功能也随之提高。
这些发现确定了可能导致认知能力下降的因素。需要支持种族化的加拿大人和其他弱势群体成员的认知健康，同时促进健康公平。
