Walters Monica E, Palms Jordan D, Huizenga Brooke A, Sol Ketlyne, Ku Vivian, Morris Emily P, Scambray Kiana A, Taylor Lauren, Zahodne Laura B
Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Alzheimers Dement. 2025 Aug;21(8):e70455. doi: 10.1002/alz.70455.
Occupational characteristics are less commonly measured social determinants of health that may contribute to racial dementia disparities. We assessed whether occupational position (OP) or complexity (OC) mediated racial cognitive disparities.
Participants were Black and White older adults from the Michigan Cognitive Aging Project (MCAP) (n = 536; M = 63.64 ± 3.07; 59% women; 53% Black). We assessed whether OP (six US Census categories) or OC (mental/social/physical demands) mediated cognitive disparities. Sequential mediation analyses assessed whether OP explained cognitive disparities through OC, income, and/or wealth.
Black participants had low (vs high) OP, which predicted worse episodic memory and global cognition (4% to 7% mediated). OC did not mediate cognitive disparities. Disparities in cognition operated through inequities in OP, education, and income. Effects were driven by participants not currently working.
Occupation may influence cognitive disparities primarily through socioeconomic, rather than cognitive stimulation, pathways. Policies targeting workforce inequities may reduce racial disparities in dementia risk.
OP mediated 4% to 7% of racial cognitive disparities. OC did not uniquely mediate racial cognitive disparities. Sequential mediation highlighted life course socioeconomic pathways of disparities. Socioeconomic factors more strongly relate to cognitive disparities than engagement. Findings were driven by participants who were not currently in the workforce.
职业特征是较少被衡量的健康社会决定因素，可能导致种族间痴呆症差异。我们评估了职业地位（OP）或职业复杂性（OC）是否介导了种族认知差异。
参与者是来自密歇根认知衰老项目（MCAP）的黑人和白人老年人（n = 536；平均年龄 = 63.64 ± 3.07；59%为女性；53%为黑人）。我们评估了OP（六个美国人口普查类别）或OC（心理/社会/身体需求）是否介导了认知差异。序贯中介分析评估了OP是否通过OC、收入和/或财富来解释认知差异。
黑人参与者的OP较低（与较高相比），这预示着情景记忆和整体认知较差（介导率为4%至7%）。OC并未介导认知差异。认知差异通过OP、教育和收入方面的不平等起作用。影响是由目前未工作的参与者驱动的。
职业可能主要通过社会经济途径而非认知刺激途径影响认知差异。针对劳动力不平等的政策可能会减少痴呆症风险方面的种族差异。
OP介导了4%至7%的种族认知差异。OC并未独特地介导种族认知差异。序贯中介突出了差异的生命历程社会经济途径。社会经济因素与认知差异的关联比参与度更强。研究结果是由目前不在劳动力队伍中的参与者驱动的。
