A new research paper has been published in Aging ((Aging-vs) On November 27, 2024, in part 17, number 1, entitled “Neurocognitive inequalities: research into ethnicity and mental health in adults in the countryside.”
Researchers Carol Fadalla, Jonathan Singer, Peter Rerick, Lauren Elliott, Elisabeth McLean, Sydnie Schneider, Lauren Chrzanowski, Veronica Molinar-Lopez, and Volker Negebauer of Texas Tech University and the University of Central Oklahoma study who live in rural areas. They found clear differences in the health of the brain, in which Spanish older adults scored lower on memory tests, attention and problem solution, even when their mental health was comparable to non-Spanish white participants. This suggests that Spanish older adults can be confronted with unique challenges that influence their brain health, which emphasizes the need for support programs that are tailored to their specific needs.
As the American population gets older, more people are diagnosed with disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other memory -related diseases. This issue is even more serious in rural communities where healthcare services are limited. Spanish older adults, who form a large part of the rural population, run an even higher risk of developing these brain health problems.
In this study, researchers analyzed data from more than 1,400 adults aged 40 and older from rural communities in Texas. Participants completed tests with measuring memory, problem solving and attention, together with surveys about depression and anxiety. Although depression and fear were linked to poorer thinking skills, they did not fully explain the brain health differences between Spanish and non-Spanish white participants. Ethnic background alone explained about 20% of the differences in brain health, demonstrating the strong impact on cognitive performance.
The study also showed that other factors, such as lifelong stress, limited access to health care, language barriers, discrimination, social isolation and fewer educational opportunities, can contribute to these differences in brain health. These challenges seem to influence Spanish older adults more, which increases their risk of memory and thinking problems as they get older.
The researchers emphasize the need to look beyond mental health to fully understand brain health differences in older adults. They recommend that care providers consider social, economic and cultural factors in developing programs to support cognitive health. Adding memory and thinking tests to regular checks can help detect early signs of cognitive decline.
“Cultural tailor -made interventions aimed at risk factors for neurocognitive disorders in Spanish adults of the countryside are necessary to reduce neurocognitive differences.”
By understanding the unique challenges with which Spanish older adults are confronted, programs that better support brain health can be created. Involving local community leaders in designing these programs can make them more effective, so that all older adults can retain their memory and thinking skills as they get older.
Source:
Journal Reference:
Fadalla, C., et al .. (2024). Neurocognitive differences: research into ethnicity and mental health in adults in the countryside. Aging. doi.org/10.18632/agen.206166.