Neuropsychological test performance among Caribbean-born and U.S.-born African American elderly: the role of age, education and reading level

J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2005 Nov;27(8):1056-69. doi: 10.1080/13803390490919353.

Abstract

Within-group variation is an important yet under-studied component of cross-cultural neuropsychology. The current study explored this potential source of variation in a neurologically healthy African American elderly sample by comparing the neuropsychological test performance of nondemented groups of Caribbean-born and U.S.-born African American elders who live in New York City. Caribbean-born elders resided in the U.S. for a mean of 41.5 years (SD=17.0). Results indicate that in general, Caribbean-born elders in this cohort did not demonstrate a unique cognitive testing profile from U.S.-born African American elders. However, the Caribbean-born group demonstrated a higher quality of education than their U.S.-born counterparts. The influence of demographic factors (i.e., age and education) on neuropsychological test performance was markedly attenuated in Caribbean-born elders though reading level was the strongest predictor of test performance for all elders, regardless of birthplace.

MeSH terms

  • Aged / psychology*
  • Aging / psychology*
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Caribbean Region / ethnology
  • Education*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Language
  • Male
  • Memory / physiology
  • Mental Recall
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests*
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
  • Reading*
  • United States