This page is alzhub.org's plain-English summary of a published study, not the paper itself. It is generated from the record we hold for this study, sourced and linked below — check the original for the full text and methods.

54/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 54 out of 100. Disparities

Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies

Background Despite elevated dementia risk, cognitive health among Indigenous older adults remains understudied. This study explored how modifiable factors were associated with cognitive health among Indigenous, Black, Hispanic, and White older adults. Methods Using longitudinal panel data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006–2020, N=27,327), we estimated mixed effect growth curve models to examine associations between modifiable factors and total cognitive function. Findings This diverse sample of Indigenous (1.65%), Black (11.43%), Hispanic (9.85%), and White (77.07%) older adults had a mean age of 61 (SD = 9.66) and was 52% female. Despite being younger on average (M = 59), 3% of Indigenous respondents reported memory-related diagnoses three times the overall sample rate. Linear mixed-effect growth curve analysis revealed that Indigenous and Black older adults had similar cognitive trajectories. A college education was a protective factor for initial cognitive function ( b 0 = 3.09, 95% CI: 2.91, 3.27) and over time ( b = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.33) across ethnicity. Formal ( b = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.27) and informal ( b = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.32) volunteering were associated with slower rates of cognitive decline relative to non-volunteers, though these effects may partly reflect socioeconomic status. Among Indigenous older adults, higher education, volunteering, and fewer depressive symptoms were linked to better cognitive outcomes. Interpretation Despite high levels of resource deprivation, Indigenous older adults demonstrate resilience that supports cognitive health. Expanding access to education and volunteering in later life through targeted social policy may enhance cognitive outcomes in Indigenous communities for generations. Funding This research was supported by the National Institute on Aging (R36AG078781).

Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris

APA 7th

Whetung, C., & Gonzales, E. G. (2025). Modifiable factors associated with cognitive health trajectories among Indigenous, Hispanic, Black, and White older adults: an exploratory longitudinal panel analysis of the health and retirement study with a focus on Indigenous peoples. The Lancet Regional Health - Americas. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2025.101207

Vancouver

Whetung C, Gonzales EG. Modifiable factors associated with cognitive health trajectories among Indigenous, Hispanic, Black, and White older adults: an exploratory longitudinal panel analysis of the health and retirement study with a focus on Indigenous peoples. The Lancet Regional Health - Americas. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.lana.2025.101207. PMID: 40832662.

BibTeX

@article{whetung2025-40832662,
  author  = {Whetung, Cliff and Gonzales, Ernest G.},
  title   = {{Modifiable factors associated with cognitive health trajectories among Indigenous, Hispanic, Black, and White older adults: an exploratory longitudinal panel analysis of the health and retirement study with a focus on Indigenous peoples}},
  journal = {The Lancet Regional Health - Americas},
  year    = {2025},
  doi     = {10.1016/j.lana.2025.101207},
  pmid    = {40832662},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2025.101207}
}

Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.

Key findings

This study explored how modifiable factors were associated with cognitive health among Indigenous, Black, Hispanic, and White older adults.
Despite being younger on average (M = 59), 3% of Indigenous respondents reported memory-related diagnoses three times the overall sample rate.
Linear mixed-effect growth curve analysis revealed that Indigenous and Black older adults had similar cognitive trajectories.
Formal ( b = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.27) and informal ( b = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.32) volunteering were associated with slower rates of cognitive decline relative to non-volunteers, though these effects may partly reflect socioeconomic status.

Why it matters

This longitudinal study found that college education and formal and informal volunteering were associated with better initial cognitive function and slower cognitive decline across ethnic groups, though volunteering effects may partly reflect socioeconomic status. The findings suggest modifiable factors linked to cognitive health trajectories, but no treatment, cure, or prevention was tested.

New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Disparities →

Study details

Study designlongitudinal study
Participants27,327
Effect size1.65%; 11.43%; 9.85%
Evidence strengthModerate

How this study scored 54/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	7 / 10	Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Lancet Regional Health - Americas)
Journal's citation record	0 / 4	The Lancet Regional Health - Americas: journal h-index 61 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	7 / 12	A longitudinal study following the same people over time
Strength of evidence	3 / 5	Rated “moderate” in our summary
Peer-review validation	10 / 10	Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal.
How recent	4 / 5	2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	4 / 4	27,327 participants
Effect reported	2 / 3	Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test
Studied in people	3 / 3	Studied in people (participant count stated)
Randomised / blinded	0 / 2	No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Times cited	1 / 7	Cited 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	1 / 5	1.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025
Impact for its field and year	2 / 6	Cited 1.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	0 / 6	No other study in this library cites it
Still being cited	1 / 4	Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	2 / 4	Last-listed author Ernest G. Gonzales: h-index 21 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	2 / 3	New York University: institution h-index 1,612 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre collaboration	1 / 3	OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40832662)
Free to read	2 / 2	Free to read
Total	54 / 100	—

What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →

Read the original

Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).

Studies this one cites

Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here. Showing 12 of 17.

Related studies in Disparities

Also tagged “controlled”

1,118 studies in the library carry the topic tag “controlled”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 1,118 tagged studies.

Similar studies

More on Disparities

See all studies in Disparities →