Terminal decline of episodic memory and perceptual speed in a biracial population

Robert S. Wilson*, Kumar B. Rajan, Lisa L. Barnes, Willemijn Jansen, Priscilla Amofa, Jennifer Weuve, Denis A. Evans

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

We compared trajectories of terminal cognitive decline in older Black (n=3372) and White (n=1756) persons from a defined population who completed tests of episodic memory and perceptual speed at 3-year intervals for up to 18years. During a mean of 9.9years of observation, 1608 Black persons and 902 White persons died. Preterminal decline of episodic memory did not differ by race. Terminal episodic memory decline began earlier in Black persons (mean of 4.3years before death) than in White persons (mean=3.9years) and progressed more slowly. By contrast, terminal decline of perceptual speed began earlier in White persons (mean=5.0years) than in Black persons (mean=4.5years). Rate of perceptual speed decline was more rapid in White persons than in Black persons in both the preterminal and terminal periods. The results indicate that terminal cognitive decline occurs in Black persons but suggest that the rate of cognitive decline during the terminal period is less rapid in Black persons than in White persons.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)378-389
Number of pages12
JournalAging Neuropsychology and Cognition
Volume25
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2018

Keywords

  • Terminal decline
  • longitudinal study
  • racial differences
  • episodic memory
  • perceptual speed
  • COGNITIVE DECLINE
  • OLDER PERSONS
  • LATE-LIFE
  • DEMENTIA
  • TRAJECTORIES
  • ABILITIES
  • CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
  • HOSPITALIZATION
  • INDIVIDUALS
  • PERFORMANCE

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