title: Neuropsychological test performance among Caribbean-born and U.S.-born African American elderly: the role of age, education and reading level.
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.
authors.affiliation: G. H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Desiree A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Byrd
authors.forename: Danurys
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Manly
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011932:Reading; D014481:United States