Neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric prediction of global cognitive status among older Spanish-speaking Hispanics and English-speaking whites.
BACKGROUND
Neuropsychological and depression measures have been found to predict cognitive functioning. We compared these associations among whites and Spanish-speaking Hispanics.


METHODS
Fifty-two pairs of whites and Hispanics were matched demographically and clinically in a cross-sectional study. Hierarchical regression analyses predicted Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) rating by baseline neuropsychological tests and depression symptoms.


RESULTS
Neuropsychological tests predicted GDS better in whites; depression symptoms--specifically retardation--predicted well in Hispanics but not whites. Immediate recall of the New York University (NYU)-Paragraph Test and the Retardation item of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were associated with GDS in Hispanics and delayed recall of the NYU-Paragraph Test and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Digit Symbol in whites. Neuropsychological tests and depression symptoms predicted GDS differently in Hispanics and whites.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that other measures should be considered to increase the predictive accuracy of neuropsychological tests when assessing cognitive status in Spanish-speaking Hispanics. Additional studies of specific ethnic/racial and sociodemographic subgroups are warranted.
Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA elizabeth.guerrero-berroa@mssm.edu.
Elizabeth
E
Guerrero-Berroa
Department of Psychology, Lehman College/City University of New York, New York, NY, USA Alzheimer's Disease Center, Comprehensive Center on Brain Aging, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Alan
A
Kluger
Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
James
J
Schmeidler
Department of Psychology, Lehman College/City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.
Kevin
K
Sailor
Department of Psychology, Lehman College/City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.
Humberto
H
Lizardi
Alzheimer's Disease Center, Comprehensive Center on Brain Aging, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
James
J
Golomb
Alzheimer's Disease Center, Comprehensive Center on Brain Aging, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Steven
S
Ferris
Alzheimer's Disease Center, Comprehensive Center on Brain Aging, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
Barry
B
Reisberg
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009518:New York; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*
Hispanic elderly; cognitive status; dementia; depression; neuropsychiatric symptoms; neuropsychology