Observational analysis explored cognitive function's link to education and network diversity in older Americans, indicating cultural factors may enhance cognitive health.
Objectives This study examined the role of education, acculturation, and network characteristics (size and diversity) in the cognitive function of older Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese Americans. Methods Data were drawn from 158 participants aged 60 or older in the DREAMS study—a study on Asian Americans’ sleep and health conducted in Southern California. Results Multivariate models of cognitive function showed significant effects of education (B [SE] = 0.28 [0.07], p < .001), acculturation (B [SE] = 0.17 [0.06], p < .01), and network diversity (B [SE] = 0.26 [0.12], p < .05). Conclusions Our findings support the role of education as a general cognitive reserve factor and acculturation as an immigrant-specific one. We also observed cognitive health benefits associated with diverse social networks, underscoring the importance of fostering opportunities for varied social interactions.
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Jang et al. (2025) studied this question.
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