B - 26 Exploring the Relationship between Traumatic Brain Injury History and Cognitive Impairment in a Diverse Community-Based Sample

Objective Research suggests that traumatic brain injury (TBI) with/without loss of consciousness (LOC) may impact cognition later in life; however, there is a paucity of research investigating this association in diverse samples. This study evaluated whether a history of TBI and LOC is associated with neurocognitive impairment in a racially diverse, community-based sample. Methods Participants from a population-based multiethnic cohort (N = 769; Mage = 61.8; Meduc = 14.5; 61% Female; 45% Black, 40% White, 10.6% Hispanic/Latinx, and 1.6% Asian) completed a brief neurocognitive assessment and the Texas Evaluation of Concussion History (TECH) survey. Descriptive statistics were gathered to determine the prevalence of concussion history (+/− LOC) across ethno-racial groups. Multiple logistic regression analyses examined whether concussion history +/− LOC was associated with a later consensus diagnosis of cognitive impairment. Results Thirty-two percent of the sample reported concussion history (Mconcuss = 2.55), 49.5% of which involved LOC. Fewer Black individuals reported concussion (25.3%) and LOC (35.7%) compared to their White (43.3%, LOC = 55.7%) and Hispanic/Latinx (33.1%, LOC = 58.1%) counterparts (ps < 0.01). Self-reported concussion history (OR = 1.12, 95%CI = [0.79–1.6], p = 0.53) and LOC (OR = 1.3, 95%CI = [0.75–2.3], p = 0.34), controlling for age, sex, education, and ethno-racial background, did not predict later cognitive diagnosis (impaired/not impaired). Conclusion Findings revealed differential rates of self-reported concussion among racial/ethnic groups, but history of concussion +/− LOC was not associated with subsequent cognitive diagnosis in this sample. Although concussion history was not associated with cognitive diagnosis in this sample, future research is needed to explore the impact of the number and severity of TBI on later cognition.