Acculturation is associated with cognitive performance but not changes in cognition among middle-aged and older Hispanic/Latino adults: Findings from the HCHS/SOL and SOL-INCA

Background Hispanic/Latino adults are not a monolithic group. Individuals vary in a range of factors, including levels of acculturation (adoption of Anglo-American culture). Objective To investigate the relationships between acculturation with cognition, changes in cognition, and risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods We included Hispanic/Latino adults (unweighted n = 5976) from the Study of Latinos - Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA), a Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos ancillary study. Three acculturation measures were collected at Visit 1 (Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics (SASH) – Social and Language subscales and the MESA Acculturation score). Participants were grouped into quartiles per measure with higher scores reflecting greater acculturation. Outcomes included cognition and MCI prevalence 7-years after Visit 1 and 7-year change in cognition from Visit 1 to 2. Survey linear regressions were performed to model the associations between acculturation measures and cognitive outcomes, controlling for sociodemographic factors. Results The lowest SASH Social and Language acculturation groups had lower global cognition scores than all other groups (all p -values<0.01). The lowest MESA Acculturation score group had lower global cognition scores relative to those in the highest quartile ( b = 0.10; SE = 0.04; p < 0.05). However, there were no acculturation differences in cognitive change or MCI. Conclusions Though low acculturation was associated with lower cognitive performance, it does not seem to be related to increased risk for cognitive decline or pathological cognitive aging (i.e., prevalent MCI).