Neuropsychological and Neuropsychiatric Prediction of Global Cognitive Status Among Older Spanish-Speaking Hispanics and English-Speaking Whites

Abstract

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. Discussion: 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.