Influence of birthplace and age at migration on cognitive aging among Hispanic/Latino populations in the U.S.: Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA)

Mao-Mei Liu; Ariana M Stickel; Wassim Tarraf; Lehan Li; Krista M Perreira; Fernando Riosmena; Melissa Lamar; Fernando D Testai; Linda C Gallo; Tanya P Garcia; Jorge J Llibre-Guerra; Carmen R Isasi; Richard B Lipton; Martha Daviglus; William H Dow; Hector M González

doi:10.1093/geront/gnaf009

Influence of birthplace and age at migration on cognitive aging among Hispanic/Latino populations in the U.S.: Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA)

Gerontologist. 2025 Jan 23:gnaf009. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnaf009. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Mao-Mei Liu^{1

2}, Ariana M Stickel³, Wassim Tarraf^{4

5}, Lehan Li⁶, Krista M Perreira⁷, Fernando Riosmena^{8

9}, Melissa Lamar^{10

11}, Fernando D Testai¹², Linda C Gallo³, Tanya P Garcia¹³, Jorge J Llibre-Guerra^{14

15}, Carmen R Isasi¹⁶, Richard B Lipton^{17

16}, Martha Daviglus¹⁸, William H Dow^{19

1}, Hector M González⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Demography, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
² Berkeley Population Center, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
³ Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
⁴ Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
⁵ Department of Healthcare Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
⁶ Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
⁷ Department of Social Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
⁸ Department of Sociology and Demography, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
⁹ Institute for Health Disparities, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
¹⁰ Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
¹¹ Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
¹² Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
¹³ Department of Biostatistics, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
¹⁴ Division of Aging & Dementia, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St, Louis, MO, USA.
¹⁵ Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St, Louis, MO, USA.
¹⁶ Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
¹⁷ Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
¹⁸ Institute for Minority Health Research, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
¹⁹ School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.

PMID: 39847471
DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnaf009

Abstract

Background and objectives: While Hispanic/Latino populations in the U.S. are remarkably diverse in terms of birthplace and age at migration, we poorly understand how these factors are associated with cognitive aging. Our research seeks to operationalize a life course perspective of migration and health and contribute new understanding of Alzheimer's disease / Alzheimer's disease related dementias among U.S.-based Hispanic/Latino older adults.

Research design and methods: Harnessing the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (n=16,415) and the Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (n=6,377) data, we compare baseline cognition and 7-year cognitive change among U.S./mainland-born Hispanic/Latino adults relative to foreign/island-born immigrants by age of migration (four groups: born in mainland U.S., immigrated <16 years, 16-34 years, >34 years). Global cognition was calculated as a composite measure, and domain specific measures were considered in secondary analyses. We employed linear regressions, ANOVA contrasts and Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition techniques.

Results: All Hispanic/Latino immigrant adults, regardless of age at migration, have a cognitive health disadvantage (at each visit and over time) relative to U.S./mainland-born Hispanic/Latino individuals. Differences did not endure the inclusion of covariates and were explained predominantly by first socio-economic and then acculturative factors, and far less by health and health behaviors. Acculturative factors are particularly important for individuals who migrated after childhood.

Discussion and implications: Socio-economic and acculturation factors have outsized roles in explaining gaps in cognitive aging among U.S.-born and migrant Hispanic/Latino adults. It is then vital to examine whether disrupting socio-economic and acculturation inequalities closes such gaps in cognitive aging.

Keywords: Birthplace; Hispanic; Latinos; aging; cognitive health.