Cognitive Status in Adults from the Mexican Health and Aging Study: What Are We Actually Measuring?

Rafael Samper-Ternent, University of Texas Medical Branch
Alejandra Michaels-Obregon, University of Texas Medical Branch
Rebeca Wong, University of Texas Medical Branch

Even though dementia diagnosis remains clinical, researchers have turned to tools available in population-based studies to better understand cognition and measure cognitive decline. Not all studies use the same tools and there are questions on how cultural and social factors may affect their comparability. The effect of education on measurements of cognitive function is relevant in countries like Mexico due to the large variability in education levels within and across cohorts of older adults. To better understand the cognitive status of older adults in developing societies with heterogeneous educational achievement, exposed to a variety of risk factors for cognitive impairment, this study will analyze the distribution of older Mexican adults across different cognitive domains and identify how education is associated with each domain. We will then correlate each domain to the overall score of the Cross-Cultural Cognitive Evaluation (CCCE) as well as some important health outcomes.