Meredith C. Masel|Mukaila Raji|M. Kristen Peek
Education and physical activity mediate the relationship between ethnicity and cognitive function in late middle-aged adults
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston|The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston|The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
objective minority status implicated risk factor disparate scores cognitive function tests older adults research ethnicity cognitive function yielded socioeconomic status particularly education primary reason discrepancy factors physical activity may provide insight relationship despite knowledge studies thoroughly examined mediating characteristics education physical activity relationship ethnicity cognitive function younger aged groups research conducted focuses older adults time degeneration brain tissue may complicate exploration relationships among ethnicity cognitive function current research expand existing knowledge education physical activity cognitive function minority groups design study presents data health retirement study nationally representative sample late middleaged white black hispanic adults n9204 mean agesd 55831 regression mediation testing determined mediating effects education physical activity relationship ethnicity cognitive function results significant association white ethnicity higher scores cognitive tests evident early late middle age magnitude association significantly diminished adjusting education leisure time physical activity conclusion data suggest potential mediating role education physical activity ethnic differences cognitive tests late middleaged white black hispanic adults findings suggest need studies understand adult education culturally appropriate physical activity interventions middle age influence ethnic disparities prevalence cognitive impairment old age