Gerontologist
Volume 58, Issue 5, 2018, Pages 894-903

Age of Migration Differentials in Life Expectancy with Cognitive Impairment: 20-Year Findings from the Hispanic-EPESE (Article)

Garcia M.A.* , Saenz J.L. , Downer B. , Chiu C.-T. , Rote S. , Wong R.
  • a Sealy Center on Aging, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0177, United States
  • b University of Southern California, Davis School of Gerontology, Los Angeles, United States
  • c Division of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, United States
  • d Institute of European and American Studies, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
  • e University of Louisville, Kent School of Social Work, Kentucky, United States
  • f Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, Sealy Center of Aging, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, United States

Abstract

Background and Objectives To examine differences in life expectancy with cognitive impairment among older Mexican adults according to nativity (U.S.-born/foreign-born) and among immigrants, age of migration to the United States. Research Design and Methods This study employs 20 years of data from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly to estimate the proportion of life spent cognitively healthy and cognitively impaired prior to death among older Mexican adults residing in the southwestern United States. We combine age-specific mortality rates with age-specific prevalence of cognitive impairment, defined as a Mini-Mental Status Exam score of less than 21 points to calculate Sullivan-based life table models with and without cognitive impairment in later life. Results Foreign-born Mexican immigrants have longer total life expectancy and comparable cognitive healthy life expectancy regardless of gender compared to U.S.-born Mexican-Americans. However, the foreign-born spend a greater number of years after age 65 with cognitive impairment relative to their U.S.-born counterparts. Furthermore, we document an advantage in life expectancy with cognitive impairment and proportion of years after age 65 cognitively healthy among mid-life immigrant men and women relative to early-and late-life migrants. Discussion and Implications The relationship between nativity, age of migration, and life expectancy with cognitive impairment means that the foreign-born are in more need of support and time-intensive care in late life. This issue merits special attention to develop appropriate and targeted screening efforts that reduce cognitive decline for diverse subgroups of older Mexican-origin adults as they age. © 2017 The Author(s).

Author Keywords

Nativity Cognition Mexican-origin population

Index Keywords

life expectancy male Mental Status and Dementia Tests female Aged, 80 and over Aged very elderly dementia assessment Epidemiologic Studies prevalence Hispanic Americans cognitive defect Cognitive Dysfunction United States human Humans psychology Hispanic
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85040647706&doi=10.1093%2fgeront%2fgnx062&partnerID=40&md5=389b3ada7e535de7a46600d600d5880e
DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnx062
ISSN: 00169013
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English