Memory improvement in African Americans with amnestic mild cognitive impairment

• Published in: International journal of geriatric psychiatry Vol. 34; no. 10; pp. 1447 - 1454
• Main Authors: Rovner, Barry W., Casten, Robin J., Leiby, Benjamin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2019
• Subjects: African American; African Americans; African Americans - statistics & numerical data; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Amnesia - diagnosis; amnestic mild cognitive impairment; Cognition; Cognition & reasoning; Cognitive ability; Cognitive Dysfunction - diagnosis; Cognitive Dysfunction - psychology; Female; Geriatric psychiatry; growth curve mixture modelling; Humans; Male; Memory; memory improvement; Middle Aged; Minority & ethnic groups; Neuropsychological Tests; Risk Factors; Statistical analysis; amnestic mild cognitive impairment; memory improvement; African American; growth curve mixture modelling
• ISSN: 0885-6230; 1099-1166
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.5141

Objective Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) has an uncertain course. Valid methods to evaluate memory change will best identify predictors of course. This issue is especially relevant to older persons in minority groups, who may have encountered life course factors that adversely affect cognition. Methods/Design Growth curve mixture models were used to identify trajectories of memory test scores obtained every 6 months over 2 years in 221 African Americans with aMCI. Results Participants sorted into two classes, with clinically and statistically significant differences in memory scores over time. Class 1 (n = 28 [14.7%]) had sustained improved scores. Class 2 (n = 162 [85.3%]) scores remained low, fluctuated, or declined. Class 1 had better baseline cognition and daily function than class 2. Conclusions The observed rate of improved memory is lower than reported reversion rates from aMCI to normal cognition. Evaluating trajectories of memory test scores rather than changes in categorical diagnoses of aMCI, which may depend on recalling (or not recalling) one or two words, may yield a more valid indicator of cognitive change. These approaches require further study in minority groups.