Gender and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Social Determinants of Health and Subjective Cognitive Decline: The Mediating Role of Depression.
Monique J Brown, Chantaezia Joseph, Titilayo James and 3 others
PMID 35103521WHAT IT FOUND
Older adults who reported more social hardship and depression also reported more memory decline.
Depression was linked to the association between hardship and perceived cognitive decline in men, women, Black and White groups. This does not prove cause.
Key findings
01Poorer social determinants were associated with depression, and depression was associated with subjective cognitive decline.
02Poorer social determinants were directly associated with subjective cognitive decline in the overall sample, in men, and in White participants.
03An indirect association from poorer social determinants through depression to subjective cognitive decline was significant for the overall sample, men, women, White participants, and Black participants.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot show whether social hardship or depression came before subjective cognitive decline. Measures were self-reported telephone survey responses, and subjective cognitive decline was based on one question without cognitive testing. Depression was only ever-diagnosis, not current symptoms, severity, or treatment status. Data came only from Georgia and Mississippi, and the social determinants index did not include racism or discrimination. Small numbers prevented analysis for Hispanic and other race/ethnicity groups. Severe subjective cognitive decline may have been underrepresented because affected people may not have completed the survey.
Declared interests
The corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that treating depression will prevent subjective cognitive decline. The study is cross-sectional and self-reported, so it shows association but not cause or timing.