Negative early life experiences, such as attending segregated schools, contribute significantly to cognitive decline and cognition disparities between older Black and white Americans, according to a new study led by researchers at the Yale School of Public Health. The study , published in JAMA Internal Medicine , is the first to look at the impact of school segregation upon later life cognition using a large representative sample of the U.S.
population, said lead author Xi Chen, associate professor of public health (health policy) at the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) and an associate professor at Yale's Institution for Social and Policy Studies. Previous research in this area has focused on the length of schooling. The current study assessed the quality of education provided and individuals' personal experiences during schooling, including whether they attended segregated schools.
"This is a landmark study based on that aspect," Chen said. The findings are important because disparities in dementia rates between Black and white Americans are stark: Black older adults are about twice as likely as white older adults to have Alzheimer's Disease or another form of dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association. The study could have important implications for policymakers and health professionals, Chen said.
Many currently identified risk factors for dementia and cognitive impairment happen in midlife or later. But focusing on early life may be more efficient and equity-p.
