Racial and ethnic differences in informant reports of cognitive impairment

INTRODUCTION: This study examined racial and ethnic differences in informant reports of cognitive decline in the United States. METHODS: Using data from the United States. Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) (n = 2968), informant reports of cognitive impairment were measured with the Community Screening Instrument for Dementia (CSID). We applied ordinary least squares (OLS) regression for total CSID score and logistic regression for each CSID question to examine racial and ethnic differences controlling for directly assessed global cognitive functioning. RESULTS: In the adjusted OLS model for total CSID symptoms, Black respondents had significantly fewer informant-reported symptoms (b = −1.27). Respondent female gender (b = 0.43), education (b = 0.14), global cognitive functioning (b = −2.66), informant age (b = −0.02), informant female gender (b = 0.77), and non-family informant relationship (b = −0.91) were significantly associated with total CSID score. Black respondents were significantly less likely to have informants report eight symptoms. DISCUSSION: There are racial and ethnic differences in informant reports of cognitive impairment when controlling for directly assessed cognitive functioning. Informant characteristics are crucial for interpreting informant reports of cognitive decline across racial and ethnic groups.