Racial and Ethnic Differences in Subjective Cognitive Decline - United States, 2015-2020

• Published in: MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report 2023-03, Vol.72 (10), p.249-255
• Main Authors: Wooten, Karen G, McGuire, Lisa C, Olivari, Benjamin S, Jackson, Eva M J, Croft, Janet B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Alzheimer Disease; Alzheimer's disease; Cognitive Dysfunction - epidemiology; Ethnicity; Exercise; Full Report; Humans; Hypertension; Memory Disorders; Racial Groups; Risk factors; Smoking; United States - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0149-2195; 1545-861X
• DOI: 10.15585/MMWR.MM7210A1

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD), the self-reported experience of worsening or more frequent memory loss or confusion, might be a symptom of early-stage dementia or future serious cognitive decline such as Alzheimer disease* or a related dementia (ADRD) (1). Established modifiable risk factors for ADRD include high blood pressure, inadequate physical activity, obesity, diabetes, depression, current cigarette smoking, and hearing loss (2). An estimated 6.5 million persons aged ≥65 years in the United States live with Alzheimer disease, the most common dementia (1). This number is projected to double by 2060, with the largest increase among non-Hispanic Black or African American (Black), and Hispanic or Latino (Hispanic) adults (1,3). Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), CDC assessed racial and ethnic, select demographic, and geographical differences in SCD prevalence, and prevalence of health care professional conversations among those reporting SCD. The age-adjusted prevalence of SCD during 2015-2020 was 9.6% among adults aged ≥45 years (5.0% of Asian or Pacific Islander [A/PI] adults, 9.3% of non-Hispanic White [White] adults, 10.1% of Black adults, 11.4% of Hispanic adults, and 16.7% of non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native [AI/AN] adults). College education was associated with a lower prevalence of SCD among all racial and ethnic groups. Only 47.3% of adults with SCD reported that they had discussed confusion or memory loss with a health care professional. Discussing changes in cognition with a physician can allow for the identification of potentially treatable conditions, early detection of dementia, promotion of dementia risk reduction behaviors, and establishing a treatment or care plan to help adults remain healthy and independent for as long as possible.