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Minority status is associated with lower cognitive performance in older adults

In a cross-sectional study of 164 adults aged 50-90, minority participants were younger but had poorer olfactory performance, memory recall, and MMSE-2 scores, as well as more depressive symptoms and longer sleep latency. Multivariable regression identified minority status, olfactory function, and depressive symptoms as independent predictors of cognitive performance, though the model's explanatory power was modest.

Last updated: Aug 30, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score32/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Effects of Minority Status on Sensory Outcomes, Cognition, and Depression.

observational

Cejas I, Coto J, Nawab A, Cruz A, Velandia S, Pathagamage P, Smeal M, Cid RC, Loewenstein D, Liu XZ · Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A (cross-sectional)
Intervention: N/A (observational study comparing minority vs. non-minority status)
Outcome: Cognitive performance (MMSE-2), olfactory function (UPSIT), depressive symptoms (GDS), sleep quality (PSQI), hearing thresholds
Effect Size: N/A
Population: Adults aged 50-90 recruited from otolaryngology and cognitive neuroscience clinics

Result:

PubMed: 42647047DOI: 10.1002/ohn.70416

Mechanism Graph

Minority status may be associated with socioeconomic and environmental stressors
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These stressors could contribute to depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances
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Depressive symptoms and sleep issues may impair cognitive function
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Result: Lower cognitive performance in minority participants despite younger age

Limitations

  • ⚠Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference
  • ⚠Sample size relatively small (n=164) and from a single academic medical center, limiting generalizability
  • ⚠Overall model explanatory power was modest, suggesting other unmeasured factors

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main finding of this study?▼

Minority status was independently associated with lower cognitive performance, even though minority participants were younger on average.

How was cognitive performance measured?▼

Cognitive performance was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination-2 (brief and standard versions).

What other factors were associated with cognitive performance?▼

Olfactory function and depressive symptoms were also independent predictors of cognitive performance.

What are the implications for geriatric care?▼

The findings suggest that incorporating olfactory and mood assessments in geriatric otolaryngologic evaluations may help identify individuals at risk for cognitive decline.

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References

  1. 1.Cejas I, Coto J, Nawab A, Cruz A, Velandia S, Pathagamage P, Smeal M, Cid RC, Loewenstein D, Liu XZ. "Effects of Minority Status on Sensory Outcomes, Cognition, and Depression.." Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 2026. PMID: 42647047 DOI: 10.1002/ohn.70416
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.