Ethnicity and cognitive performance among older African Americans, Japanese Americans, and Caucasians: The role of education

This cross-sectional analysis evaluated the association between ethnicity a nd cognitive performance and determined whether education modifies this ass ociation for nondemented older people (103 African Americans, 1,388 Japanes e Americans, 2,306 Caucasians) in a study of dementia incidence. African Am ericans scored lower (median 89 out of 100) than Japanese Americans (93) an d Caucasians (94) on the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI). E ducation affected CASI scores differently. The gap decreased between Africa n Americans in high education groups compared with Japanese Americans and C aucasians. Adjustment for gender, depression, and comorbidities did not cha nge this association. The increased ethnic discrepancy in cognitive test sc ores in low education groups may reflect differential educational quality.