Cognitive Difficulties among Asian Americans Older Adults

• In Event: Aging and the Life Course Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): 1: Dementia and Cognitive Aging

Abstract

Asian Americans are the fastest-growing older population in the United States, yet research on later-life cognitive health often treats them as a homogeneous group. Using nationally representative data from the 2010–2019 American Community Survey (N = 9,894,259), this study examines within-group heterogeneity in self-reported cognitive difficulty across six Asian origin groups (Chinese, Asian Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese) relative to non-Hispanic White older adults. Logistic regression models reveal substantial variation across Asian subgroups. Chinese, Asian Indian, and Korean older adults exhibit significantly lower odds of cognitive difficulty than non-Hispanic Whites, while Vietnamese and Japanese older adults demonstrate elevated odds. Interaction analyses indicate that disparities vary across age, gender, and nativity, and citizenship status. Age patterns reveal divergent trajectories, with some groups showing sharper late-life increases in cognitive difficulty. Men consistently exhibit higher risk than women across groups, though the gender gap varies by origin. Foreign-born individuals generally report lower cognitive difficulty than U.S.-born individuals, providing partial support for the healthy immigrant effect, while citizenship gradients differ modestly across groups. Overall, findings challenge pan-ethnic assumptions such as the model minority narrative and underscore the importance of disaggregated analyses for understanding cognitive aging among Asian Americans. Identifying origin-specific and intersectional disparities is critical for improving population health, targeting culturally appropriate interventions, and advancing equitable aging and dementia-related policy.

Authors

• Yan Zhang, Texas State University

• Haowei Wang, Syracuse University

• Marc Anthony Garcia, Syracuse University

• Catherine Garcia, Syracuse University

• Jeung Hyun Kim, Brown University