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The Effect of Race and Health-Related Factors on Naming and Memory

The MacArthur Studies of Successful Aging

Pennsylvania State University

Gerda G. Fillenbaum, PhD

Carl Pieper, DPH

Duke University

Marilyn S. Albert, PhD

Massachusetts General Hospital

Lisa F. Berkman, PhD

Harvard School of Public Health

Dan G. Blazer, MD

Duke University

John W. Rowe, MD

Mount Sinai Medical Center

Teresa Seeman, PhD

University of California Los Angles, School of Medicine

Objectives: The purpose of the analyses was to examine the impact of health-related variables on race differences in neuropsychological functioning (Boston Naming Task). Methods: Using cross-sectional data from the MacArthur Successful Aging Study, the authors examined the relationship of demographic characteristics, health status, health habits, physical functioning, and speed of performance to naming and incidental recall of items from the Boston Naming Task. Participants were 1,175 healthy African American and European American older persons 70 to 79 years old. Results: Regression analyses indicated that although race differences persisted for confrontational naming after controlling for demographic and health factors, there was no effect due to race for incidental recall scores or for savings scores for recall. Discussion: The racial differences found in test performance may reflect differences in cultural appropriateness of the material rather than differences in ability.

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