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Objectives: Projections from the United States Census Bureau suggest that the African American population may be the fastest growing race over the next 30 years and that they may be at the highest risk for developing dementia later in life. Various social factors have been shown to be associated with cognitive function and health outcomes. The present study aims to evaluate the relationship between social engagement and cognitive decline in a cohort of older African American adults. Methods: We utilized multilevel modeling to examine the association between cognitive decline and social engagement in a sample of 617 older African American adults. Results: Social activity was associated with global cognition, perceptual speed, perceptual orientation, and episodic memory over time. Loneliness was associated with better semantic memory performance over time. Perceived discrimination was associated with better semantic memory performance over time. Larger social network was associated with worse perceptual speed scores over time. Conclusions: Although our findings on loneliness and perceived discrimination over time were inconsistent with prior research, our findings on social activity and social network size over time were consistent with past literature and are thought to be due to positive social interactions providing a catalyst for cognitively stimulating activities. These results suggest that interventions designed to preserve cognition in African American older adults should incorporate adequate social activity. Furthermore, to maximize effectiveness, interventions should not necessarily focus on just expanding one's social network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine neuropsychiatric symptom (NPS) factor severity progression over time in empirically derived (ED) mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subtypes. Methods: Participants in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative study diagnosed with MCI by Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative protocol using conventional clinical (CC) criteria (n = 788) were reclassified using cluster analysis as amnestic, dysnomic, dysexecutive MCI, or cluster‐derived normal (CC‐Normal) using empirical criteria. Cognitively normal (CN) participants (n = 207) were also identified. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory‐Questionnaire (NPI‐Q) was administered from baseline through 48‐month follow‐up. Exploratory factor analysis was completed to determine the NPI‐Q factor structure at 6‐month follow‐up. Multilevel modeling was used to determine NPI‐Q symptom severity factor and apathy symptom progression over time by cognitive subtype. Results: The exploratory factor analysis revealed that the NPI‐Q consisted of 2 factors: hyperactivity/agitation and mood symptoms. Using clinical and empirical criteria, all MCI groups were identified as having more severe hyperactivity/agitation symptoms than CN participants. However, only the amnestic MCI group identified using empirical criteria showed an increase in symptom severity over time relative to CN participants. Mood factor and apathy symptoms were found to be more severe in dysexecutive and amnestic groups in both models. Similarly, both models identified a significant worsening of mood and apathy symptoms over time for dysexecutive and amnestic groups relative to CN participants. Conclusions: This study provides further support that empirical criteria aid in examining the progression of clinical characteristics associated with MCI. Further, it helps to identify which MCI subtypes may be at higher risk for NPS progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]