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Background: As global populations age, cross-national comparisons of cognitive health and dementia risk are increasingly valuable. It remains unclear, however, whether country-level differences in cognitive function are attributable to population differences or bias due to incommensurate measurement. To demonstrate an effective method for cross-national comparison studies, we aimed to statistically harmonize measures of episodic memory and language function across two population-based cohorts of older adults in the United States (HRS HCAP) and India (LASI-DAD). Methods: Data for 3,496 HRS HCAP (≥65 years) and 3,152 LASI-DAD (≥60 years) participants were statistically harmonized for episodic memory and language performance using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) methods. Episodic memory and language factor variables were investigated for differential item functioning (DIF) and precision. Results: CFA models estimating episodic memory and language domains based on a priori adjudication of comparable items fit the data well. DIF analyses revealed that four out of ten episodic memory items and five out of twelve language items measured the underlying construct comparably across samples. DIF-modified episodic memory and language factor scores showed comparable patterns of precision across the range of the latent trait for each sample. Conclusions: Harmonization of cognitive measures will facilitate future investigation of cross-national differences in cognitive performance and differential effects of risk factors, policies, and treatments, reducing study-level measurement and administrative influences. As international aging studies become more widely available, advanced statistical methods such as those described in this study will become increasingly central to making universal generalizations and drawing valid conclusions about cognitive aging of the global population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is an increasing focus on understanding health disparities among various cultural groups in the United States. The need for heterogeneity in norms and test stimuli across ethnically diverse individuals are being increasingly recognized. However, to date it remains unknown whether and to what extent differences in cognitive norms and tests exist in Asian Indians, a fast-growing population in the U.S. It is essential to understand these differences to improve diagnostic accuracy and provide timely and appropriate clinical care. Method: In this study, we conducted a scoping review of available cognitive tests that were normed, developed, or adapted for Asian Indians living in the U.S. Results: The results suggested a paucity of norms and tests specifically examining cognition in this community. Conclusions: Based on the findings, we provide suggestions for research directions focusing on the development of culturally sensitive neuropsychological tools, normative data representative of this demographic, and interventions addressing healthcare access barriers. Overall, this review provides readers with relevant clinical information to immediately enhance patient care as well as provide actionable items in research to improve the future utility of neuropsychology for Asian Indians in the United States.