Relation of Literacy and Music Literacy to Dementia in Older Black and White Brazilians¹

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Capuano, Ana W.^{a; b; c; *} | Wilson, Robert S.^{a; b; d} | Leurgans, Sue E.^{a; b} | Sampaio, Carolina^c | Farfel, Jose M.^{a; c; e} | Barnes, Lisa L.^{a; b; d} | Bennett, David A.^{a; b; c}

Affiliations: [a] Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA | [b] Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush Medical College, Chicago, IL, USA | [c] Instituto de Assistência Médica ao Servidor Público Estadual (IAMSPE), São Paulo, Brazil | [d] Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush Medical College, Chicago, IL, USA | [e] Department of Pathology, Rush Medical College, Chicago, IL, USA

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Ana W. Capuano, PhD, Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, 1750 West Harrison Street, Suite 1009N, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. E-mail: [email protected].

Note: [1] This article received a correction notice (Erratum) with the reference: 10.3233/JAD-229007, available at http://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-229007.

Abstract: Background:Literacy is more consistently reported than education as protective against dementia in developing regions. Objective:To study the association of verbal literacy, numeracy, and music literacy with dementia in older Black and White Brazilians with a broad spectrum of education. Methods:We studied 1,818 Black, Mixed-race, and White deceased Brazilians 65 years or older at death (mean = 79.64). Data were retrospectively obtained within 36 hours after death in a face-to-face interview with an informant, usually a family member. Dementia was classified using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale. Three forms of literacy were ascertained: verbal literacy (10 questions: reading and writing), numeracy (3 questions: multiplication, percentages, and use of a calculator), and music literacy (1 question: reading music). Black (11%) and Mixed-race (23%) older adults were combined in analyses. Models adjusted for age and sex. Results:Dementia was identified in 531 people. Participants had 0 to 25 years of education (median = 4). More literacy was associated with lower odds of dementia (all p≤0.039). Participants that read music had about half the odds of having dementia. Participants in the highest quartile of numeracy and verbal literacy had respectively 27%and 15%lower odds of having dementia compared to the lowest quartile. Literacy was lower in Blacks (p < 0.001, except music p = 0.894) but the effect of literacy on dementia was similar (interaction p > 0.237). In secondary analyses, playing instruments without reading music was not associated with dementia (p = 0.887). Conclusion:In a large sample of Brazilians, verbal literacy, numeracy, and music literacy were associated with lower odds of dementia. The effect was similar across races.

Keywords: African American, Brazil, education, latinos, race

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-210601

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 84, no. 2, pp. 737-744, 2021