# Perceived Discrimination Trajectories and Cognitive Functioning Among Older Black Adults

> **NIH NIH R03** · UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK · 2020 · $77,250

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
The primary objective of this proposal is to investigate the association between perceived discrimination
trajectories and cognitive functioning outcomes among middle-aged and older black adults. Psychosocial
stress related to perceived discrimination has received less attention in the literature as a social exposure that
may in part reflect racialized experiences for middle-aged and older black adults. While there are limited
studies demonstrating an inverse association between higher levels of perceived discrimination and lower
cognitive performance, even fewer have found a null association. The mixed results may be a function of
differences in study design, attribution of discrimination, differential recruitment, selection, or survival bias.
Prior work largely measured perceived discrimination at one-time point to predict cognitive health at a second
time point. Moreover, a one-time cross-sectional assessment may mask significant heterogeneity in dynamic
nature of repeated exposure to perceived discrimination. Further, the absence of studies accounting for
frequency and variability in reported perceived discrimination may underestimate its impact on health. It is
possible that patterns of cumulative exposure to perceived discrimination – perceived discrimination
trajectories – may provide further insight on cognitive health risk and resilience. Yet, the identification of
perceived discrimination trajectories and whether trajectories are associated with cognitive health outcome
variability is unknown and merits systematic consideration. To address these gaps in the literature, we will
investigate the association between perceived discrimination trajectories and cognitive health outcomes among
a sample of middle-aged and older black adults using data from the Health and Retirement Study (2004 –
2016) to: 1) identify perceived discrimination trajectories and predictors of trajectory membership; 2) examine
the relationship between perceived discrimination trajectories and episodic memory; 3) examine the
relationship between perceived discrimination trajectories and risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. This
project has relevance for research and clinical settings and presents an opportunity to: improve measurement
of perceived discrimination in the aging process and allow for greater precision in estimating the cognitive
health consequences of cumulative exposure to perceived discrimination. If perceived discrimination
trajectories differentially predict poor cognitive health, this project will lay the foundation for distinguishing key
pathways linking cumulative experiences of psychosocial stress to physiological aging and inform the design of
culturally-relevant interventions to delay the development and progression of cognitive impairment among
middle-aged and older black adults.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9971440
- **Project number:** 5R03AG064565-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
- **Principal Investigator:** Kellee White Whilby
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $77,250
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-07-15 → 2021-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9971440

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9971440, Perceived Discrimination Trajectories and Cognitive Functioning Among Older Black Adults (5R03AG064565-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9971440. Licensed CC0.

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