Authors
Gary A. James, Jessica P. Conklin, Nicole A. Thompson, Timothy L. Riggins, Angela Tang, Brick Johnstone
Objective
Research has consistently demonstrated non-white individuals score consistently lower on neuropsychological tests than white individuals primarily due to cultural bias. As such, it is more difficult to identify relative degree of decline (i.e., mild, moderate, severe) from estimated premorbid level of functioning for racial minority groups.
Method
The sample included 239 individuals (69 Black, 170 White) with a wide range of neurological disorders. Individuals were referred for neuropsychological testing at Shepherd Center. Using a novel approach to estimate decline, the current study calculated and compared neuropsychological test scores.
Results
The results indicated that Black individuals scored significantly lower on most neuropsychological measures of absolute level of functioning; but the two groups did not significantly differ when estimating their degree of decline. These results suggest that indices of relative decline, based on comparisons of individual neuropsychological test scores to estimates of premorbid functioning, provide an equitable method to calculate the degree to which individuals identifying as both Black and White experience neuropsychological impairment.
