Study Shows Cognitive Health Disparities Between LGB and Heterosexual Older Adults
By Dr. Marcy Adelman–
Dr. Ning Hsieh, a Michigan State University sociologist, is the lead author of a groundbreaking first study to assess cognitive health disparities between lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB) and heterosexual older adults using a national sample and validated screening tool.
Her study, Elevated Risk of Cognitive Impairment Among Older Sexual Minorities, found that LGB older adults are more likely to experience mild cognitive impairment or early dementia compared to heterosexual older adults. Although the study looked at several known health factors, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, only one, depression, was a significant contributing factor.