Historically underrepresented populations experience a disproportionate burden of age-related cognitive disorders compared to non-White populations. As a salient resource for coping in Black communities, spirituality may be associated with better brain health, yet research is limited, especially in this population. This study aims to examine: 1) associations between spirituality and cognition, 2) identify possible differences across racial groups and, 3) explore the role of spirituality as a moderator between AD blood biomarkers and cognition. I hypothesize a relationship exists between (a) spirituality and specific cognitive domains including executive function and memory, (b) the protective effect of spirituality on cognition will be stronger in Black individuals, and (c) higher spirituality will attenuate the association between AD blood biomarkers and cognition. Using secondary data from the Penn AD Research Center and Memory Centers, we will use multivariate regression with moderation analyses to elucidate spirituality as a potential resilience factor in minority brain health.
Katherine Britt was selected for the 2024 NIA Butler-Williams Scholars program which provides unique opportunities for junior faculty, researchers who are new to the field of aging, and postdoctoral fellows to gain insight about research on aging from a number of perspectives.