Introduction: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are a risk factor for dementia; however, their prevalence and severity among ethnoracial groups are poorly understood.
Methods: We used data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) (n = 6958; ≥50 years old). Cognitively normal participants at baseline, without any NPS or dementia diagnosis, had at least one follow-up. Survival analyses assessed the hazard ratio for 12 NPS models and progression to cognitive impairment. Propensity score weighting (PSW) matched participants on age, sex, education, and race/ethnicity.
Results: All 12 NPS were significantly associated with progression to cognitive impairment. In the PSW models, compared to whites, Black/African Americans were more likely to progress to cognitive impairment across all 12 NPS models, followed by Hispanic, and then Asian participants.
Discussion: PSW minimized selection bias to provide robust risk estimates. There is a higher risk of progressing to cognitive impairment for ethnoracial groups with NPS. Tailored screening of NPS and cognitive impairment should incorporate patient and caregiver reports.
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; cognitive impairment; ethnicity; neuropsychiatric symptoms; propensity score; race.
© 2023 the Alzheimer's Association.