Objective:

This study examined life-space mobility and its correlates among Latino persons at varying risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD).

Background:

Life-space mobility is the degree to which people move through their environments and has been most commonly assessed via self-report. Reduced life space mobility has been linked to increased risk for ADRD. Research on objective life-space mobility is limited, particularly among Latino older adults, who experience a higher ADRD burden. 

Design/Methods:

Participants included 176 Latino adults residing in California (age 50-70, 74% female) who completed comprehensive neuropsychological and medical evaluations. We classified participants into ADRD risk groups based on the presence or absence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and cardiovascular (CVD) risk. Life-space mobility was measured using smartphone GPS data collected over 7-30 days and quantified by the daily average distance traveled (total kilometers and furthest distance from home). Demographic and sociocultural variables included age, sex, years of education, paternal/maternal education, household income/household size, country of birth, years lived in the U.S., and cross-border travel.

Results:

Participants with CVD, regardless of cognitive status, showed significantly less life space mobility than participants without CVD. MCI alone showed minimal associations with life space once CVD status was considered. A multivariable linear regression model with predictors being demographic and sociocultural factors showed that being U.S.-born was positively related to total mobility; with no other significant associations.

Conclusions: