Beliefs and Practices about Aging and Cognitive Health among Asian American Older Adults

Little or no literature exists about aging and cognitive health in Asian American older adults. This study seeks to address this gap and examines the cultural beliefs and practices about aging well, cognitive health, and about dementing diseases, their causes, and potential prevention activities among Chinese and Vietnamese older adults. The study also examines their motivations to change and maintain relevant behaviors. Conducting research in diverse communities offers the opportunity to elicit information that will help us design culturally sensitive interventions that can specifically target to groups of interest. As a first step in this process, we have conducted seven focus groups in Chinese and Vietnamese communities to explore individuals' perceptions and motivations about dementing diseases and related disorders. This is part of the national CDC Healthy Aging Research Network Healthy Brain Initiative to examine cognitive health and aging across diverse populations. Results from the seven focus groups identified common beliefs and practices for aging well and staying sharp. They included living a balanced healthy lifestyle by eating healthy, exercising on a regular basis, and being more involved socially. Additional beliefs for aging well and staying sharp with age among Chinese participants included keeping mentally healthy and playing cognitive games (e.g., Majong, Sudoku) and among Vietnamese participants included participating in health education sessions and being calm and relaxed. Similarities between the groups may be due to their common Asian American experiences. Differences between the groups may be due to their differences in socioeconomic and acculturation status.