Fig. 1. GSEM model findings for Non-White vs. NHW racial/ethnic contrast vs. DEMENTIA, NHANES III (1988–1994): Final eligible sample across income groups (N = 4592).

ALCOHOL alcohol consumption, z-score, COGN Cognitive performance principal component variable (4 measured variables), DIET/NUTR diet and nutritional biomarkers z-score variable (2 dietary quality measures and 4 nutritional biomarkers), HEALTH Health-related factors as mean of z-scores for allostatic load, self-rated health, co-morbidity index and body mass index, LIFESTYLE Lifestyle-related factors composed of social support, physical activity, diet/nutritional biomarkers, smoking and alcohol consumption using means of z-scores for related measured variables, MA Mexican American, N Number of participants, N’ number of observations, NHANES III Third National Health and Nutrition and Examination Survey, NHB Non-Hispanic Blacks, NHW Non-Hispanic White, PA Physical activity z-score variable (3 measured variables), RACE_ETHN racial/ethnic contrast, SES Socioeconomic status mean of z-scores composed of poverty income ratio and education (years), SMOKING smoking z-score variable (2 measured variables), SS Social Support z-score variable (5 measured variables), TE Total effect; See Methods section for more details. Plain arrows are statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) within the hypothesized pathway; Dashed arrows are statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) outside the hypothesized pathway; Red arrows are for positive (+) associations; Blue arrows are for inverse (−) associations.