Linear and Nonlinear Age Trajectories of Language Use: A Laboratory Observation Study of Couples’ Conflict Conversations

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. e206-e214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minxia Luo ◽  
Mona Neysari ◽  
Gerold Schneider ◽  
Mike Martin ◽  
Burcu Demiray

Abstract Objectives This study investigated linear and nonlinear age effects on language use with speech samples that were representative of naturally occurring conversations. Method Using a corpus-based approach, we examined couples’ conflict conversations in the laboratory. The conversations, from a total of 364 community-dwelling German-speaking heterosexual couples (aged 19–82), were videotaped and transcribed. We examined usage of lower-frequency words, grammatical complexity, and utterance of filled pauses (e.g., äh [“um”]). Results Multilevel models showed that age effects on the usage of lower-frequency words were nonsignificant. Grammatical complexity increased until middle age (i.e., 54) and then declined. The utterance of filled pauses increased until old age (i.e., 70) and then decreased. Discussion Results are discussed in relation to cognitive aging research.

2021 ◽  
pp. 109980042098389
Author(s):  
Jongmin Park ◽  
Chang Won Won ◽  
Leorey N. Saligan ◽  
Youn-Jung Kim ◽  
Yoonju Kim ◽  
...  

Background: Epigenetic age acceleration has been studied as a promising biomarker of age-related conditions, including cognitive aging. This pilot study aims to explore potential cognitive aging-related biomarkers by investigating the relationship of epigenetic age acceleration and cognitive function and by examining the epigenetic age acceleration differences between successful cognitive aging (SCA) and normal cognitive aging (NCA) among Korean community-dwelling older adults (CDOAs). Methods: We used data and blood samples of Korean CDOAs from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. The participants were classified into two groups, SCA (above the 50th percentile in all domains of cognitive function) and NCA. The genome-wide DNA methylation profiling array using Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip was used to calculate the following: the DNA methylation age, universal epigenetic age acceleration, intrinsic epigenetic age acceleration (IEAA), and extrinsic epigenetic age acceleration (EEAA). We also used Pearson correlation analysis and independent t-tests to analyze the data. Results: Universal age acceleration correlated with the Frontal Assessment Battery test results ( r = −0.42, p = 0.025); the EEAA correlated with the Word List Recognition test results ( r = −0.41, p = 0.027). There was a significant difference between SCA and NCA groups in IEAA ( p = 0.041, Cohen’s d = 0.82) and EEAA ( p = 0.042, Cohen’s d = 0.78). Conclusions: Epigenetic age acceleration can be used as a biomarker for early detection of cognitive decline in Korean community-dwelling older adults. Large longitudinal studies are warranted.


2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. 1819-1830
Author(s):  
Eric S Cerino ◽  
Robert S Stawski ◽  
G John Geldhof ◽  
Stuart W S MacDonald

Abstract Objective Control beliefs are established correlates of cognitive aging. Despite recent demonstrations that response time inconsistency (RTI) represents a proxy for cognitive processing efficiency, few investigations have explored links between RTI and psychosocial correlates. We examined associations among RTI and control beliefs (perceived competence and locus of control) for two choice-response time (RT) tasks varying in their attentional demands. Method Control beliefs and RTI were measured weekly for 5 weeks in a sample of 304 community-dwelling older adults (Mage = 74.11 years, SD = 6.05, range = 64–92, 68.58% female). Results Multilevel models revealed that for the attentionally demanding task, reporting higher perceived competence than usual was associated with lower RTI for relatively younger participants and greater RTI for relatively older participants. For the less attentionally demanding task, reporting higher perceived competence than usual was associated with lower RTI for relatively older participants. Links between locus of control and RTI were comparatively scant. Discussion Our findings suggest that control beliefs may have adaptive and maladaptive influences on RTI, depending on dimension of control beliefs, individual differences in level of control beliefs and age, as well as attentional task demands. Both for whom and when control beliefs can be leveraged to optimize cognitive aging are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 406-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilie T. Reas ◽  
Gail A. Laughlin ◽  
Jaclyn Bergstrom ◽  
Donna Kritz-Silverstein ◽  
Elizabeth Barrett-Connor ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. iv18-iv27
Author(s):  
Tsuyoshi Asai ◽  
Kensuke Oshima ◽  
Yoshihiro Fukumoto ◽  
Shogo Misu

Abstract Aim To elucidate the association between the occurrence of falls and timed “up and go” (TUG) test score in a dual-task condition among community-dwelling older adults by age group. Methods This longitudinal observation study included 987 community-dwelling older adults at baseline. A TUG test (single-TUG) and a TUG test while counting aloud backward from 100 (dual-TUG) were conducted at baseline. The dual-task cost (DTC) value was computed from these results. Data on fall history were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire at the 1-year follow-up. At follow-up, 322 participants had dropped out and six participants had missing data for falls. The final analysis included 658 individuals (follow-up rate: 658/987, 67%) divided into a young-older adult group (aged 60–74 years) and an old-older adult group (aged 75 years or older). Associations between the occurrence of falls and TUG-related values were analyzed by age group using multivariate logistic regression models. Results For old-older adults, there were significant associations between the occurrence of falls and DTC value (odds ratio [OR] 0.981, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.963–0.999, p = 0.040) and single-TUG score (OR 1.129, 95% CI: 1.006–1.268, p = 0.039). However, no significant associations were observed for young-older adults. Conclusions Slower single-TUG test score and lower DTC value are associated with the occurrence of falls among old-older adults but not among young-older adults. Dual task assessment is useful for predicting falls in TUG fall assessment for old-older adults.


2020 ◽  
pp. 088626051989732 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Katerndahl ◽  
Sandra K. Burge ◽  
Robert L. Ferrer ◽  
Johanna Becho ◽  
Robert Wood

Although alcohol use and partner violence are consistently associated, the nature of the alcohol–violence relationship is still unclear. The purpose of this pilot study was to use longitudinal daily assessments of male partners’ alcohol use and violent events to identify the nature of the alcohol–violence relationship, employing both linear and nonlinear analyses. The participants were 20 adult heterosexual couples of whom the woman reported experiencing partner violence in the prior 30 days. Each partner provided a separate daily telephone report for 8 weeks via an automated interactive voice response (IVR), concerning the previous day’s violence, alcohol use, stressors, emotional reactions, and concerns for children. Individual IVR databases were merged to form a combined couple’s IVR time series. Time series were analyzed using graphic, linear, and nonlinear methods. Graphic analysis using state space grids found no consistent pattern across couples. Similarly, linear analysis using same-day cross-correlation and prior-day beta statistics found no significant group-level alcohol–violence relationship. Using cross-approximate entropy statistics and differential structural equation modeling, no nonlinear relationships between alcohol use and violence were noted either. Whether applying linear or nonlinear analytic methods, there is no group-level relationship between alcohol use by male perpetrators and their violent acts. The implications are significant. First, the alcohol–violence relationship may differ among subgroups. Second, couples need to be assessed thoroughly to determine their unique relationship with alcohol use, so that couple-specific interventions can be designed. Third, if perpetrators believe that their violence is facilitated by their alcohol use, then alcohol reduction should be encouraged despite any evidence suggesting a different alcohol–violence relationship. Finally, the accepted alcohol-causes-violence belief held by many providers needs to be reconsidered. Because the nature of the alcohol–violence relationship varies considerably across couples, clinicians should seek to understand their unique relationship applying across-the-board management approaches.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S643-S643
Author(s):  
Yukihiro Namihira ◽  
Takashi Tokashiki ◽  
Akio Ishida ◽  
Yusuke Ohya ◽  
Hiroko H Dodge

Abstract Background: Adults 80 years and older are the fastest-growing segment of the Japanese population and face a high risk of cognitive decline. There are some evidences connecting hypertension to cognitive decline. In mid-life hypertension is known to have influence the cognitive decline in older age. However, a few study have examined the association between hypertension or vascular stiffness and cognitive function among elderly over 80 years old. We analyzed the associations between vascular stiffness and cognitive function among relatively healthy community-dwelling non-demented oldest old. Method: Data came from the Keys to Optimal Cognitive Aging (KOCOA) study; an ongoing cohort of relatively healthy volunteers aged over 80 years old, living in Okinawa, Japan. In 2017, 105 non-demented (Clinical Dementia Rating < 1) subjects completed three kinds of examination for vascular function (75 % female, mean age (SD) 84.0 (3.0)). We categorized subjects into low and high cognitive function groups using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (25/26 as a cutpoint). Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between cognitive and vascular functions. Results: Narrower pulse pressure, an indicator of lower arterial stiffness, was associated with better cognitive function among subjects, after adjusting for gender, age, and education (p≦0.05), although systolic and diastolic blood pressure were not. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that narrower pulse pressure is related with cognitive preservation. The present study supports the hypothesis that lower arterial stiffness is related with better cognitive function even among the oldest old.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter A Hall ◽  
Gang Meng ◽  
Anna Hudson ◽  
Mohammad Nazmus Sakib ◽  
Sara C Hitchman ◽  
...  

Objective: To determine whether SRS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 symptom severity are associated with executive dysfunction among members of the general population, including those not hospitalized or exposed to intubation. Design: Cross-sectional observation study with data from an ongoing national cohort study of young and middle-aged adults. The Canadian COVID-19 Experiences Project (CCEP) survey involves 1,958 adults with equal representation of vaccinated and vaccine hesitant adults between the ages of 18 and 54 years. Setting: Population-based survey of community dwelling adults, representative of the broader Canadian population. Participants: Men and women between 18 and 54 years of age from English and French speaking provinces. The sample comprised 1,958 adults with a mean age of 37 years (SD=10.4); 60.8% were female. Exposures: SARS-CoV-2 infection with COVID-19 symptoms of any severity, ranging from negligeable to life-threatening infection requiring hospitalization. Primary Outcome: Symptoms of cognitive dysfunction assessed via an abbreviated form of the Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale (BDEFS). Results: Those who reported a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection regardless of COVID-19 symptom severity (Madj=1.89, SE=0.08, CI: 1.74, 2.04; n=175) reported a significantly higher number of symptoms of executive dysfunction than their non-infected counterparts (Madj=1.63, SE=0.08, CI: 1.47,1.80; n=1,599; β=0.26, p=.001). Among those infected, there was a dose-response relationship between COVID-19 symptom severity and level of executive dysfunction, with moderate (β=0.23, CI: 0.003-0.46) and very/extremely severe (β= 0.69, CI: 0.22-1.16) COVID-19 symptoms being associated with significantly greater dysfunction, compared to asymptomatic. These effects remained reliable and of similar magnitude after removing those who had been received intubation and when controlling for vaccination status. Conclusions: Positive SARS-CoV-2 infection history and COVID-19 symptom severity are associated with executive dysfunction among young and middle-aged adults with no history of medically induced coma.


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