scholarly journals Self-Rated Health Status as a Predictor of Executive Function in Older Latinos

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 331-332
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Guzman ◽  
Yuliana Soto ◽  
David Marquez ◽  
Susan Aguinaga
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Excellent Health ◽  
Trail Making ◽  
Fair Poor ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Latinos have high risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Self-rated health (SRH) has been used to predict cognitive decline. Early detection of executive function changes may help identify those at higher risk of cognitive decline. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between SRH and executive function in Latinos. Latinos (N=333, 84.4% female, Mage= 64.9 ± 7.08) from the BAILA randomized controlled trial self-rated their health as 1) poor/fair, 2) good, and 3) very good/excellent. Executive function was assessed by the Trail-making B, Verbal Fluency, Stroop C & CW, and the Digit Modality tests and stratified by SRH. One-way analysis of variance showed that the effect of SRH was significant for Trails B, F(2,298)=4.01, p=.019 and Stroop CW, F(2,298)=3.07, p=.048. Tukey’s test indicated that participants who rated their health as fair/poor took longer to complete Trails B (M=196.78±83.0 seconds) compared to those who rated their health as good (M=185.25 ± 85.1 seconds) and very good/excellent (M=149.25±95.3 seconds). Stroop CW results demonstrated that those in the fair/poor health category scored lower (M=17.22±6.6) than those in good (M=19.70±8.5 words/minutes) and very good/excellent health categories (M=18.73±8.2 words/minute). In sum, the results suggest SRH is related to executive function such that lower categories of SRH are indicative of poorer executive function. SRH might be used as a proxy for executive function and as a tool that community leaders can use to identify individuals at high risk of ADRD in need of behavioral interventions.

scholarly journals Religiosity and self-rated health among older adults in Colombia

2019 ◽  
pp. 67-76
Author(s):  
Carlos A Reyes Ortiz ◽  
Claudia Payan ◽  
Geraldine Altamar ◽  
Jose F Gomez Montes ◽  
Harold G Koenig
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Significant Interaction Effect ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas ◽  
Fair Poor ◽  
The Relationship

Objective: To identify the relationship between religiosity and self-rated health among older adults in Colombia. Methods: Data are drawn from the SABE (Salud, Bienestar y Envejecimiento) Colombia Study, a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2015 involving 18,871 community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older living in urban and rural areas of Colombia. Religiosity was assessed by self-rated religiosity (how religious are you: not at all, somewhat or very). Self-rated health during previous 30 days was assessed as very good, good, fair, poor or very poor, analyzed as an ordinal variable(1-5) using weighted logistic regression, adjusting for confounders. Results: Those who were more religious were older, female, had lower socioeconomic status, and were more likely to be married. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that older adults who were more religious had better self-rated health (OR 0.92 95% CI 0.86- 0.99, p= 0.038); however, there was a significant interaction effect between gender and religiosity on self-rated health (p= 0.002), such that the relationship between religiosity and health was stronger in men (OR 0.86, 95% CI: 0.79-0.94, p= 0.001) but not significant in women. Conclusion: Older adults in Colombia who consider themselves more religious, especially men, are less likely to perceive their physical health as poor compared to those who are less religious.

Sleep quality mediates the relationship between frailty and cognitive dysfunction in non-demented middle aged to older adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (06) ◽  
pp. 779-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonya Kaur ◽  
Nikhil Banerjee ◽  
Michelle Miranda ◽  
Mitchell Slugh ◽  
Ni Sun-Suslow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Poor Sleep Quality ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
Delayed Recall ◽  
The Relationship

ABSTRACTObjectives:Frailty is associated with cognitive decline in older adults. However, the mechanisms explaining this relationship are poorly understood. We hypothesized that sleep quality may mediate the relationship between frailty and cognition.Participants:154 participants aged between 50-90 years (mean = 69.1 years, SD = 9.2 years) from the McKnight Brain Registry were included.Measurements:Participants underwent a full neuropsychological evaluation, frailty and subjective sleep quality assessments. Direct relationships between frailty and cognitive function were assessed using linear regression models. Statistical mediation of these relationships by sleep quality was assessed using nonparametric bootstrapping procedures.Results:Frailty severity predicted weaker executive function (B = −2.77, β = −0.30, 95% CI = −4.05 – −1.29) and processing speed (B = −1.57, β = −0.17, 95% CI = −3.10 – −0.16). Poor sleep quality predicted poorer executive function (B = −0.47, β = −0.21, 95% CI = −0.79 – −0.08), processing speed (B = −0.64, β = −0.28, 95% CI = −0.98 – −0.31), learning (B = −0.42, β = −0.19, 95% CI = −0.76 – −0.05) and delayed recall (B = −0.41, β = −0.16, 95% CI = −0.80 – −0.31). Poor sleep quality mediated the relationships between frailty severity and executive function (B = −0.66, β = −0.07, 95% CI = −1.48 – −0.39), learning (B = −0.85, β = −0.07, 95% CI = −1.85 – −0.12), delayed recall (B = −0.47, β = −0.08, 95% CI = −2.12 – −0.39) and processing speed (B = −0.90, β = −0.09, 95% CI = −1.85 – −0.20).Conclusions:Relationships between frailty severity and several cognitive outcomes were significantly mediated by poor sleep quality. Interventions to improve sleep quality may be promising avenues to prevent cognitive decline in frail older adults.

scholarly journals Hemoglobin A1c Relates to Poorer Scores on a Test of Executive Function

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 926-926
Author(s):  
Aaron Smith ◽  
Xing Song ◽  
Matthew Taylor ◽  
Debra Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Hemoglobin A1c ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Predictor Variable ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Data Repository ◽  
Cognitive Tests ◽  
Trail Making ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Objectives Poor glycemic control (GC) is associated with poorer executive function. However, data looking at the relationship between GC and cognition is limited. This study aimed to assess the relationship between GC and various cognitive tests using electronic medical record data (EMR). Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was the main predictor variable. Methods De-identified data were gathered from an midwestern academic medical center's EMR in an i2b2 based clinical data repository. Participants were seen at the hospital's memory clinic with a HbA1c lab value (CPT Code: 83,036) on record. 566 participants were used in the final analysis. The most recent cognitive score from the following cognitive tests were used as the response variables, Trail Marking Part A and B and Verbal Fluency. The median value was derived from each participant's three most recent HbA1c values. We constructed ordinary least squares regression models to assess HbA1c's relationship with individual cognitive tests. The model included race, Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer's Disease, income, and age as covariates. Statistical analyses were performed using R (v. 3.6.2; R Foundation, Vienna, Austria). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results Participants were 54% male and had a mean age of 75 ± 9.2 years. Mean HbA1c value was 6.14 ± 1.2. Higher HbA1c values were related to poorer performance on the Trail Making Part A test (β = –0.02, p < 0.01). HbA1c was not related to other individual cognitive tests: Trail Making Part B (β = –0.019, P = 0.70), Verbal Fluency (β = 0.30, P = 0.13). Conclusions There was a strong relationship between HbA1c and performance on the Trail Making Part A test, a sensitive test for executive function. This study adds to the literature that poor GC worsens executive function. Consequently, maintaining GC with healthy lifestyle choices may be important for healthy aging. There was no significant relationship between HbA1c and other cognitive tests. Future analyses with more robust statistical modeling will be more informative for understanding the relationship between HbA1c and cognitive tests. Funding Sources Clinical and Translational Science Awards.

scholarly journals Acute effects of coffee on neurocognitive function: an electroencephalography network analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayom Kim ◽  
Sung Hoon Kang ◽  
Soon Ho Kim ◽  
Seong Hwan Kim ◽  
Jihyeon Hwang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Coffee Consumption ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Trail Making ◽  
Network Properties ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract The purpose of this study was to identify the mechanisms underlying effects of coffee on cognition in the context of brain networks. Here we investigated functional connectivity before and after drinking coffee using graph theoretical analysis of electroencephalography (EEG). Twenty-one healthy adults voluntarily participated in this study. The neuropsychological tests were consecutively performed at the start of the EEG recording and 30 min after coffee consumption. Graph analyses were performed and compared before and after coffee consumption. Correlation analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between changes in graph measures and those in cognitive function tests. FC was reorganized toward more efficient network properties after coffee consumption. Performance in Digit Span tests and Trail Making Test Part B improved after coffee consumption, and the improved performance in executive function was correlated with changes in graph measures, reflecting a shift toward efficient network properties. The beneficial effects of coffee on cognitive function might be attributed to the reorganization of FC toward more efficient network properties. Based on our findings, the patterns of network reorganization could be used as quantitative markers to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of coffee on cognition, especially executive function.

Written Discourse Task Helps to Identify Progression from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Dementia

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Hana Kim ◽  
Alex Walker ◽  
Jennifer Shea ◽  
Argye E. Hillis
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
Written Discourse ◽  
Trail Making ◽  
Group A ◽  
Multivariable Regression ◽  
Description Task ◽  
The Relationship

<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> We aimed to investigate: (1) the clinical, diagnostic value of a written discourse task, and (2) the relationship between executive functions and written discourse within the spectrum of individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). <b><i>Method:</i></b> To determine whether written discourse performance predicts clinical course among individuals with MCI, we retrospectively classified individuals with MCI as converters (<i>N</i> = 26) who were later diagnosed with dementia or as a stable MCI group (<i>N</i> = 45). We quantified core word measures from written discourse samples obtained from the Cookie Theft picture description task. <b><i>Result:</i></b> Written discourse measures differentiated converters from the stable MCI group. Converters produced a fewer number of core words than the stable MCI group. A measure of executive function significantly predicted performance on the production of core words in written discourse for the converters. In a multivariable regression, production of core words remained the only explanatory variable closely associated with the progression to dementia in MCI. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Written discourse tasks can predict the likelihood of MCI progressing to dementia, independently of recall and an executive function measure. Correlational results suggest that written discourse performance was associated with executive function as measured by the Trail Making Test. Our findings emphasize the usefulness of including written discourse tasks in language assessment batteries targeting preclinical dementia populations.

scholarly journals A-163 APOE ε4 Alters Self-Awareness of Executive Function in Cognitively Intact Middle Aged and Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 957-957
Author(s):  
Evans S ◽  
Paitel E ◽  
Gregg T ◽  
Ballard Z ◽  
Otteman C ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Apoe Ε4 ◽  
Trail Making ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Cognitively Intact

Abstract Objective Subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) may be an early indicator of future cognitive decline. Although early executive function (EF) decline in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may be a sensitive predictor, the predicative utility of SCCs specific to EF is unknown. Thus, this study examined whether EF performance predicts SCCs of EF in healthy, well-educated middle aged and older adults, and whether carrying of APOE ε4 alters that prediction. Method Fifty-five cognitively intact middle aged to older adults (Mage = 64.1, range = 48–84, 19 e4+) completed the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe) Executive Dysfunction Scale (EXECDYS) to measure SCCs and an EF battery (Trail-making A&B, Symbol-digit Modalities Test, verbal fluency (letter, category), which principal components analysis (varimax rotation) reduced to a single EF factor. We examined whether SCCs (EXECDYS) were predicted by EF performance (age, depression covaried), and whether ε4 moderated that prediction (PROCESS 3.0). Results The model was significant (R2 = 0.31; p = 0.002), with a significant EXECDYS X ε4 interaction (ß = 4.24, t(55) = 2.37; p = .02), indicating that EF performance predicted EXECDYS, but in ε4-carriers only, those with poorer EF were less aware of that dysfunction. Conclusions Amongst APOE ε4-carriers, a group with high risk for AD, those with poorer EF had less accurate self-awareness of their EF, suggesting earlier formal assessment is needed in ε4-carriers to detect decline. Furthermore, as our study examined healthy, well-educated, cognitively intact adults from middle age, these findings suggest ε4-carriers are at particularly high risk for AD if their self-awareness and performance of EF are both low. Combining EF assessment with self-appraisal of EF may aid AD diagnostics.

Blood pressure, executive function, and network connectivity in middle-aged adults at risk of dementia in late life

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (37) ◽  
pp. e2024265118
Author(s):  
Lisanne M. Jenkins ◽  
Alexandr Kogan ◽  
Matthew Malinab ◽  
Carson Ingo ◽  
Sanaz Sedaghat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Systolic Blood Pressure ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Reward Processing ◽  
Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽  
The Relationship

Midlife blood pressure is associated with structural brain changes, cognitive decline, and dementia in late life. However, the relationship between early adulthood blood pressure exposure, brain structure and function, and cognitive performance in midlife is not known. A better understanding of these relationships in the preclinical stage may advance our mechanistic understanding of vascular contributions to late-life cognitive decline and dementia and may provide early therapeutic targets. To identify resting-state functional connectivity of executive control networks (ECNs), a group independent components analysis was performed of functional MRI scans of 600 individuals from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults longitudinal cohort study, with cumulative systolic blood pressure (cSBP) measured at nine visits over the preceding 30 y. Dual regression analysis investigated performance-related connectivity of ECNs in 578 individuals (mean age 55.5 ± 3.6 y, 323 female, 243 Black) with data from the Stroop color–word task of executive function. Greater connectivity of a left ECN to the bilateral anterior gyrus rectus, right posterior orbitofrontal cortex, and nucleus accumbens was associated with better executive control performance on the Stroop. Mediation analyses showed that while the relationship between cSBP and Stroop performance was mediated by white matter hyperintensities (WMH), resting-state connectivity of the ECN mediated the relationship between WMH and executive function. Increased connectivity of the left ECN to regions involved in reward processing appears to compensate for the deleterious effects of WMH on executive function in individuals across the burden of cumulative systolic blood pressure exposure in midlife.

scholarly journals Alcohol’s harms to others: the self-rated health of those with a heavy drinker in their lives

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 1130-1135
Author(s):  
Kim Bloomfield ◽  
Heidi A R Jensen ◽  
Ola Ekholm
Keyword(s):  
Poor Response ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Self ◽  
Heavy Drinker ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Heavy Drinkers ◽  
Fair Poor ◽  
Alcohol Related Harm ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background Studies have examined the self-rated health (SRH) of the drinker, but only few have examined the health of those affected by a heavy drinker. This Nordic study aimed to examine the association between exposure to heavy drinkers and SRH. Methods Data come from surveys from the five Nordic countries that participated in the Reducing Alcohol-Related Harm Standardized European Survey in 2015 (n = 7065 aged 18–64 years). Variables included a five-point Likert-scale question on one’s SRH, a question on whether the respondent knew a heavy drinker in the last 12 months, and covariates. The ‘fair’, ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ response categories were combined and are referred to as poor SRH. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between knowing a heavy drinker and one’s SRH. Results Country-pooled adjusted analyses showed a significant relationship between knowing (and being negatively affected by) a heavy drinker and poor SRH [odds ratios (OR) = 1.39, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.02–1.89 for heavy drinker in household; OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.07–1.42 for other known heavy drinker, compared to not knowing a heavy drinker or knowing a heavy drinker, but not being negatively affected]. A graded relationship appeared such that increasing proximity of the known heavy drinker increased likelihood to report poor SRH. Conclusion Knowing and being negatively affected by someone close who drinks heavily increases the likelihood of reporting poor SRH. These results have implications for public health messaging regarding the well-being of relatives of heavy drinkers.

Plasma homocysteine and cognitive decline in older hypertensive subjects

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 1607-1615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunil K. Narayan ◽  
Brian K. Saxby ◽  
Michael J. Firbank ◽  
John T. O'Brien ◽  
Frances Harrington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Plasma Homocysteine ◽  
Cognitive Assessments ◽  
Computerized Assessment ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Memory And Attention ◽  
Independent Association ◽  
The Relationship

ABSTRACTBackground:Elevated plasma homocysteine concentrations have been associated with both cognitive impairment and dementia. However, it is unclear whether some cognitive domains are more affected than others, or if this relationship is independent of B12 and folate levels, which can also affect cognition. We examined the relationship between plasma homocysteine and cognitive decline in an older hypertensive population.Methods:182 older people (mean age 80 years) with hypertension and without dementia, were studied at one center participating in the Study on COgnition and Prognosis in the Elderly (SCOPE). Annual cognitive assessments were performed using a computerized assessment battery and executive function tests, over a 3–5 year period (mean 44 months). Individual rates of decline on five cognitive domains were calculated for each patient. End of study plasma homocysteine, folate and B12 concentrations were measured. The relationship between homocysteine levels and cognitive decline was studied using multivariate regression models, and by comparing high versus low homocysteine quartile groups.Results:Higher homocysteine showed an independent association with greater cognitive decline in three domains: speed of cognition (β = −27.33, p = 0.001), episodic memory (β = −1.25, p = 0.02) and executive function (β = −0.05, p = 0.04). The association with executive function was no longer significant after inclusion of folate in the regression model (β = −0.032, p = 0.22). Change in working memory and attention were not associated with plasma homocysteine, folate or B12. High homocysteine was associated with greater decline with a Cohen's d effect size of approximately 0.7 compared to low homocysteine.Conclusions:In a population of older hypertensive patients, higher plasma homocysteine was associated with cognitive decline.

scholarly journals The relationship between depression risk perception and self-help behaviors in high risk Canadians: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Warner ◽  
Molly Nannarone ◽  
Rachel Smail-Crevier ◽  
Douglas Manuel ◽  
Bonnie Lashewicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Depression Risk

Abstract Background: Effective self-help may reduce the risk of depression, and risk perception of depression may play a role in initiating self-help. However, it is currently unknown how risk perception is associated with self-help behaviours. The objectives of this study are to (1) describe the self-help strategies used by high risk Canadians in relation to the accuracy levels of their perceived depression risk, relative to sex, and (2) identify demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors associated with self-help behaviors.Methods: Baseline data from a randomized controlled trial including 358 men and 356 women at high risk of developing depression were used. Accuracy of risk perception was determined by comparing the participant’s self-perceived and objective risk of developing depression, which was assessed using sex-specific multivariable risk predictive algorithms. The frequency of using 14 self-help strategies was assessed. One-way ANOVA testing was used to determine whether differences in risk perception accuracy groups existed within both male and female participants. Linear regression was used to investigate the clinical and demographic factors which were associated with self-help behaviours in males and females separately.Results: Compared to accurate risk estimators, male over-estimators were less likely to “leave the house daily,” and “participate in activities they enjoy.” Male under-estimators were also less likely to “participate in activities they enjoy.” Both ‘inaccurate’ perception groups in men were more likely to ‘create lists of strategies which have worked for feelings of depression in the past and use them’. There were no significant differences between self-help behaviors and the risk perception accuracy in women. Regression modeling showed negative relationships between self-rated health and self-help scores, irrespective of sex. In women, self-help score was positively associated with age, and educational attainment, and negatively associated with perceived risk. In men, a positive relationship with unemployment was also seen. Conclusions: Sex differences exist in the factors associated with self-help. The accuracy of risk perception, work status, and self-rated health is associated with self-help behaviors in high risk men. Factors which may be related to self-help in women include age, education, self-rated health status, and perceived risk. More research is needed to replicate the findings.

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