scholarly journals The Effects of Mid-life Stress Exposure on Black-White Differences in Cognitive Decline

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 99-99
Author(s):  
Uchechi Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Race Differences ◽  
Financial Strain ◽  
Stress Exposure ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Blacks And Whites ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Cognitive decline is a precursor to cognitive impairment and dementia. Recent research suggests that cognitive decline may begin earlier in the life course for Blacks and that Black-white disparities in cognitive function emerge in midlife. Disproportionate exposure to chronic and acute stressors during mid-life may explain Black-white differences in trajectories of cognitive function over time. In this study we use data from approximately 3,700 Black and white respondents age 51-64 from the Health and Retirement Study to examine race differences in cognitive decline and the role mid-life stress exposure play in these differences. Initial findings suggest that mid-life Blacks have lower levels of cognitive function, but their rates of cognitive decline do not differ significantly from mid-life whites. Financial strain and everyday experiences of discrimination are inversely associated with cognitive decline and only partially explain differences in cognitive decline between mid-life Blacks and whites.

Optimizing cognitive development over the life course and preventing cognitive decline: Introducing the Cognitive Health Environment Life Course Model (CHELM)

2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaarin J. Anstey
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Development ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Cognitive Domain ◽  
Cognitive Health ◽  
Differential Development ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
The Life Course

Optimal cognitive development is defined in this article as the highest level of cognitive function reached in each cognitive domain given a person’s biological and genetic disposition, and the highest possible maintenance of cognitive function over the adult life course. Theoretical perspectives underpinning the development of a framework for understanding optimal cognitive development are described, including differential development, intra-individual dynamics, cascades, biological mechanisms, reserve capacity, and plasticity. The Cognitive Health and Environment Life Course Model (CHELM) is proposed as a means to provide a framework for understanding the socio-demographic, lifestyle, and health factors influencing cognitive development and decline. The CHELM may guide framing of policy and interventions to optimize cognitive development and minimize cognitive decline in late-life.

scholarly journals BLACK-WHITE DIFFERENCES IN CHRONIC STRESS: DOES APPRAISAL MATTER FOR ANXIETY AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS?

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S191-S192
Author(s):  
Lauren Brown ◽  
Leah Abrams ◽  
Uchechi Mitchell ◽  
Jennifer Ailshire
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Stress Exposure ◽  
Stress Appraisal ◽  
Older Adulthood ◽  
Health Burden ◽  
Blacks And Whites ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Prior research has suggested that exposure to objectively stressful events contributes to mental health disparities in older adulthood. Yet, in order to understand the extent to which some groups bear a disproportionate stress and mental health burden, we consider black-white differences in not only stress exposure, but also stress appraisal—how upsetting the exposures are perceived to be across five domains (health, financial, residential, relationship and caregiving). Data come from 6,019 adults ages 52+ from the 2006 Health and Retirement Study. Fully adjusted models show stress exposure and appraisal significantly and independently predicted anxiety and depressive symptoms. Race and stress exposure interactions show that exposure differently predicts anxiety and depressive symptoms while race and appraisal interactions show blacks and whites report similar increases in anxiety and depressive symptoms. Findings suggest stress exposure has varying consequences for mental health of whites and blacks, while stress appraisals have similar consequences across groups.

The impact of life stress on adult depression and anxiety is dependent on gender and timing of exposure

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 1443-1454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carly E. Herbison ◽  
Karina Allen ◽  
Monique Robinson ◽  
John Newnham ◽  
Craig Pennell
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Prenatal Stress ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Stress Exposure ◽  
Stress Trajectory ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Postnatal Stress

AbstractThere is debate about the relative importance of timing of stressful events prenatally and over the life course and risk for subsequent depressive/anxious illness. The aim of this study was to examine the relative roles of prenatal stress and postnatal stress trajectories in predicting depression and anxiety in early adulthood in males and females. Exposure to life stress events was examined in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study during pregnancy and ages 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 14, and 17 years. At age 20, offspring completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Prenatal stress and trajectories of stress events from age 1 to 17 were analyzed in linear regression analyses. Five postnatal stress trajectories were identified. In females, medium to high chronic stress exposure or exposure during puberty/adolescence predicted depression and anxiety symptoms while low or reduced stress exposure over the life course did not, after adjustment for relevant confounders. High stress early in pregnancy contributed to male depression/anxiety symptoms independent of postnatal stress trajectory. In females, postnatal stress trajectory was more important than prenatal stress in predicting depression/anxiety symptoms. Interventions focused on reducing and managing stress events around conception/pregnancy and exposure to chronic stress are likely to have beneficial outcomes on rates of depression and anxiety in adults.

Isolation, Not Loneliness or Cynical Hostility, Predicts Cognitive Decline in Older Americans

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 52-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah C. Griffin ◽  
Briana Mezuk ◽  
Allison Baylor Williams ◽  
Paul B. Perrin ◽  
Bruce D. Rybarczyk
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Functional Limitations ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Older Americans ◽  
Frequency Of Contact ◽  
Cynical Hostility ◽  
Reported Health ◽  
Retirement Study

Objective: To jointly examine isolation, loneliness, and cynical hostility as risk factors for cognitive decline in older adults. Method: Data came from the 2006 to 2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a longitudinal study of U.S. older adults (age ⩾ 65 years, n = 6,654). Measures included frequency of contact with social network (objective isolation), the Hughes Loneliness Scale (loneliness), a modified version of the Cook–Medley Hostility Inventory (cynical hostility), and a modified version of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (cognitive function). Multilevel modeling (random slope + intercept) was used to examine the association between these factors and trajectories of cognitive function. Results and Discussion: After controlling for demographic characteristics, self-reported health, and functional limitations, loneliness (β = −.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [−0.56, −0.11), and cynical hostility (β = −.14, 95% CI = [−0.24, −0.04) correlated with lower cognitive function, but none predicted change in cognitive function. Objective social isolation was associated with lower cognitive function (β = −.27, 95% CI = [−0.41, −0.12]) and steeper decline in cognitive function (β = −.09, 95% CI = [−0.16, −0.01]).

Abstract P288: Association Between Vision Impairment and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults With Stroke: Health and Retirement Study

Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly Hreha ◽  
Brian Downer ◽  
Joshua R Ehrlich ◽  
Giulio Taglialatela
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Vision Impairment ◽  
Health And Retirement Study ◽  
Stroke Survivors ◽  
Fair Poor ◽  
Retirement Study ◽  
Good Vision

Introduction: Nearly 800,000 people in the United States sustain a stroke each year. Up to 60% of stroke survivors have visual impairments and/or ocular deficits, which may negatively impact functional performance, quality of life, and increase the risk for depression. Poor vision has been associated with cognitive decline in older adults, but little is known if vision impairment is a risk factor for cognitive decline among older adults who have survived a stroke. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between vision impairment and cognitive decline among stroke survivors and compare the cognitive trajectories of stroke survivors with and without visual impairment. Methods: We used data from four waves (2010-2016) of the Health and Retirement Study to investigate the cognitive health of stroke survivors with and without visual impairment. Vision (excellent-very good [ref], good, fair-poor) and stroke diagnosis were self-reported. Cognition was measured using the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. Linear mixed effects regression was used to model the association between overall, near, and far vision and change in cognitive function, adjusting for confounders. Results: The final sample included 1,475 stroke survivors. A majority were female (55.6%) and white (66.3%) and the mean age was 71.0 (11.7). Fair-poor overall ( B =-1.30, p <0.01), near ( B =-1.53, p <0.001), and far ( B =-1.27, p <0.001) vision, as well as good near ( B =-0.82, p <0.001) and far ( B =-0.48, p <0.05) vision were associated with significantly lower baseline cognitive function compared to excellent-very good vision. The association between self-rated vision and cognition decline was not statistically significant. Conclusions: We found that people with worst vision had lower cognitive functioning but not greater cognitive decline than stroke survivors with excellent-to-very good vision. Further research should investigate if specific types of vision impairment potentiate the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in stroke survivors.

scholarly journals Death by a Thousand Cuts: Stress Exposure and Black–White Disparities in Physiological Functioning in Late Life

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. 1937-1950 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney Boen
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Stressors ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Race Differences ◽  
Financial Strain ◽  
Stress Exposure ◽  
Major Life ◽  
Cumulative Stress ◽  
Metabolic Dysregulation ◽  
Stress Burden

Abstract Objectives This paper investigates Black–White differences in stress—including diverse measures of chronic, acute, discrimination-related, and cumulative stress exposure—and examines whether race differences in these stress measures mediate Black–White disparities in C-reactive protein (CRP) and metabolic dysregulation in later life. Methods Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) (2004–2012), this study uses stepwise ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models to examine the prospective associations between multiple stressors—including traumatic and stressful life events, financial strain, chronic stress, everyday and major life discrimination, and measures of cumulative stress burden—and CRP and metabolic dysregulation. Mediation analyses assessed the contribution of stress exposure to Black–White disparities in the outcomes. Results Blacks experienced more stress than Whites across domains of stress, and stress exposure was strongly associated with CRP and metabolic dysregulation. Race differences in financial strain, everyday and major life discrimination, and cumulative stress burden mediated Black–White gaps in the outcomes, with measures of cumulative stress burden mediating the greatest proportion of the racial disparities. Discussion The “thousand cuts” that Blacks experience from their cumulative stress exposure across domains of social life throughout the life course accelerate their physiological deterioration relative to Whites and play a critical role in racial health disparities at older ages.

scholarly journals Social isolation, rather than loneliness, is associated with cognitive decline in older adults: the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Bin Yu ◽  
Andrew Steptoe ◽  
Yongjie Chen ◽  
Xiaohua Jia
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Mental Status ◽  
Chinese Older Adults ◽  
Confounding Variables

Abstract Background Social isolation and loneliness have each been associated with cognitive decline, but most previous research is limited to Western populations. This study examined the relationships of social isolation and loneliness on cognitive function among Chinese older adults. Methods This study used two waves of data (2011 and 2015) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and analyses were restricted to those respondents aged 50 and older. Social isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function were measured at baseline. Follow-up measures on cognitive function were obtained for 7761 participants (mean age = 60.97, s.d. = 7.31; male, 50.8%). Lagged dependent variable models adjusted for confounding factors were used to evaluate the association between baseline isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function at follow-up. Results Loneliness was significantly associated with the cognitive decline at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.03, p < 0.01; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) in the partially adjusted models. These associations became insignificant after additional confounding variables (chronic diseases, health behaviors, disabilities, and depressive symptoms) were taken into account (all p > 0.05). By contrast, social isolation was significantly associated with decreases in all cognitive function measures at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.05, p < 0.001; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) even after controlling for loneliness and all confounding variables. Conclusions Social isolation is associated with cognitive decline in Chinese older adults, and the relationships are independent of loneliness. These findings expand our knowledge about the links between social relationships and the cognitive function in non-Western populations.

Arterial Stiffness Is Associated with White Matter Disruption and Cognitive Impairment: A Community-Based Cohort Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 567-576
Author(s):  
Fei Han ◽  
Fei-Fei Zhai ◽  
Ming-Li Li ◽  
Li-Xin Zhou ◽  
Jun Ni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Arterial Stiffness ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Mean Diffusivity ◽  
White Matter Injury ◽  
White Matter Integrity ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: Mechanisms through which arterial stiffness impacts cognitive function are crucial for devising better strategies to prevent cognitive decline. Objective: To examine the associations of arterial stiffness with white matter integrity and cognition in community dwellings, and to investigate whether white matter injury was the intermediate of the associations between arterial stiffness and cognition. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional analysis on 952 subjects (aged 55.5±9.1 years) who underwent diffusion tensor imaging and measurement of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Both linear regression and tract-based spatial statistics were used to investigate the association between baPWV and white matter integrity. The association between baPWV and global cognitive function, measured as the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was evaluated. Mediation analysis was performed to assess the influence of white matter integrity on the association of baPWV with MMSE. Results: Increased baPWV was significantly associated with lower mean global fractional anisotropy (β= –0.118, p < 0.001), higher mean diffusivity (β= 0.161, p < 0.001), axial diffusivity (β= 0.160, p < 0.001), and radial diffusivity (β= 0.147, p < 0.001) after adjustment of age, sex, and hypertension, which were measures having a direct effect on arterial stiffness and white matter integrity. After adjustment of age, sex, education, apolipoprotein E ɛ4, cardiovascular risk factors, and brain atrophy, we found an association of increased baPWV with worse performance on MMSE (β= –0.093, p = 0.011). White matter disruption partially mediated the effect of baPWV on MMSE. Conclusion: Arterial stiffness is associated with white matter disruption and cognitive decline. Reduced white matter integrity partially explained the effect of arterial stiffness on cognition.

Cannabidiol Ameliorates Cognitive Function via Regulation of IL-33 and TREM2 Upregulation in a Murine Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Hesam Khodadadi ◽  
Évila Lopes Salles ◽  
Abbas Jarrahi ◽  
Vincenzo Costigliola ◽  
MB Khan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Murine Model ◽  
Early Onset ◽  
Behavioral Tests ◽  
Translational Model ◽  
Therapeutic Modalities ◽  
Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
5Xfad Mice ◽  
Motor Outcomes

There is a dire need for due innovative therapeutic modalities to improve outcomes of AD patients. In this study, we tested whether cannabidiol (CBD) improves outcomes in a translational model of familial AD and to investigate if CBD regulates interleukin (IL)-33 and triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), which are associated with improved cognitive function. CBD was administered to 5xFAD mice, which recapitulate early onset, familial AD. Behavioral tests and immunoassays were used to evaluate cognitive and motor outcomes. Our findings suggest that CBD treatment enhanced IL-33 and TREM2 expression, ameliorated the symptoms of AD, and retarded cognitive decline.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document