WLS-ILIAD: Initial Lifetime’s Impact on ADRD

Abstract Between 2021 and 2025, WLS will collect two new waves of data, which will capture detailed measures of cognitive change and dementia as the cohort reaches their early to mid 80s. In this session, I will provide an overview of the data that we’re collecting, as well as opportunities to explore early and mid-life determinants of cognitive change and dementia onset in this unique study. Compared to existing studies, the WLS offers some novel opportunities. First, it will provide one of the only opportunities to study how early and midlife life conditions and experiences, on data gathered prospectively, can shape cognitive trajectories and dementia in later life. Second, its unique sibling design provides significant analytic advantages, improving causal inference. Third, the study includes a large group of rural participants, allowing for closer examinations of how rural conditions may shape risk and resilience against cognitive decline and dementia in later life.

Download Full-text

Abstract WMP115: The Metabolic Syndrome Components and Cognitive Decline: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.44.suppl_1.awmp115 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Jennifer L Dearborn ◽

David Knopman ◽

Richey Sharrett ◽

Andrea L Schneider ◽

Clifford Jack ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Sex Education ◽

Later Life ◽

Cognitive Change ◽

Word Recall ◽

Digit Symbol Substitution Test ◽

The Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Aric Study

Background: Midlife obesity is associated with dementia in later life, but how the metabolic syndrome (MetS) relates to cognitive change is less understood. We hypothesized that MetS would be more predictive of 6-year cognitive decline than its individual components in a large biethnic cohort (the ARIC study) and that combinations of risk factors would further increase likelihood of change. Methods: The MetS was defined in 1987-89 on 10,687 participants with two cognitive assessments at two time points. In subjects aged 44 to 66, obesity measures included body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WTHR). The main outcome measure was change in 1990-92 to 96-99 of three cognitive tests: Delayed Word Recall (DWR), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), and Word Fluency Test (WFT). Linear and logistic regressions were all adjusted for age, combined race-center, sex, education, smoking, drinking, coronary artery disease and prior stroke. Change was measured as the difference divided by the number of years between visits. Results: At baseline, the prevalence of MetS was 22% (mean age 54 years, 27% black, 55% female, and 28% BMI>30 kg/m2). Subjects with MetS performed in the lowest test quintile (adjusted ORs: DWR 1.3 95% CI 1.1-1.4) in 1996-99, and much of this effect size was explained by an elevated WTHR (DWR OR 1.3 CI 1.1-1.5) and diabetes (DWR OR 1.4 CI 1.2-1.7). MetS was not associated with annual cognitive change, and diabetes was the only significant component associated with change (adjusted beta: DWR 0.03 p=.01, DSST 0.2 p<.001, WFT 0.09 p=.01). Conclusion: MetS at ages 44 to 66 was associated with worse cognitive function at follow-up, but not with annual cognitive decline over several years. Elevated WTHR and diabetes explained most of the association of MetS with cognitive function measures, and diabetes with cognitive decline. Until we have a definition of the MetS more based on pathophysiology, the components of the MetS should be the focus of analysis in future studies.

Download Full-text

Socioeconomic Status and Parenting Style From Childhood: Long-Term Effects on Cognitive Function in Middle and Later Adulthood

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbz034 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 74 (6) ◽

pp. e13-e24 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yujun Liu ◽

Margie E Lachman

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Parenting Style ◽

Later Life ◽

The United States ◽

Cognitive Change ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Role Of Parents

Abstract Objectives This study assesses whether childhood socioeconomic status (SES) is related to cognitive function and cognitive change at mid and later life and explores the buffering effects of parenting style and adulthood SES. Method Data were derived from the 3 waves of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, a national survey including 7,108 participants aged from 24 to 75 years at baseline. We used multiple regression and multilevel models to investigate the associations between childhood SES, adulthood SES, and cognitive performance and change at midlife and the role of parents’ affection and discipline. Results Low childhood SES was associated with lower cognitive function and more cognitive decline at mid and later life. Adulthood SES moderated the effect of childhood SES on cognitive function. Interactions showed that paternal discipline was positively related to cognitive function among participants with low childhood SES, and negatively related to cognitive function among participants with high childhood SES. High paternal affection was associated with less cognitive decline at mid and later life. Discussion The findings advance the understanding of the long-term consequences of SES and psychosocial factors in early life that can lead to optimal cognitive function in middle and old age.

Download Full-text

The Role of Stressful Childhood Experiences in Shaping Later-Life Memory Loss Among Black and White U.S. Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.948 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 296-296

Author(s):

Caroline Hartnett

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Decline ◽

Memory Loss ◽

Later Life ◽

Behavioral Risk ◽

Black Adults ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

White Children ◽

Black And White ◽

Stressful Experiences ◽

White Adults

Abstract Cognitive decline common in the U.S. and greatly impacts quality of life, both for those who experience it and for those who care for them. Black Americans experience higher burdens of cognitive decline but the mechanisms underlying this disparity have not been fully elucidated. Stress experienced in early life is a promising explanatory factor, since stress and cognition are linked, childhood stressors been shown to have a range of negative implications later in life, and Black children experience more childhood stressors than White children, on average. In this paper, we use data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to examine whether stressful experiences in childhood help explain Black-White disparities in memory loss. These data were available for 5 state-years between 2011 and 2017 (n=11,708). Preliminary results indicate that, while stressful childhood experiences are strongly associated with memory loss, stressful experiences do not mediate the association between race and memory loss. However, race does appear to moderate the association between stressful childhood experiences and memory loss. Specifically, stressful experiences are associated with a higher likelihood of memory loss for Black adults compared to White adults.In addition, there seem to be some noteworthy patterns across different types of experiences (i.e. parental drinking may predict later memory loss more strongly for Black adults than White adults, but parental hitting may predict memory loss more strongly for White adults than Black adults).

Download Full-text

Spousal Loss and Cognitive Functioning: Do Pre-Loss Marital Quality and Gender Matter?

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1178 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 366-366

Author(s):

Joohong Min ◽

Jieun Song

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Decline ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Marital Quality ◽

The United States ◽

Cognitive Change ◽

Life Transitions ◽

Cognitive Changes ◽

Spousal Loss ◽

And Gender ◽

The Impact

Abstract Prior research has found that the risk of cognitive decline increases after the death of a spouse. In general, the impact of life transitions is contingent on contextual factors such as socio-demographic characteristics or relationship quality. However, there is limited research on how marital quality before spousal loss and gender influence the association between spousal loss and cognitive change. The current study examines the effects of spousal loss on change in cognitive functioning as well as the moderating effects of pre-loss marital quality and gender. Data from two waves of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study were analyzed (MIDUS2: 2004-05, MIDUS3: 2013-14). The analytic sample consists of two groups: (1) 179 bereaved adults who were age 54 or older at MIDUS2 (M = 65.2, SD = 9.5) and whose spouses died between MIDUS2 and MIDUS3, and (2) 179 non-bereaved adults, matched with the bereaved group on age and gender, who did not experience spousal loss between the two waves. Cognitive function was assessed via BTACT (Brief Telephone Adult Cognition Test) at both waves. Regression results show that both pre-loss marital quality and gender significantly moderate the association between spousal loss and change in cognitive functioning. Specifically, relative to their counterparts, men and those who reported better marital relationships prior to spousal death had a greater risk of cognitive decline after a spouse’s death. The findings suggest the significance of pre-loss marital quality and gender for cognitive changes in widowhood and have implications for the development of efficient interventions

Download Full-text

Perception of Neighborhood Characteristics During Childhood and Cognitive Health Among Older Adults in China

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1419 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 439-439

Author(s):

Changmin Peng ◽

Sae Hwang Han ◽

Jeffrey Burr

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Social Cohesion ◽

Later Life ◽

Neighborhood Characteristics ◽

Neighborhood Safety ◽

Cognitive Health ◽

Childhood Conditions ◽

Neighborhood Environments

Abstract Neighborhood environments shape the availability of resources for social engagement and social interaction, which are associated with better health outcomes. However, these contextual factors are also considered sources of potential social distress and tension, increasing the risk of subsequent health deficits, including cognitive decline. Our understanding of the linkage between childhood neighborhood environments and cognitive functioning in later life is limited. This study employed three waves of nationally representative data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2015; N = 11,105) to investigate the relationship between self-reported neighborhood social cohesion during childhood (i.e., neighborhood safety, neighbors willing to help, and close-knit neighborhood) and cognitive functioning (Chinese version of TICS). We employed latent growth curve modeling to test hypotheses relating to life course models of childhood conditions and later life cognitive functioning (the long arm of childhood). The results showed that perceptions regarding the willingness of neighbors to help and close-knit neighborhood characteristics during childhood were positively associated with levels of later life cognitive function. Further, growing up in a neighborhood characterized by the willingness of neighbors to help others was negatively associated with the rate of cognitive decline, net of childhood and adulthood covariates. Self-report of neighborhood safety during childhood was unrelated to cognitive function (level and change). These findings underscored the long-term ramifications of childhood conditions as potential risk factors for later-life cognitive health. Social cohesion at the neighborhood level as experienced during childhood may be a protective factor for healthy cognitive aging among older Chinese adults.

Download Full-text

Psychiatric comorbid disorders of cognition: a machine learning approach using 1175 UK Biobank participants

Evidence-Based Mental Health ◽

10.1136/ebmental-2020-300147 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 140-145

Author(s):

Chenlu Li ◽

Delia A Gheorghe ◽

John E Gallacher ◽

Sarah Bauermeister

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Characteristic Curve ◽

Area Under The Curve ◽

Imaging Study ◽

Cognitive Change ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Uk Biobank

BackgroundConceptualising comorbidity is complex and the term is used variously. Here, it is the coexistence of two or more diagnoses which might be defined as ‘chronic’ and, although they may be pathologically related, they may also act independently. Of interest here is the comorbidity of common psychiatric disorders and impaired cognition.ObjectivesTo examine whether anxiety and/or depression are/is important longitudinal predictors of cognitive change.MethodsUK Biobank participants used at three time points (n=502 664): baseline, first follow-up (n=20 257) and first imaging study (n=40 199). Participants with no missing data were 1175 participants aged 40–70 years, 41% women. Machine learning was applied and the main outcome measure of reaction time intraindividual variability (cognition) was used.FindingsUsing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, the anxiety model achieves the best performance with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.68, followed by the depression model with an AUC of 0.63. The cardiovascular and diabetes model, and the covariates model have weaker performance in predicting cognition, with an AUC of 0.60 and 0.56, respectively.ConclusionsOutcomes suggest that psychiatric disorders are more important comorbidities of long-term cognitive change than diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and demographic factors. Findings suggest that psychiatric disorders (anxiety and depression) may have a deleterious effect on long-term cognition and should be considered as an important comorbid disorder of cognitive decline.Clinical implicationsImportant predictive effects of poor mental health on longitudinal cognitive decline should be considered in secondary and also primary care.

Download Full-text