INVESTIGATING MODERATORS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE MEMORY

Abstract Subjective memory complaints (SMC) among older adults have been explored as an indicator of decline in objective memory functioning. While some research has found that SMC may be predictive of future cognitive impairment and dementia (Glodzik-Sobanska et al., 2007; Wang et al., 2004), others have suggested that SMC are common among healthy older adults (Cooper et al., 2011) and are not strongly related to objective memory performance. Researchers suggest that SMC may be more strongly related to affective factors (e.g., depression and anxiety; Rowell, Green, Teachman, & Salthouse, 2015). The current study examined the relationship between SMC, objective episodic memory performance (OEMP), along with depression and anxiety in a sample of 18-99 year olds (N = 5,430) from the Virginia Cognitive Aging Project (VCAP). Structural equation modeling with full information maximum likelihood estimation was used to investigate whether clinically-relevant depression and anxiety levels moderated the relationship between SMC and OEMP, controlling for age, education, gender, and health. OEMP was represented as a latent construct while the remaining variables were observed. Although depression and anxiety are significantly related to SMC (r’s = .29, .17, respectively), they are not correlated with OEMP. Furthermore, depression, but not anxiety, moderated the relationship between SMC and OEMP, such that those at risk for depression had a stronger relationship between SMC and OEMP (-.07, p<.05) compared to those not at risk (-.02, p=.31). This suggests that SMC may not be a valid indicator of OEMP as it may reflect variance from other sources, such as depression.

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Cooperative contributions of structural and functional connectivity to successful memory in aging

Network Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/netn_a_00064 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 173-194 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Simon W. Davis ◽

Amanda Szymanski ◽

Homa Boms ◽

Thomas Fink ◽

Roberto Cabeza

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Structural Connectivity ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Cognitive Changes ◽

Age Related ◽

The Relationship

Understanding the precise relation between functional connectivity and structural (white matter) connectivity and how these relationships account for cognitive changes in older adults are major challenges for neuroscience. We investigate these issues using an approach in which structural equation modeling (SEM) is employed to integrate functional and structural connectivity data from younger and older adults ( n = 62), analyzed with a common framework based on regions connected by canonical tract groups (CTGs). CTGs (e.g., uncinate fasciculus) serve as a common currency between functional and structural connectivity matrices, and ensure equivalent sparsity in connectome information. We used this approach to investigate the neural mechanisms supporting memory for items and memory for associations, and how they are affected by healthy aging. We found that different structural and functional CTGs made independent contributions to source and item memory performance, suggesting that both forms of connectivity underlie age-related differences in specific forms of memory. Furthermore, the relationship between functional and structural connectivity was best explained by a general relationship between latent constructs—a relationship absent in any specific CTG group. These results provide insights into the relationship between structural and functional connectivity patterns, and elucidate their relative contribution to age-related differences in source memory performance.

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Modeling Longitudinal Relationships Between Habit and Physical Activity: Two Cross-Lagged Panel Design Studies in Older Adults

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity ◽

10.1123/japa.2016-0212 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 464-473 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rob J.H. van Bree ◽

Catherine Bolman ◽

Aart N. Mudde ◽

Maartje M. van Stralen ◽

Denise A. Peels ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Functional Limitations ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Design Studies ◽

Mediation Effects ◽

Measurement Results ◽

The Relationship ◽

Longitudinal Relationships

These longitudinal studies in older adults targeted mediated relationships between habit and physical activity (PA). In The Netherlands two independent studies were conducted among 1976 (Study 1: Mage = 63.63, SD = 8.66, 30% functional limitations) and 2140 (Study 2: Mage = 62.75, SD = 8.57, 45% functional limitations) adults aged 50 years or older. Cross-lagged panel designs were applied to examine whether habit mediates the relationship between prior and later PA and whether PA simultaneously mediates the relationship between prior and later habit. Data on habit and PA were collected by means of questionnaires at baseline (t0) and at 6 (t1) and 12 (t2) months after baseline measurement. Results of structural equation modeling analyses were not unambiguous. Indications for the existence of both hypothesized mediation effects were found, but no clear, unequivocal pattern appeared. Somewhat more support was found for the PA-habit-PA path than for the habit-PA-habit path. More research is needed to draw more definitive conclusions.

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Transmission of Religiosity From Parent to Child: Moderation by Perceived Parental Depression and Anxiety

Journal of Family Issues ◽

10.1177/0192513x18776355 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (12) ◽

pp. 3127-3152 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Melanie Stearns ◽

Cliff McKinney

Keyword(s):

Emerging Adults ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Internalizing Behaviors ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Parental Anxiety ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Parent Gender ◽

Participant Gender ◽

Interaction Terms ◽

The Relationship

Although parents have a strong influence on their children’s religiosity, little research has been conducted on how different parental anxiety and depressive problems affect the transmission of religiosity. The current study asked emerging adults to report on the religiosity and internalizing behaviors of their mothers and fathers as well as their own religiosity. Structural equation modeling was used to measure whether perceived parental internalizing problems, parent gender, and participant gender moderated the relationship between parental and emerging adult religiosity. Results indicated that the interaction terms between perceived maternal religiosity and both depressive and anxiety problems were significant only for females. Participant gender did not suggest a three-way interaction among variables, though parent gender did as the interaction term between maternal religiosity and both anxiety and depressive problems were significantly stronger than paternal ones.

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Does Self-Efficacy and Team Leader Equity Matter for Older Workers’ Mental Health?

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnz191 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 60 (6) ◽

pp. 996-1004 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mi Sun Choi ◽

Holly Dabelko-Schoeny ◽

Mo Yee Lee ◽

Alicia C Bunger

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Work Engagement ◽

Older Workers ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Working Life ◽

Team Leader ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background and Objectives Prolonged working life is not necessarily associated with good mental health. Despite the importance of healthy working life in later years, little research has been conducted on predictors of mental health in the workplace among older workers. This study aimed to investigate how personal (self-efficacy) and team (leader equity) factors are associated with older workers’ mental health through work engagement. Research Design and Methods We analyzed responses of 508 U.S. workers aged 50 years and older from the Age and Generations Study data using structural equation modeling. Results Results showed that perceived self-efficacy was a strong predictor of mental health. Also, work engagement was a powerful mechanism for promoting older adults’ mental health; engagement partially mediated the relationship between perceived self-efficacy and mental health, and fully mediated the relationship between team leader equity and mental health. Discussion and Implications The findings highlight how important it is for employers to invest in human capital development, suggesting human resource programs should focus on strategies that target older adults’ engagement through tailored self-efficacy programs and inclusive leadership training programs. Such attempts would contribute to enhancing the mental health of older workers.

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Fall-related Injuries Mediate the Relationship between Self-Reported Hearing Loss and Mortality in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

The Journals of Gerontology Series A ◽

10.1093/gerona/glab123 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Dongjuan Xu ◽

Melissa D Newell ◽

Alexander L Francis

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Hearing Loss ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Risk Of Death ◽

Risk Of Injury ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Relationship ◽

Hearing Problems

Abstract Background Hearing loss is associated with a greater risk of death in older adults. This relationship has been attributed to an increased risk of injury, particularly due to falling, in individuals with hearing loss. However, the link between hearing loss and mortality across the lifespan is less clear. Methods We used structural equation modeling and mediation analysis to investigate the relationship between hearing loss, falling, injury, and mortality across the adult lifespan in public-use data from the National Health Interview Survey and the National Death Index. We examined 1) the association between self-reported hearing problems and later mortality, 2) the associations between self-reported hearing problems and the risk of injury and degree and type of injury, 3) the mediating role of falling and injury in the association between self-reported hearing problems and mortality, and 4) whether these relationships differ in young (18-39), middle-aged (40-59) and older (60+) age groups. Results In all three age ranges, those reporting hearing problems were more likely to fall, were more likely to sustain an injury, and were more likely to sustain a serious injury, than those not reporting hearing problems. While there was no significant association between hearing loss and mortality in the youngest category, there was for middle-aged and older participants and for both fall-related injury was a significant mediator in this relationship. Conclusions Fall-related injury mediates the relationship between hearing loss and mortality for middle-aged as well as older adults, suggesting a need for further research into mechanisms and remediation.

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Socioeconomic Status, Biological Aging, and Memory in a Diverse National Sample of Older US Men and Women

10.1101/2021.06.04.21258370 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Justina F Avila ◽

Indira Turney ◽

Precious Esie ◽

Jet M. J. Vonk ◽

Vanessa Weir ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Dna Methylation ◽

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Cognitive Aging ◽

Memory Performance ◽

National Sample ◽

Biological Aging ◽

White People ◽

Men And Women ◽

The Relationship

Importance: Exposure to socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with rapid cognitive aging. Biological aging, the progressive loss of system integrity that occurs as we age is proposed as a modifiable process mediating this health inequality. Objective: To test the hypothesis that socioeconomic disparities in cognitive aging in older adults is explained by accelerated biological aging. Design: Observational cohort study. Setting: U.S. Health and Retirement Study DNA-methylation sub-study. Participants: N=3,648 (49% male) adults aged 50-100 (M=70, SD=10) with DNA methylation data. Exposures: Socioeconomic status (SES) was measured from years of education and household wealth. The extent and pace of biological aging were quantified using three DNA-methylation measures: PhenoAge, GrimAge, and DunedinPoAm. Main Outcomes and Measures: Cognitive aging was measured from repeated longitudinal assessments of immediate and delayed word recall. Latent growth curve modeling estimated participants level of memory performance and rate of decline over 2-11 follow-up assessments spanning 2-20 years. Models were estimated to assess whether the relationship between SES and memory trajectories was mediated by biological aging. Results: Older adults with lower SES had lower memory performance, faster decline and exhibited accelerated biological aging (SES β=.33, 99% CI[.30-.36], biological-aging measure effect size associations ranged from .08 to .20). Accelerated biological aging was associated with decreased memory performance and faster memory decline (effect-size range .03 to .18). Higher SES was associated with slower biological aging for White and Black men and women, but not Latinx participants. The relationship between biological aging measures and memory was weaker for Black and Latinx participants compared with White people. In mediation analysis, biological aging accounted for 3-9% of the SES-memory gradient in White participants. There was no evidence of mediation in Black or Latinx participants. Conclusions and Relevance: Among a national sample of older adults, DNA-methylation measures of biological aging were associated with memory trajectories in White, but not Black or Latinx older adults. These results challenge the assumption that DNA-methylation biomarkers of aging that were developed in primarily White people can quantify aging processes affecting cognition in Black and Latinx older adults.

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SELF-EFFICACY AND TEAM LEADER EQUITY MATTER: A STUDY OF ACTIVE AGING AT WORK

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2808 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S764-S764

Author(s):

Mi Sun Choi ◽

Holly Dabelko-Schoeny ◽

Mo Yee Lee ◽

Alicia Bunger

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Human Resource ◽

Older Workers ◽

Self Efficacy ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Well Being ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Active Aging ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Many older Americans have decided to remain in the labor market beyond the traditional retirement age, suggesting the need for companies to consider human resource initiatives to retain and support the aging workforce. Applying active aging concepts, which emphasize older adults’ active roles through participation in social and economic activities for healthy later life, to the workplace could be helpful for developing programs that enhance the health, well-being, and work outcomes of older workers. Despite the expected benefits of active aging at work for older workers’ overall well-being, little research has been conducted on what personal and team factors impact on outcomes of active aging at work; what mechanism exists in the links between factors and outcomes in the contemporary workplace. The current study tested the validity of an active aging framework using the Age and Generations Study data. We analyzed responses of 508 American workers aged 50 and older using structural equation modeling. Results showed that perceived self-efficacy was a strong predictor of engagement, mental health, and performance, whereas perceived leader equity predicted only engagement. Also, work engagement was powerful mechanism for promoting older adults’ mental health; engagement mediated the relationship between perceived self-efficacy and the relationship between leader equity and mental health. The findings highlight how important it is for employers to invest in human capital, suggesting human resource programs should focus on strategies that target older adults’ engagement through tailored self-efficacy programs and diversity leadership training programs. Such attempts would contribute to the well-being of older workers.

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Neurogranin, a synaptic protein, is associated with memory independent of Alzheimer biomarkers

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0000000000004569 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 89 (17) ◽

pp. 1782-1788 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Kaitlin B. Casaletto ◽

Fanny M. Elahi ◽

Brianne M. Bettcher ◽

John Neuhaus ◽

Barbara B. Bendlin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Aging ◽

Brain Aging ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Verbal Learning ◽

Delayed Recall ◽

Age Related ◽

T Tau ◽

The Relationship ◽

With Memory

Objective:To determine the association between synaptic functioning as measured via neurogranin in CSF and cognition relative to established Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarkers in neurologically healthy older adults.Methods:We analyzed CSF concentrations of neurogranin, β-amyloid (Aβ42), phosphorylated tau (p-tau), and total tau (t-tau) among 132 neurologically normal older adults (mean 64.5, range 55–85), along with bilateral hippocampal volumes and a measure of episodic memory (Auditory Verbal Learning Test, delayed recall). Univariable analyses examined the relationship between neurogranin and the other AD-related biomarkers. Multivariable regression models examined the relationship between neurogranin and delayed recall, adjusting for age and sex, and interaction terms (neurogranin × AD biomarkers).Results:Higher neurogranin concentrations were associated with older age (ρ = 0.20, p = 0.02), lower levels of p-tau and t-tau, and smaller hippocampal volumes (p < 0.03), but not with CSF Aβ42 (p = 0.18). In addition, CSF neurogranin demonstrated a significant relationship with memory performance independent of the AD-related biomarkers; individuals with the lowest CSF neurogranin concentrations performed better on delayed recall than those with medium or high CSF neurogranin concentrations (p < 0.01). Notably, CSF p-tau, t-tau, and Aβ42 and hippocampal volumes were not significantly associated with delayed recall scores (p > 0.40), and did not interact with neurogranin to predict memory (p > 0.10).Conclusions:Synaptic dysfunction (assessed via neurogranin) may be an early pathologic process in age-related neurodegeneration, and a sensitive marker of age-related cognitive abilities, potentially preceding or even acting independently from AD pathogenesis. Synaptic functioning may be a useful early marker of cognitive aging and possibly a target for future brain aging interventions.

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The relationship between psychological capital and mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic: A longitudinal mediation model

Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1177/13591053211012771 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 135910532110127

Author(s):

Maria Nicoleta Turliuc ◽

Octav Sorin Candel

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Satisfaction With Life ◽

Psychological Capital ◽

Well Being ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Negative Effects ◽

The Relationship ◽

Positive Effect

The new Coronavirus has impacted people’s lifestyles, stress, and well-being. Thus, they need personal positive resources to help them during challenging circumstances. With this longitudinal study on 290 participants, we analyzed the relationship between psychological capital (PsyCap), measured at the beginning of the lockdown period and some indicators of mental health (depression, anxiety, satisfaction with life) measured after 2 months. Moreover, we examined whether stress (at Time 2) mediates the relationships. Following structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses, the results show that PsyCap has a significant positive effect on satisfaction with life and significant negative effects on depression and anxiety. Stress mediated all the relationships.

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Quality of life and prosocial or antisocial coping with resource deprivation: The study of people at risk of social exclusion

10.31234/osf.io/szjqg ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Joanna Chwaszcz ◽

Rafał Piotr Bartczuk ◽

Iwona Niewiadomska ◽

Patrycja Sławska-Jaroszewska

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

At Risk ◽

Social Exclusion ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Conservation Of Resources ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Relationship

Background and Objectives. This paper presents a study based on Hobfoll’s conservation of resources theory on resources and coping as predictors of the quality of life of those at risk of social exclusion. They are deprived of access to the public pool of psychosocial resources, the acquisition and accumulation of which are closely linked to the perceived quality of life.Design. A cross-sectional self-reported questionnaire study.Method. The sample of 1,074 individuals from various groups at risk of exclusion was surveyed using the Conservation of Resources–Evaluation questionnaire, the Strategic Approach to Coping Scale, and the WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire. Structural equation modeling was used to test mediational hypotheses in the analysis. Results. The significant variables that determined the relationship between resource gains and losses and the quality of life included active-passive and prosocial-antisocial coping strategies. The results were generally robust, but the level of education moderated the relationship between active antisocial coping and quality of life.Conclusion. The obtained dependencies are consistent with Hobfoll’s approach, confirming its usefulness. Prosocial coping boosts the positive prominence of the relationship between resource gains and the quality of life and reduces the effect of resource losses, causing the quality of life to decline.

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