Cognition across the lifespan: age, gender, and sociodemographic influences

AbstractMaintaining cognitive health across the lifespan has been the focus of a multi-billion-dollar industry. In order to guide treatment and interventions, a clear understanding of the way that proficiency in different cognitive domains develops and declines across the lifespan is necessary. Additionally, there are gender differences in a range of other factors, such as anxiety and substance use, that are also known to affect cognition, although the scale of this interaction is unknown. Our objective was to assess differences in cognitive function across the lifespan in men and women in a large, representative sample. Leveraging online cognitive testing, a sample of 18,902 men and women ranging in age from 12-69 matched on socio-demographic factors were studied. Segmented regression was used to model three cognitive domains – short-term memory, verbal abilities, and reasoning. Gender differences in all three domains were minimal; however, after broadening the sample in terms of socio-demographic factors, gender differences appeared. These results suggest that cognition across the lifespan differs for men and women, but is greatly influenced by environmental factors. We discuss these findings within a framework that describes gender differences in cognition as likely guided by a complex interplay between biology and environment.

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Cognition across the Lifespan: Investigating Age, Sex, and Other Sociodemographic Influences

Behavioral Sciences ◽

10.3390/bs11040051 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 51

Author(s):

Emily S. Nichols ◽

Conor J. Wild ◽

Adrian M. Owen ◽

Andrea Soddu

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Cognitive Testing ◽

Clear Understanding ◽

Men And Women ◽

Cognitive Domains ◽

Verbal Abilities ◽

Psychiatric Illnesses ◽

Socio Demographic Factors ◽

Anxiety Depression

Maintaining cognitive health across the lifespan has been the focus of a multi-billion-dollar industry. In order to guide treatment and interventions, a clear understanding of the way that proficiency in different cognitive domains develops and declines in both sexes across the lifespan is necessary. Additionally, there are sex differences in a range of other factors, including psychiatric illnesses such as anxiety, depression, and substance use, that are also known to affect cognition, although the scale of this interaction is unknown. Our objective was to assess differences in cognitive function across the lifespan in men and women in a large, representative sample. Leveraging online cognitive testing, a sample of 9451 men and 9451 women ranging in age from 12 to 69 (M = 28.21) matched on socio-demographic factors were studied. Segmented regression was used to model three cognitive domains—working memory, verbal abilities, and reasoning. Sex differences in all three domains were minimal; however, after broadening the sample in terms of socio-demographic factors, sex differences appeared. These results suggest that cognition across the lifespan differs for men and women, but is greatly influenced by environmental factors. We discuss these findings within a framework that describes sex differences in cognition as likely guided by a complex interplay between biology and environment.

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The association between sociodemographic characteristics and dementia in patients with atrial fibrillation

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research ◽

10.1007/s40520-019-01449-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 (11) ◽

pp. 2319-2327 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Per Wändell ◽

Axel C. Carlsson ◽

Xinjun Li ◽

Danijela Gasevic ◽

Jan Sundquist ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Economic Status ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Middle Level ◽

Men And Women ◽

Socio Economic Status ◽

Increased Risk ◽

National Patient ◽

Socio Demographic Factors

Abstract Objectives Association between socio-demographic factors and dementia risk is studied in general but not for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Methods We studied AF patients ≥ 45 years in Sweden 1998–2012 (n = 537,513) using the Total Population Register for socio-demographic factors, the Swedish Cause of Death Register, and the National Patient Register (NPR) for incident dementia. Cox regression with hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) was used for the association between exposure and outcome, adjusting for age and comorbidities. Results Totally 30,332 patients (5.6%) were diagnosed with dementia during the follow-up (mean 5.4 years). Of these, 14,097 were men (4.9%) and 16,235 were women (6.5%). Lower educational levels (reference: highest level) were associated with increased dementia, HRs (95% CI) for basic school for men 1.23 (1.18–1.29) and women 1.36 (1.30–1.42), and middle-level school for men 1.17 (1.11–1.22) and women 1.28 (1.22–1.34). Divorced men and women (reference: married) showed increased risk of dementia, HR 1.07 (1.01–1.13) and 1.12 (1.06–1.18), respectively, while widowed men showed lower risk, HR 0.84 (0.80–0.88). High deprivation neighborhood socio-economic status (NSES; reference: medium level) was associated with increased dementia in men, HR 1.11 (1.05–1.17), and low deprivation neighborhood socio-economic status (NSES) with increased dementia in men and women, HR 1.12 (1.06–1.18) and 1.18 (1.12–1.24), respectively. Conclusions Some results were expected, i.e. association between lower educational level and dementia. The higher risk of dementia in low deprivation NSES-areas could be due to a higher awareness about dementia, and subsequent earlier diagnosis and treatment of dementia.

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Capturing Complexity: A Latent Variable Mixture Modelling Approach to Examining Foods Consumed at Eating Occasions and Associations with adiposity (OR06-01-19)

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzz041.or06-01-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Rebecca Leech ◽

Carol Boushey ◽

Sarah McNaughton

Keyword(s):

Latent Variable ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Food Groups ◽

Men And Women ◽

Research Fellowship ◽

Mixture Modelling ◽

Breakfast Food ◽

Eating Occasions ◽

Socio Demographic Factors ◽

Modelling Approach

Abstract Objectives Understanding how foods are consumed together in eating occasions (EOs) may be useful when developing messages and strategies for nutrition promotion. However, examining the many combinations of food consumed at EOs requires novel analytic approaches to capture this complexity. We applied a latent variable mixture modelling approach to understand how foods are consumed in relation to each other at breakfast EOs in adults, and examined associations with adiposity. Methods Dietary intake at breakfast (n = 8361 EO) was assessed via 24-h recall during the 2011–12 Australian National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (n = 3545 men, n = 4127 women, ⩾19 y). Two-part latent variable mixture modelling, appropriate for use with semi-continuous data, was used to determine distinct breakfast food profiles based on 35 food groups. F and adjusted-chi2 tests assessed differences in socio-demographic factors and regression models, adjusted for covariates, were used to estimate differences in adiposity measures (BMI, waist circumference [WC]) between the latent breakfast profiles. Results Five distinct breakfast food profiles were found. Three were similar for men and women. These were labelled: “Wholegrain cereals and milks” (men: 16%, women: 17%), “Protein-foods” (men and women: 11%) and “Mixed cereals and milks” (men: 33%, women: 37%). Two “Breads and spreads” profiles were also found that were differentiated by their accompanying beverages (men) or type of grain (women). BMI and WC were lowest among men and women with a “Wholegrain cereals and milks” profile, and were significantly lower when compared to the “Mixed cereals and milks” pattern (women only, P < 0.01) and the “Breads and spreads” profiles (men only, P < 0.01). Conclusions We identified five breakfast food profiles in adults that varied by socio-demographic factors and adiposity. Latent variable mixture modelling is a useful approach to capture the complexity of food combinations at EO. Funding Sources RM Leech is financially supported by an Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellowship and SA McNaughton is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Career Development Fellowship (ID1104636). All authors had no financial relationships with any organisations that might have an interest in the presented work in the previous three years; no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the presented work.

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Gender Differences in Suicide Risk by Socio-Demographic Factors in Hong Kong

Death Studies ◽

10.1080/07481180591004543 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 29 (7) ◽

pp. 645-663 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Y. K. Kwan ◽

W. C. Ip ◽

P. Kwan

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Hong Kong ◽

Suicide Risk ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Socio Demographic Factors

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Gender Differences in Cognitive Performance in Old Age

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000111 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 129-134 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marcus Praetorius ◽

Valgeir Thorvaldsson ◽

Boo Johansson ◽

Linda B. Hassing

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Old Age ◽

Twin Study ◽

Oldest Old ◽

Cognitive Differences ◽

Men And Women ◽

Cognitive Domains ◽

Very Old Age ◽

Rate Of Decline

Objective: To examine gender differences in level and change of cognitive performance in the oldest old while accounting for gender differences in longevity. Method: 574 individuals, aged 80 years and older, from the OCTO Twin Study. Five cognitive domains were administered at five occasions at 2-year intervals. Results: There were no cognitive differences between men and women, with the exception that men showed a steeper rate of decline in semantic memory. This effect was driven by men who had developed dementia and declined at a faster rate than women. Conclusion: Our results support previous findings showing minor to nonexisting gender differences in cognition among nondemented individuals in very old age when taking gender differences in longevity into account.

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Acceptance of a smartphone navigation application by hospital patients and visitors: the role of gender, age, and education

Hungarian Geographical Bulletin ◽

10.15201/hungeobull.70.2.4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 70 (2) ◽

pp. 149-161

Author(s):

Jan Ženka ◽

Jan Macháček ◽

Luděk Krtička ◽

Pavel Michna ◽

Pavel Kořízek

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

Technology Acceptance ◽

Empirical Research ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Level Of Education ◽

Hospital Patients ◽

Socio Demographic Factors

This paper analyses the acceptance of a smartphone navigation app in a hospital among its patients/visitors. We tested the effects of socio-demographic factors (gender, age, and education) on technology acceptance and on perceived difficulties with wayfinding in the hospital complex. The empirical research is based on a survey among 928 patients/visitors of the Vítkovice Hospital in Ostrava, Czechia. We found that the acceptance of smart navigation increases with the level of education and decreases with age. No significant gender differences were observed.

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Magnitude of HIV testing and socio demographic factors associated with it among adults age 15-49 years in Ethiopia

International Journal of Scientific Reports ◽

10.18203/issn.2454-2156.intjscirep20205491 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 20

Author(s):

Eleni Tesfaye Tegegne ◽

Mekibib Kassa Tessema ◽

Kaleab Tesfaye Tegegne

Keyword(s):

Hiv Testing ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Demographic And Health Surveys ◽

African Countries ◽

Men And Women ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Socio Demographic Factors

Background: Survey data in Sub-Saharan African countries in the 2005 to 2010 period showed that only 10% men and 15% women aged 15 to 24 years were aware of their human-immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status. This study aims to assess: magnitude of HIV testing, and socio demographic factors associated with it among adults age 15-49 years.Methods: Demographic and health surveys in 2016, in Ethiopia were analyzed in SPSS, using multivariate logistic regression. We used HIV testing as the outcome variable using the recommended definition by Ethiopia demographic and health survey (EDHS) 2016. Descriptive statistics were employed to show the distribution of socio-demographic characteristics. Results: Of the total sample of 27289 of men and women 15-49 years at the time of survey, 19.4% (n=5295) have been tested for HIV in the past 12 months and received the results of the last test. Men and women in the 15-19 age group 9.952 (AOR 9.95295% CI 6.156-16.091) and men and women age 15-49 years in urban areas (AOR 34.040; 95% CI: 21.028-55.105) were found significant predictors of HIV testing.Conclusions: HIV testing among adults age 15-49 years in Ethiopia was low. Age and place of residence were found significant predictors of HIV testing there remain a high proportion of undiagnosed HIV-infected persons and for the Ethiopian government there is a need for innovative strategies aimed at increasing HIV-testing, particularly for rural areas and those beyond adolescent age.

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ASSOCIATION OF SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS WITH DIARRHEA IN CHILDREN LESS THAN FIVE YEARS: A SECONDARY ANALYSIS OF MULTIPLE INDICATOR CLUSTER SURVEY SINDH 2014

Pakistan Journal of Public Health ◽

10.32413/pjph.v7i2.39 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 85-89

Author(s):

Muhammad Irfan ◽

Syed Mustansir Hussain Zaidi ◽

Hira Fatima Waseem

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Wealth Index ◽

Household Wealth ◽

Cluster Survey ◽

Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Multiple Indicator ◽

Mother Education ◽

Socio Demographic Factors

Background: Diarrhea founds to be the major cause of morbidity and mortality in children less than five years. Various factors are associated with diarrhea but socio-demographic factors are the main key elements, which associated with diarrhea. Methods: This study was examined association of socio-demographic factors with diarrhea in children less than five years of age of Sindh, Pakistan, using data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted from January 2014 to August 2014. Data were collected for 18,108 children in whom 16,449 children had complete data of demographic variables being included in the analysis. Bivariate analysis was done using Pearson's Chi square test and multivariate analysis being done using binary logistic regression. Results: We found increased risk of diarrhea among children lives in rural areas while household wealth index quintile was also associated with diarrhea. Children in the poor, middle and fourth wealth index quintiles being at increased risk of diarrhea compared to children in the richest wealth index quintile. The highest risk of diarrhea was found for the child having mother with no education as well as children aged 12-23 months. Conclusion: Age of child, mother education and wealth index found significant with diarrhea while Male children, child aged 12-23 months, child with no mother education, child from rural areas and child from poor households found with high risk of diarrhea.

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