The Relation of Obesity to Performance in Verbal Abilities, Processing Speed, and Cognitive Flexibility in Old Age: The Role of Cognitive Reserve

2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 117-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Ihle ◽  
Ute Mons ◽  
Laura Perna ◽  
Michel Oris ◽  
Delphine Fagot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Verbal Abilities ◽  
Low Education ◽  
The Life Course

Aims: The present study set out to investigate the relation of obesity to performance in verbal abilities, processing speed, and cognitive flexibility and its interplay with key correlates of cognitive reserve in a large sample of older adults. Methods: A total of 2,812 older adults served as a sample for the present study. Psychometric tests on verbal abilities, processing speed, and cognitive flexibility were administered. In addition, individuals were interviewed on their weight and height (to calculate body mass index; BMI), educational attainment, occupation, and engaging in different activities throughout adulthood. Results: Obesity (BMI ≥30) was significantly associated with a lower performance in verbal abilities, processing speed, and cognitive flexibility. Moderation analyses showed that obesity was related to lower processing speed and cognitive flexibility only in individuals with low engagement in activities and low education. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that obesity was not related to any of the three investigated cognitive performance measures when cognitive reserve in early and midlife was taken into account. Conclusion: Present data suggest that cognitive reserve accumulated during the life course may reduce the detrimental influences of obesity on cognitive functioning in old age.

Cognitive Reserve and Social Capital Accrued in Early and Midlife Moderate the Relation of Psychological Stress to Cognitive Performance in Old Age

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 190-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Ihle ◽  
Michel Oris ◽  
Julia Sauter ◽  
Ulrike Rimmele ◽  
Matthias Kliegel
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Psychological Stress ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Cognitive Level ◽  
Verbal Abilities

Aims: The present study set out to investigate the relation of psychological stress to cognitive performance and its interplay with key life course markers of cognitive reserve and social capital in a large sample of older adults. Methods: We assessed cognitive performance (verbal abilities and processing speed) and psychological stress in 2,812 older adults. The Participants reported information on education, occupation, leisure activities, family, and close friends. Results: Greater psychological stress was significantly related to lower performance in verbal abilities and processing speed. Moderation analyses suggested that the relations of psychological stress to cognitive performance were reduced in individuals with higher education, a higher cognitive level of the first profession practiced after education, a larger number of midlife leisure activities, a larger number of significant family members, and a larger number of close friends. Conclusion: Cognitive reserve and social capital accrued in early and midlife may reduce the detrimental influences of psychological stress on cognitive functioning in old age.

The Relation of Hypertension to Performance in Immediate and Delayed Cued Recall and Working Memory in Old Age: The Role of Cognitive Reserve

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1171-1187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Ihle ◽  
Élvio R. Gouveia ◽  
Bruna R. Gouveia ◽  
Duarte L. Freitas ◽  
Jefferson Jurema ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Leisure Activity ◽  
Cued Recall ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Cognitive Measures ◽  
The Life Course

Objective: We investigated the relation of hypertension to cognitive performance and its interplay with key markers of cognitive reserve in a large sample of older adults. Method: We assessed tests of immediate and delayed cued recall and working memory in 701 older adults. We measured systolic blood pressure and interviewed individuals on their education, past occupation, and cognitive leisure activity. Results: Hypertension (≥140 mmHg) was related to lower performance in all three cognitive measures. Moderation analyses suggested that these relations were reduced in individuals with greater engaging in cognitive leisure activity. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that hypertension was not related to any of the three investigated cognitive performance measures when education, cognitive level of job, and cognitive leisure activity were simultaneously taken into account. Discussion: The detrimental influences of hypertension on cognitive functioning in old age may be reduced in individuals with greater cognitive reserve accumulated during the life course.

The relation of education, occupation, and cognitive activity to cognitive status in old age: the role of physical frailty

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 1469-1474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Ihle ◽  
Élvio R. Gouveia ◽  
Bruna R. Gouveia ◽  
Duarte L. Freitas ◽  
Jefferson Jurema ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Grip Strength ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Cognitive Activity ◽  
Leisure Activity ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Cognitive Level ◽  
Physical Frailty

ABSTRACTBackground:It remains unclear so far whether the role of cognitive reserve may differ between physically frail compared to less frail individuals. Therefore, the present study set out to investigate the relation of key markers of cognitive reserve to cognitive status in old age and its interplay with physical frailty in a large sample of older adults.Methods:We assessed Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in 701 older adults. We measured grip strength as indicator of physical frailty and interviewed individuals on their education, past occupation, and cognitive leisure activity.Results:Greater grip strength, longer education, higher cognitive level of job, and greater engaging in cognitive leisure activity were significantly related to higher MMSE scores. Moderation analyses showed that the relations of education, cognitive level of job, and cognitive leisure activity to MMSE scores were significantly larger in individuals with lower, compared to those with greater grip strength.Conclusions:Cognitive status in old age may more strongly depend on cognitive reserve accumulated during the life course in physically frail (compared to less frail) older adults. These findings may be explained by cross-domain compensation effects in vulnerable individuals.

The association of timing of retirement with cognitive performance in old age: the role of leisure activities after retirement

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 1659-1669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Ihle ◽  
Catherine Grotz ◽  
Stéphane Adam ◽  
Michel Oris ◽  
Delphine Fagot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Trail Making Test ◽  
Test Part ◽  
Trail Making

ABSTRACTBackground:The role of timing of retirement on cognitive functioning in old age is inconclusive so far. Therefore, the present study set out to investigate the association of timing of retirement with cognitive performance and its interplay with key correlates of cognitive reserve in a large sample of older adults.Methods:Two thousand two hundred and sixty three older adults served as sample for the present study. Different psychometric tests (Trail Making Test part A (TMT A), Trail Making Test part B (TMT B), Mill Hill) were administered. In addition, individuals were interviewed on their retirement, occupation, educational attainment, and regarding 18 leisure activities that have been carried out after retirement.Results:Earlier retirement (compared to retirement at legal age) was significantly associated with better performance in the TMT A, the TMT B, and the Mill Hill vocabulary test. Moderation analyses showed that in individuals with a moderate number of leisure activities in old age, earlier retirement was related to better cognitive performance, but not in those with a relatively large number of leisure activities. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that entering leisure activities as additional predictor significantly increased explained variance in the cognitive measures over and above all other investigated markers of cognitive reserve (i.e. occupation and education).Conclusions:Present data further corroborate the view that leisure activities even in old age may lead to further enrichment effects and thereby may be related to better cognitive functioning. The role of engaging in activities in the context of major life events such as retirement is discussed.

scholarly journals Predictors for Confidence in Self-Management of Falls and the Role of Fear of Falls

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 301-301
Author(s):  
Qiwei Li ◽  
Becky Knight
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Fall Prevention ◽  
Predictor Variable ◽  
Path Model ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Self Protection ◽  
Fear Of Falls

Abstract Falls have been a crucial threat for older adults to stay independent. Once they have fallen, older adults are more likely to receive injuries and become people with disabilities. Conventionally, the measurement of fall efficacy focused on the capacity of performing certain activities such as walking or bathing without a fall. However, given the fact that one out of five older adults fall every year, self-efficacy in self-protection when falls do happen calls for a better understanding of confidence in self-management of a fall. Among predictors for fall prevention outcomes, “fear of falls” has received attention. However, “fear of falls” was largely missing in studies exploring self-management of falls in scenarios where falls do happen. This study explores the predictors for CSMoF including “fear of falls”. A series of simultaneous and hierarchical regression analyses with related interaction analyses and a path model were applied to determine the contribution of each predictor variable and the mediating role of “fear of falls”. The findings of the study reported that demographic characteristics, chronic conditions, and perceptions of falls were associated with CSMoF. The path analysis confirmed the mediating role of “fear of falls” as the indirect effects were occupying substantial percentages in the total identified effects. “Fear of falls” should continue to be a core of fall prevention programs and is particularly important for programs that aim to teach older adults what to do when they fall, whom to call for help, and how to avoid injuries upon falling.

scholarly journals Likelihood of Participation in Home-Based Cognitive Assessment: The Role of Subjective Cognitive Decline and Age

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 293-294
Author(s):  
Moriah Splonskowski ◽  
Holly Cooke ◽  
Claudia Jacova
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Cognitive Assessment ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Subjective Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive State ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Home-based cognitive assessment (HBCA) services are emerging as a convenient alternative to in-clinic cognitive assessment and may aid in mitigating barriers to detecting cognitive impairment (CI). It is unknown which older adults would be likely to participate in HBCA. Here we investigated the role of age and Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD). SCD has demonstrated an increased risk for progression to CI/dementia. A nation-wide community-dwelling sample of 494 adults age 50+ were recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk to complete an online survey assessing perceptions around HBCA and SCD. Our sample was 91.9% White and 66.8% female. It consisted of 174 respondents aged 50-60, 265 aged 61- 70, and 55 aged 71-79. Age groups were comparable with respect to their acceptance of cognitive assessment (Range 4-20, higher score=higher acceptance, 7.9±3.3, 8.15±3.2, 8.05±3.43) and SCD-Q total (43.1±5.8, 43.2±5.7, 43.3±5.7). Correlation analysis revealed a relationship between SCD-QSCD total and perceived likelihood of participation in HBCA for those ages 61-70 (r(263) = .222 p = .000), but not for ages 50-60 or 71-79 (r(172) = .102 p = .152; r(53) = -.102 p = .458). Our findings suggest that SCD influences the likelihood of participation in HBCA for older adults’ transitioning to old age (61-70). Findings show that for adults transitioning into old age (61-70), perceived cognitive state influences their likelihood of participation in HBCA. Importantly, concerns about CI/dementia may generate more favorable perceptions of HBCA for this group.

scholarly journals Sleep Onset/Maintenance Difficulties and Cognitive Function in Nondemented Older Adults: The Role of Cognitive Reserve

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (03) ◽  
pp. 461-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly E. Zimmerman ◽  
Marcelo E. Bigal ◽  
Mindy J. Katz ◽  
Adam M. Brickman ◽  
Richard B. Lipton
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Sleep Onset

scholarly journals Changing our thinking about changing their thinking in older adulthood

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 1405-1407
Author(s):  
Viviana M. Wuthrich
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Older Adulthood ◽  
New Learning

It is well-established that as people age, deterioration in cognitive abilities including processing speed, memory, and cognitive flexibility occurs, although vast individual differences occur in the rate and consequences of this decline (Christensen, 2001). Anxiety and depression in late life are also associated with specific cognitive deficits in memory and executive functioning that may impact on new learning (Yochim et al., 2013). Therefore, it is possible that cognitive changes make it more difficult for older adults to learn how to change their thinking particularly in the context of psychological therapy.

scholarly journals Harmonisation and Between-Country Differences of the Lifetime of Experiences Questionnaire in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin Ourry ◽  
Natalie L. Marchant ◽  
Ann-Katrin Schild ◽  
Nina Coll-Padros ◽  
Olga M. Klimecki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
International Comparisons ◽  
Education Systems ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Behavioural Determinants ◽  
Country Differences ◽  
The Life Course

Background: The Lifetime of Experiences Questionnaire (LEQ) assesses complex mental activity across the life-course and has been associated with brain and cognitive health. The different education systems and occupation classifications across countries represent a challenge for international comparisons. The objectives of this study were four-fold: to adapt and harmonise the LEQ across four European countries, assess its validity across countries, explore its association with brain and cognition and begin to investigate between-country differences in life-course mental activities.Method: The LEQ was administered to 359 cognitively unimpaired older adults (mean age and education: 71.2, 13.2 years) from IMAP and EU-funded Medit-Ageing projects. Education systems, classification of occupations and scoring guidelines were adapted to allow comparisons between France, Germany, Spain and United Kingdom. We assessed the LEQ's (i) concurrent validity with a similar instrument (cognitive activities questionnaire - CAQ) and its structural validity by testing the factors' structure across countries, (ii) we investigated its association with cognition and neuroimaging, and (iii) compared its scores between countries.Results: The LEQ showed moderate to strong positive associations with the CAQ and revealed a stable multidimensional structure across countries that was similar to the original LEQ. The LEQ was positively associated with global cognition. Between-country differences were observed in leisure activities across the life-course.Conclusions: The LEQ is a promising tool for assessing the multidimensional construct of cognitive reserve and can be used to measure socio-behavioural determinants of cognitive reserve in older adults across countries. Longitudinal studies are warranted to test further its clinical utility.

scholarly journals A-48 The Role of Processing Speed in Verbal and Nonverbal Learning within a Clinical Sample of Older Adults.

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 907-907
Author(s):  
N Hawley ◽  
H Brunet ◽  
J Miller
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Adult Intelligence Scale ◽  
Nonverbal Learning ◽  
Learning Trials

Abstract Objective Prior research revealed that processing speed predicts nonverbal learning in healthy older adults (Tam & Schmitter-Edgecombe, 2013). This study aims to examine the role of processing speed in both verbal and nonverbal learning in a clinical sample. We expect that processing speed will lend the most variance to the initial learning trials. Method Records from 718 patients were reviewed (mean age = 74). Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted using Brief Visuospatial Memory Test –Revised (BVMT-R) and Hopkins Verbal Learning Test –Revised (HVLT-R) learning trials as outcome variables. Demographics were entered in a first step followed by BVMT-R copy or Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV) Digit Span –longest digit span forward raw score, to account for visuoconstruction or simple auditory attention for nonverbal and verbal learning outcomes respectively. A processing speed composite of sample-standardized raw scores was entered in a final step. Results Processing speed accounted for 5.4% of the variance in BVMT-R trial 1, 7.5% of the variance in trial 2, and 8.5% of the variance in trial 3, all p < .001. Processing speed accounted for 6.6% of the variance in HVLT-R trial 1, 11.1% of the variance in trial 2, and 11.5% of the variance in trial 3, all p < .001. Conclusions Processing speed significantly predicted all verbal and nonverbal learning trials. Contrary to our hypotheses, processing speed actually had a greater contribution during subsequent learning trials. These findings have implications for evaluating memory performance in patients with syndromes where processing speed is typically affected (e.g., cerebrovascular disease, Parkinson’s disease).

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