Characteristics of Self-Defining Memories in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Cuervo-Lombard ◽  
Delphine Raucher-Chéné ◽  
Martial Van der Linden ◽  
Virginie Voltzenlogel
Keyword(s):  
Education Level ◽  
The Self ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Aged Subjects ◽  
Verbal Knowledge ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

Background: Self-Defining Memories (SDMs) are a specific type of autobiographical memory, and that plays a key role in the construction of personal identity. Objective: We investigated the characteristics of SDMs in elderly subjects. The originality of the present study is to compare our elderly group to middle-aged subjects instead of young adults, as previously reported in the literature to understand the age-related modifications in SDMs. Method: We recruited 41 elderly subjects with normal cognitive functioning and 37 middle-aged adults. They were matched for education level and verbal knowledge. Result: Older participants recalled the same number of specific memories than middle-aged participants. SDMs were predominantly constituted of episodic characteristics, with specific details, in both groups. However, middle-aged subjects gave more integrative meaning of SDMs and more redemptive events than older participants. The two samples differed for three content dimensions (exploration/recreation, relationship contents, and not classifiable). As predicted, older participants reported memories that were more positive, on average, than the middle-aged participants’ memories. Conclusion: Our study added some contributions to the understanding of the consequences of aging on the self. Future research should explore the continuity of SDMs characteristics across the lifespan.

Changes in processing adverbial conjuncts throughout adulthood

1996 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-116
Author(s):  
Ronald L. Bloom ◽  
Jeanne Mullin ◽  
Peter J. Paternostro
Keyword(s):  
Life Span ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Significant Decline ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Linguistic Processing ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Processing Abilities

ABSTRACTThis study examines the use and understanding of concordant (e.g., consequently, moreover) and discordant (e.g., rather, contrastively) adverbial conjuncts in the later part of the life span. The participants, 75 neurologically healthy young (mean age 21.8), middle-aged (mean age 51.7), and elderly (mean age 73.1) adults, were examined using procedures by Nippold, Schwarz, and Undlin (1992). Groups were matched for education level. The results indicate a significant decline in processing adverbial conjuncts in the elderly. Discordant adverbial conjuncts especially challenged the linguistic processing abilities of the elderly subjects. The age- related decline in processing adverbial conjuncts.appears to be a specific deficit in linguistic processing that is independent of problems in memory or the effects of exposure to sophisticated language forms.

scholarly journals Cross-Sectional Examination of Musculoskeletal Pain and Physical Function in a Racially and Socioeconomically Diverse Sample of Adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angie L Sardina ◽  
Alyssa A Gamaldo ◽  
Ross Andel ◽  
Shanthi Johnson ◽  
Tamara A Baker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Function ◽  
Physical Performance ◽  
Musculoskeletal Pain ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Functional Limitation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

Abstract Background Musculoskeletal pain alters physiological function, which may be evidenced as early as middle age. Previous research has concluded that middle-aged adults are a high-risk group for musculoskeletal pain and report functional limitations similar to older adults. However, few studies have examined the relationships between musculoskeletal pain and physical function, using objective performance measures in a sample of racially and socioeconomically diverse adults. Thus, this study examined musculoskeletal pain in relation to physical function in middle-aged (30–64 years) White and Black adults and investigated whether the relationship varied by sociodemographic characteristics. Methods This cross-sectional examination incorporated data from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life-Span Study. Participants (n = 875) completed measures of musculoskeletal pain and objective measures of physical performance (ie, lower and upper body strength, balance, and gait abnormalities). Physical performance measures were standardized to derive a global measure of physical function as the dependent variable. Results Approximately, 59% of participants identified at least 1 pain sites (n = 518). Multivariable regression analyses identified significant relationships between greater musculoskeletal pain and poorer physical function (β = −0.07, p = .031), in mid midlife (β = −0.04, p = .041; age 40–54) and late midlife (β = −0.05, p = .027; age 55–64). Conclusions This study observed that musculoskeletal pain was associated with poorer physical function within a diverse group of middle-aged adults. Future research should longitudinally explore whether chronic musculoskeletal pain identified at younger ages is associated with greater risk for functional limitation and dependence in later life.

scholarly journals Health Benefits of Nut Consumption in Middle-Aged and Elderly Population

Antioxidants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rusu ◽  
Mocan ◽  
Ferreira ◽  
Popa
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Cognitive Disorders ◽  
Blood Lipid ◽  
Cellular Damage ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Antioxidant Compounds ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Anthropometric Parameters ◽  
Tree Nut ◽  
Age Related

Aging is considered the major risk factor for most chronic disorders. Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are two major contributors for cellular senescence, downregulation of stress response pathways with a decrease of protective cellular activity and accumulation of cellular damage, leading in time to age-related diseases. This review investigated the most recent clinical trials and cohort studies published in the last ten years, which presented the influence of tree nut and peanut antioxidant diets in preventing or delaying age-related diseases in middle-aged and elderly subjects (≥55 years old). Tree nut and peanut ingestion has the possibility to influence blood lipid count, biochemical and anthropometric parameters, endothelial function and inflammatory biomarkers, thereby positively affecting cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality, cancers, and cognitive disorders, mainly through the nuts’ healthy lipid profile and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of actions. Clinical evidence and scientific findings demonstrate the importance of diets characterized by a high intake of nuts and emphasize their potential in preventing age-related diseases, validating the addition of tree nuts and peanuts in the diet of older adults. Therefore, increased consumption of bioactive antioxidant compounds from nuts clearly impacts many risk factors related to aging and can extend health span and lifespan.

scholarly journals Music Engagement and Episodic Memory among Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A National Longitudinal Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 707-707
Author(s):  
Hillary Rouse ◽  
Gizem Hueluer ◽  
Mia Torres ◽  
Yan Du ◽  
Kyaien Conner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Independent Effect ◽  
Pharmacological Intervention ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Age Related

Abstract Recent research suggests that engagement with particular activities, such as music, can influence age-related changes in episodic memory. However, it is unclear whether, and to what, extent music engagement is associated with the trajectory of episodic memory. The objective of this study is to examine how passive (i.e., listening to music) and/or active (i.e., singing or playing an instrument) music engagement influences episodic memory over a period of 12 years. Secondary data analysis of a sample (N=5095) of cognitively healthy adults from the Health and Retirement Study were used for this study. Linear mixed effects models were used to examine the independent effect of different levels of music engagement (i.e., low, medium, and high) on changes in performance on episodic memory tasks, while controlling for confounding factors. Compared to those with low engagement (i.e., neither listening nor singing/ playing an instrument), respondents who reported being engaged at the medium (i.e., either listening or singing/ playing an instrument) or high (i.e., both listening and singing/ playing an instrument) level performed 0.24 (p=0.003) and 0.52 (p<0.001) points better, respectively. We found evidence that music engagement attenuated the decline in episodic memory. The findings suggest that music engagement may be a protective factor against aged-related decline in episodic memory. Therefore, music engagement may offer a promising non-pharmacological intervention for dementia risk mitigation among community-living middle-aged and older adults. Future research should examine whether interventions to increase music engagement can affect the trajectories of aged-related decline in cognition in this large and growing population.

scholarly journals Effects of Age on Dual Task Walking Performance as Measured Using a Smartphone Application in Middle-Aged Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 168-168
Author(s):  
Junhong Zhou ◽  
Gabriele Cattaneo ◽  
Wanting Yu ◽  
Jose Tormos ◽  
Lewis Lipsitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dual Task ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Stride Time ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Single Task ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Walking Performance ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

Abstract After the age of 65, one’s ability to walk while performing an additional cognitive task (i.e., dual-tasking) is predictive of both future falls and cognitive decline. However, while it is well-known that older adults exhibit diminished dual-task performance, the time course of age-related dual-task decline has not been established. We thus conducted an analysis of data collected within the ongoing Barcelona Brain Health Initiative, a prospective population-based study characterizing the determinants of brain health maintenance in middle-aged adults. Cognitively-unimpaired participants (n=655) aged 40-65 years without neuro-psychiatric disease completed laboratory-based trials of walking normally (single-task) and walking while performing a verbalized serial subtraction task (dual-task). A smartphone-based gait assessment application was used to capture data and derive both the mean stride time (ST) and stride time variability (STV, defined as the coefficient of variation about the mean stride time) of each trial. The dual-task costs (DTC) to each gait metric were obtained by calculating the percent change from single- to dual-task conditions. We categorized participants into five groups according to age (e.g. Group 1: 40-45 years; Group 5: 60-65 years). Age group did not have an effect on single-task gait outcomes (p>0.51). However, the oldest age group, as compared to each of the other groups, exhibited greater DTC to both ST and STV (p<0.03). These results indicate that dual-task walking performance in particular may begin to diminish in late middle age even in the absence of detectable cognitive issues, DTC may offer a sensitive metric to age-related change in cognitive function.

scholarly journals Event Centrality of Positive and Negative Autobiographical Memories in Older Adulthood

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 712-712
Author(s):  
Justina Pociunaite ◽  
Tabea Wolf
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Life Experience ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Openness To Experience ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Middle Aged Adults ◽  
Positive Memories

Abstract Centrality of an event (CE) is a characteristic denoting how important a life experience is to one’s identity. Usually, positive memories are more central than negative ones in the community samples. Nevertheless, there is emerging evidence showing substantial individual differences in how one perceives CE. Especially regarding age, one could expect pronounced differences due to age-related changes in personal goals. In this study, we investigated how older adults differ from young and middle-aged adults. Apart from age, we tested whether personality traits such as neuroticism and openness to experience influence the CE ratings among age groups. The sample comprised of 363 German participants, age ranging from 18 to 89 (M=49.57, SD=17.087), 67.2 % of the sample were women. Using multilevel analysis, we found the CE of positive memories to be higher in all age groups. The CE of positive events significantly differed for older adults compared to younger adults but not to the middle-aged group. With respect to personality, neuroticism had an impact only on the CE of negative memories in younger and middle-aged adults. For older adults, neither neuroticism, nor openness to experience had an impact on CE ratings. This shows that while older adults significantly differ from younger adults in the CE of positive memories, other individual differences characteristics do not have an impact on the way older adults perceive memories as central to their identity.

Frailty in Young and Middle-Aged Adults: An Integrative Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
C. Loecker ◽  
M. Schmaderer ◽  
L. Zimmerman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Integrative Review ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Middle Aged Adults ◽  
Study Designs

Background: Frailty is a public health priority resulting in poor health outcomes and early mortality in older adults. Early identification, management, and prevention of frailty may reduce frailty trajectory into later life. However, little is known about frailty in younger adults. Objective: Describe frailty prevalence, definitions, study designs, and components contributing to multidimensional frailty in 18 to 65-year-olds and impart guidance for future research, practice, and policies with potential to positively impact frail individuals. Methods: Integrative review approach was selected to explore frailty allowing for inclusion of diverse methodologies and varied persepectives while maintaining rigor and applicability to evidence-based practice initiatives. CINAHL, Embase, PsycInfo, PubMed databases were searched for studies describing frailty in adults age 18 to 65. Articles were excluded if published prior to 2010, not in English, lacked frailty focus, or non-Western culture. Results: Twelve descriptive correlational studies were included. No intervention or qualitative studies were identified. No standard conceptual definition of frailty was discovered. Studied in participants with health disparities (n=3) and chronic conditions (n=8); HIV was most common (n=4). Frailty prevalence ranged from 3.9% (313 of 8095) to 63% (24 of 38). Many factors associated with frailty were identified among physical (18) and social (14), and fewer among psychological (11) domains. Conclusions: Universal frailty definition and multidimensional assessment tool is needed to generate generalizable results in future studies describing frailty in young and middle-aged adults. Early frailty identification by clinicians has potential to facilitate development and implementation of targeted interventions to prevent or mitigate frailty progression, but additional research is needed because risk factors in younger populations may be different than older adults.

Young and Middle Aged Adults Differ in Neural Correlate of Sustained Attention: A fNIRS Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shweta Shenoy ◽  
Prachi Khandekar ◽  
Abhinav Sathe
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Middle Age ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

: Sustained attention (SA) is a construct of cognition that tends to decline with age. There is a lack of literature regarding the neural correlates of SA in middle age, a link between young and old age. This study evaluated the differences in SA ability and its neural correlates using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) between young and middle-aged adults. 38 young and 25 middle-aged adults were evaluated for the changes in neural correlates (oxy and deoxyhemoglobin concentration in the prefrontal cortex) during a SA task known as cognition. The results showed that young adults performed significantly better than middle-aged adults on the SA task with no gender difference in their performance. There was a significant difference in the prefrontal activation pattern between young and middle-aged adults. We found right prefrontal dominance in young adults and left the prefrontal authority in middle-aged adults. This study concludes that the ability to maintain SA diminishes with age, advancing from young to middle age. Hemodynamic findings confirmed significant differences in neural resources in the prefrontal cortical areas between young and middle age. Findings document the neurobiological basis of age-related decline in the middle-aged population to understand changes in the brain's functioning during SA-related cognitive tasks.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document