Greater lifestyle engagement is associated with better cognitive resilience

AbstractPrevious evidence suggests that modifiable lifestyle factors, such as engagement in leisure activities, might slow the age-related decline of cognitive functions. Less is known, however, about which aspects of lifestyle might be particularly beneficial to healthy cognitive ageing, and whether they are associated with distinct cognitive domains (e.g. fluid and crystallized abilities) differentially. We investigated these questions in the cross-sectional Cambridge Centre for Ageing and Neuroscience (Cam-CAN) data (N=708, age 18-88), using data-driven exploratory structural equation modelling, confirmatory factor analyses, and age-residualized measures of cognitive differences across the lifespan. Specifically, we assessed the relative associations of the following five lifestyle factors on age-related differences of fluid and crystallized resilience: education/SES, physical health, mental health, social engagement, and intellectual engagement. We found that higher education, better physical and mental health, more social engagement and a greater degree of intellectual engagement were each individually correlated with better fluid and crystallized cognitive resilience. A joint path model of all lifestyle factors on crystallized and fluid resilience, which allowed a simultaneous assessment of the lifestyle domains, showed that physical health, social and intellectual engagement and education/SES explained unique, complementary variance, but mental health did not make significant contributions above and beyond the other four lifestyle factors and age. The total variance explained for fluid resilience was 14% and 16% for crystallized resilience. Our results are compatible with the hypothesis that intellectually and physically challenging as well as socially engaging activities are associated with better crystallized and fluid performance across the lifespan. Research Highlights 1.Higher education/SES, better physical and mental health, more social engagement and a greater degree of intellectual engagement are all individually associated with better cognitive health across the lifespan. 2.When all five lifestyle factors were assessed simultaneously, we found that physical health and social as well as intellectual engagement are independently associated with individual differences in cognitive health, above and beyond the effect of education/SES. Mental health makes no additional independent contributions. 3.Education/SES, physical health, intellectual engagement and social engagement show similar patterns with crystallized and fluid cognitive resilience, suggesting that the associations between lifestyle engagement and cognition are global rather than cognitive-domain specific. 4.Age-corrected residuals as a proxy of cognitive health across the lifespan may be a useful tool for future cross-sectional studies comparing different age groups.

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Responding to challenges for people with psychotic illness: Updated evidence from the Survey of High Impact Psychosis

Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0004867416679738 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 51 (2) ◽

pp. 124-140 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Vera A Morgan ◽

Anna Waterreus ◽

Vaughan Carr ◽

David Castle ◽

Martin Cohen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Health ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Social Engagement ◽

High Impact ◽

High Rate ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Psychotic Illness ◽

Violent Victimisation

Objective: The objective is to summarise recent findings from the 2010 Australian Survey of High Impact Psychosis (SHIP) and examine their implications for future policy and planning to improve mental health, physical health and other circumstances of people with a psychotic disorder. Methods: Survey of High Impact Psychosis collected nationally representative data on 1825 people with psychotic illness. Over 60 papers have been published covering key challenges reported by participants: financial problems, loneliness and social isolation, unemployment, poor physical health, uncontrolled symptoms of mental illness, and lack of stable, suitable housing. Findings are summarised under the rubric of participant-ranked top challenges. Results: The main income source for the majority (85%) of participants was a government benefit. Only one-third was employed, and the most appropriate employment services for this group were under-utilised. High rates of loneliness and social isolation impacted mental and physical health. The rate of cardiometabolic disease was well above the general population rate, and associated risk factors were present from a very young age. Childhood abuse (30.6%), adult violent victimisation (16.4%) and alcohol and substance abuse/dependence (lifetime rates of 50.5% and 54.5%, respectively) complicated the clinical profile. Treatment with medication was suboptimal, with physical health conditions undertreated, a high rate of psychotropic polypharmacy and underutilisation of clozapine in chronic persistent psychotic illness. Only 38.6% received evidence-based psychosocial therapies. In the previous year, 27.4% had changed housing and 12.8% had been homeless, on average for 155 days. Conclusion: Money, social engagement and employment are the most important challenges for people with psychotic illness, as well as good physical and mental health. An integrated approach to recovery is needed to optimise service delivery and augment evidence-based clinical practice with measures to improve physical health and social circumstances. Meeting these challenges has the potential to reduce costs to government and society, as well as promote recovery.

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Sleep and mental health in athletes during COVID-19 lockdown

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsaa261 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Elise R Facer-Childs ◽

Daniel Hoffman ◽

Jennie N Tran ◽

Sean P A Drummond ◽

Shantha M W Rajaratnam

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Engagement ◽

Sleep Time ◽

Optimal Recovery ◽

Lifestyle Factors ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Related Factors ◽

The World ◽

Australian Football

Abstract The global coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic and associated lockdown restrictions resulted in the majority of sports competitions around the world being put on hold. This includes the National Basketball Association, the UEFA Champions League, Australian Football League, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and regional competitions. The mitigation strategies in place to control the pandemic have caused disruption to daily schedules, working environments, and lifestyle factors. Athletes rely on regular access to training facilities, practitioners, and coaches to maintain physical and mental health to achieve maximal performance and optimal recovery. Furthermore, participation in sport at any level increases social engagement and promotes better mental health. It is, therefore, critical to understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures have affected the lives of athletes. We surveyed elite and sub-elite athletes (n = 565) across multiple sports. Significant disruptions were reported for all lifestyle factors including social interactions, physical activity, sleep patterns, and mental health. We found a significant increase in total sleep time and sleep latency, as well as a delay in mid-sleep times and a decrease in social jetlag. Training frequency and duration significantly decreased. Importantly, the changes to training and sleep-related factors were associated with mental health outcomes. With spikes in COVID-19 cases rising around the world and governments reinstituting lockdowns (e.g. United Kingdom; Melbourne, Australia; California, USA) these results will inform messaging and strategies to better manage sleep and mental health in a population for whom optimal performance is critical.

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The Effects of Age Stereotypes on Physical and Mental Health Are Mediated by Self-perceptions of Aging

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbaa176 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Allyson Brothers ◽

Anna E Kornadt ◽

Abigail Nehrkorn-Bailey ◽

Hans-Werner Wahl ◽

Manfred Diehl

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Physical Health ◽

Mental Health Outcomes ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Age Stereotypes ◽

Self Perceptions ◽

Age Related ◽

Perceptions Of Aging ◽

Gain And Loss

Abstract Objectives Although the evidence linking views on aging (VoA) with aging outcomes is robust, little is known about how different types of VoA may interact to influence such outcomes. Therefore, this study examined two types of VoA, age stereotypes (AS), representing general VoA, and self-perceptions of aging (SPA), representing personal VoA. We operationalized SPA in terms of awareness of age-related change (AARC), distinguishing between gain- and loss-related SPA (e.g., awareness of positive and negative age-related changes, respectively). Based on theoretical reasoning, we hypothesized that AS would be an antecedent of SPA, and that the effect of AS on physical and mental health would be mediated by SPA. Method A total of 819 German and U.S. adults aged 40–98 completed a survey on VoA, physical health, and mental health at baseline and 2.5 years later. Structural equation modeling with latent variables was used to examine the effects of Time 1 AS (predictor) and Time 2 gain- and loss-related SPA (mediators) on physical and mental health outcomes. Results As hypothesized, AS predicted later SPA. Loss-related SPA mediated the effect of AS on physical health; both gain- and loss-related SPA mediated the effect of AS on mental health. Discussion Congruent with theoretical assumptions, our findings provide empirical support for a directional pathway by which AS shape later SPA. We conclude that AS and SPA may affect physical health outcomes more strongly than mental health outcomes. Studies that assess both types of VoA are needed to illuminate the pathways by which VoA influence aging outcomes.

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Neighborhood Walkability and Physical and Mental Health among Older Adults Living in a Deprived Community

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.2355 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 620-621

Author(s):

Rie Suzuki ◽

Jennifer Blackwood ◽

Shailee Shah ◽

Noah Webster

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Older Adults ◽

Physical Health ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Assistive Device ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Neighborhood Walkability ◽

Walking Programs

Abstract Background Identifying the factors to improve the quality of life (QOL) is vital to decrease morbidity and mortality rates among older adults. Although unfavorable neighborhood features have a significant negative impact on QOL, few studies have investigated these relationships in a deprived community. The purpose of the study was to understand how neighborhood walkability is associated with QOL using the SF-36 among urban-dwelling older adults. Methods This is a cross-sectional survey. Participants were recruited in 2018 and 2019 at regional health clinics in Flint, MI. To be eligible, participants had to be over 65 years old and Flint residents. Results Of the 132 participants, the majority were female (66%), African American (77%), single, divorced, or widowed (75%), and educated below GED level (84%). After adjusting for gender, assistive device use, medication, and the Supplemental Security Income receipt, multiple regression analysis revealed that those with better perceptions of land-mixed use and accessibility within their neighborhood were more likely to have better physical health (β = .36, p<.05). However, the perceptions of greater pedestrian safety were associated with the poor physical and mental health (PCS; β = -0.19, p <.05; MCS; β = -0.25, p < .05). Perceptions of the presence of walking hazards and crime were not significantly associated with QOL. Discussion Findings suggest that neighborhood walkability characteristics are associated with physical health. The development of walking programs with accessible neighborhoods will be urgent to improve the health-related QOL for older adults living in a targeted community.

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Differential Effects of Personal-Level vs Group-Level Racial Discrimination on Health among Black Americans

Ethnicity & Disease ◽

10.18865/ed.26.3.453 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 453 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Nao Hagiwara ◽

Courtney J. Alderson ◽

Briana Mezuk

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Health ◽

Racial Discrimination ◽

Black Americans ◽

The United States ◽

Group Level ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Personal Level

Objective: Racial/ethnic minorities in the United States not only experience discrimination personally but also witness or hear about fellow in-group members experiencing discrimination (ie, group-level discrimination). The objective of our study was to examine whether the effects of group-level discrimination on mental and physical health are different from those of personal level discrimination among Black Americans by drawing upon social psychology research of the Personal/Group Discrimination Discrepancy. Design and Setting: We conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data from a larger study. Participants: One hundred and twenty participants, who self-identified as Black/ African Americans during the laboratory sessions (57.5% women, mean age = 48.97, standard deviation = 8.58) in the parent study, were included in our analyses. Main Predictor Measures: Perceived personal- level discrimination was assessed with five items that were taken from two existing measures, and group-level racial discrimination was assessed with three items. Main Outcome Measures: Self-reported physical and mental health were assessed with a modified version of SF-8. Results: Perceived personal-level racial discrimination was associated with worse mental health. In contrast, perceived group-level racial discrimination was associated with better mental as well as physical health. Conclusions: Perceived group-level racial discrimination may serve as one of several health protective factors even when individuals perceive personal-level racial discrimination. The present findings demonstrate the importance of examining both personal- and group-level experiences of racial discrimination as they independently relate to health outcomes for Black Americans. Ethn Dis. 2016;26:453-460; doi:10.18865/ ed.26.3.453

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Trajectories and personality correlates of change in perceptions of physical and mental health across adulthood and old age

International Journal of Behavioral Development ◽

10.1177/0165025413492605 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 37 (6) ◽

pp. 475-484 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jennifer Morack ◽

Frank J. Infurna ◽

Nilam Ram ◽

Denis Gerstorf

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Health ◽

Old Age ◽

Household Income ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Growth Models ◽

Subjective Health ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Personality Correlates ◽

Age Related

Subjective health is known to predict later outcomes, including survival. However, less is known about subjective health changes across adulthood, how personality moderates those changes, and whether such associations differ with age. We applied growth models to 10 waves of data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey (HILDA, N = 7,172; median ages 20–93) to examine age-related differences in trajectories of subjective physical and mental health. On average, perceptions of physical health declined with increasing steepness in old age, whereas self-rated mental health remained relatively stable across all ages. Higher neuroticism and lower extraversion and conscientiousness were each related to less successful aging. The health implications of personality did not differ by age for physical health, but were weaker for mental health in old age. We discuss implications of our results for accelerated longitudinal designs and consider avenues for future more mechanism-oriented research.

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Perceived Benefits and Harms of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Family Well-Being and Their Sociodemographic Disparities in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18031217 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 1217 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bonny Yee-Man Wong ◽

Tai-Hing Lam ◽

Agnes Yuen-Kwan Lai ◽

Man Ping Wang ◽

Sai-Yin Ho

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Hong Kong ◽

Physical Health ◽

Family Relationships ◽

Family Income ◽

Well Being ◽

Perceived Benefits ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Family Mental Health

We assessed the perceived benefits and harms of COVID-19 on family and their associations with sociodemographic factors in Chinese adults in Hong Kong. We conducted an online population-based survey and collected 4891 responses in 6 days. Prevalence estimates were weighted by sex, age, and education of the general population, and associations were analyzed using logistic regression. Our results showed both perceived benefits: 19.0% for family physical health, 7.2% family mental health, and 13.5% family relationships; and harms: 2.3% for family physical health, 37.9% family mental health, 18.6% family relationships, and 37.8% decreased family income. More female or older respondents reported perceived benefits but fewer of them reported perceived harms. More respondents with higher than lower socioeconomic scores (SES) reported perceived benefits on family physical and mental health and family relationships, but more respondents with lower than higher SES reported perceived harm on family income. As the pandemic continues with uncertainties, further studies on the dynamics of benefits and harms are needed. Urgent and additional assistance to underprivileged families and at-risk individuals are needed to reduce the inequities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Quality of life of patients with knee osteoarthritis

Journal of Patan Academy of Health Sciences ◽

10.3126/jpahs.v5i2.24018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 81-84

Author(s):

Rajani Shrestha

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Knee Osteoarthritis ◽

Physical Health ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional

Introductions: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a non-inflammatory degenerative disorder of the joint. It has negative impact on health related quality of life (QOL), both in physical and mental health. This study aimed to assess QOL of patient with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in outpatient department of orthopedic in Patan hospital, Patan Academy of Health Sciences. Non-probability purposive sampling technique was used. Data was collected from 21st July to 18th August 2017 among 125 knee osteoarthritis patients by face-to-face interview using structured interview. Results: Overall QOL of patients with knee osteoarthritis was good in mental health component mean score (62.09) and poor in physical health with a mean score of (38.18). The physical component of QOL was significantly associated with age (p<0.04) and occupation (p<0.001). There was no association between independent variable and mental component of QOL. Conclusions: The significant proportion of the patients have poor quality of life in physical health component, but majority of patients have good mental health.

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Penggunaan Kontrasepsi Hormonal Berhubungan dengan Penurunan Kualitas Fisik dan Mental Sosial Akseptor

Jurnal Kesehatan Metro Sai Wawai ◽

10.26630/jkm.v10i2.1730 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 90

Author(s):

Martini Martini ◽

Martini Fairus

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Physical Health ◽

Significant Relationship ◽

Hormonal Contraception ◽

Hormonal Contraceptive ◽

Bivariate Analysis ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional

Background: The use of contraceptives that contain synthetic hormones for pregnancy prevention is not without risk. Continuous use for more than 5 years increases the risk of 40%, 10 years 80% and 20 years 160% to get cancer. Purpose: This study aims to determine the relationship of hormonal contraceptive use with physical and mental quality of life. Methods: The study design was cross sectional conducted in September 2017. The study population was hormonal contraceptive users in Metro Selatan Subdistrict, Metro City in 2017 with a total sample of 138 people. Data collected using a questionnaire to obtain hormonal contraceptive acceptor data and quality of life physically and mentally social and bivariate analysis using chi square test. Results: The results showed a significant relationship between hormonal contraception and physical health (p 0.010) and a significant relationship between hormonal contraception and social mental health (p 0.014). Conclusion: The use of hormonal contraception is related to decreased physical health and social mental health. Acceptors using hormonal contraception have lower physical and mental health scores than non-hormonal contraceptive users.

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Differentiating objective and subjective dimensions of social isolation and apprasing their relations with physical and mental health in italian older adults

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-020-01864-6 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Maddalena Fiordelli ◽

Gabriele Sak ◽

Benedetta Guggiari ◽

Peter J. Schulz ◽

Serena Petrocchi

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Health ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Elderly Population ◽

The Elderly ◽

Demographic Variables ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Face To Face

Abstract Background International research shows that social isolation is harmful for health, especially for the elderly. Its objective and subjective dimensions are important to distinguish as each stands in a different relation with health. The first aim of the present study is the validation of three scales measuring objective and subjective isolation in an Italian elderly population. The second aim is to analyze subjective and objective social isolation and to appraise their association with health among seniors. Methods This cross-sectional survey collected data from 306 over 65 s participants. Questionnaires were administered face-to-face by one author and encompassed: social disconnectedness scale; perceived isolation scale; abbreviated Lubben Social Network Scale; measures of general and mental health, and depression. Results The three scales measuring social isolation demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties and validity. Objective and subjective social isolation were not directly associated with physical health, whereas subjective isolation is strongly linked to worse mental health and depression. Higher level of subjective isolation was associated with lower level of physical health through the mediation of mental health. Subjective isolation served as a mediator in the relation between objective isolation and health. Moderation analysis demonstrated that low values of objective isolation predicted high values of mental health but only when subjective isolation was low. None of these relations were moderated by socio-demographic variables. Conclusion Subjective and objective isolation are clearly two separate dimensions and the scales validated in this paper showed to be potentially culturally invariant. Researchers should work to find instruments able to depict the complexity of the construct of social isolation.

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