scholarly journals Associations Between Neighborhood Park Access and Longitudinal Change in Cognition in Older Adults: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Lilah Besser ◽  
Lun-Ching Chang ◽  
Kelly R. Evenson ◽  
Jana Hirsch ◽  
Yvonne Michael ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Cognitive Change ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Effect Modification ◽  
Longitudinal Change ◽  
Ethnic Study ◽  
Interaction Terms ◽  
Global Cognition

Background: Preliminary evidence suggests associations between neighborhood park access and better late-life cognition and reduced Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk. Objective: Examine associations between neighborhood park access and longitudinal change in cognition among U.S. older adults without dementia. Methods: We used 2000–2018 observational data from the population-based, multi-site Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (n = 1,733). Measures included proportion of neighborhood park space (park access), distance to nearest park, and 6-year dichotomous and continuous change in scores on the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI; global cognition) and Digit Symbol Coding task (processing speed). Multivariable random intercept models tested main associations and mediation by depressive symptoms, physical activity, and PM2.5 exposure. Effect modification by race (African Americans/Blacks versus Whites) was tested using interaction terms. Results: Greater park access (equivalent to 10%more in 1/2-mile around home) was associated with maintained/improved CASI score over six years independent of several covariates including individual- and neighborhood-level socioeconomic status (Odds ratio: 1.04; 95%confidence interval: 1.00–1.08). No other associations were observed with the dichotomous or continuous measures of cognitive change and no mediators were found. While a borderline association was seen between greater park access and maintained/improved CASI for African Americans/Blacks but not for Whites, effect modification was not confirmed by testing interaction terms. Conclusion: Neighborhood park access may help maintain/improve late-life global cognition. However, our findings need replication in other population-based studies and regions. Additionally, studies are needed to determine if associations between park access and change in cognition vary by race/ethnicity to inform intervention efforts.

Association of Military Employment With Late-Life Cognitive Decline and Dementia: A Population-Based Prospective Cohort Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melinda C Power ◽  
Alia E Murphy ◽  
Kan Z Gianattasio ◽  
Y i Zhang ◽  
Rod L Walker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Cognitive Change ◽  
Effect Modification ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Loss Of Consciousness ◽  
Increased Risk

ABSTRACT Introduction As the number of U.S. veterans over age 65 has increased, interest in whether military service affects late-life health outcomes has grown. Whether military employment is associated with increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia remains unclear. Materials and Methods We used data from 4,370 participants of the longitudinal Adult Changes in Thought (ACT) cohort study, enrolled at age 65 or older, to examine whether military employment was associated with greater cognitive decline or higher risk of incident dementia in late life. We classified persons as having military employment if their first or second-longest occupation was with the military. Cognitive status was assessed at each biennial Adult Changes in Thought study visit using the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument, scored using item response theory (CASI-IRT). Participants meeting screening criteria were referred for dementia ascertainment involving clinical examination and additional cognitive testing. Primary analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics and APOE genotype. Secondary analyses additionally adjusted for indicators of early-life socioeconomic status and considered effect modification by age, gender, and prior traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness TBI with LOC. Results Overall, 6% of participants had military employment; of these, 76% were males. Military employment was not significantly associated with cognitive change (difference in modeled 10-year cognitive change in CASI-IRT scores in SD units (95% confidence interval [CI]): −0.042 (−0.19, 0.11), risk of dementia (hazard ratio [HR] [95% CI]: 0.92 [0.71, 1.18]), or risk of Alzheimer’s disease dementia (HR [95% CI]: 0.93 [0.70, 1.23]). These results were robust to additional adjustment and sensitivity analyses. There was no evidence of effect modification by age, gender, or traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness. Conclusions Among members of the Adult Changes in Thought cohort, military employment was not associated with increased risk of cognitive decline or dementia. Nevertheless, military veterans face the same high risks for cognitive decline and dementia as other aging adults.

scholarly journals Genetic Risk Factors for Longitudinal Changes in Structural MRI in Former Organolead Workers

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan D. James ◽  
Brian Caffo ◽  
Walter F. Stewart ◽  
David Yousem ◽  
Christos Davatzikos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Brain Volume ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
White Matter Lesions ◽  
Structural Mri ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Effect Modification ◽  
Longitudinal Change ◽  
Brain Volumes

This study examined associations between polymorphisms in three genes, apolipoprotein E (APOE), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), and vitamin D receptor (VDR), and longitudinal change in brain volumes and white matter lesions (WML) as well as effect modification by cardiovascular factors and tibia lead concentrations. Two MRIs, an average of 5 years apart, were obtained for 317 former organolead workers and 45 population-based controls. Both regions-of-interest and voxel-wise analyses were conducted.APOEε3/ε4andε4/ε4genotypes were associated with less decline in white matter volumes. There was some evidence of interaction between genetic polymorphisms and cardiovascular risk factors (ACEand high-density lipoprotein;VDRand diabetes) on brain volume decline. TheVDR FokIff genotype was associated with an increase in WML (no association forAPOEorACE). This study expands our understanding of how genetic precursors of dementia and cardiovascular diseases are related to changes in brain structure.

scholarly journals Could Practices of Remembrance Reduce Social Isolation in Late Life? Ethnographic Evidence From Poland and Detroit

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 668-668
Author(s):  
Jessica Robbins
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Cultural Analysis ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Social Connection ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
The Social ◽  
Ethnographic Data

Abstract Because social isolation can have negative effects on older adults’ wellbeing, programs that reduce social isolation have potential to improve older adults’ wellbeing. One presumed aspect of these programs’ significance is the social connection occurring through the programs themselves. However, drawing on ethnographic data collected in Poland and Detroit, this presentation argues that practices of remembrance, in which older adults connect with deceased kin and loved ones, may offer possibilities for reducing social isolation. In Poland, older adults engage in practices of storytelling in which they remember deceased kin and lost homes and homelands. In Detroit, Michigan, older African Americans who garden remember their deceased kin and friends through the practice of gardening itself. This presentation presents a cross-cultural analysis of how older adults’ practices of remembrance may offer opportunities to reduce social isolation—even for older adults who live alone—by connecting to meaningful relations, times, and places.

scholarly journals Narcissism, Social Encounters, and Mood in Late Life

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 388-388
Author(s):  
Shiyang Zhang ◽  
Yee To Ng ◽  
Karen Fingerman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Interaction Terms ◽  
Social Events ◽  
Social Encounters

Abstract Social contacts have a strong impact on older adult’s well-being. However, narcissism (i.e., feelings of self-importance) may undermine interpersonal connections. Research with young adults has found that being narcissistic may generate feelings of boredom, irritation, and pride because narcissistic young adults oftentimes have difficulty maintaining attention, have greater sensitivity to negative social events (e.g. social rejections), and have an exaggerated sense of self-worth. Yet, we know little about narcissism in late life, particularly in a daily context. This study examined the associations between narcissism, social encounters, and mood (i.e., bored, irritated, lonely, proud) throughout the day. Older adults aged 65 + (N = 307) from the Daily Experiences and Well-being Study completed a measure of narcissism in a baseline interview. Then, in ecological momentary assessments (EMA), they reported social encounters and mood every 3 hours for 5 to 6 days. We found no significant associations between narcissism and number of social encounters throughout the day. Multilevel models revealed that older adults who scored higher on narcissism felt more bored and prouder throughout the day. Interaction terms involving narcissism and social encounters showed that during assessment periods when they had social encounters, participants who scored higher on narcissism reported a similar level of loneliness as when they were alone, whereas their peers who scored lower on narcissism experienced decreases in loneliness. Findings suggest that narcissism does not predict social encounters. However, older adults who are higher in narcissism may be less likely to be influenced by their social encounters.

scholarly journals LONGITUDINAL CHANGE IN AORTIC STIFFNESS MEASURED BY CARDIAC MRI IN MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER ADULTS: THE MULTI-ETHNIC STUDY OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS (MESA)

2015 ◽  
Vol 65 (10) ◽  
pp. A1085
Author(s):  
Yoshiaki Ohyama ◽  
Bharath Ambale Venkatesh ◽  
Chikara Noda ◽  
Gisela Teixido ◽  
Atul Chugh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cardiac Mri ◽  
Aortic Stiffness ◽  
Longitudinal Change ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Ethnic Study

scholarly journals Relationship Between Depression/Anxiety and Cognitive Function Before and 6 Weeks After Major Non-Cardiac Surgery in Older Adults

2020 ◽  
pp. 089198872097879
Author(s):  
Deborah M. Oyeyemi ◽  
Mary Cooter ◽  
Stacey Chung ◽  
Heather E. Whitson ◽  
Jeffrey N. Browndyke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cardiac Surgery ◽  
Cognitive Change ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Cognitive Testing ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Postoperative Changes ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Observational Prospective Cohort Study ◽  
Global Cognition

Objective: To determine the relationship between affective measures and cognition before and after non-cardiac surgery in older adults. Methods: Observational prospective cohort study in 103 surgical patients age ≥ 60 years old. All participants underwent cognitive testing, Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression, and State Anxiety Inventory screening before and 6 weeks after surgery. Cognitive test scores were combined by factor analysis into 4 cognitive domains, whose mean was defined as the continuous cognitive index (CCI). Postoperative global cognitive change was defined by CCI change from before to after surgery, with negative CCI change indicating worsened postoperative global cognition and vice versa. Results: Lower global cognition before surgery was associated with greater baseline depression severity (Spearman’s r = −0.30, p = 0.002) and baseline anxiety severity (Spearman’s r = −0.25, p = 0.010), and these associations were similar following surgery (r = −0.36, p < 0.001; r = −0.26, p = 0.008, respectively). Neither baseline depression or anxiety severity, nor postoperative changes in depression or anxiety severity, were associated with pre- to postoperative global cognitive change. Conclusions: Greater depression and anxiety severity were each associated with poorer cognitive performance both before and after surgery in older adults. Yet, neither baseline depression or anxiety symptoms, nor postoperative change in these symptoms, were associated with postoperative cognitive change.

Involuntary Weight Loss and Late-Life Depression in Korean Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youngyun JIN ◽  
Jinkyung CHO ◽  
Inhwan LEE ◽  
Soohyun PARK ◽  
Donghyun KIM ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Late Life Depression ◽  
Weight Loss Group ◽  
Prognostic Importance ◽  
Activity Dependent ◽  
Involuntary Weight Loss

Background: To investigate the association between involuntary weight loss (IWL) and late-life depression (LLD) in a population-based cohort study. Methods: Data (N=6945) obtained from the 2008 baseline and 2011 follow-up assessments of the Living Profiles of Older People Survey in Korea were used. Changed body weight between the 2008 and 2011 was classified into stable weight (<-5% ~ <+5%), lightweight loss (≥-5% ~ <-10%), moderate weight loss (≥-10%), lightweight gain (+≥5 ~ <+10%), and moderate weight gain (≥+10%). Results: Compared to the stable weight group, the moderate weight loss group had a higher risk of LLD (odds ratio=1.99, 95% confidence interval=1.61-2.46, P<0.001) even after adjustments for covariates, including age, BMI, education, income, life of solitude, smoking, physical activity, dependent aging, comorbidity, and cognitive function. Conclusion: IWL is significantly associated with LLD in Korean older adults, implying the prognostic importance of IWL for presenting mental health issues later in life.

scholarly journals Physical Activity and Trajectory of Cognitive Change in Older Persons: Mayo Clinic Study of Aging

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 377-388
Author(s):  
Janina Krell-Roesch ◽  
Jeremy A. Syrjanen ◽  
Jelena Bezold ◽  
Sandra Trautwein ◽  
Bettina Barisch-Fritz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Mayo Clinic ◽  
Reference Group ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Neuropsychological Testing ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Cognitive Change ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Global Cognition ◽  
Clinic Study

Background: Little is known about the association between physical activity (PA) and cognitive trajectories in older adults. Objective: To examine the association between PA and change in memory, language, attention, visuospatial skills, and global cognition, and a potential impact of sex or Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ4 status. Methods: Longitudinal study derived from the population-based Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, including 2,060 cognitively unimpaired males and females aged ≥70 years. Engagement in midlife (ages 50–65) and late-life (last year) PA was assessed using a questionnaire. Neuropsychological testing was done every 15 months (mean follow-up 5.8 years). We ran linear mixed-effect models to examine whether mid- or late-life PA at three intensities (mild, moderate, vigorous) was associated with cognitive z-scores. Results: Light intensity midlife PA was associated with less decline in memory function compared to the no-PA reference group (time x light PA; estimate [standard error] 0.047 [0.016], p = 0.004). Vigorous late-life PA was associated with less decline in language (0.033 [0.015], p = 0.030), attention (0.032 [0.017], p = 0.050), and global cognition (0.039 [0.016], p = 0.012). Females who were physically inactive in midlife experienced more pronounced cognitive decline than females physically active in midlife and males regardless of PA (p-values for time interaction terms with midlife PA levels and sex were all p < 0.05 for global cognition). APOE ɛ4 carriership did not moderate the association between PA and cognition. Conclusion: Engaging in PA, particularly of vigorous intensity in late-life, was associated with less pronounced decline in global and domain-specific cognition. This association may differ by sex.

scholarly journals The relationship of Careers with People Interactions and Volunteering Between Gender-racial Groups in Late-life

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 695-695
Author(s):  
Patrick Ho Lam Lai
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Older Men ◽  
The United States ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
Human Interactions ◽  
Asian Men ◽  
Older African Americans ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Prior research showed that ethnic minorities in late-life tended to participate less in volunteering, compared to Whites. Older women, in general, spent more time volunteering than older men in the United States. Previous studies showed that occupational statuses, but have not yet discussed occupation categories, affected older adults' volunteering. The Current Population Survey dataset was utilized in this study to explore the relationship between careers with or without people interactions and volunteering of Americans aged 50 to 85 in an intersectionality lens. Regarding races, older African Americans who worked in occupations requiring human interactions, had almost double volunteering rate than those occupations not requiring these interactions. In respect of genders, compared to older men who worked in jobs requiring human interactions, the volunteer rate of those not requiring human interactions was 81% less. Either older African Americans or older men had more associations between their human interactions in career and their volunteering rate, than other racial groups or gender groups individually. Considering races and genders together, comparing to older Asian men who worked in fields needed interactions with others, the volunteering rate of those who did not work in these fields was 52% less. The association of older Asian men between fields requiring human interactions and volunteering rate was the least, among various gender-racial subgroups. Older adults with different racial-gender identities may face varying experiences in different types of occupations. Social and cultural factors among these identities are discussed to better understand the relationships between careers and volunteering in late-life.

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