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Walsemann KM, Jackson H, Abbruzzi E, Ailshire JA. State-Level Education Quality and Trajectories of Cognitive Function by Race and Educational Attainment. Milbank Q 2024. [PMID: 38984387 DOI: 10.1111/1468-0009.12709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Policy Points Education-cognition research overlooks the role of education quality in shaping cognitive function at midlife and older ages, even though quality may be more responsive to federal and state investment in public schooling than attainment. For older US adults who attended school during the early to mid-20th century, the quality of US education improved considerably as federal and state investment increased. Ensuring access to high-quality primary and secondary education may protect against poor cognitive function at midlife and older ages, particularly among Black Americans and persons who complete less education. It may also play an important role in reducing health inequities. CONTEXT Although educational attainment is consistently associated with better cognitive function among older adults, we know little about how education quality is related to cognitive function. This is a key gap in the literature given that the quality of US education improved considerably during the early to mid-20th century as state and federal investment increased. We posit that growing up in states with higher-quality education systems may protect against poor cognitive function, particularly among Black adults and adults who completed fewer years of school. METHODS We used prospective data on cognitive function from the Health and Retirement Study linked to historical data on state investment in public schools, restricting our sample to non-Hispanic White and Black adults born between 1914 and 1959 (19,096 White adults and 4,625 Black adults). Using race-stratified linear mixed models, we considered if state-level education quality was associated with level and decline in cognitive function and if these patterns differed by years of schooling and race. FINDINGS Residing in states with higher-resourced education systems during childhood was associated with better cognitive function, particularly among those who completed less than 12 years of schooling, regardless of race. For White adults, higher-resourced state education systems were associated with higher scores of total cognitive function and episodic memory, but there were diminishing returns as resources increased to very high levels. For Black adults, the relationship between state education resources and cognitive function varied by age with positive associations in midlife and generally null or negative associations at the oldest ages. CONCLUSIONS Federal and state investment in public schools may provide students with opportunities to develop important cognitive resources during schooling that translate into better cognitive function in later life, especially among marginalized populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina M Walsemann
- School of Public Policy, University of Maryland
- Maryland Population Research Center, University of Maryland
| | - Heide Jackson
- Maryland Population Research Center, University of Maryland
| | - Emily Abbruzzi
- School of Public Policy, University of Maryland
- Maryland Population Research Center, University of Maryland
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Portela Hara AC, Aching NC, Marques LM, Barbosa SP, Souza DR, Fregni F, Battistella LR, Simis M. The role of clinical and demographic predictors for understanding the cognitive impairment in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) patients. Spinal Cord 2024; 62:336-342. [PMID: 38609569 DOI: 10.1038/s41393-024-00986-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Using a cross-sectional design, we extracted sociodemographic and clinical data from 488 Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) patients during their initial assessment before receiving intensive rehabilitation treatment. OBJECTIVES The primary objectives of this study were to ascertain the prevalence of cognitive impairment in the study sample and specify the key clinical and demographic predictors of cognitive functioning in SCI patients. SETTING Lucy Montoro Rehabilitation Institute (LMRI), University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. METHODS We utilized independent univariate and multivariate regression models with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale, adapted for individuals with visual impairment. Moreover, we consider scores from the execution tasks (visuospatial/executive) as the dependent variable. RESULTS Our findings demonstrate that approximately 80% of the evaluated study sample exhibited cognitive impairment. Through the multivariate regression models, we show that several factors, including age, education, depression levels, and the use of analgesics and/or opioids, are significant predictors of total cognitive scores. These factors are independent of the clinical features associated with SCI, such as age, sex, education, and time since the injury. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate a high prevalence of significant cognitive impairment within the sample, with age, education, depression levels, and the use of analgesics and/or opioids emerging as the primary predictors of total cognitive scores, independent of the clinical features correlated to SCI. These findings hold significant implications for both clinical research and practice, offering valuable guidance for comprehensive management throughout hospitalization and rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Clara Portela Hara
- Instituto de Medicina Física e Reabilitação, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Nicole C Aching
- Instituto de Medicina Física e Reabilitação, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Lucas M Marques
- Mental Health Department, Santa Casa of Sao Paulo Medical Science School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sara P Barbosa
- Instituto de Medicina Física e Reabilitação, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Daniel R Souza
- Instituto de Medicina Física e Reabilitação, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Felipe Fregni
- Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Linamara R Battistella
- Instituto de Medicina Física e Reabilitação, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Departamento de Medicina Legal, Bioética, Medicina do Trabalho e Medicina Física e Reabilitação, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcel Simis
- Instituto de Medicina Física e Reabilitação, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
- Departamento de Medicina Legal, Bioética, Medicina do Trabalho e Medicina Física e Reabilitação, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Litkouhi PN, Numbers K, Valenzuela M, Crawford JD, Lam BCP, Litkouhi PN, Sachdev PS, Kochan NA, Brodaty H. Critical periods for cognitive reserve building activities for late life global cognition and cognitive decline: the Sydney memory and aging cohort study. NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENT, AND COGNITION. SECTION B, AGING, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2024; 31:387-403. [PMID: 36852741 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2023.2181941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive, social, and physical activities, collectively linked to cognitive reserve, are associated with better late-life cognitive outcomes. To better understand the building of cognitive reserve, we investigated which of these activities, during which stages of life, had the strongest associations with late-life cognitive performance. From the Sydney Memory and Aging Study, 546 older Australians, who were community-dwelling and without a dementia diagnosis at recruitment (Mage 80.13 years, 52.2% female), were asked about their engagement in social, physical, and cognitive activities throughout young adulthood (YA), midlife (ML), and late-life (LL). Comprehensive neuropsychological testing administered biennially over 6 years measured baseline global cognition and cognitive decline. In our study, YA, but not ML nor LL, cognitive activity was significantly associated with late-life global cognition (β = 0.315, p < .001). A follow-up analysis pointed to the formal education component of the YA cognitive activity measure, rather than YA cognitive leisure activities, as a significant predictor of better late-life global cognition (β = 0.146, p = .003). YA social activity and LL cognitive activity were significantly associated with less cognitive decline (β = 0.023, p < .001, and β = 0.016, p = .022, respectively). Physical activity was not found to be associated with global cognition or cognitive decline. Overall, YA cognitive activity was associated with better late-life cognition, and YA social and LL cognitive activities were associated with less cognitive decline. Formal education emerges as the key contributor in the association between YA cognitive activity and late-life global cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Princess Neila Litkouhi
- Centre for Healthy Brain Aging (CHeBA), Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia
| | - Katya Numbers
- Centre for Healthy Brain Aging (CHeBA), Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia
| | | | - John D Crawford
- Centre for Healthy Brain Aging (CHeBA), Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia
| | - Ben C P Lam
- Centre for Healthy Brain Aging (CHeBA), Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Perminder S Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Aging (CHeBA), Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia
| | - Nicole A Kochan
- Centre for Healthy Brain Aging (CHeBA), Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia
| | - Henry Brodaty
- Centre for Healthy Brain Aging (CHeBA), Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia
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Wang J, Lu J, He M, Song Z, Dong L, Tang H, Wang Y, Zhou Z. Linear brain measurement: a new screening method for cognitive impairment in elderly patients with cerebral small vessel disease. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1297076. [PMID: 38318441 PMCID: PMC10840835 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1297076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The old adults have high incidence of cognitive impairment, especially in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Cognitive impairment is not easy to be detected in such populations. We aimed to develop clinical prediction models for different degrees of cognitive impairments in elderly CSVD patients based on conventional imaging and clinical data to determine the better indicators for assessing cognitive function in the CSVD elderly. Methods 210 CSVD patients were screened out by the evaluation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Then, participants were divided into the following three groups according to the cognitive assessment results: control, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia groups. Clinical data were collected from all patients, including demographic data, biochemical indicators, carotid ultrasound, transcranial Doppler (TCD) indicators, and linear measurement parameters based on MRI. Results Our results showed that the brain atrophy and vascular lesions developed progressive worsening with increased degree of cognitive impairment. Crouse score and Interuncal distance/Bitemporal distance (IUD/BTD) were independent risk factors for MCI in CSVD patients, and independent risk factors for dementia in CSVD were Crouse Score, the pulsatility index of the middle cerebral artery (MCAPI), IUD/BTD, and Sylvian fissure ratio (SFR). Overall, the parameters with high performance were the IUD/BTD (OR 2.28; 95% CI 1.26-4.10) and SFR (OR 3.28; 95% CI 1.54-6.91), and the AUC (area under the curve) in distinguishing between CSVD older adults with MCI and with dementia was 0.675 and 0.724, respectively. Linear brain measurement parameters had larger observed effect than other indexes to identify cognitive impairments in CSVD patients. Conclusion This study shows that IUD/BTD and SFR are good predictors of cognitive impairments in CSVD elderly. Linear brain measurement showed a good predictive power for identifying MCI and dementia in elderly subjects with CSVD. Linear brain measurement could be a more suitable and novel method for screening cognitive impairment in aged CSVD patients in primary healthcare facilities, and worth further promotion among the rural population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Department of Geratology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jinhua Lu
- Department of Geratology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Mingqing He
- Department of Geratology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ziyang Song
- Department of Radiology, Dushu Lake Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Lingyan Dong
- Department of Geratology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Haiying Tang
- Department of Geratology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yueju Wang
- Department of Geratology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Zheping Zhou
- Department of Geratology, Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Nantong University, Changshu, China
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Allen AT, Cole WR, Walton SR, Kerr ZY, Chandran A, Mannix R, Guskiewicz KM, Meehan WP, Echemendia RJ, McCrea MA, Brett BL. Subjective and Performance-Based Cognition and Their Associations with Head Injury History in Older Former National Football League Players. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2023; 55:2170-2179. [PMID: 37443456 PMCID: PMC10787800 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000003256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Investigate the association between self-reported subjective and performance-based cognition among older (50-70 years) former professional American football players, as well as the relationship of cognitive measures with concussion history and years of football participation, as a proxy for repetitive head impact exposure. METHODS Among older former National Football League (NFL) players ( N = 172; mean age = 60.69 ± 5.64), associations of subjective (Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Cognitive Function-Short Form) and performance-based cognitive measures (Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone [BTACT] Executive Function and Episodic Memory indices) were assessed via univariable and multivariable regression models, with a priori covariates of depression and race. A similar univariate and multivariable regression approach assessed associations between concussion history and years of football participation with subjective and performance-based cognitive measures. In a sample subset ( n = 114), stability of subjective cognitive rating was assessed via partial correlation. RESULTS Subjective ratings of cognition were significantly associated with performance-based assessment, with moderate effect sizes (episodic memory ηp2 = 0.12; executive function ηp2 = 0.178). These associations were weakened, but remained significant ( P s < 0.05), with the inclusion of covariates. Greater concussion history was associated with lower subjective cognitive function ( ηp2 = 0.114, P < 0.001), but not performance-based cognition. The strength of association between concussion history and subjective cognition was substantially weakened with inclusion of covariates ( ηp2 = 0.057). Years of participation were not associated with measures of subjective or objective cognition ( P s > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS These findings reinforce the importance of comprehensive evaluation reflecting both subjective and objective measures of cognition, as well as the consideration of patient-specific factors, as part of a comprehensive neurobehavioral and health assessment of older former contact sport athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T. Allen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI
| | - Wesley R. Cole
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Samuel R. Walton
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
| | - Zachary Yukio Kerr
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Avinash Chandran
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
- Datalys Center for Sports Injury Research and Prevention, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Rebekah Mannix
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Kevin M. Guskiewicz
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - William P. Meehan
- Sports Medicine Division, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatrics and Orthopedics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Ruben J. Echemendia
- Psychological and Neurobehavioral Associates, Inc, State College, PA
- University Orthopedics Center Concussion Clinic, State College, PA
| | - Michael A. McCrea
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI
| | - Benjamin L. Brett
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI
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Walsemann KM, Hair NL, Farina MP, Tyagi P, Jackson H, Ailshire JA. State-level desegregation in the U.S. South and mid-life cognitive function among Black and White adults. Soc Sci Med 2023; 338:116319. [PMID: 37871395 PMCID: PMC10872867 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Black adults experience worse cognitive function than their White peers. Although educational attainment is an important predictor of cognitive function, other aspects of education, including school desegregation, may also shape this relationship. For Black adults who grew up in the U.S. South in the 1950s-1970s, exposure to school desegregation may have altered life course pathways critical for later cognitive function. OBJECTIVE We determined if state variation in exposure to school desegregation in the U.S. South was associated with cognitive function at mid-life, if the association varied by race, and if the association remained after adjustment for state-level education quality and respondents' educational attainment. METHODS We linked historical data on state-level school desegregation to the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults aged 50 and older. We restricted our sample to Black (n = 1443) and White (n = 1507) adults born between 1948 and 1963 who resided in the U.S. South during primary school. We assessed three cognition outcomes: total cognitive function, episodic memory, and mental status. We estimated race-stratified linear regression models with cluster adjustment and a final model using state fixed effects. RESULTS Greater exposure to desegregated primary schooling was associated with higher cognitive function and episodic memory among Black but not White adults. Among Black adults, the association between school desegregation and cognitive function and episodic memory remained after adjustment for state-level education quality and educational attainment. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that state-level school desegregation efforts played a consequential role in shaping the cognitive function of Black adults who grew up in the U.S. South.
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Bodryzlova Y, Kim A, Michaud X, André C, Bélanger E, Moullec G. Social class and the risk of dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prospective longitudinal studies. Scand J Public Health 2023; 51:1122-1135. [PMID: 35815546 PMCID: PMC10642219 DOI: 10.1177/14034948221110019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The association between belonging to a disadvantaged socio-economic status or social class and health outcomes has been consistently documented during recent decades. However, a meta-analysis quantifying the association between belonging to a lower social class and the risk of dementia has yet to be performed. In the present work, we sought to summarise the results of prospective, longitudinal studies on this topic. METHODS We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective, longitudinal studies measuring the association between indicators of social class and the risk of all-cause/Alzheimer's dementia. The search was conducted in four databases (Medline, Embase, Web of Science and PsychInfo). Inclusion criteria for this systematic review and meta-analysis were: (a) longitudinal prospective study, (b) aged ⩾60 years at baseline, (c) issued from the general population, (d) no dementia at baseline and (e) mention of social class as exposure. Exclusion criteria were: (a) study of rare dementia types (e.g. frontotemporal dementia), (b) abstract-only papers and (c) articles without full text available. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the risk of bias in individual studies. We calculated the overall pooled relative risk of dementia for different social class indicators, both crude and adjusted for sex, age and the year of the cohort start. RESULTS Out of 4548 screened abstracts, 15 were included in the final analysis (76,561 participants, mean follow-up 6.7 years (2.4-25 years), mean age at baseline 75.1 years (70.6-82.1 years), mean percentage of women 58%). Social class was operationalised as levels of education, occupational class, income level, neighbourhood disadvantage and wealth. Education (relative risk (RR)=2.48; confidence interval (CI) 1.71-3.59) and occupational class (RR=2.09; CI 1.18-3.69) but not income (RR=1.28; CI 0.81-2.04) were significantly associated with the risk of dementia in the adjusted model. Some of the limitations of this study are the inclusion of studies predominantly conducted in high-income countries and the exclusion of social mobility in our analysis. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that there is a significant association between belonging to a social class and the risk of dementia, with education and occupation being the most relevant indicators of social class regarding this risk. Studying the relationship between belonging to a disadvantaged social class and dementia risk might be a fruitful path to diminishing the incidence of dementia over time. However, a narrow operationalisation of social class that only includes education, occupation and income may reduce the potential for such studies to inform social policies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexie Kim
- École de santé publique de l’Université de Montréal, Canada
| | - Xavier Michaud
- Center for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux Du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montréal, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Canada
| | - Claire André
- Center for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux Du Nord-de-l’île-de-Montréal, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Université de Montréal, Canada
| | | | - Grégory Moullec
- École de santé publique de l’Université de Montréal, Canada
- Centre de recherche CIUSSS du Nord-de-l’Ile-de-Montréal, Canada
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Cao K, Hao J, Wang NL. Visual impairment as a risk factor of cognitive function impairment A six-year cohort study. Eur J Ophthalmol 2023; 33:2146-2153. [PMID: 37070140 DOI: 10.1177/11206721231169613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To explore whether baseline visual impairment (VI) increases the risk of cognitive function impairment (CFI). METHODS We conducted a population-based cohort study, with a six-year follow-up period. The exposure factor of interest in this study was VI. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to assess participants' cognitive function. The Logistic regression model was used to investigate whether baseline VI had an effect on CFI. Confounding factors were adjusted in the regression model. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to quantify the effect of VI on CFI. RESULTS A total of 3297 participants were included in the present study. The mean age of included participants was 58.5 ± 7.2 years. Male accounted for 1480 (44.9%) of all participants. At baseline, 127 (3.9%) of the participants had VI. The MMSE score of participants who had VI at baseline decreased by 1.7 ± 3.3 points on average during the six-year follow-up, and that of participants who had no VI at baseline decreased by 1.1 ± 3.3 points on average. The difference was significant (t = 2.03, p = 0.040). Results of the multivariable Logistic regression model showed that VI was a risk factor for CFI, with an OR of 1.052 (95%CI: 1.014 to 1.092, p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS Averagely, participants with VI experienced a decline in cognitive function 0.1 points faster per year than participants without VI, as measured by MMSE score. VI is an independent risk factor for CFI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Cao
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Hao
- Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ning-Li Wang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Palms JD, Zaheed AB, Morris EP, Martino A, Meister L, Sol K, Zahodne LB. Links between early-life contextual factors and later-life cognition and the role of educational attainment. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2023; 29:734-741. [PMID: 36537155 PMCID: PMC10279802 DOI: 10.1017/s135561772200090x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Educational attainment is a well-documented predictor of later-life cognition, but less is known about upstream contextual factors. This study aimed to identify which early-life contextual factors uniquely predict later-life global cognition and whether educational attainment mediates these relationships. METHOD Participants were drawn from the Michigan Cognitive Aging Project (N = 485; Mage = 63.51; SDage = 3.13; 50% non-Hispanic Black). Early-life exposures included U.S. region of elementary school (Midwest, South, Northeast), average parental education, household composition (number of adults (1, 2, 3+), number of children), school racial demographics (predominantly White, predominantly Black, diverse), self-reported educational quality, and school type (public/private). Later-life global cognition was operationalized with a factor score derived from a comprehensive neuropsychological battery. Sequential mediation models controlling for sociodemographics estimated total, direct, and indirect effects of early-life contextual factors on cognition through educational attainment (years). RESULTS Higher educational quality, higher parental education, and attending a private school were each associated with better cognition; attending a predominantly Black or diverse school and reporting three or more adults in the household were associated with lower cognition. After accounting for educational attainment, associations remained for educational quality, school type, and reporting three or more adults in the household. Indirect effects through educational attainment were observed for school region, educational quality, school racial demographics, and parental education. CONCLUSIONS School factors appear to consistently predict later-life cognition more than household factors, highlighting the potential long-term benefits of school-level interventions for cognitive aging. Future research should consider additional mediators beyond educational attainment such as neighborhood resources and childhood adversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan D Palms
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Afsara B Zaheed
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Emily P Morris
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Alexa Martino
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lindsey Meister
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ketlyne Sol
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Laura B Zahodne
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Clay OJ, Ball KK, Wheeler KM, Crowe M, Marsiske M, Dean LT, Thorpe RJ, Jones R, Owens JH, Rebok GW, Willis SL. Evaluating Social Determinants of Health Domains and Their Predictive Validity Within Black/African American and White Older Adults From the ACTIVE Trial. J Aging Health 2023; 35:11S-18S. [PMID: 35758171 DOI: 10.1177/08982643221111205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess domains of social determinants of health (SDoH) and their associations with cognition and quality of life. METHOD This investigation uses baseline data from individuals participating in the ACTIVE trial (n = 2505) to reproduce the SDoH domains described in Healthy People 2030 (economic stability, health care, education, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context). Results: Results support using data from the ACTIVE trial to assess all five SDoH domains, and the ability of the composites to predict baseline performance on measures of cognition and self-reported quality of life within a sample of older adults. Additionally, higher SDoH domain scores were associated with better functioning on composite measures of cognition and higher scores for mental and general health-related quality of life with Access to Healthcare associated with all outcomes. Discussion: These findings can inform investigators interested in assessing multiple domains of SDoH and highlight the importance of access to health care within older Black/African American and White older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivio J Clay
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, Al, USA
- Deep South Resource Center for Minority Aging Research, Birmingham, Al, USA
- UAB Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Birmingham, Al, USA
| | - Karlene K Ball
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, Al, USA
- Deep South Resource Center for Minority Aging Research, Birmingham, Al, USA
| | - Katie M Wheeler
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, Al, USA
| | - Michael Crowe
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, Al, USA
- Deep South Resource Center for Minority Aging Research, Birmingham, Al, USA
| | - Michael Marsiske
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Lorraine T Dean
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Roland J Thorpe
- Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Johns Hopkins Alzheimer's Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Richard Jones
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavioral, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Joshua H Owens
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - George W Rebok
- Johns Hopkins Alzheimer's Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Johns Hopkins Center on Aging and Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sherry L Willis
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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11
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Gonçalves NG, Avila JC, Bertola L, Obregón AM, Ferri CP, Wong R, Suemoto CK. Education and cognitive function among older adults in Brazil and Mexico. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 15:e12470. [PMID: 37771429 PMCID: PMC10523452 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Education is protective against cognitive impairment. We used nationally representative data from Mexico and Brazil to assess the association between education and cognitive function. The sample included adults ≥ 50 years from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI) and the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS). Participants were classified as cognitively impaired or not impaired. We used logistic regression models to estimate the association between education and cognitive function. Education level was higher in MHAS than in ELSI. Participants with at least 1 year of education were less likely to have cognitive impairment than those with no formal education in both cohorts. Men in ELSI had higher odds for cognitive impairment compared to men in MHAS. In both cohorts, higher educational level was associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment compared to no formal education. Sex was an effect modifier in MHAS but not in ELSI. HIGHLIGHTS Cognitive test batteries were harmonized using a regression-based approach.Even very low levels of education were associated with reduced odds of cognitive impairment compared to no formal education.Brazilians were more likely to have cognitive impairment than Mexicans given the same education level.The differences in the association of education with cognition between Brazil and Mexico were only observed among men.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laiss Bertola
- Department of PsychiatryFederal University of São Paulo, São PaoloSão PauloBrazil
| | | | | | - Rebeca Wong
- Sealy Center on AgingUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
| | - Claudia Kimie Suemoto
- Division of GeriatricsUniversity of São Paulo Medical SchoolSão PauloSão PauloBrazil
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Higgins Tejera C, Ware EB, Kobayashi LC, Fu M, Hicken M, Zawistowski M, Mukherjee B, Bakulski KM. Decomposing interaction and mediating effects of race/ethnicity and circulating blood levels of cystatin C on cognitive status in the United States health and retirement study. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1052435. [PMID: 37323925 PMCID: PMC10267311 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1052435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and objectives Elevated circulating cystatin C is associated with cognitive impairment in non-Hispanic Whites, but its role in racial disparities in dementia is understudied. In a nationally representative sample of older non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic adults in the United States, we use mediation-interaction analysis to understand how racial disparities in the cystatin C physiological pathway may contribute to racial disparities in prevalent dementia. Methods In a pooled cross-sectional sample of the Health and Retirement Study (n = 9,923), we employed Poisson regression to estimate prevalence ratios and to test the relationship between elevated cystatin C (>1.24 vs. ≤1.24 mg/L) and impaired cognition, adjusted for demographics, behavioral risk factors, other biomarkers, and chronic conditions. Self-reported racialized social categories were a proxy measure for exposure to racism. We calculated additive interaction measures and conducted four-way mediation-interaction decomposition analysis to test the moderating effect of race/ethnicity and mediating effect of cystatin C on the racial disparity. Results Overall, elevated cystatin C was associated with dementia (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.2; 95% CI: 1.0, 1.5). Among non-Hispanic Black relative to non-Hispanic White participants, the relative excess risk due to interaction was 0.7 (95% CI: -0.1, 2.4), the attributable proportion was 0.1 (95% CI: -0.2, 0.4), and the synergy index was 1.1 (95% CI: 0.8, 1.8) in a fully adjusted model. Elevated cystatin C was estimated to account for 2% (95% CI: -0, 4%) for the racial disparity in prevalent dementia, and the interaction accounted for 8% (95% CI: -5, 22%). Analyses for Hispanic relative to non-white participants suggested moderation by race/ethnicity, but not mediation. Discussion Elevated cystatin C was associated with dementia prevalence. Our mediation-interaction decomposition analysis suggested that the effect of elevated cystatin C on the racial disparity might be moderated by race/ethnicity, which indicates that the racialization process affects not only the distribution of circulating cystatin C across minoritized racial groups, but also the strength of association between the biomarker and dementia prevalence. These results provide evidence that cystatin C is associated with adverse brain health and this effect is larger than expected for individuals racialized as minorities had they been racialized and treated as non-Hispanic White.
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Affiliation(s)
- César Higgins Tejera
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Erin B. Ware
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Lindsay C. Kobayashi
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Mingzhou Fu
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Margaret Hicken
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Matthew Zawistowski
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Bhramar Mukherjee
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Kelly M. Bakulski
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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Seblova D, Eng C, Avila‐Rieger JF, Dworkin JD, Peters K, Lapham S, Zahodne LB, Chapman B, Prescott CA, Gruenewald TL, Arpawong TE, Gatz M, Jones RJ, Glymour MM, Manly JJ. High school quality is associated with cognition 58 years later. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 15:e12424. [PMID: 37144175 PMCID: PMC10152568 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
We leveraged a unique school-based longitudinal cohort-the Project Talent Aging Study-to examine whether attending higher quality schools is associated with cognitive performance among older adults in the United States (mean age = 74.8). Participants (n = 2,289) completed telephone neurocognitive testing. Six indicators of high school quality, reported by principals at the time of schooling, were predictors of respondents' cognitive function 58 years later. To account for school-clustering, multilevel linear and logistic models were applied. We found that attending schools with a higher number of teachers with graduate training was the clearest predictor of later-life cognition, and school quality mattered especially for language abilities. Importantly, Black respondents (n = 239; 10.5 percentage) were disproportionately exposed to low quality high schools. Therefore, increased investment in schools, especially those that serve Black children, could be a powerful strategy to improve later life cognitive health among older adults in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Seblova
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of NeurologyColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Second Faculty of MedicineCharles University PraguePragueCzech Republic
| | - Chloe Eng
- University of California San FranciscoDepartment of Epidemiology and BiostatisticsSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Justina F. Avila‐Rieger
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of NeurologyColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | | | - Kelly Peters
- American Institutes for ResearchWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Susan Lapham
- American Institutes for ResearchWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Margaret Gatz
- University of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Rich J. Jones
- Brown UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry and Human Behavior & Department of NeurologyProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - Maria M. Glymour
- University of California San FranciscoDepartment of Epidemiology and BiostatisticsSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jennifer J. Manly
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, The Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Department of NeurologyColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
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Nyenhuis DL, Reckow J. Office- and Bedside-based Screening for Cognitive Impairment and the Dementias: Which Tools to Use, Interpreting the Results, and What Are the Next Steps? Clin Geriatr Med 2023; 39:15-25. [PMID: 36404027 DOI: 10.1016/j.cger.2022.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Elderly patients and their families are concerned about the patients' cognitive abilities, and cognitive screening is an efficient diagnostic tool, as long as clinicians administer the screens in a standardized manner and interpret the screen results accurately. The following brief summary reviews commonly used screening instruments and provides information about how to interpret screening test results. It concludes by showing how cognitive screening fits into a four-step process (Education, Screening, Follow-up, and Referral) of how to respond to patients with cognitive concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Nyenhuis
- Neuropsychology Section, Hauenstein Neuroscience Center, Mercy Health of West Michigan, 220 Cherry Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA.
| | - Jaclyn Reckow
- Department of Psychology, LCC International University, Kretingos g. 36, Klaipeda, Lithuania
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15
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Nascimento MDM, Kliegel M, Silva PST, Rios PMB, Nascimento LDS, Silva CN, Ihle A. The Association of Obesity and Overweight with Executive Functions in Community-Dwelling Older Women. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2440. [PMID: 36767806 PMCID: PMC9915331 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Among the risk factors reported for cognitive decline, the literature highlights changes in body composition. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between obesity/overweight and executive functions in cognitively normal older adult women. This cross-sectional study included 224 individuals (60-80 years), stratified into normal weight (n = 45), overweight (n = 98), and obesity (n = 81). As outcomes, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and Trail Making Test Parts A and B were assessed. We found positive correlations of BMI and WC with completion times of TMT-A and TMT-B, and a negative correlation of BMI and WC with education. ANCOVA showed an association between higher BMI and slower completion time of TMT-A, TMT-B, and ΔTMT (B-A). Impairment of executive functions of cognitively normal older women may be positively associated with obesity and negatively associated with years of education. The findings may contribute to designing strategies that make it possible to prevent cognitive decline in women during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo de Maio Nascimento
- Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina 56304-917, Brazil
| | - Matthias Kliegel
- Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES—Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paloma Sthefane Teles Silva
- Multiprofessional Residence, Hospital das Clínicas of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30130-100, Brazil
| | | | - Lara dos Santos Nascimento
- Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina 56304-917, Brazil
| | | | - Andreas Ihle
- Department of Psychology, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES—Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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16
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Mehdipanah R, Briceño EM, Heeringa SG, Gonzales XF, Levine DA, Langa KM, Garcia N, Longoria R, Chang W, Morgenstern LB. Neighborhood SES and Cognitive Function Among Hispanic/Latinx Residents: Why Where You Live Matters. Am J Prev Med 2022; 63:574-581. [PMID: 35691843 PMCID: PMC10662479 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2022.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Few studies have examined the impacts of neighborhood SES and individual ethnicity and SES characteristics on cognitive function in aging populations. Hispanics/Latinx are more likely to have cognitive impairment and be community dwellers than non-Hispanic Whites. Neighborhood factors can have greater impacts on the relationship between Hispanics/Latinx and cognitive function. This study examines these relationships in Nueces County, Texas. METHODS A mixed-effects regression analysis of data from 1,140 older adults participating in the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi - Cognitive project from 2018 to 2020 was completed. Cognitive function was measured with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, a cognitive screening measure. Participant addresses were geocoded to obtain census tracts, which were proxies for neighborhoods. Neighborhood SES was measured by household median income, percentage of Hispanic/Latinx residents, and percentage of residents aged ≥65 years with Medicaid, all from the American Community Survey. Interactions were used to examine the impact of neighborhood SES on ethnicity and cognitive function. RESULTS The sample consisted of 62.5% Hispanic/Latinx and 37.5% non-Hispanic White participants. Results from the F-statistics, test of effects, indicate that being older (F4,1138=45.04; p<0.001), being a man (F1,1130=4.35; p<0.050), having low education (F3,1121=40.83; p<0.001), completing the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test in Spanish (F1,1140=15.35; p<0.001), and being Hispanic/Latinx (F1,962=20.84; p<0.001) were all associated with lower Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores. Neighborhood income was positively associated (F1,69.6=6.95; p<0.050) with Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores. Neighborhood income (β=0.32; p<0.050) and percentage with Medicaid (β=0.06; p<0.050) independently moderated the associations between ethnicity and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that neighborhood SES could further impact cognitive function independent of individual characteristics. This could be attributed to minimal resources in communities with lower SES, impacting policies and programs for older individuals, particularly those with worse cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roshanak Mehdipanah
- Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
| | - Emily M Briceño
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Steven G Heeringa
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Xavier F Gonzales
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas
| | - Deborah A Levine
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Kenneth M Langa
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Ann Arbor VA Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Nelda Garcia
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Ruth Longoria
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Wen Chang
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Lewis B Morgenstern
- Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Peterson RL, George KM, Barnes LL, Gilsanz P, Mayeda ER, Glymour MM, Mungas DM, Whitmer RA. Association of Timing of School Desegregation in the United States With Late-Life Cognition in the Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans (STAR) Cohort. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2129052. [PMID: 34668943 PMCID: PMC8529411 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.29052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Prior research suggests schooling differences for Black individuals in the US are associated with worse cognitive aging. It is unknown whether age when experiencing school desegregation is associated with differences in late-life cognition in this population. OBJECTIVE To examine patterns of association between age of school desegregation in grades 1 to 12 and late-life cognition. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cohort study analyzed baseline data from the Study of Healthy Aging in African Americans (STAR) cohort collected from 2018 through 2019 in Northern California, primarily in the cities of Richmond and Oakland. Participants were 699 self-identified Black individuals aged 50 years or older who were community-dwelling, long-term members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California and dementia free at baseline. EXPOSURES Participants reported whether they attended a segregated school in grades 1, 6, 9, and 12 and were placed in 1 of 6 transition categories: (1) always attended integrated schools; (2) integrated between grades 1 through 5; (3) integrated between grades 6 through 8; (4) integrated between grades 9 through 12; (5) ever moved from integrated to segregated school; (6) never attended integrated schools. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Executive function, semantic memory, and verbal episodic memory ascertained via the Spanish and English Neuropsychological Assessment Battery and z standardized for analyses. RESULTS The mean (SD) age of the 699 participants was 68.5 (8.7) years, and 484 (69.2%) were female. Most participants transitioned from segregated to integrated schools owing to historical timing and cohort geography. Compared with 111 participants who never attended integrated schools (reference group), executive function was better among 50 participants who transitioned to integrated schools between grades 1 and 5 (β = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.08-0.61; P = .01). Semantic memory was better among 435 participants who only attended integrated schools (β = 0.34; 95% CI, 0.14-0.54; P = .001) or among 50 participants who transitioned to integrated schools between grades 1 and 5 (β = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.15-0.72; P = .003). However, no significant differences were found by group for verbal episodic memory function (eg, for 50 participants who transitioned to integrated schools between grades 1 and 5: β = 0.07; 95% CI, -0.22 to 0.35; P = .66). No significant differences were found when testing for potential interactions by sex, Southern birth, or baseline age. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE The STAR cohort data indicated that executive function and semantic memory were higher among Black individuals with some integrated school experience. These results suggest that racially segregated schooling experiences, including de facto segregation present today, may be associated with worse late-life cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristen M. George
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis
| | - Lisa L. Barnes
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Paola Gilsanz
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, Oakland
| | | | - M. Maria Glymour
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Dan M. Mungas
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis
| | - Rachel A. Whitmer
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis
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Soto-Añari M, López N, Rivera-Fernández C, Belón-Hercilla V, Fernández-Guinea S. Literacy Level and Executive Control in Healthy Older Peruvian Adults. Front Neurol 2021; 12:629048. [PMID: 34512496 PMCID: PMC8426511 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.629048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Early-life educational experiences are associated with cognitive performance in aging. Early literacy seems to improve executive control mechanisms, however, it is not clear whether early education would still be an advantage in countries like Peru, where access to and quality of education is highly variable. Aim: Our objective was to analyze the association of literacy level with executive control factors. Method: We evaluated 93 healthy older adults with a clinical protocol that included the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Geriatric Depression Scale and Global Dementia Staging. We also used a neuropsychological executive function battery which included the Trail-Making Test parts A and B, the Stroop Test, phonological and semantic verbal fluency tasks, Forward and Backward Digits, Numbers and Letters of the Wechsler Scale, and the Go/No-Go task. We used a principal component analysis for the dimensional reduction of the variables. To measure the level of literacy we used the word accentuation test (WAT). Results: We observed statistically significant correlations between the principal components (PCs) of working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control with the WAT scores. Furthermore, we observed that processing speed and WAT predict the scores on PCs factors better than years of education and age. Conclusions: Literacy level correlates more closely with better cognitive performance than years of education and thus, might improve executive control factors that could compensate and protect against brain changes in cognitive decline and dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcio Soto-Añari
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Católica San Pablo, Arequipa, Peru
| | | | | | - Verónica Belón-Hercilla
- Laboratorio de Neurociencia, Departamento de Psicología, Universidad Católica San Pablo, Arequipa, Peru
| | - Sara Fernández-Guinea
- Departamento de Psicología Experimental, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Effects of Sociodemographic Variables and Depressive Symptoms on MoCA Test Performance in Native Germans and Turkish Migrants in Germany. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18126335. [PMID: 34208085 PMCID: PMC8296159 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The validity of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in migrants is questionable, as sociodemographic factors and the migration process may influence performance. Our aim was to evaluate possible predictors (age, education, sex, depression, and migration) of MoCA results in Turkish migrants and Germans living in Germany. Linear regression models were conducted with a German (n = 419), a Turkish (n = 133), and an overall sample. All predictor analyses reached statistical significance. For the German sample, age, sex, education, and depression were significant predictors, whereas education was the only predictor for Turkish migrants. For the overall sample, having no migration background and higher education were significant predictors. Migration background and education had an impact on MoCA performance in a sample of German and Turkish individuals living in Germany. Thus, culture-specific normative data for the MoCA are needed, and the development of culture-sensitive cognitive screening tools is encouraged.
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Feinkohl I, Kozma P, Borchers F, van Montfort SJT, Kruppa J, Winterer G, Spies C, Pischon T. Contribution of IQ in young adulthood to the associations of education and occupation with cognitive ability in older age. BMC Geriatr 2021; 21:346. [PMID: 34090365 PMCID: PMC8180039 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-021-02290-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Studies suggest that a higher education and occupation are each associated with a higher late-life cognitive ability, but their inter-relationships in their association with cognitive ability and the contribution of peak IQ in young adulthood (‘pre-morbid IQ’) often remain unclear. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of 623 participants aged ≥65 years of the BioCog study. Education was coded according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED; range 1 to 6). Occupation was coded as ‘semi/unskilled’, ‘skilled manual’, ‘skilled non-manual’, ‘managerial’, ‘professional’. A summary score of global ability (‘g’) was constructed from six cognitive tests. Pre-morbid IQ was estimated from vocabulary. The Geriatric Depression Scale assessed symptoms of depression. Age- and sex-adjusted analyses of covariance were performed. Results Education (partial eta2 0.076; p < 0.001) and occupation (partial eta2 = 0.037; p < 0.001) were each significantly associated with g. For education, the association was attenuated but remained statistically significant when pre-morbid IQ was controlled for (partial eta2 0.036; p < 0.001) and was unchanged with additional adjustment for depression (partial eta2 0.037; p < 0.001). For occupation, the association with g was no longer significant when pre-morbid IQ (partial eta2 = 0.015; p = 0.06) and depression (partial eta2 = 0.011; p = 0.18) were entered as covariates in separate steps. When education and occupation were entered concurrently into the fully adjusted model, only education was independently associated with g (partial eta2 0.030; p < 0.001; occupation, p = 0.93). Conclusion While a higher education and a higher occupation were each associated with a higher late-life cognitive ability, only for education some unique contribution to cognitive ability remained over and above its relationship with pre-morbid IQ, depression, and occupation. Further research is needed to address whether a longer time spent in education may promote late-life cognitive ability. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-021-02290-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Insa Feinkohl
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Molecular Epidemiology Research Group, Robert-Rössle Str. 10, 13092, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Petra Kozma
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Friedrich Borchers
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Jochen Kruppa
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Medical Informatics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Georg Winterer
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia Spies
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Pischon
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Molecular Epidemiology Research Group, Robert-Rössle Str. 10, 13092, Berlin, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Biobank Technology Platform, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Core Facility Biobank, Berlin, Germany
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21
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Consumption of Oleic Acid on the Preservation of Cognitive Functions in Japanese Elderly Individuals. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13020284. [PMID: 33498506 PMCID: PMC7909548 DOI: 10.3390/nu13020284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We recruited 154 community-dwelling elderly individuals and conducted a cohort study to find out the nutrient intake that is suitable for maintaining cognitive function in Japanese elders. Cognitive function was evaluated by the two functional tests, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Wechsler Memory Scale-Delayed Recall (WMS-DR), and daily nutrient intake was estimated from a Brief-type Self-administered Diet History Questionnaire (BDHQ). By a multiple regression analysis, among the four major nutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrate and ash), we detected a significant correlation between the score of cognitive functions assessed by both MoCA and WMS-DR and daily consumption of fat (p = 0.0317 and p = 0.0111, respectively). Among categories of fatty acid, we found a significant correlation between the score of both MoCA and WMS-DR and consumption of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) (p = 0.0157 and p = 0.0136, respectively). Finally, among MUFAs, we observed a significant correlation between the score of both MoCA and WMS-DR and consumption of oleic acid (p = 0.0405 and p = 0.0165, respectively). From these observations, we can propose that daily consumption of fat, especially in oleic acid, has a beneficial effect against cognitive decline in community-dwelling Japanese elderly individuals.
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22
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Roheger M, Kalbe E, Corbett A, Brooker H, Ballard C. Predictors of changes after reasoning training in healthy adults. Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01861. [PMID: 32981211 PMCID: PMC7749593 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate predictors of performance changes and their time course in healthy older adults. DESIGN A post hoc analysis of a RCT investigating the effect of reasoning cognitive training (ReaCT) compared to an active control group (CG) during a time course. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS An online, home-based RCT including n = 4,310 healthy participants (ReaCT: n = 2,557; CG: n = 1,753) aged 50 years and older. METHODS Multiple regression analyses were conducted to investigate predictors (age, sex, education, severity of depression, number of training sessions the participants attended, and neuropsychological baseline values) of the outcome measures grammatical reasoning, working memory, digit vigilance, verbal short-term memory, and verbal learning at 6 weeks, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS Being female and lower education predicted improvements in grammatical reasoning scores at 6 weeks and 3 months of training. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATION Identifying predictors for nonpharmacological interventions may help to set up a personalized medicine approach in order to prevent cognitive decline in healthy older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandy Roheger
- Department of Medical Psychology, Neuropsychology and Gender Studies & Center for Neuropsychological Diagnostics and Intervention (CeNDI), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Elke Kalbe
- Department of Medical Psychology, Neuropsychology and Gender Studies & Center for Neuropsychological Diagnostics and Intervention (CeNDI), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Anne Corbett
- Institute of Health Research, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Helen Brooker
- Institute of Health Research, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Clive Ballard
- Institute of Health Research, University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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23
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Vicente BM, Lucio Dos Santos Quaresma MV, Maria de Melo C, Lima Ribeiro SM. The dietary inflammatory index (DII®) and its association with cognition, frailty, and risk of disabilities in older adults: A systematic review. Clin Nutr ESPEN 2020; 40:7-16. [PMID: 33183575 DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2020.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Systemic inflammation is considered an important issue in older adults and is associated with adverse health outcomes, such as frailty and cognitive impairment. Diet is a critical associated factor, and the dietary inflammatory index (DII®) is proposed as a promising tool to identify the association between diet and health outcomes. Our aims were: (i) to investigate the association between the DII® and frailty, cognition, and the consequent risk of disability in older adults; (ii) to discuss particularities of the use of DII® with older adults. METHODS The research question was based on the PICOS strategy: Population = older adults; Intervention or Exposure = DII; Comparison = any comparator; Outcomes = frailty, cognition, and risk of disability; Type of study = cohort, cross-sectional or case-control studies. We searched publications in two electronic databases (PUBMED and Web of Science) up to May 20th, 2020. RESULTS Seven studies met our criteria. Three investigated cognition (one cohort and two cross-sectional), and four investigated frailty or risk of disability (one cohort and three cross-sectional); none of the studies investigated both outcomes (frailty and cognition) simultaneously. The studies presented some issues, mainly concerning: (i) the collection of dietary data and calculation of the DII; (ii) the study design; (iii) calculation of the sample size; (iv) eligibility criteria; (v) time for follow-up; (vi) and choice of covariates. CONCLUSION despite the issues, the use of DII resulted in a significant association, or predictive value, with variables related to frailty and cognitive decline. Further studies, with sensitivity analysis of the different components of this index, are needed. DII showed to be a promising tool in the investigation of geriatric syndromes. This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020155672).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sandra Maria Lima Ribeiro
- Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil; School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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24
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Garcia S, Moorman SM. College Selectivity and Later-Life Memory Function: Evidence From the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. Res Aging 2020; 43:14-24. [DOI: 10.1177/0164027520927137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Research has shown a consistent association between college completion and laterlife cognition. We extend this work by examining whether college selectivity—the achievement level required to gain admission to a college—is associated with memory functioning more than 50 years later. We analyze data from 10,317 participants in the 1957–2011 Wisconsin Longitudinal Study to examine the relationship between college selectivity and later-life memory. Models control for childhood, midlife socioeconomic status, and later-life health and adjust for selection bias. Selective college attendance was associated with small benefits in memory at age of 72 even after accounting for socioeconomic status in both childhood and midlife and later-life health. The results of this study suggest that college selectivity may be an important component of the education–cognitive functioning relationship that has modest implications for intracohort differences in later-life cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Garcia
- Department of Sociology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Sara M. Moorman
- Department of Sociology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
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25
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Moorman SM, Greenfield EA, Garcia S. School Context in Adolescence and Cognitive Functioning 50 Years Later. JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR 2019; 60:493-508. [PMID: 31912762 PMCID: PMC7007773 DOI: 10.1177/0022146519887354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
To advance understanding of how social inequalities from childhood might contribute to cognitive aging, we examined the extent to which school context in adolescence was associated with individuals' cognitive performance more than 50 years later. Using data from 3,012 participants in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS), we created an aggregate measure of school-level structural advantage, with indicators such as the proportion of teachers who had at least five years of teaching experience and spending per pupil. Multilevel models indicated that secondary school advantage was associated with small benefits in language/executive function at age 65 among older adults who had lower academic achievement in secondary school. Findings suggest that school advantage is a developmental context of adolescence that has modest implications for intracohort differences in aspects of later life cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sarah Garcia
- University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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