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Ly TK, Allen RS, Cundiff JM, DeCaro JA. Investigating the Effects of Discrimination Experiences on Everyday Metamemory Accuracy. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2024; 79:gbae089. [PMID: 38841817 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbae089] [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: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Lifetime and daily experiences of discrimination contribute to impaired performance on cognitive assessments. However, the underlying mechanism by which discrimination negatively affects cognition is unclear. Recent research investigating stress-induced impairment of metamemory may address the relationship between discrimination experiences and cognitive impairment. METHODS The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of lifetime and daily experiences of discrimination, daily affect balance, baseline objective cognitive performance, and sociodemographic variables (age, race, ethnicity, and sex) with metamemory accuracy across the lifespan (ages 20-75). Impaired metamemory accuracy was defined by the number of subjective cognitive complaints. Diary data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS Refresher 1) Daily Diary Project (N = 782) was used for these analyses. RESULTS Results from linear mixed model analyses showed significant within-person effects of daily discrimination, where people who reported more daily discrimination also reported lower metamemory accuracy, and daily affect balance, where people who reported very negative affect also reported lower metamemory accuracy. Additionally, linear mixed model analyses revealed significant between-person effects of race on metamemory accuracy, with individuals from minoritized racial groups generally reporting poorer metamemory accuracy. Daily discrimination experiences also interacted with other variables in predicting day-to-day metamemory accuracy. DISCUSSION These findings add to our understanding of how psychosocial stress in the form of daily discrimination experiences may impair metamemory processes contributing to increased subjective cognitive complaints. Future research should consider the contribution of daily experiences of discrimination across the lifespan to poor cognitive outcomes in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy K Ly
- Alabama Research Institute on Aging, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
- Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Rebecca S Allen
- Alabama Research Institute on Aging, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
- Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Jeanne M Cundiff
- Alabama Research Institute on Aging, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
- Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Jason A DeCaro
- Alabama Research Institute on Aging, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
- Department of Anthropology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
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2
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Hsieh N, Liu H, Zhang Z. Perceived Discrimination and Incident Dementia Among Older Adults in the United States: The Buffering Role of Social Relationships. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2024; 79:gbae059. [PMID: 38587492 PMCID: PMC11125403 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbae059] [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: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Recent studies have found that perceived discrimination as a chronic stressor predicts poorer cognitive health. However, little research has investigated how social relationships as potential intervening mechanisms may mitigate or exacerbate this association. Using a nationally representative sample of U.S. older adults, this study examined how the existence and quality of 4 types of relationships-with a partner, children, other family members, and friends-may modify the impact of perceived discrimination on incident dementia. METHODS We analyzed data from the 2006 to 2016 Health and Retirement Study (N = 12,236) using discrete-time event history models with competing risks. We used perceived discrimination, social relationships, and their interactions at the baseline to predict the risk of incident dementia in the follow-ups. RESULTS Perceived discrimination predicted a higher risk of incident dementia in the follow-ups. Although having a partner or not did not modify this association, partnership support attenuated the negative effects of discrimination on incident dementia. Neither the existence nor quality of relationships with children, other family members, or friends modified the association. DISCUSSION Our findings imply that intimate partnership plays a critical role in coping with discrimination and, consequently, influencing the cognitive health of older adults. Although perceived discrimination is a significant risk factor for the incidence of dementia, better partnership quality may attenuate this association. Policies that eliminate discrimination and interventions that strengthen intimate partnerships may facilitate better cognitive health in late life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Hsieh
- Department of Sociology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Sociology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Department of Sociology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Zhenmei Zhang
- Department of Sociology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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3
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Harrington EE, Gamaldo AA, Felt JM, Witzel DD, Sliwinski MJ, Murdock KW, Engeland CG, Graham-Engeland JE. Racial differences in links between perceived discrimination, depressive symptoms, and ambulatory working memory. Aging Ment Health 2024:1-9. [PMID: 38738650 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2024.2351923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Perceived discrimination is associated with racial cognitive health disparities. Links between discrimination and cognitive performance, like working memory, in everyday settings (i.e. ambulatory performance) require investigation. Depressive symptoms may be a mechanism through which discrimination relates to ambulatory working memory. METHOD Discrimination, retrospective and momentary depressive symptoms/mood, and aggregated and momentary working memory performance among older Black and White adults were examined within the Einstein Aging Study. RESULTS Racially stratified analyses revealed that discrimination did not relate to Black or White adults' ambulatory working memory. Among Black adults, however, more frequent discrimination was associated with greater retrospectively reported depressive symptoms, which related to more working memory errors across two weeks (indirect effect p < 0.05). This path was not significant among White adults. Links between discrimination and momentary working memory were not explained by momentary reports of depressed mood for Black or White adults. CONCLUSION Depressive symptoms may play an important role in the link between discrimination and ambulatory working memory among Black adults across extended measurements, but not at the momentary level. Future research should address ambulatory cognition and momentary reports of discrimination and depression to better understand how to minimize cognitive health disparities associated with discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Harrington
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | | | - John M Felt
- Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Dakota D Witzel
- Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Martin J Sliwinski
- Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Kyle W Murdock
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Christopher G Engeland
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Ross and Carol, Nese College of Nursing, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Jennifer E Graham-Engeland
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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4
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McKinney WS, Williford DN, Abbeduto L, Schmitt LM. The impact of social-environmental factors on IQ in syndromic intellectual developmental disabilities. J Clin Transl Sci 2024; 8:e59. [PMID: 38655457 PMCID: PMC11036438 DOI: 10.1017/cts.2024.510] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite having the same underlying genetic etiology, individuals with the same syndromic form of intellectual developmental disability (IDD) show a large degree of interindividual differences in cognition and IQ. Research indicates that up to 80% of the variation in IQ scores among individuals with syndromic IDDs is attributable to nongenetic effects, including social-environmental factors. In this narrative review, we summarize evidence of the influence that factors related to economic stability (focused on due to its prevalence in existing literature) have on IQ in individuals with syndromic IDDs. We also highlight the pathways through which economic stability is hypothesized to impact cognitive development and drive individual differences in IQ among individuals with syndromic IDDs. We also identify broader social-environmental factors (e.g., social determinants of health) that warrant consideration in future research, but that have not yet been explored in syndromic IDDs. We conclude by making recommendations to address the urgent need for further research into other salient factors associated with heterogeneity in IQ. These recommendations ultimately may shape individual- and community-level interventions and may inform systems-level public policy efforts to promote the cognitive development of and improve the lived experiences of individuals with syndromic IDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walker S. McKinney
- Department of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology,
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center,
Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Desireé N. Williford
- Department of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology,
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center,
Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of
Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Leonard Abbeduto
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis,
Sacramento, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University
of California Davis, Sacramento, CA,
USA
| | - Lauren M. Schmitt
- Department of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology,
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center,
Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of
Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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5
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King KP, Humiston T, Gowey MA, Murdaugh DL, Dutton GR, Lansing AH. A biobehavioural and social-structural model of inflammation and executive function in pediatric chronic health conditions. Health Psychol Rev 2024; 18:24-40. [PMID: 36581801 PMCID: PMC10307927 DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2022.2162430] [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] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Evidence indicates that pediatric chronic health conditions (CHCs) often impair executive functioning (EF) and impaired EF undermines pediatric CHC management. This bidirectional relationship likely occurs due to biobehavioural and social-structural factors that serve to maintain this feedback loop. Specifically, biobehavioural research suggests that inflammation may sustain a feedback loop that links together increased CHC severity, challenges with EF, and lower engagement in health promoting behaviours. Experiencing social and environmental inequity also maintains pressure on this feedback loop as experiencing inequities is associated with greater inflammation, increased CHC severity, as well as challenges with EF and engagement in health promoting behaviours. Amidst this growing body of research, a model of biobehavioural and social-structural factors that centres inflammation and EF is warranted to better identify individual and structural targets to ameliorate the effects of CHCs on children, families, and society at large. This paper proposes this model, reviews relevant literature, and delineates actionable research and clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tori Humiston
- University of Vermont, Department of Psychological Sciences
| | - Marissa A. Gowey
- University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
| | - Donna L. Murdaugh
- University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
| | - Gareth R. Dutton
- University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine
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Kim SY, Yan J, Wen W, Song J, Chen S, Zhang M, Lopez BG, Arredondo MM, Gleason MEJ, Ip KI. Daily and Ethnic Discriminatory Experiences and Cognitive Control in Mexican-Origin Bilingual Language Brokers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION AND BILINGUALISM 2024; 27:978-992. [PMID: 39109353 PMCID: PMC11299872 DOI: 10.1080/13670050.2024.2308663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Few studies have considered bilingualism's impact on cognitive development within the sociolinguistic and cultural context of the immigrant communities where bilingualism is commonly practiced. In the United States, many Mexican-origin bilingual youth practice their bilingual skills by brokering (i.e., translating/interpreting between languages) for their immigrant parents who have low English proficiency. Meanwhile, these youth may also experience discrimination in their daily life. The present study focuses on Mexican-origin bilingual youth brokers (N=334) in order to examine how discriminatory experiences (i.e., daily and ethnic discrimination) and bilingual brokering experiences captured by profiles are related to cognitive control performance (i.e., attentional control and inhibition). We found no significant direct influence of either bilingual broker profiles or discriminatory experiences on cognitive control. However, the associations between discriminatory experiences and cognitive control performance depended upon brokering experiences. Specifically, greater discrimination was associated with lower cognitive control performance among moderate brokers (with moderate bilingual experiences), but the association was attenuated among efficacious brokers (with positive bilingual experiences). Findings highlight the need to consider the sociolinguistic heterogeneity of both discriminatory experiences and language use when investigating cognitive control performance in bilinguals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Yeong Kim
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
| | - Jinjin Yan
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University
| | - Wen Wen
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
| | - Jiaxiu Song
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
| | | | - Minyu Zhang
- Latino Research Institute, University of Texas at Austin
| | - Belem G. Lopez
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
| | - Maria M. Arredondo
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
| | - Marci E. J. Gleason
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin
| | - Ka I Ip
- Insitute of Child Development, University of Minnesota
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7
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Kraal AZ, Zaheed AB, Krasnova A, Vadari H, Byrd DR, Zahodne LB. Time-lagged associations between two adverse childhood experiences and later-life cognitive function through educational attainment and stroke. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2024; 30:107-116. [PMID: 37401463 DOI: 10.1017/s135561772300036x] [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: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with worse cognitive health in older adulthood. This study aimed to extend findings on the specificity, persistence, and pathways of associations between two ACEs and cognition by using a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and a time-lagged mediation design. METHOD Participants were 3304 older adults in the Health and Retirement Study Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol. Participants retrospectively reported whether they were exposed to parental substance abuse or experienced parental physical abuse before age 18. Factor scores derived from a battery of 13 neuropsychological tests indexed cognitive domains of episodic memory, executive functioning, processing speed, language, and visuospatial function. Structural equation models examined self-reported years of education and stroke as mediators, controlling for sociodemographics and childhood socioeconomic status. RESULTS Parental substance abuse in childhood was associated with worse later-life cognitive function across all domains, in part via pathways involving educational attainment and stroke. Parental physical abuse was associated with worse cognitive outcomes via stroke independent of education. CONCLUSIONS This national longitudinal study in the United States provides evidence for broad and persistent indirect associations between two ACEs and cognitive aging via differential pathways involving educational attainment and stroke. Future research should examine additional ACEs and mechanisms as well as moderators of these associations to better understand points of intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Zarina Kraal
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- G. H. Sergievsky Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Afsara B Zaheed
- Department of Psychology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Anna Krasnova
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Harita Vadari
- Department of General Medicine, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - DeAnnah R Byrd
- Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Laura B Zahodne
- Department of Psychology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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8
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Esiaka D, Odo O, Luth E. Unraveling the Threads: Sleep Difficulties, Neighborhood Physical Disorder, and Subjective Cognitive Decline in Older Americans. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 100:1345-1354. [PMID: 38995787 DOI: 10.3233/jad-240142] [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: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Background Research suggests that the neighborhood in which people live can be a risk or protective factor for various health outcomes, including cognitive decline to Alzheimer's disease. Similar to the impact of neighborhood on health outcomes, sleep difficulties have been linked to cognitive function in older adults. However, few studies have examined how neighborhood physical disorders moderate the effects of sleep on subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Objective The study examined the moderating effect of neighborhood factors on the relationship between sleep difficulties and SCD. Methods Data were obtained from 2,494 respondents (1,065 males and 1,429 females) from Wave 11 of the National Health and Aging Trends (NHATS) data. Sleep difficulties were operationalized as the presence of difficulties in falling and staying asleep. Neighborhood physical disorder (e.g., vandalism, graffiti) was based on interviewer observations of respondents' neighborhoods. SCD was operationalized as subjective reports of increasing or worse memory loss in the past 12 months and present memory rating. We utilized Linear regression to test neighborhood physical disorder as a moderator of the relationship between sleep difficulties and SCD. Results We found a significant interaction between sleep difficulties and neighborhood physical disorder on SCD (β=0.046, p = 0.031, 95% CI[0.00,0.51], p < 0.001). Participants who reported higher average sleep difficulties and higher levels of neighborhood physical disorder were more likely to report SCD. Conclusions Our findings add to inform future health interventions and policy recommendations that address modifiable sources of cognitive decline and risk of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darlingtina Esiaka
- Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA
- Center for Health Equity Transformation, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Obinna Odo
- Department of Sociology and Gerontology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
- Scripps Gerontology Center, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Elizabeth Luth
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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9
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Chen H, Ding Y, Huang L, Zhong W, Lin X, Zhang B, Zheng Y, Xu X, Lou M, Yuan C. The Association of Allergy-Related and Non-Allergy-Related Olfactory Impairment with Cognitive Function in Older Adults: Two Cross- Sectional Studies. Curr Alzheimer Res 2024; 20:811-820. [PMID: 38409711 DOI: 10.2174/0115672050284179240215052257] [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] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence on the association of Olfactory Impairment (OI) with age-related cognitive decline is inconclusive, and the potential influence of allergy remains unclear. OBJECTIVE We aimed to evaluate the cross-sectional associations of allergy-related and non-allergy- related OI to cognitive function. METHODS We included 2,499 participants from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS)-Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) sub-study and 1,086 participants from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)-HCAP. The Olfactory Function Field Exam (OFFE) using Sniffin' Stick odor pens was used to objectively assess olfactory function and an olfactory score <6/11 indicated OI. Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) was used to assess global cognitive function and define cognitive impairment (<24/30). A neuropsychologic battery was used to assess five cognitive domains. RESULTS Compared to non-OI participants, individuals with OI had lower MMSE z-score [βHRS = -0.33, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): -0.41 to -0.24; βELSA = -0.31, -0.43 to -0.18] and higher prevalence of cognitive impairment (Prevalence Ratio (PR)HRS = 1.46, 1.06 to 2.01; PRELSA = 1.63, 1.26 to 2.11). The associations were stronger for non-allergy-related OI (βHRS = -0.36; βELSA = -0.34) than for allergy-related OI (βHRS = -0.26; βELSA = 0.13). Similar associations were observed with domain- specific cognitive function measures. CONCLUSION OI, particularly non-allergy-related OI, was related to poorer cognitive function in older adults. Although the current cross-sectional study is subject to several limitations, such as reverse causality and residual confounding, the findings will provide insights into the OI-cognition association and enlighten future attention to non-allergy-related OI for the prevention of potential cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- School of Public Health, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yihong Ding
- School of Public Health, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liyan Huang
- School of Public Health, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wansi Zhong
- Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojun Lin
- School of Public Health, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Baoyue Zhang
- School of Public Health, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yan Zheng
- Human Phenome Institute, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Xu
- School of Public Health, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Min Lou
- Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Changzheng Yuan
- School of Public Health, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Ferraro KF, Zaborenko CJ. Race, everyday discrimination, and cognitive function in later life. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292617. [PMID: 37878577 PMCID: PMC10599523 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Discrimination is pernicious in many ways, but there are inconsistent findings regarding whether it is harmful to cognitive function in later life. To address the inconsistency, we use two closely related concepts of everyday discrimination to predict cognitive trajectories in a diverse sample. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we examine whether the frequency of discrimination, measured at baseline with six questions, is related to poorer cognitive function and change in function over time (2008-2016). Age at baseline ranged from 53 to 100. Growth curve models of initial cognitive function and change in function were estimated. Everyday global discrimination was associated with poorer initial cognition and slower declines over time, and these relationships were not moderated by race and ethnicity. By contrast, the relationship between everyday racial discrimination and cognition was moderated by race: more frequent everyday racial discrimination was associated with better initial cognitive function among Black adults but not among Hispanic and White adults. Discrimination is a multifaceted concept, and specific types of discrimination manifest lower or higher cognitive function during later life for White, Black, and Hispanic adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth F. Ferraro
- Department of Sociology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
- Center on Aging and the Life Course, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Callie J. Zaborenko
- Department of Sociology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
- Center on Aging and the Life Course, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America
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11
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Ng WQ, Ng GR, Yang H. Sense of Control Mediates the Relation between Discrimination and Executive Functions in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach. Exp Aging Res 2023; 49:501-515. [PMID: 36214758 DOI: 10.1080/0361073x.2022.2132073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite previous findings of a negative association between everyday discrimination and executive functions (EF) - a set of domain-general cognitive control processes - in middle-aged and older adults, less is known about the underlying mechanism. Thus, we focused on sense on control and its two facets - perceived constraints and personal mastery - as potential psychosocial mediators of this relation. METHODS By analyzing a nationally representative adult cohort from the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) 2 study, we examined two mediational models: a single mediation model with sense of control and a parallel mediation model with perceived constraints and personal mastery as mediators. RESULTS Structural equation modeling analyses showed that sense of control, as well as personal mastery and perceived constraints, mediated the relationship between discrimination and EF in middle-aged and older adults. This held true when we controlled for age, race, gender, education, and health status. CONCLUSION Our findings underscore the unique and distinctive roles of sense of control and its two facets in the relation between everyday discrimination and EF in middle-aged and older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wee Qin Ng
- School of Social Sciences, Singapore Management University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gilaine Rui Ng
- School of Social Sciences, Singapore Management University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hwajin Yang
- School of Social Sciences, Singapore Management University, Singapore, Singapore
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12
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Rotblatt LJ, Aiken-Morgan AT, Marsiske M, Horgas AL, Thomas KR. Do Associations Between Vascular Risk and Mild Cognitive Impairment Vary by Race? J Aging Health 2023; 35:74S-83S. [PMID: 33497299 PMCID: PMC8310897 DOI: 10.1177/0898264320984357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: Given prevalence differences of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among Black and white older adults, this study aimed to examine whether overall vascular risk factor (VRF) burden and individual VRF associations with amnestic (aMCI) and nonamnestic (naMCI) MCI status varied by Black/white race. Methods: Participants included 2755 older adults without dementia from the ACTIVE study. Comprehensive neuropsychological criteria were used to classify cognitively normal, aMCI, and naMCI. VRFs were primarily defined using subjective report and medication data. Multinomial logistic regression was run predicting MCI subtype. Results: Greater overall VRF burden, high cholesterol, and obesity evinced greater odds of naMCI in Black participants than whites. Across participants, diabetes and hypertension were associated with increased odds of aMCI and naMCI, respectively. Discussion: Results may reflect known systemic inequities on dimensions of social determinants of health for Black older adults. Continued efforts toward examining underlying mechanisms contributing to these findings are critical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay J. Rotblatt
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | | | - Michael Marsiske
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Ann L. Horgas
- Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Kelsey R. Thomas
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
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Jester DJ, Palmer BW, Thomas ML, Brown LL, Tibiriçá L, Jeste DV, Gilmer T. Impact of educational attainment on time to cognitive decline among marginalized older adults: Cohort study of 20,311 adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 2023; 71:2913-2923. [PMID: 37073606 PMCID: PMC10523883 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18340] [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: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effect of years of education on the maintenance of healthy cognitive functioning may differ by race and ethnicity given historical and ongoing inequities in educational quality. METHODS We examined 20,311 Black, Latinx, and White adults aged 51-100 from the Health and Retirement Study (2008-2016). Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-27 data was used to measure cognitive functioning. Generalized additive mixed models were stratified by race and ethnicity and educational attainment (≥12 vs. <12 years). Selected social determinants of health, all-cause mortality, time-varying health and healthcare utilization characteristics, and study wave were included as covariates. RESULTS On average, Black and Latinx adults scored lower at baseline compared to White adults regardless of educational attainment (p < 0.001), with a significant overlap in the distributions of scores. The rate of cognitive decline was non-linear for Black, Latinx, and White adults (p < 0.001), and a period of stability was witnessed for those with higher educational attainment irrespective of race and ethnicity. Compared to Black, Latinx, and White adults with lower educational attainment, higher-educated White adults received the greatest protection from cognitive decline (13 years; 64 vs. 51), followed by Latinx (12 years; 67 vs. 55), and Black adults (10 years; 61 vs. 51). Latinx adults experienced cognitive decline beginning at a later age. CONCLUSIONS The extent to which higher educational attainment protects adults from cognitive decline differs by race and ethnicity, such that higher-educated White adults received a greater benefit than higher-educated Black or Latinx adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan J. Jester
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Barton W. Palmer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Psychology Division, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
| | - Michael L. Thomas
- Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
| | - Lauren L. Brown
- Division of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
| | - Lize Tibiriçá
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Dilip V. Jeste
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Todd Gilmer
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California
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14
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Pommy J, Smart CM, Bryant AM, Wang Y. Three potential neurovascular pathways driving the benefits of mindfulness meditation for older adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1207012. [PMID: 37455940 PMCID: PMC10340530 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1207012] [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: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Mindfulness meditation has been shown to be beneficial for a range of different health conditions, impacts brain function and structure relatively quickly, and has shown promise with aging samples. Functional magnetic resonance imaging metrics provide insight into neurovascular health which plays a key role in both normal and pathological aging processes. Experimental mindfulness meditation studies that included functional magnetic resonance metrics as an outcome measure may point to potential neurovascular mechanisms of action relevant for aging adults that have not yet been previously examined. We first review the resting-state magnetic resonance studies conducted in exclusively older adult age samples. Findings from older adult-only samples are then used to frame the findings of task magnetic resonance imaging studies conducted in both clinical and healthy adult samples. Based on the resting-state studies in older adults and the task magnetic resonance studies in adult samples, we propose three potential mechanisms by which mindfulness meditation may offer a neurovascular therapeutic benefit for older adults: (1) a direct neurovascular mechanism via increased resting-state cerebral blood flow; (2) an indirect anti-neuroinflammatory mechanism via increased functional connectivity within the default mode network, and (3) a top-down control mechanism that likely reflects both a direct and an indirect neurovascular pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Pommy
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuropsychology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Colette M. Smart
- Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Andrew M. Bryant
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuropsychology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
- Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
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15
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Cicero EC, Lett E, Flatt JD, Benson GP, Epps F. Transgender Adults From Minoritized Ethnoracial Groups in the U.S. Report Greater Subjective Cognitive Decline. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2023; 78:1051-1059. [PMID: 36688593 PMCID: PMC10214655 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbad012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Investigate subjective cognitive decline (SCD) among 4 study groups consisting of cisgender and transgender adults who are from minoritized ethnoracial groups (i.e., minoritized ethnoracial transgender, minoritized ethnoracial cisgender) and White cisgender and transgender adults aged 45+ (i.e., White transgender, White cisgender) to determine the odds of SCD by group and to test for group differences. METHODS Data from the 2015-2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were used in a modified case-control approach to perform an intercategorical intersectional study. Each transgender participant was matched to 2 cisgender men and 2 cisgender women, on state, ethnoracial identity, and age. Multivariable logistic regressions modeled SCD odds by group and post hoc contrasts estimated pairwise odds ratios comparing the SCD odds for each combination of groups. RESULTS SCD prevalence was highest among minoritized ethnoracial transgender (21.6%), followed by White transgender (15.0%), minoritized ethnoracial cisgender (12.0%), and White cisgender (9.0%). After accounting for age, education, and survey year, the odds of SCD were higher in minoritized ethnoracial transgender when compared to White cisgender (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.59-3.96) and minoritized ethnoracial cisgender (aOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.16-3.09). The odds of SCD were higher in White transgender compared to White cisgender (aOR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.20-2.30). DISCUSSION When considering the intersection of transgender and ethnoracial identities, we found that transgender adults from minoritized ethnoracial groups reported higher odds of SCD when compared to cisgender adults from minoritized ethnoracial groups. Additional studies are needed to understand the relationship between racialized and gendered inequities in cognitive impairment and how specific mechanisms of systemic transphobia and racism may contribute to this inequity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan C Cicero
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Elle Lett
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Center for Applied Transgender Studies, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jason D Flatt
- School of Public Health, Department of Social and Behavioral Health Program, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| | - G Perusi Benson
- Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Fayron Epps
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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16
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Zaheed AB, Chervin RD, Spira AP, Zahodne LB. Mental and physical health pathways linking insomnia symptoms to cognitive performance 14 years later. Sleep 2023; 46:zsac262. [PMID: 36309871 PMCID: PMC9995792 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsac262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Insomnia may be a modifiable risk factor for later-life cognitive impairment. We investigated: (1) which insomnia symptoms are associated with subsequent cognitive functioning across domains; (2) whether insomnia-cognition associations are mediated by mental and physical health; and (3) whether these associations are modified by gender. METHODS Participants included 2595 adults ages 51-88 at baseline (Mage=64.00 ± 6.66, 64.5% women) in the Health and Retirement Study. The frequency of insomnia symptoms (difficulty initiating sleep, night time awakenings, early awakenings, and feeling unrested upon awakening) at baseline (2002) were quantified using a modified Jenkins Sleep Questionnaire. Cognition was assessed in 2016 via the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol and operationalized with factor scores corresponding to five domains. Depressive symptoms and vascular conditions in 2014 were assessed via self-report. Structural equation models estimated total, indirect, and direct effects of insomnia symptoms on subsequent cognition through depressive symptoms and vascular diseases, controlling for baseline sociodemographic and global cognition. RESULTS Frequent difficulty initiating sleep was associated with poorer episodic memory, executive function, language, visuoconstruction, and processing speed 14 years later (-0.06 ≤ β ≤ -0.04; equivalent to 2.2-3.4 years of aging). Depressive symptoms explained 12.3%-19.5% of these associations and vascular disease explained 6.3%-14.6% of non-memory associations. No other insomnia symptoms were associated with cognition, and no associations were modified by gender. CONCLUSIONS Difficulty initiating sleep in later life may predict future cognitive impairment through multiple pathways. Future research with longitudinal assessments of insomnia, insomnia treatments, and cognition is needed to evaluate insomnia as a potential intervention target to optimize cognitive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afsara B Zaheed
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ronald D Chervin
- Sleep Disorders Center and Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Adam P Spira
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Johns Hopkins Center on Aging and Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Laura B Zahodne
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Venkatesan UM, Rabinowitz AR, Bernier RA, Soto JA, Hillary FG. Effects of Perceived Discrimination on Behavioral Health Outcomes in People Aging With Traumatic Brain Injury. J Head Trauma Rehabil 2023; 38:191-200. [PMID: 36731038 DOI: 10.1097/htr.0000000000000815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate major and everyday experiences of discrimination (MED and EED, respectively) in relation to behavioral health outcomes in people with traumatic brain injury (PwTBI). SETTING Outpatient research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS Adults, 50 years or older, with a chronic (1+ year) history of moderate or severe TBI ( N = 118). DESIGN Cross-sectional observational study. MAIN MEASURES MED and EED (primary measures of interest) and behavioral health outcomes: global cognition, psychological symptoms, neurobehavioral symptoms, societal participation, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In participants with available geodata ( N = 28), neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation (ND) was examined as a potential contributor to MED, EED, and measured outcomes. RESULTS EED and MED were significantly associated with psychological symptoms, neurobehavioral symptoms, and HRQoL after correction for multiple comparisons. Counter to expectations, EED were related to higher societal participation. MED and EED were unrelated to cognition. When MED and EED were entered together in hierarchical regressions, only EED made significant contributions beyond demographic and injury-related covariates to each outcome. Sensitivity analyses revealed that most of these relationships were not solely accounted for by disability-related discrimination. ND showed negligible associations with discrimination but moderate effect sizes for cognition and participation. Race was not significantly related to discrimination and was not a significant predictor in regression models but was strongly associated with ND. CONCLUSION The current data provide preliminary support for perceived discrimination as an important factor in neurobehavioral and psychosocial health, but not cognitive performance, after TBI. These relationships appear to be driven by daily experiences of discriminatory treatment versus single major instances of injustice. Measured outcomes may also reflect socioeconomic challenges and structural discrimination faced by diverse PwTBI, although more work in this area is urgently needed. Multiple sources of marginalization and disenfranchisement and their functional effects should be considered in TBI rehabilitation and outcome monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umesh M Venkatesan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Drs Venkatesan and Rabinowitz); Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania (Drs Venkatesan and Rabinowitz); Department of Neurosciences, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California (Dr Bernier); Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park (Drs Soto and Hillary); and Department of Neurology, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania (Dr Hillary)
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18
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Association of COVID-19-related discrimination with subsequent depression and suicidal ideation in healthcare workers. J Psychiatr Res 2023; 159:153-158. [PMID: 36731380 PMCID: PMC9849914 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Previous cross-sectional studies showed that COVID-19-related discrimination against healthcare workers was linked to depression. However, no study has examined the longitudinal association that allows causal interpretations. This prospective cohort study aimed to examine whether COVID-19-related discrimination at baseline is associated with depression and suicidal ideation several months later. Data were collected from October 2020 to July 2021. Multivariable logistic regression was performed. Fixed effects models were used to control for the effect of hospitals (Level 2 variable). Adjustments also included age, sex, living alone, alcohol consumption, exercise, BMI, working hours, comorbidity, and frontline worker status (Level 1 variables). Multiple sensitivity analyses were conducted to examine if the results substantially changed and were robust to unmeasured confounding. Multiple imputation for missing data was conducted via chained equations. As the final sample, 2862 healthcare workers without depression at baseline were studied. A total of 269 individuals (9.4%) experienced COVID-19-related discrimination. Depression was suggested in 205 participants (7.2%), and suicidal ideation in 108 participants (3.8%). In the adjusted models, COVID-19-related discrimination was significantly associated with subsequent depression (OR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.39 to 2.90) and suicidal ideation (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.22 to 3.50). Multiple sensitivity analyses verified the results. COVID-19-related discrimination results in depression and suicidal ideation in healthcare workers. Interventions to prevent such discrimination against healthcare workers, e.g., anti-discrimination campaigns, are crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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19
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Fujii DEM. Incorporating Intersectionality in Neuropsychology: Moving the Discipline Forward. ARCHIVES OF CLINICAL NEUROPSYCHOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGISTS 2023; 38:154-167. [PMID: 36151723 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acac075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Intersectionality is the interface between a person's identities in relation to social systems and institutional discrimination. The concept has generated much interest in psychology for understanding societal inequities and providing culturally informed services to minoritized patients but has yet to be incorporated in clinical neuropsychology. This omission is unfortunate as it is argued that appreciating the impact of institutional discrimination on minoritized groups can enhance our understanding of brain organization and functioning and bolster access to competent neuropsychological services to minoritized patients. The purpose of this article is to illustrate how intersectionality is germane to the discipline of clinical neuropsychology and to make recommendations for infusing it into the practice. METHOD Theories and findings in cultural neuroscience are summarized to provide a theoretical background for understanding how the environment can impact brain development and organization. The literature on disparities in education, economics, and health disparities between Whites and minoritized groups was reviewed for institutional biases that place minoritized groups at a disadvantage. These topics were selected due to their known impact on brain organization and cognition. This was followed by a similar review for access to competent neuropsychological assessments for minoritized patients. RESULTS There is a confluence of institutional discriminatory processes that contribute to disparities in education attainment, economic status, health disparities, and accessibility to culturally informed neuropsychological services. Perceived discrimination has significant health and cognitive ramifications. CONCLUSIONS Intersectionality is germane to appreciating brain functioning and providing competent services to minoritized patients. Recommendations were made to incorporate intersectionality in clinical neuropsychology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daryl E M Fujii
- Geriatric Psychiatry Unit, Veterans Affairs Pacific Island Health Care Services, Honolulu 96819, USA
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20
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Zahodne LB, Sharifian N, Kraal AZ, Morris EP, Sol K, Zaheed AB, Meister L, Mayeux R, Schupf N, Manly JJ, Brickman AM. Longitudinal associations between racial discrimination and hippocampal and white matter hyperintensity volumes among older Black adults. Soc Sci Med 2023; 316:114789. [PMID: 35164975 PMCID: PMC9579996 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Non-Hispanic Black older adults are at higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) than non-Hispanic Whites, which reflects racial disparities in both brain and cognitive health. Discrimination may contribute to these disparities, but much of the research on discrimination and ADRD outcomes is cross-sectional and/or does not disaggregate experiences of discrimination by attribution. Focusing specifically on racial discrimination and considering longitudinal brain outcomes may advance our understanding of the role of discrimination in explaining disproportionate rates of ADRD among non-Hispanic Black older adults. METHODS In total, 221 non-Hispanic Black participants in the Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project completed multiple measures of discrimination at one time point and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans at two time points. Everyday discrimination and lifetime discrimination were operationalized first as aggregate experiences of discrimination (regardless of identity attributions) and then as racial discrimination per se. MRI outcomes included hippocampal and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes. Latent difference score models estimated associations between the discrimination measures and each MRI outcome over four years. RESULTS Aggregate discrimination (regardless of attributions) was not associated with either outcome. Lifetime racial discrimination was associated with lower initial hippocampal volume. Everyday racial discrimination was associated with faster accumulation of WMH over time. CONCLUSIONS Racial discrimination may be detrimental for brain aging among non-Hispanic Black older adults, which may contribute to their disproportionate dementia burden. Disaggregating discrimination by attribution may clarify research on racial inequalities in brain and cognitive aging, as racial discrimination appears to be particularly toxic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura B Zahodne
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, United States.
| | - Neika Sharifian
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, United States
| | - A Zarina Kraal
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, United States
| | - Emily P Morris
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, United States
| | - Ketlyne Sol
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, United States
| | - Afsara B Zaheed
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, United States
| | - Lindsey Meister
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, United States
| | - Richard Mayeux
- Department of Neurology, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center and Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, United States
| | - Nicole Schupf
- Department of Neurology, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center and Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, United States
| | - Jennifer J Manly
- Department of Neurology, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center and Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, United States
| | - Adam M Brickman
- Department of Neurology, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center and Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, United States
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21
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Turney IC, Lao PJ, Rentería MA, Igwe KC, Berroa J, Rivera A, Benavides A, Morales CD, Rizvi B, Schupf N, Mayeux R, Manly JJ, Brickman AM. Brain Aging Among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Middle-Aged and Older Adults. JAMA Neurol 2023; 80:73-81. [PMID: 36374494 PMCID: PMC9664371 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.3919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Importance Neuroimaging studies have documented racial and ethnic disparities in brain health in old age. It remains unclear whether these disparities are apparent in midlife. Objective To assess racial and ethnic disparities in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of cerebrovascular disease and neurodegeneration in midlife and late life. Design, Setting, and Participants Data from 2 community-based cohort studies, Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project (WHICAP) and the Offspring Study of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Alzheimer Disease (Offspring), were used. Enrollment took place from March 2011 and June 2017, in WHICAP and Offspring, respectively, to January 2021. Of the 822 Offspring and 1254 WHICAP participants approached for MRI scanning, 285 and 176 refused participation in MRI scanning, 36 and 76 were excluded for contraindications/ineligibility, and 4 and 32 were excluded for missing key variables, respectively. Main Outcomes and Measures Cortical thickness in Alzheimer disease-related regions, white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume. Results The final sample included 1467 participants. Offspring participants (497 [33.9%]) had a mean (SD) age of 55 (10.7) years, had a mean (SD) of 13 (3.5) years of education, and included 117 Black individuals (23.5%), 348 Latinx individuals (70%), 32 White individuals (6.4%), and 324 women (65.2%). WHICAP participants (970 [66.1%]) had a mean (SD) age of 75 (6.5) years, had a mean (SD) of 12 (4.7) years of education, and included 338 Black individuals (34.8%), 389 Latinx individuals (40.1%), 243 White individuals (25.1%), and 589 women (65.2%). Racial and ethnic disparities in cerebrovascular disease were observed in both midlife (Black-White: B = 0.357; 95% CI, 0.708-0.007; P = .046) and late life (Black-Latinx: B = 0.149, 95% CI, 0.068-0.231; P < .001; Black-White: B = 0.166; 95% CI, 0.254-0.077; P < .001), while disparities in cortical thickness were evident in late life only (Black-Latinx: B = -0.037; 95% CI, -0.055 to -0.019; P < .001; Black-White: B = -0.064; 95% CI -0.044 to -0.084; P < .001). Overall, Black-White disparities were larger than Latinx-White disparities for cortical thickness and WMH volume. Brain aging, or the association of age with MRI measures, was greater in late life compared with midlife for Latinx (cortical thickness: B = 0.006; 95% CI, 0.004-0.008; P < .001; WMH volume: B = -0.010; 95% CI, -0.018 to -0.001; P = .03) and White (cortical thickness: B = 0.005; 95% CI, 0.002-0.008; P = .001; WMH volume: B = -0.021; 95% CI -0.043 to 0.002; P = .07) participants but not Black participants (cortical thickness: B = 0.001; 95% CI, -0.002 to 0.004; P =.64; WMH volume: B = 0.003; 95% CI, -0.010 to 0.017; P = .61), who evidenced a similarly strong association between age and MRI measures in midlife and late life. Conclusions and Relevance In this study, racial and ethnic disparities in small vessel cerebrovascular disease were apparent in midlife. In Latinx and White adults, brain aging was more pronounced in late life than midlife, whereas Black adults showed accelerated pattern of brain aging beginning in midlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indira C. Turney
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Patrick J. Lao
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Miguel Arce Rentería
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Kay C. Igwe
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Joncarlos Berroa
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Andres Rivera
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Andrea Benavides
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Clarissa D. Morales
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Batool Rizvi
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Nicole Schupf
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Richard Mayeux
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Jennifer J. Manly
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Adam M. Brickman
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
- Department of Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York
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22
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Pfund GN, Spears I, Norton SA, Bogdan R, Oltmanns TF, Hill PL. Sense of purpose as a potential buffer between mental health and subjective cognitive decline. Int Psychogeriatr 2022; 34:1045-1055. [PMID: 36111484 PMCID: PMC11170959 DOI: 10.1017/s1041610222000680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Purposeful adults may experience greater cognitive resilience because sense of purpose may help buffer against the effects of depressive symptoms and loneliness. We also evaluated whether these associations differed by race. DESIGN This study uses a wave of self-report data from the SPAN study of psychosocial aging. SETTING Participants come from a representative sample of older adults in St. Louis. PARTICIPANTS Participants (N = 595) ages range from 65 to 78 (Mage = 71.46), with 18.3% of participants identifying as Black/African-American. MEASURES Sense of purpose was assessed with the Life Engagement Test, depressive symptoms with the Beck Depression Inventory-II, loneliness with the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and subjective cognitive decline with the AD-8. RESULTS Correlational analyses supported predictions that sense of purpose was negatively related to subjective cognitive decline, whereas depressive symptoms and loneliness were positively related (|r|s > .30, ps < .001). For loneliness, but not depression, this association was moderated by sense of purpose (b = -0.43, p < .001). A relatively high sense of purpose attenuated associations between loneliness and subjective cognitive decline. A three-way race × purpose × loneliness interaction (b = -0.25, p = .021) revealed that the buffering effects of sense of purpose on subjective cognitive decline were stronger for Black adults. DISCUSSION This study provided partial support for the buffering hypothesis, showing that sense of purpose may help mitigate the cognitive decrements associated with loneliness. Future research needs to consider how purpose-promoting programs may support healthy cognitive aging, particularly among Black older adults and those who experience greater social isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle N Pfund
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Isaiah Spears
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sara A Norton
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ryan Bogdan
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Thomas F Oltmanns
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Patrick L Hill
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
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23
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Torres JM, Glymour MM. Future Directions for the HRS Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol. Forum Health Econ Policy 2022; 25:7-27. [PMID: 35254747 DOI: 10.1515/fhep-2021-0064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
In the absence of effective pharmacological treatment to halt or reverse the course of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRDs), population-level research on the modifiable determinants of dementia risk and outcomes for those living with ADRD is critical. The Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP), fielded in 2016 as part of the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and multiple international counterparts, has the potential to play an important role in such efforts. The stated goals of the HCAP are to improve our ability to understand the determinants, prevalence, costs, and consequences of cognitive impairment and dementia in the U.S. and to support cross-national comparisons. The first wave of the HCAP demonstrated the feasibility and value of the more detailed cognitive assessments in the HCAP compared to the brief cognitive assessments in the core HRS interviews. To achieve its full potential, we provide eight recommendations for improving future iterations of the HCAP. Our highest priority recommendation is to increase the representation of historically marginalized racial/ethnic groups disproportionately affected by ADRDs. Additional recommendations relate to the timing of the HCAP assessments; clinical and biomarker validation data, including to improve cross-national comparisons; dropping lower performing items; enhanced documentation; and the addition of measures related to caregiver impact. We believe that the capacity of the HCAP to achieve its stated goals will be greatly enhanced by considering these changes and additions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline M Torres
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - M Maria Glymour
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Fani N, Eghbalzad L, Harnett NG, Carter SE, Price M, Stevens JS, Ressler KJ, van Rooij SJH, Bradley B. Racial discrimination associates with lower cingulate cortex thickness in trauma-exposed black women. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:2230-2237. [PMID: 36100659 PMCID: PMC9630426 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01445-8] [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] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Racial discrimination (RD) has been consistently linked to adverse brain health outcomes. These may be due in part to RD effects on neural networks involved with threat appraisal and regulation; RD has been linked to altered activity in the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) and structural decrements in the anterior cingulum bundle and hippocampus. In the present study, we examined associations of RD with cingulate, hippocampus and amygdala gray matter morphology in a sample of trauma-exposed Black women. Eighty-one Black women aged 19-62 years were recruited as part of an ongoing study of trauma. Participants completed assessments of RD, trauma exposure, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and underwent T1-weighted anatomical imaging. Cortical thickness, surface area and gray matter volume were extracted from subregions of cingulate cortex, and gray matter volume was extracted from amygdala and hippocampus, and entered into partial correlation analyses that included RD and other socio-environmental variables. After correction for multiple comparisons and accounting for variance associated with other stressors and socio-environmental factors, participants with more RD exposure showed proportionally lower cortical thickness in the left rACC, caudal ACC, and posterior cingulate cortex (ps < = 0.01). These findings suggest that greater experiences of RD are linked to compromised cingulate gray matter thickness. In the context of earlier findings indicating that RD produces increased response in threat neurocircuitry, our data suggest that RD may increase vulnerability for brain health problems via cingulate cortex alterations. Further research is needed to elucidate biological mechanisms for these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Negar Fani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Leyla Eghbalzad
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nathaniel G Harnett
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sierra E Carter
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Matthew Price
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Jennifer S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sanne J H van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Bekh Bradley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, GA, USA
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25
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Brondolo E, Simons RR, Keating LH, Vincent B, Kittleman J, Roth A, Basello G, Danyluck C, Blair IV. Racial/Ethnic Discrimination and Food Consumption: Examination in Diverse Samples. Ann Behav Med 2022; 57:227-236. [PMID: 36356036 DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaac046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Racial/ethnic discrimination has been linked to poor health outcomes. Effects of discrimination on health behaviors, including patterns of food consumption, may contribute to health outcomes.
Purpose
We examined relations of discrimination to consumption of healthy and unhealthy foods in two diverse samples. Structural equation modeling was used to examine variations in associations of discrimination to consumption by the timing and type of discrimination, for healthy vs. unhealthy food, and by sample.
Methods
Study 1 included a racially and ethnically diverse sample of adults from New York City (NYC: N = 157); Study 2 included a sample of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults from the Denver metro area (N = 303), many of whom also identified with other racial/ethnic groups. Participants completed self-report measures of racial/ethnic discrimination, food consumption, life stressors, and sociodemographic variables.
Results
Structural equation models indicated discrimination was associated with food consumption. Tests of model invariance indicated that the model of discrimination to food consumption can be applied to both samples. Discrimination within the past-week was associated with more frequent consumption of both unhealthy and healthy foods, whereas lifetime discrimination was associated with more frequent consumption only of unhealthy foods.
Conclusions
The data were limited to self-report measures and only the frequency of consumption was assessed. The findings suggest discrimination may contribute to health disparities through effects on food consumption. Differential effects for past-week and lifetime discrimination suggest that multiple mechanisms may be involved.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Alan Roth
- Jamaica Hospital Medical Center , New York , USA
| | - Gina Basello
- Jamaica Hospital Medical Center , New York , USA
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26
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Gleason CE, Zuelsdorff M, Gooding DC, Kind AJH, Johnson AL, James TT, Lambrou NH, Wyman MF, Ketchum FB, Gee A, Johnson SC, Bendlin BB, Zetterberg H. Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in Black and non-Hispanic White cohorts: A contextualized review of the evidence. Alzheimers Dement 2022; 18:1545-1564. [PMID: 34870885 PMCID: PMC9543531 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Black Americans are disproportionately affected by dementia. To expand our understanding of mechanisms of this disparity, we look to Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers. In this review, we summarize current data, comparing the few studies presenting these findings. Further, we contextualize the data using two influential frameworks: the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association (NIA-AA) Research Framework and NIA's Health Disparities Research Framework. The NIA-AA Research Framework provides a biological definition of AD that can be measured in vivo. However, current cut-points for determining pathological versus non-pathological status were developed using predominantly White cohorts-a serious limitation. The NIA's Health Disparities Research Framework is used to contextualize findings from studies identifying racial differences in biomarker levels, because studying biomakers in isolation cannot explain or reduce inequities. We offer recommendations to expand study beyond initial reports of racial differences. Specifically, life course experiences associated with racialization and commonly used study enrollment practices may better account for observations than exclusively biological explanations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carey E. Gleason
- Division of Geriatrics and GerontologyDepartment of MedicineUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research CenterMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Geriatric ResearchEducation and Clinical Center (11G)William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans HospitalMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Megan Zuelsdorff
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research CenterMadisonWisconsinUSA
- University of Wisconsin School of NursingMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Diane C. Gooding
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Wisconsin, MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Amy J. H. Kind
- Division of Geriatrics and GerontologyDepartment of MedicineUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research CenterMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Geriatric ResearchEducation and Clinical Center (11G)William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans HospitalMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Center for Health Disparities ResearchDepartment of MedicineUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Adrienne L. Johnson
- Center for Tobacco Research and InterventionUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Taryn T. James
- Division of Geriatrics and GerontologyDepartment of MedicineUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research CenterMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Nickolas H. Lambrou
- Geriatric ResearchEducation and Clinical Center (11G)William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans HospitalMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Mary F. Wyman
- Geriatric ResearchEducation and Clinical Center (11G)William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans HospitalMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Wisconsin, MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Fred B. Ketchum
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Alexander Gee
- Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership DevelopmentMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Sterling C. Johnson
- Division of Geriatrics and GerontologyDepartment of MedicineUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research CenterMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Geriatric ResearchEducation and Clinical Center (11G)William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans HospitalMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Barbara B. Bendlin
- Division of Geriatrics and GerontologyDepartment of MedicineUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research CenterMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and NeurochemistryInstitute of Neuroscience and Physiologythe Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of GothenburgMölndalSweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry LaboratorySahlgrenska University HospitalMölndalSweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative DiseaseUCL Institute of Neurology, Queen SquareLondonUK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCLLondonUK
- Hong Kong Center for NeurodegenerationHong KongChina
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27
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Meister LM, Zahodne LB. Associations between social network components and cognitive domains in older adults. Psychol Aging 2022; 37:591-603. [PMID: 34968104 PMCID: PMC9594673 DOI: 10.1037/pag0000672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Previous research shows that social network components are associated with cognitive function later in life. However, fewer studies consider different cognitive domains or disaggregate the social network by relationship type. Using data from 2,553 participants aged 65 or older in the Health and Retirement Study's Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol, this study examined relationships between social network structure (i.e., size, contact frequency) and quality (i.e., support, strain) and performance in five cognitive domains (i.e., episodic memory, executive function, visuoconstruction, language, and processing speed) 2-4 years later, controlling for sociodemographics and previous global cognition. Separate linear regressions were conducted for each cognitive outcome. When averaged across relationship types, network size was not associated with any domain. Contact frequency was positively associated with all domains except episodic memory. Support and strain were negatively associated with all cognitive domains. When considering individual relationship types, larger friend networks were positively associated with visuoconstruction, and greater contact frequency with friends was positively associated with all cognitive domains. Larger family networks were associated with worse executive function, visuoconstruction, and speed. Strain from friends had a negative relationship with every domain except episodic memory. Support from family was negatively associated with episodic memory, executive function, and language. These associations were equivalent to one to 3.5 years of cognitive aging. These results showed that both social network structure and quality may be consequential for cognitive functioning and that links between social relations and cognition differ across domains and as a function of relationship type. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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28
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Keating L, Kaur A, Mendieta M, Gleason C, Basello G, Roth A, Brondolo E. Racial discrimination and core executive functions. Stress Health 2022; 38:615-621. [PMID: 34799970 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Researchers have theorized that exposure to racial discrimination may impair executive functioning. The limited existing data broadly support this notion and suggest that discrimination may exert acute and persistent effects on executive functioning, potentially because of the cognitive demands associated with responding to discrimination. However, it is unclear if discrimination is differentially associated with different core executive functions. Further, the effects may vary depending on the timing of exposure, as recent or acute exposure to discrimination may operate on executive functioning through different mechanisms than exposure across the lifetime. The current study evaluates the relations of both recent and lifetime exposure to racial discrimination to three core executive functions (i.e., cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control and working memory) using a racially and ethnically diverse sample (n = 319). In fully adjusted models, recent discrimination was negatively associated with cognitive flexibility and working memory but not with inhibitory control. These data are consistent with the broader literature on acute stress effects on core executive functions and may have implications for understanding the effects of discrimination on health. Further research is warranted to understand the course and mechanisms of effects of lifetime and recent discrimination on core executive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Keating
- Department of Psychology, St. John's University, Jamaica, New York, USA
| | - Amandeep Kaur
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California - Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Miguel Mendieta
- Department of Psychology, St. John's University, Jamaica, New York, USA
| | - Colleen Gleason
- Department of Psychology, St. John's University, Jamaica, New York, USA
| | - Gina Basello
- Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, Jamaica, New York, USA
| | - Alan Roth
- Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, Jamaica, New York, USA
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29
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Pathways from exposure to racial/ethnic discrimination to depression: Testing a social-cognitive model. Soc Sci Med 2021; 292:114558. [PMID: 34891028 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE Interpersonal racial/ethnic discrimination is a risk factor for depression across the lifespan in minoritized racial/ethnic groups. This study tests a model proposing that social cognitive processes, including relational schemas, mediate the link between discrimination and depression. Relational schemas enable individuals to form mental representations of others, reflecting prior social learning and generating expectations about future social relations. Racism-related relational schemas include, among others, concerns about being rejected or invalidated, concerns about confirming negative stereotypes held by others, and cynical mistrust of others. Prior studies have typically examined the mediating role of one or two relational schemas in the association between discrimination and depression; less is known about the unique and combined effects of multiple dimensions of racism-related social cognition. METHODS The model was tested in a convenience sample of ethnically diverse, non-white participants recruited from two sites, a community medical center (N = 136; Mage = 38, SD = 13.0) and a private university (N = 120; Mage = 19.4, SD = 1.3), yielding a consolidated sample of 256 participants (64% women). Data were collected between September 2016 and April 2018. Participants completed paper-and-pencil self-report measures of exposure to interpersonal discrimination, depressive symptoms, and eight measures of relational schemas. RESULTS Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the eight relational schemas defined three primary dimensions: concerns about rejection and invalidation, social vigilance, and mistrust. A structural equation model in which the association between exposure to discrimination and depressive symptoms operates through latent factors representing three social-cognitive dimensions demonstrated adequate fit (CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.06, SRMR = 0.04). A significant mediational effect was found only for concerns about rejection and invalidation. CONCLUSION The conceptual model supported by this study may help inform psychological interventions aimed at mitigating the detrimental effects of racial/ethnic discrimination on mental health.
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30
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Zahodne LB, Sharifian N, Kraal AZ, Zaheed AB, Sol K, Morris EP, Schupf N, Manly JJ, Brickman AM. Socioeconomic and psychosocial mechanisms underlying racial/ethnic disparities in cognition among older adults. Neuropsychology 2021; 35:265-275. [PMID: 33970660 DOI: 10.1037/neu0000720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: Racial/ethnic disparities in cognitive aging are only partly attributable to socioeconomic indicators. Psychosocial factors, such as discrimination and perceived control, also differ across racial/ethnic groups, and emerging literature highlights their potential role in contributing to cognitive disparities in addition to socioeconomic status. Method: 1,463 older adults (51% Hispanic, 27% non-Hispanic Black, and 22% non-Hispanic White) in the Washington Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project completed cognitive and psychosocial measures, including a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, Everyday and Major Experiences of Lifetime Discrimination scales, and the Perceived Control scale. Mediation models quantified separate indirect effects of Black race and Hispanic ethnicity on global cognitive composite scores through education, income, discrimination, and external perceived control. Results: Educational attainment, income, and perceived control each mediated racial/ethnic disparities in global cognition. Socioeconomic indicators (i.e., lower education and lower income) explained approximately 50% of the Black-White and Hispanic-White disparities in global cognition, and more external perceived control explained an additional 5%-8%. Hispanics reported the lowest levels of discrimination, while non-Hispanic Blacks reported the highest levels. However, neither everyday nor major lifetime discrimination was associated with global cognition. Significant racial/ethnic disparities in global cognition remained after accounting for the included socioeconomic and psychosocial factors. Conclusions: This study suggests that psychosocial factors may explain racial/ethnic disparities in cognitive aging above and beyond socioeconomic indicators. More external perceived control, which could reflect chronic exposure to interpersonal and institutional marginalization, may be a particularly salient psychosocial risk factor for poorer cognitive aging among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic older adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ketlyne Sol
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan
| | | | - Nicole Schupf
- Department of Neurology, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University
| | - Jennifer J Manly
- Department of Neurology, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University
| | - Adam M Brickman
- Department of Neurology, Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University
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31
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Meza E, Peterson R, Gilsanz P, George KM, Miles SJ, Eng CW, Mungas DM, Mayeda ER, Glymour MM, Whitmer RA. Perceived Discrimination, Nativity, and Cognitive Performance in a Multi-ethnic Study of Older Adults: Findings from the Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences (KHANDLE) Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 77:e65-e73. [PMID: 34125189 PMCID: PMC8824601 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glab170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite growing research on the association between discrimination and disparities in cognitive aging, an evidence gap remains on how the association varies by racial/ethnic group. This study evaluates the associations of experiences of discrimination with cognitive function and whether these associations varied by race/ethnicity and nativity. METHODS Using the Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences (KHANDLE) cohort (N=1,712) with approximately equal groups of Black, White, Latino, and Asian community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older, we evaluated the associations between self-reported experiences of everyday and major lifetime discrimination with overall cognitive performance and domain-specific cognition (verbal episodic memory, semantic memory and executive functioning) across race/ethnicity and nativity. Linear regression models examined the cross-sectional association between self-reported experiences of everyday and major lifetime discrimination with z-standardized coefficients for cognition. We tested for effect modification by race and nativity. All models controlled for age, sex and education. RESULTS Among KHANDLE participants (mean age: 76 years; standard deviation: 6.8), everyday discrimination was not associated with cognitive scores. Major lifetime discrimination was associated with better average cognitive scores among Black participants but not among other racial/ethnic groups. Major lifetime discrimination was associated with better average cognitive scores among US-born but not among non-US born individuals. CONCLUSION Our findings do not imply that discrimination improves cognition, but rather suggest that future research should include more detailed measures on discrimination and unfair treatment that could help disentangle the extent to which relationships are causal or reflect some other underlying factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Meza
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, CA
| | - Rachel Peterson
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
| | - Paola Gilsanz
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA
| | - Kristen M George
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
| | - Sunita J Miles
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA
| | - Chloe W Eng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, CA.,Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA
| | - Dan M Mungas
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA
| | - Elizabeth Rose Mayeda
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA
| | - M Maria Glymour
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics University of California, San Francisco San Francisco, CA
| | - Rachel A Whitmer
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA.,Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA
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