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Kong J, Moorman SM, Qin Y. Lifetime Abuse Victimization and Prospective Health Outcomes in Older Adults. J Appl Gerontol 2024; 43:990-996. [PMID: 38350889 PMCID: PMC11166519 DOI: 10.1177/07334648231225377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives: The current study examined the associations between lifetime abuse victimization and prospective health outcomes in late adulthood. Methods: Data from 4907 older adults (mean age = 80) from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study were analyzed. Multivariate analyses examined the associations of lifetime abuse victimization with depression, physical health status, and memory. Results: Greater exposure to lifetime abuse was associated with a significantly higher risk of depression (OR = 1.13, CI: [1.08, 1.19], p < .001) and a greater number of limitations in physical functioning (b = .08, SE = .02, p < .001), but not with memory performance (b = .01, SE = .14, p > .05). Discussion: Our results support the interrelations of interpersonal violence across the life course and the lasting health effects of exposure to lifetime abuse. Findings highlight the need for a life course-based, trauma-informed approach in prevention and intervention programs for older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jooyoung Kong
- Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sara M. Moorman
- Department of Sociology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Yue Qin
- Department of Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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Ahn S, Kim S, Zhang H, Dobalian A, Slavich GM. Lifetime adversity predicts depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment in a nationally representative sample of older adults in the United States. J Clin Psychol 2024; 80:1031-1049. [PMID: 38294127 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23642] [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: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although life stress and adversity are well-known risk factors for mental health problems and cognitive impairment among older adults, limited research has comprehensively examined the impact of both childhood and adulthood adversity on psychiatric and cognitive impairment symptoms over a prolonged period. To address this issue, we investigated how lifetime adversity exposure is related to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment in a nationally representative, longitudinal sample of older adults in the United States. METHOD We analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study (1992-2016). The sample included 3496 individuals (59.9% female), aged ≥64 years old (Mage = 76.0 ± 7.6 years in 2016). We used the individual-level panel data and ordinary least squares regressions to estimate associations between childhood and adulthood adversities, and later-life depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. RESULTS Many participants experienced a significant early life (38%) or adulthood (79%) stressor. Moreover, experiencing one childhood adversity (vs. none) was associated with a 17.4% increased risk of adulthood adversity. Finally, as hypothesized, childhood adversity exposure was related to experiencing more depression and anxiety symptoms in later life, whereas adulthood stressor exposure predicted more cognitive impairment as well as more depression and anxiety symptoms. DISCUSSION These findings demonstrate significant associations between lifetime adversity and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment in older adults. Screening for lifetime stressors may thus help healthcare professionals and policymakers identify individuals who could potentially benefit from interventions designed to reduce stress and enhance resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- SangNam Ahn
- Department of Health Management and Policy, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
- Center for Population Health and Aging, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Seonghoon Kim
- School of Economics, Singapore Management University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hongmei Zhang
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Aram Dobalian
- Division of Health Services Management and Policy, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - George M Slavich
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Reynolds A, Greenfield EA, Williams-Butler A. Early life adversity, race, and childhood socioeconomic status: intersecting drivers of later life cognition. Aging Ment Health 2024; 28:511-519. [PMID: 37572032 PMCID: PMC10859546 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2023.2242296] [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: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Research on associations between early life adversity (ELA) and later life cognition has yielded mixed results and generally have not considered how broader societal systems of stratification potentially influence associations. The current study addresses this gap by exploring if racialized identity and childhood socioeconomic status (cSES) moderate associations between ELA exposure and later life cognition. METHODS Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (Waves 2010-2018), we used growth curve modeling to examine if the confluence of ELA, cSES, and racialized identity is associated with cognition. RESULTS Among White participants, greater exposure to ELA was associated with poorer baseline cognitive functioning, and higher cSES buffered against this association. Among Black participants, exposure to ELA was not associated with baseline cognitive functioning, regardless of cSES. We did not find evidence of any associations between main predictors nor their interactions with change in cognition over time. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that associations between ELA and later life cognition is contingent upon multiple social positions in the United States. These findings support the importance of integrating insights on intersecting social positions within life-course-oriented efforts to reduce racialized cognitive disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Addam Reynolds
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
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De Looze C, McCrory C, O'Halloran A, Polidoro S, Anne Kenny R, Feeney J. Mind versus body: Perceived stress and biological stress are independently related to cognitive decline. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 115:696-704. [PMID: 37977246 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress may increase risk of age-related cognitive decline. 'Stress', however, is a multidimensional construct and few studies have investigated the inter-relationship of subjective stress and biological stress with cognitive decline. In this study, we examine the relationship between perceived stress and two measures of biological stress - allostatic load, indexing stress at the physiological level and leukocyte telomere length, indexing stress at the cellular level - with cognitive decline over a 12-year period in adults aged 50 and older. 3,458 participants (aged ≥ 50) from The Irish Longitudinal study on Ageing with measurements of allostatic load, telomere length and perceived stress at baseline and repeated measures of cognitive function were included. Hierarchical linear regression models with adjustment for multiple potential confounders were applied, and repeated stratified by sex in sensitivity analyses. Higher perceived stress at baseline was associated with lower cognitive function (β = -0.10, 95 % CI -0.12, -0.07, p <.001), with similar strength of associations across waves. There were significant interactions between measures of biological stress and wave; higher allostatic load was associated (X2(18) = 64.4; p <.001), and telomere length was borderline (X2(18) = 9.4; p =.09) associated with cognitive decline from 4-year follow-up onward. Sex stratified analyses revealed that the association between telomere length and cognitive decline was present in women only. Mutual adjustment did not attenuate associations in either case. The interactions between allostatic load and telomere length with perceived stress were not significant. Our findings suggest that subjective measures of stress and biological metrics may be independently related to cognitive function over time in older adults, hinting at the potential for different underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline De Looze
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Cathal McCrory
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Aisling O'Halloran
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Rose Anne Kenny
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Mercer's Institute for Successful Ageing (MISA), St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Joanne Feeney
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Meyer OL, Zheng S, Alto R, Tran D, Luu S, Vu U, Hinton L, Harvey D. Caregivers of People With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: Characterizing Social and Psychological Outcomes. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2024; 38:51-58. [PMID: 38277636 PMCID: PMC10922819 DOI: 10.1097/wad.0000000000000603] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Little is known about caregiving across the spectrum of cognitive impairment [mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia] and how early life and sociocultural factors affect caregiver health. In this study, we characterized differences between caregivers of those with MCI versus those with dementia. METHODS A total of 158 caregivers were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, most of whom were dementia caregivers (65%). Caregivers completed questionnaires on depressive symptoms, self-rated health (SRH), perceived burden and stress, as well as psychosocial and demographic measures. RESULTS Caregivers of those with MCI reported fewer depressive symptoms and lower stress and burden compared with dementia caregivers. In adjusted analyses caregivers with greater stress reported more depressive symptoms. For SRH, at lower stress levels, having a sibling die before age 18 (ie, early life adversity) was associated with poorer SRH; at higher stress levels, having early life adversity was associated with better SRH. At lower burden levels, more live births were associated with worse SRH; at higher burden levels, more live births were associated with better SRH. CONCLUSIONS Early life factors are relevant for caregivers of those with cognitive impairment and targeted prevention and early intervention may be helpful in alleviating caregiver burden and stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oanh L. Meyer
- University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Shichen Zheng
- University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Raquel Alto
- Crowell & Moring LLP, Washington, DC, 20004, USA
| | - Duyen Tran
- University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - San Luu
- University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Uyen Vu
- University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Ladson Hinton
- University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Danielle Harvey
- University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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Yuan Y, Peng C, Burr JA, Lapane KL. Frailty, cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms in Chinese older adults: an eight-year multi-trajectory analysis. BMC Geriatr 2023; 23:843. [PMID: 38087208 PMCID: PMC10717397 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-04554-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Frailty, cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms are closely interrelated conditions in the aging population. However, limited research has longitudinally analyzed the concurrent trajectories of these three prominent conditions in older adults in China. This study aimed to explore the eight-year trajectories of frailty, cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms, and to identify individual-level and structural-level factors associated with the trajectories. METHODS Four waves of data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2018) were used to identify 6,106 eligible older adults. The main measures included frailty by the frailty index constructed using 30 indicators, cognitive impairment by the summary score of immediate and delayed word recall, figure drawing, serial subtraction, and orientation, and depressive symptoms by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Multi-trajectory models identified the trajectories of frailty, cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms over time. Multinomial logistic regression was employed to estimate the associations between individual-level capital factors and one structural factor (hukou and geographic residency) with the identified trajectories, adjusting for demographic characteristics. RESULTS Four trajectories emerged: (1) worsening frailty, worsening cognitive impairment, depression (14.0%); (2) declining pre-frailty, declining cognition, borderline depression (20.0%); (3) pre-frailty, worsening cognitive impairment, no depression (29.3%); and (4) physically robust, declining cognition, no depression (36.7%). Using the "physically robust, declining cognition, no depression" as the reference, not working, no social activity participant, worse childhood family financial situation, and poorer adult health were most strongly associated with the "worsening frailty, worsening cognitive impairment, depression" trajectory; worse health during childhood had the highest association with the "declining pre-frailty, declining cognition, borderline depression" trajectory; less education, lower household consumption, and rural hukou had the greatest association with the increased likelihood of the "pre-frailty, worsening cognitive impairment, no depression" trajectory. CONCLUSIONS Findings could inform the understanding of the interrelationship of frailty, cognitive impairment, and depressive symptoms in older adults in China and may help practitioners detect adults at risk for adverse trajectories to implement strategies for proper care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyang Yuan
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, 01605, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Changmin Peng
- Department of Gerontology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Burr
- Department of Gerontology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kate L Lapane
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, 01605, Worcester, MA, USA
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