@article {13644, title = {Dyadic loneliness, age, and cognitive functioning among midlife and older Black couples.}, journal = {Aging \& mental health}, year = {Forthcoming}, pages = {1-9}, abstract = {

Within marriages, loneliness has been linked with individuals{\textquoteright} own their partners{\textquoteright} cognitive health. Yet little research has situated Black older adults within a relational, dyadic context. This study analyzed longitudinal dyadic data from the Health and Retirement Study (2010-2016; = 1270 participants from 635 couples) from partners in opposite-sex midlife and older couples where at least one partner reported being Black or African American.: Results indicated (1) husbands{\textquoteright} loneliness was associated with worse cognitive functioning 4 years later for wives who had high baseline cognitive functioning themselves; (2) wives{\textquoteright} loneliness was associated with worse cognitive functioning 4 years later only for oldest-old husbands; and (3) wives{\textquoteright} cognitive functioning was associated with slower increases to husbands{\textquoteright} loneliness 4 years later. Findings indicate that loneliness has dyadic consequences for cognitive functioning among older Black couples, but that context is crucial for determining who is at greatest risk of harmful repercussions from a partner{\textquoteright}s loneliness.

}, keywords = {cognitive functioning, Loneliness, quantitative methods and statistics, Stress}, issn = {1364-6915}, doi = {10.1080/13607863.2023.2288862}, author = {Stokes, Jeffrey E and Farmer, Heather} } @article {13409, title = {Longitudinal impact of volunteering on the cognitive functioning of older adults: A secondary analysis from the US Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {Int J Nurs Sci}, volume = {10}, year = {2023}, pages = {373-382}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship of volunteering with cognitive activity, social activity, and physical activity among older adults and, ultimately, with later cognitive functioning across different time periods.

METHODS: We used individual responding to three waves of the US Health and Retirement Study panel data from 2008, 2012, and 2016 (~=~2,862). Self-reported questionnaires were used to assess annual volunteering frequency (non volunteering, volunteering <100~h and >=100~h), and an adapted version of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) was used to assess memory, mental processing, knowledge, language, and orientation. A structural equation model was estimated to assess effects on cognitive functioning throughout waves.

RESULTS: Those participants that were part of volunteering activities in 2012 showed an increase between 2008 and 2012 in moderate physical activity (~=~0.19, ~<~0.001 for those volunteering less than 100~h and 0.21, ~<~0.001 for those volunteering at least 100~h), increase in social activity ( 0.10, 0.052 for those volunteering less than 100~h and 0.12, 0.018 for those volunteering at least 100~h) and increase in higher cognitive activity ( 0.13, ~<~0.001 for those volunteering at least 100~h), compared to participants who did not volunteer. Higher levels of cognitive activity in 2008 and 2012 were associated with higher cognitive functioning on the following waves (~0.66 and 0.60, ~<~0.001, respectively).

DISCUSSION: Volunteering is a modifiable activity that can be increased to bolster cognitive functioning in older adulthood, primarily mediated by increased cognitive activity.

}, keywords = {cognitive functioning, Older Adults, Volunteering}, issn = {2352-0132}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijnss.2023.06.018}, author = {Villalonga-Olives, Ester and Majercak, Kayleigh R and Almansa, Josue and Khambaty, Tasneem} } @article {13059, title = {Social Isolation, Sleep Disturbance, and Cognitive Functioning (HRS): A Longitudinal Mediation Study.}, journal = {J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci}, year = {2023}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Social isolation is prevalent and associated with dementia, yet the directionality and mechanisms are less understood. This study examined the association between social isolation and cognitive functioning and explored the mediating role of sleep disturbance on the social isolation-cognition relationship.

METHODS: Data from 5,753 dementia-free Americans aged >=50 of 2006 (T1), 2010 (T2), and 2014 (T3) waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Social isolation was measured by the Steptoe Social Isolation Index. Cognitive functioning was measured by the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status. Sleep disturbance was measured with the modified Jenkins Sleep Scale. We used cross-lagged panel models to determine the associations between social isolation, sleep disturbance, and cognitive functioning.

RESULTS: Social isolation is significantly associated with subsequent cognitive functioning (T1 to T2: β = -0.055, standard error [SE] = 0.014, p < 0.001; T2 to T3: β = -0.044, SE = 0.016, p < 0.001). Lower cognitive functioning is significantly associated with greater subsequent social isolation (T1 to T2: β = -0.101, SE = 0.020, p < 0.001; T2 to T3: β = -0.058, SE = 0.011, p < 0.001). Sleep disturbance at T2 partially mediated the effect of social isolation (T1) on cognitive functioning (T3), accounting for 6.2\% of the total effect (β = -0.003, SE = 0.001, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Social isolation may deteriorate cognitive functioning and vice versa. The association between social isolation and cognition is partially explained by sleep disturbance.

}, keywords = {cognitive functioning, Sleep disturbance, social isolation}, issn = {1758-535X}, doi = {10.1093/gerona/glad004}, author = {Qi, Xiang and Pei, Yaolin and Malone, Susan K and Wu, Bei} } @article {12815, title = {Childhood lead exposure is associated with lower cognitive functioning at older ages.}, journal = {Science Advances}, volume = {8}, year = {2022}, pages = {eabn5164}, abstract = {

The Flint, Michigan water crisis renewed concern about lead toxicity in drinking water. While lead in drinking water has been shown to negatively affect cognition among children, much less is known about its long-term consequences for late-life cognition. Using a nationally representative sample of U.S. older adults linked to historical administrative data from 1940, we find that older adults who lived as children in cities with lead pipes and acidic or alkaline water-the conditions required for lead to leach into drinking water-had worse cognitive functioning but not steeper cognitive decline. About a quarter of the association between lead and late-life cognition was accounted for by educational attainment. Within the next 10 years, American children exposed to high levels of lead during the 1970s will enter older ages. Our evidence highlights the need for stronger actions to identify interventions to mitigate long-term damage among people at high risk.

}, keywords = {childhood lead exposure, cognitive functioning}, issn = {2375-2548}, doi = {10.1126/sciadv.abn5164}, author = {Lee, Haena and Lee, Mark W and Warren, John Robert and Ferrie, Joseph} } @article {12326, title = {Comparing cognitive function in white Mexican \& non-Hispanic white Americans with/without diabetes}, journal = {Journal of Diabetes \& Metabolic Disorders}, volume = {21}, year = {2022}, pages = {599-605}, abstract = {Objectives An association between type-2 diabetes mellitus and cognitive decline is well known. Additionally, type 2 diabetes is known to be more physically burdensome for minorities. However, the combined impact of both ethnicity and diabetes on cognition is still not clear. Methods Data from the 2014 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) was used in this study to compare the cognitive functioning of non-Hispanic White (n = 10,658) and White Mexican/Mexican American (n = 847) individuals, age 50+ years, with or without type 2 diabetes. Cognitive functioning was measured by a composite of three constructs (serial 7 s, immediate, delayed recall). Ethnic groups and diabetes status were examined concerning cognitive functioning. Results A Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) indicated significant main effects for ethnicity (F(3,11,496) = 11.15, p < .001) and diabetes status (F(3,11,496) = 3.15, p < .024), with Mexican Americans and those with diabetes exhibiting worse cognitive performance than non-Hispanic Whites and individuals without diabetes. There were significant effects for all covariates. A step-wise multiple regression indicated that education, age, depression, ethnicity and diabetes status accounted for a combined 28.4\% variance in the cognitive performance composite. Conclusions Results found that education contributes significantly to variation of cognitive performance. The impact of education could be related to various possibilities. However, the impact of health literacy is a likely component, which has a positive relationship with level of education. Individuals with higher health literacy are more conscientious in health actions (e.g., exhibit regular self-care, glucose monitoring, and foot care). Therefore, the study results indicate it is likely that the duration of diabetes, and diabetes management (e.g., effective control of blood glucose, blood pressure, and lipids), contributing to cognitive decline. Cognitive screening at routine doctor visits is encouraged, particularly for Mexican/Mexican Americans, as the current study found support for ethnic minority vulnerability to the negative impacts of diabetes.}, keywords = {cognitive functioning, ethnicity, mexican american, type 2 diabetes}, doi = {10.1007/s40200-022-01022-2}, author = {Saldana, Samantha Lee and Charles A Guarnaccia} } @article {12552, title = {Comparing relationships between health-related behaviour clustering and episodic memory trajectories in the United States of America and England: a longitudinal study.}, journal = {BMC Public Health}, volume = {22}, year = {2022}, pages = {1367}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Health-related behaviours (HRBs) cluster within individuals. Evidence for the association between HRB clustering and cognitive functioning is limited. We aimed to examine and compare the associations between three HRB clusters: "multi-HRB cluster", "inactive cluster" and "(ex-)smoking cluster" (identified in previous work based on HRBs including smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity and social activity) and episodic memory trajectories among men and women, separately, in the United States of America (USA) and England.

METHODS: Data were from the waves 10-14 (2010-2018) of the Health and Retirement Study in the USA and the waves 5-9 (2010-2018) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing in England. We included 17,750 US and 8,491 English participants aged 50~years and over. The gender-specific HRB clustering was identified at the baseline wave in 2010, including the multi-HRB (multiple positive behaviours), inactive and ex-smoking clusters in both US and English women, the multi-HRB, inactive and smoking clusters in US men, and only the multi-HRB and inactive clusters in English men. Episodic memory was measured by a sum score of immediate and delayed word recall tests across waves. For within country associations, a quadratic growth curve model (age-cohort model, allowing for random intercepts and slopes) was applied to assess the gender-stratified associations between HRB clustering and episodic memory trajectories, considering a range of confounding factors. For between country comparisons, we combined country-specific data into one pooled dataset and generated a country variable (0 = USA and 1 = England), which allowed us to quantify between-country inequalities in the trajectories of episodic memory over age across the HRB clusters. This hypothesis was formally tested by examining a quadratic growth curve model with the inclusion of a three-way interaction term (age {\texttimes} HRB clustering {\texttimes} country).

RESULTS: We found that within countries, US and English participants within the multi-HRB cluster had higher scores of episodic memory than their counterparts within the inactive and (ex-)smoking clusters. Between countries, among both men and women within each HRB cluster, faster declines in episodic memory were observed in England than in the USA (e.g., b = -0.05, 95\%CI: -0.06, -0.03, b = -0.06, 95\%CI: -0.07, -0.04). Additionally, the range of mean memory scores was larger in England than in the USA when comparing means between two cluster groups, including the range of means between inactive and multi-HRB cluster for men (b = -0.56, 95\%CI: -0.85, -0.27), and between ex-smoking and multi-HRB cluster for women (b = -1.73, 95\%CI: -1.97, -1.49).

CONCLUSIONS: HRB clustering was associated with trajectories of episodic memory in both the USA and England. The effect of HRB clustering on episodic memory seemed larger in England than in the USA. Our study highlighted the importance of being aware of the interconnections between health behaviours for a better understanding of how these behaviours affect cognitive health. Governments, particularly in England, could pay more attention to the adverse effects of health behaviours on cognitive health in the ageing population.

}, keywords = {cognitive functioning, Cross-country comparison, ELSA, Health-related behavior clustering}, issn = {1471-2458}, doi = {10.1186/s12889-022-13785-7}, author = {Liao, Jing and Scholes, Shaun and Mawditt, Claire and Mej{\'\i}a, Shannon T and Lu, Wentian} } @article {WANG2022115297, title = {Patterns in older adults{\textquoteright} perceived chronic stressor types and cognitive functioning trajectories: Are perceived chronic stressors always bad?}, journal = {Social Science \& Medicine}, volume = {311}, year = {2022}, pages = {115297}, abstract = {Purpose Previous studies have linked levels of perceived chronic stress to older adults{\textquoteright} cognitive functioning, but few have focused on the impact of chronic stressor types. Thus, this study aimed to (1) identify patterns of chronic stressor types and (2) examine the effects of these patterns on cognitive functioning trajectories among older adults. Methods Two longitudinal studies were conducted separately to test the study aims and ensure replicability across samples and time points. Both used three timepoints (Study 1: 2006, 2008, and 2010, n = 6974; Study 2: 2012, 2014, and 2016, n = 6604) collected from older Americans in the Health and Retirement Study. Participants did not overlap between the two studies. Latent class analyses were conducted to identify chronic stressor-type patterns. Latent growth curve models were used to test the effects of chronic stressor-type patterns on cognitive functioning trajectories. Results Three latent classes of stressor types were identified in both studies: egocentric (4.56\%; 5.85\%), nonegocentric (8.58\%; 10.03\%), and low stressor (86.86\%; 84.12\%). In both studies, compared to the low stressor class, the egocentric stressor class had significantly lower initial cognitive scores (B = -0.72, ρ < 0.001; B = -0.46, ρ < 0.05), while the nonegocentric stressor class did not have significantly different initial scores, with covariates controlled. Additionally, in Study 1, the nonegocentric stressor class had significantly slower cognitive decline rates than the low stressor class (B = 0.11, ρ < 0.05). Conclusions Findings suggested that nonegocentric stressors are an important stressor source in late adulthood but are less detrimental to cognitive functioning than egocentric stressors. Health management interventions may reduce older adults{\textquoteright} cognitive health disparities caused by self-health and financial stressors. More support, including financial subsidies, caregiver stress management training, or support groups, should be provided to older caregivers, especially those with few resources.}, keywords = {Challenge-hindrance perspective, cognitive functioning, Egocentric stressor, Nonegocentric stressor}, issn = {0277-9536}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115297}, author = {Kun Wang and Alexander R. Marbut and Zainab Suntai and Dianhan Zheng and Xiayu Chen} } @article {11471, title = {Religious Involvement and Cognitive Functioning at the Intersection of Race/Ethnicity and Gender in Mid-Life and Older Adults.}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology, Series B }, volume = {77}, year = {2022}, pages = {237-248}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between religious involvement and cognitive functioning at the intersections of race-ethnicity and gender among mid-life and older adults, and to determine if psychosocial factors help explain this relationship.

METHODS: The sample included 14,037 adults aged 50+ from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We utilized measures from the HRS 2010 and 2012 Core interviews and Leave Behind questionnaires and estimated our models using linear regression.

RESULTS: Compared to individuals who frequently attended religious services, infrequent religious service attendance was related to poorer cognitive functioning. Religiosity was inversely associated with cognitive functioning at baseline, but the relationship varied by race/gender subgroup. Greater religiosity was associated with better cognitive functioning among Black women, but lower cognitive functioning among White men and women. Psychosocial factors did little to explain the inverse association between religiosity and cognitive functioning.

DISCUSSION: Results suggest the association between religious involvement and cognitive functioning is varied and complex, and largely dependent on important social identities. The findings have important implications for investigating health-protective factors, like religious involvement, using an intersectional perspective.

}, keywords = {cognitive functioning, gender, race, Religion}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbab034}, author = {Henderson, Andrea K and Katrina M Walsemann and Jennifer A Ailshire} } @article {11362, title = {Dementia and Cognitive Decline in Older Adulthood: Are Agricultural Workers at Greater Risk?}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology: Series B}, volume = {76}, year = {2021}, pages = {1629-1643}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether long-term exposure to agricultural work is associated with dementia prevalence and the rate of cognitive change in older adulthood.

METHODS: We employed data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2014). Multiple logistic regression was used to determine whether a longest-held job in the agricultural sector was associated with differences in dementia prevalence. We examined if hearing impairment, depression and physical health indicators mediated the relationship between agricultural work and cognitive functioning. Sub-group analyses were done by age, retirement status, job tenure, and cognitive domain. We employed growth curve models to investigate implications of agricultural work on age trajectories of cognitive functioning.

RESULTS: Longest-held job in agriculture, fishing, and forestry (AFF) was associated with 46\% greater odds of having dementia. The relationship between AFF exposure and cognitive functioning was not mediated by hearing impairment, depression, or physical health indicators. Results were stronger among younger and retired older adults as well as those with extensive job tenure. AFF exposure was associated with lower scores in working memory and attention and processing speed. Growth curve models indicated that while agricultural work exposure was associated with lower initial levels of cognitive functioning, over time the pattern reversed with individuals in non-AFF jobs showing more accelerated cognitive decline.

DISCUSSION: Consistent with European studies, results from the U.S. also demonstrate a higher prevalence of dementia among agricultural workers. The cognitive reserve framework may explain the seemingly paradoxical result on age patterning of cognitive performance across older adults with different work histories.

}, keywords = {agriculture, cognitive functioning, Dementia, growth curve models}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbab005}, author = {Arora, Kanika and Xu, Lili and Bhagianadh, Divya} } @mastersthesis {12793, title = {Gene by Environment Interactions on Late-Life Cognitive Functioning: Integrative Roles of Polygenic Score, Early Life Trauma, and Psychological Resilience}, year = {2021}, school = {The University of Alabama}, address = {Tuscaloosa, AL}, abstract = {Little is known about the integrative roles of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors on late-life cognitive functioning. This study investigated (a) whether early life trauma could moderate the effect of genetic predisposition on late-life cognitive functioning, and (b) whether psychological resilience could moderate the interactive effect of early life trauma and genetic predisposition on late-life cognitive functioning.METHODS: Growth curve modeling was conducted on a nationally representative sample of adults from the European ancestry group aged 50 or older (4,479 females and 3,502 males) from the 2004 {\textendash} 2016 waves (7 waves) of the Health and Retirement Study. Global cognitive functioning was measured by a total cognition score, composed of fluid and crystallized intelligence. Genetic predisposition for cognitive functioning was measured by polygenic score for general cognition (PGS-gc), and early life trauma was measured by parental alcohol/drug use, physical abuse, and trouble with the police before the age of 18. Psychological resilience was measured as purpose in life and perceived control. RESULTS: After controlling for covariates, PGS-gc, purpose in life, and perceived control, respectively, were significantly and positively associated with global cognitive functioning. Moreover, a significant PGS-gc by early life trauma interaction existed on fluid intelligence. Parental alcohol/substance abuse for older females, and trouble with police for older males, respectively, were significant moderators which decreased the beneficial effect of high PGS-gc on fluid intelligence. Higher perceived control was associated with higher crystallized intelligence (a) among older females with a history of early life trauma and with high PGS-gc; and (b) among males with a history of early life trauma with low PGS-gc, respectively. IMPLICATIONS: The findings demonstrate a gene-by-environment interaction, as early life trauma serves as a significant moderator which attenuates the genetic benefits of PGS-gc on late-life cognitive functioning. Psychological resilience, such as perceived control, has a positive effect on cognitive functioning, and also moderates the interaction effect of PGS-gc and early life trauma on crystallized intelligence. These findings not only provide a clear rationale for trauma-informed care for geriatric populations but also highlight psychological resilience as a modifiable target for effective intervention to promote late-life cognitive health.}, keywords = {cognitive functioning, environment, Genetics, polygenic score, psychological factors, Trauma}, url = {http://ir.ua.edu/handle/123456789/8289}, author = {Park, Soohyun} } @article {WANG2021104521, title = {Longitudinal associations between cancer history and cognitive functioning among older adults}, journal = {Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics}, volume = {97}, year = {2021}, pages = {104521}, abstract = {Objectives This study aimed to examine 1) whether cancer history accelerates older adults{\^a}{\texteuro}{\texttrademark} rates of cognitive decline over time and 2) whether chemotherapy increases older cancer patients{\^a}{\texteuro}{\texttrademark}/ survivors{\^a}{\texteuro}{\texttrademark} rates of cognitive decline over time. Methods This longitudinal study drew a subsample of 8,811 adults aged 65 or older from Wave 6 of the Health and Retirement Study in 2002 and followed biannually until Wave 13 in 2016. Linear mixed-effects models were performed to test whether cancer history and chemotherapy were associated with accelerated rates of cognitive decline over time among older adults in different age groups. Results Middle-old adults (aged 75-84) with a cancer history had significantly reduced rates of cognitive decline over time, including the global measure of cognitive functioning (B= .16, p< .01), mental status (B= .08, p< .01), and episodic memory (B= .09, p< .05) compared to their counterparts without a cancer history. This effect was not significant for the youngest-old (aged 65-74) or oldest-old adults (aged 85 or older). Also, chemotherapy was not significantly associated with older cancer patients{\^a}{\texteuro}{\texttrademark}/survivors{\^a}{\texteuro}{\texttrademark} cognitive functioning at baseline or over time in different age groups. Conclusions This study finds that cancer history and chemotherapy do not further exacerbate older adults{\^a}{\texteuro}{\texttrademark} cognitive functioning over time. On the contrary, cancer history shows a {\^a}{\texteuro}{\oe}protective{\^a}{\texteuro} effect on middle-old adults{\^a}{\texteuro}{\texttrademark} cognitive functioning. This encouraging finding indicates that older adults can be more actively engaged in the decision-making of treatments and following care plans. Future mediation studies are needed to further investigate underlying mechanisms.}, keywords = {Cancer history, Chemotherapy, cognitive functioning, Middle-old adults, Mixed-effects modeling}, issn = {0167-4943}, doi = {10.1016/j.archger.2021.104521}, author = {Kun Wang and Leah P. Cheatham and Alexander R. Marbut and Xiayu Chen} } @article {ijerph18052661, title = {Perceived Neighborhood Characteristics and Cognitive Functioning among Diverse Older Adults: An Intersectional Approach}, journal = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}, volume = {18}, year = {2021}, pages = {1-14}, abstract = {Unfavorable neighborhood conditions are linked to health disparities. Yet, a dearth of literature examines how neighborhood characteristics contribute to cognitive health in diverse samples of older adults. The present study uses an intersectional approach to examine how race/ethnicity, gender, and education moderate the association between neighborhood perceptions and cognitive functioning in later life. We used data from adults >=65 years old (n = 8023) in the 2010{\textendash}2016 waves of the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We conducted race/ethnicity-stratified linear regression models where cognitive functioning, measured using the 35-point Telephone Interview Cognitive Screen (TICS), was regressed on three neighborhood characteristics{\textemdash}cleanliness, safety, and social cohesion. We examine whether there is heterogeneity within race/ethnicity by testing if and how the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and cognitive functioning differs by gender and education. Among White adults, worse neighborhood characteristics were associated with lower cognitive functioning among those with less education. However, for Black adults, poor perceived quality of one{\textquoteright}s neighborhood was associated with worse cognitive functioning among those with more years of education compared to those with fewer years of education. Among Mexicans, perceived neighborhood uncleanliness was associated with lower cognitive functioning among those with less education, but higher cognitive functioning for those with higher levels of education. Thus, this study contributes to the literature on racial/ethnic disparities in cognitive aging disparities by examining neighborhood contextual factors as determinants of cognitive functioning. In particular, we find that higher education in the context of less favorable neighborhood environments does not confer the same benefits to cognitive functioning among all older adults.}, keywords = {cognitive functioning, Health Disparities, Intersectionality, Neighborhoods, Older Adults}, issn = {1660-4601}, doi = {10.3390/ijerph18052661}, author = {Amy D Thierry and Kyler J. Sherman-Wilkins and Armendariz, Marina and Allison R Sullivan and Heather R. Farmer} } @article {11797, title = {The role of education and income for cognitive functioning in old age: A cross-country comparison.}, journal = {International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry}, volume = {36}, year = {2021}, pages = {1908-1921}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have shown that higher education promotes cognitive health. This effect, however, is embedded in the living conditions of a particular country. Since it is not clear to what extent the country and its specific living standards are necessary preconditions for the observed effect, we investigated whether the impact of education and income on cognitive functioning differs between countries.

METHODS: Analyses were based on harmonized data from the World Health Organization{\textquoteright}s multi-country Study on global AGEing and adult health (WHO SAGE), the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), and the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE)) of over 85,000 individuals aged 50 years and older. Analyses were conducted via multivariate regression analyses and structural equation modelling adjusted for age, gender, marital status, health status, and depression.

RESULTS: The effect of education was twice as large as the effect of income on cognitive functioning and indirectly moderated the effect of income on cognitive functioning. The effect sizes varied strongly between countries. The country{\textquoteright}s gross domestic product per capita seems to influence cognitive functioning.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that education has a dominant effect on cognitive functioning in people aged 50 years and older, which might even offset the adverse implications of living with low income on cognitive health. Therefore, expanding efforts to achieve universal education are essential to mitigate health disparities due to low income and early life disadvantages, including chances for good cognitive functioning over the life-span. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

}, keywords = {cognitive functioning, Cognitive Reserve, Cross-country comparison, deprivation, Education, Epidemiology, Income, Life-course, Poverty, SHARE}, issn = {1099-1166}, doi = {10.1002/gps.5613}, author = {Rodriguez, Francisca S and Hofbauer, Lena M and R{\"o}hr, Susanne} } @article {doi:10.1111/jopy.12529, title = {The Association between Actor/Partner Optimism and Cognitive Functioning among Older Couples}, journal = {Journal of Personality}, volume = {88}, year = {2020}, pages = {822-832}, abstract = {Objective Higher optimism has been linked with health, well-being, and cognitive functioning. Spouses also play an important role on people{\textquoteright}s health, especially in older adulthood. Yet, whether a spouse{\textquoteright}s optimism is associated with an individual{\textquoteright}s cognitive functioning is understudied. Thus, we examined this question. Method Participants were 4,457 heterosexual couples (N = 8,914; Mage = 66.73, SD = 9.67) from the Health and Retirement Study{\textemdash}a large, diverse, prospective, and nationally representative sample of U.S. adults aged > 50. Optimism was assessed at baseline (t1) and cognition was measured every two years with up to five repeated assessments of cognition data over the eight-year follow-up period (t1; t2; t3; t4; t5). Results Results from multi-level dyadic data analyses showed small but positive associations between actor optimism and actor cognitive functioning (memory: r = 0.16, mental status =0.10), as well as partner optimism and actor cognitive functioning (memory: r = 0.04, mental status = 0.03). These associations mostly persisted over time. Conclusions Possessing higher optimism, and also having a partner with higher optimism, were both associated with higher cognitive functioning. Thus, with further research, optimism (at both the individual and couple level) might emerge as an innovative intervention target that helps adults maintain cognitive functioning as they age.}, keywords = {actor-partner interdependence model, cognitive functioning, Health and Retirement Study, Optimism}, doi = {10.1111/jopy.12529}, author = {Oh, Jeewon and William J. Chopik and Eric S Kim} } @article {11287, title = {Cognitive Functioning, Gender, and Marital Quality Among Older Married Couples: A Dyadic Approach}, journal = {Innovation in Aging}, volume = {4}, year = {2020}, pages = {605}, abstract = {Older spouses influence one another in myriad ways, and dyadic effects of marital quality on health and well-being have been well-established. However, little attention has been paid to dyadic implications of cognitive functioning, including for spouses{\textquoteright} perceptions of the relationship itself. This study examines associations of older husbands{\textquoteright} and wives{\textquoteright} cognitive functioning with both partners{\textquoteright} reports of four marital quality outcomes. Structural equation modeling analyzed data from 1,414 opposite-sex couples drawn from the 2016 wave of the Health and Retirement Study. Findings revealed that (a) wives{\textquoteright} poorer cognitive functioning was associated with wives{\textquoteright} reporting greater closeness and higher ratings of enjoying time with a spouse, whereas (b) husbands{\textquoteright} poorer cognitive functioning was associated with wives{\textquoteright} reporting greater marital strain, lower marital support, lower closeness, and lower ratings of enjoying time with a spouse. This suggests that cognitive functioning/impairment has dyadic consequences for marital quality, which are highly gendered.}, keywords = {cognitive functioning, gender, Marital quality}, isbn = {2399-5300}, doi = {10.1093/geroni/igaa057.2042}, author = {Gallagher, Elizabeth and Jeffrey E Stokes} } @mastersthesis {11096, title = {The Influence of Mental, Physical, and Social Activity on Episodic Memory of Persons Aged 50 and Above in the United States}, volume = {Doctor of Philosophy}, year = {2020}, school = {Florida Atlantic University}, address = {Boca Raton, FL}, abstract = {The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between mental, physical, and social activity, and episodic memory (EM) of cognitively intact older persons. The specific aims were (a) to describe the relationship between EM and mental, physical, and social activity, (b) to describe the role of gender, marital status, and race on EM, (c) to describe the moderating effects of each activity on the relationship between each of the remaining two activities and EM, and (d) to describe the moderating effects of gender, marital status, and race on the relationship between each activity and EM. Two theoretical frameworks: Cognitive Reserve Theory (Stern, 2002) and Theory of Nursing as Caring (Boykin \& Schoenhofer, 1993) guided the study. This study was designed as a correlational and retrospective secondary analysis of data sets from the Health and Retirement Study. The sample consisted of 3,903 cognitively intact persons who were 50 years and older and completed immediate and delayed recall tests in the 2016 HRS and the 2015 Consumptions and Activities Mail Survey. Descriptive statistics included the means for age: 67 (SD 9.54), education:13.85 (SD 5.89), and total cognition 16.86 (SD 3.11). The sample was predominantly Caucasian (78.3\%), female (59.8\%), and married (60.9\%). The regression model, including mental, physical, and social activity as the predictors, and EM as the criterion was non-significant. There was a significant relationship between gender and EM, indicating that women had higher EM scores than men had. Regression results also showed significant associations between marital status, race, and EM. Compared to the married group, EM scores significantly reduced in the divorced and widowed group. Compared to Whites/Caucasians, African Americans had significantly lower EM scores. The moderation analysis indicated that mental activity significantly moderated the relationship between physical activity and EM. There was a positive relationship between physical activity and EM in the low mental activity group. Gender moderated the relationship between mental activity and EM, indicating a negative relationship between mental activity and EM for women. Marital status also moderated the relationship between physical activity and EM, revealing a positive relationship between physical activity and EM for the widowed group. The study findings can guide primary care services and health-promoting interventions for cognitively intact adults to maintain and improve their episodic memory.}, keywords = {cognitive functioning, Episodic Memory, Mental activity, Older Adults, Physical activity, Social activity}, isbn = {9798664739381}, url = {https://search.proquest.com/openview/cef6bd54bc560188cb9262fbe73aa154/1?pq-origsite=gscholar\&cbl=18750\&diss=y}, author = {Malatyali, Ayse} } @mastersthesis {10650, title = {Three Essays in Health Econometrics}, volume = {Doctor of Philosophy}, year = {2020}, school = {University of Manitoba}, address = {Manitoba, Canada}, abstract = {This thesis consists of three essays that address questions in health economics using different datasets and econometric approaches. In the first essay, I apply novel non-parametric econometric techniques to estimate the causal effect of retirement on health using the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS) survey. I use a non-parametric Fuzzy Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD) technique for my analysis to avoid restrictive assumptions on a particular functional form and to capture the potential reverse causality from health to retirement (endogeneity issue) by exploiting the exogenous variation in retirement decisions induced by U.S. pension eligibility ages at 62 and 65. The results show that retirement is associated with an 8\% decline in the cognitive functioning score of retirees, and 0.42 points increase in the CESD depression scale. Retirees also are 13 percentage points less likely to report good general health status, 8.8 percentage points less likely to be drinkers, and they are 4 percentage points less likely to consume alcohol more than three times per week. In the second essay, I use an administrative database to investigate the impact of the timing of first exposure to maternal depression on a comprehensive measure of children{\textquoteright}s school readiness that incorporates multidimensional developmental domains that underlie school class adaptation and later success. I find that exposure to maternal depression is associated with developmental vulnerability in emotional, physical, social, and cognitive domains. The strongest adverse effects on development are from exposure to depression during pregnancy, followed by exposure during the preschool period. In the third essay, I examine the impact of Type I Diabetes Mellitus (TIDM) during childhood on educational attainment and labor market outcomes in adulthood using the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The results show that individuals who developed Type I diabetes early in life are 7 to 17 percentage points less likely to be employed, work fewer hours (3 to 11 hours less per week) and are 5 to 10 percentage points more likely to receive social welfare assistance than non-diabetics. In addition, Type I diabetics experience less educational attainment than non-diabetics.}, keywords = {cognitive functioning, Retirement}, url = {https://mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca/jspui_org/bitstream/1993/34583/1/Ebeid_Mohamed.pdf}, author = {Mohamed Ebeid} } @article { ISI:000488112300012, title = {Education as the Great Equalizer? Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Effect of Education on Cognitive Impairment in Later Life}, journal = {GERIATRICS}, volume = {4}, year = {2019}, month = {SEP}, pages = {UNSP 51}, type = {Article}, abstract = {Though evidence suggests that the prevalence of cognitive impairment has declined, there still exists a disproportionate burden of ill cognitive health for people of color. In this paper, we test two alternative mechanisms to explain the interactive effect of education and race/ethnicity on cognitive impairment risk: the minority poverty and diminishing returns hypotheses. Drawing on data from the 2012 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) (n = 8093), we estimate logistic regression models to determine differential effects of education on cognitive impairment. We find that non-Hispanic black and Mexican American older adults have higher odds of being cognitively impaired compared to whites, though the ethnic difference (whites vs. Mexican Americans) is mediated by education. Further, we find that while high levels of education are protective against cognitive impairment at older ages, it is more protective for non-Hispanic blacks than for whites and more protective for whites than Mexican Americans. Lastly, we find that racial/ethnic disparities are widest at lower levels of education, consistent with the minority poverty hypothesis. We conclude that the results herein highlight the importance of attending to how factors that are protective for cognitive functioning (e.g., education) may operate differently across racial and ethnic groups.}, keywords = {cognitive functioning, cognitive impairment, Education, Racial/ethnic differences}, doi = {10.3390/geriatrics4030051}, author = {Kyler J. Sherman-Wilkins and Amy D Thierry} } @article {10335, title = {COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING IN OLDER ADULTS: A LIFE SPAN HEALTH PRODUCTION FUNCTION APPROACH}, journal = {Innovation in Aging}, volume = {2}, year = {2018}, month = {11/2018}, pages = {178 - 178}, abstract = {Life-course theory postulates that our ultimate health outcomes are, in part, a response to an accumulation of advantages and disadvantages that begin early in life. Using 2012 Health and Retirement Study data on 9,221 older adults, we quantify how childhood factors contribute to {\textquotedblleft}cognitive achievement{\textquotedblright}, directly and indirectly through their effects on mediating adult outcomes. We estimate {\textquotedblleft}cognitive achievement{\textquotedblright} as the output of a production function, produced by childhood health and socioeconomic-status, adult socioeconomic achievements, health habits and pertinent demographics, adopting simultaneous equations mediation model to quantify the direct and indirect effects of childhood factors. We find that favorable childhood conditions significantly improve cognitive achievement, both directly and indirectly, mediated through education, income, and wealth. Our findings complement available research by showing that cognitive achievement is a function of childhood, adult and later-life factors. The pathways from childhood factors to cognitive achievement, however, could be more complex than previously reported.}, keywords = {Cognition, cognitive functioning, Functional approach, lifespan approach}, isbn = {2399-5300}, url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6229832/}, author = {Nasim B Ferdows} } @article {12181, title = {Critique of Cognitive Measures in the Health Retirement Study (HRS) and the Asset and Health Dynamics among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) Study}, year = {2002}, publisher = {National Institute on Aging}, address = {Bethesda, MD}, keywords = {AHEAD, cognitive functioning}, author = {Margie E Lachman and Avron Spiro III} }