%0 Journal Article %J Journal of Aging and Health %D Forthcoming %T The Impact of Sustained Ownership of a Pet on Cognitive Health: A Population-Based Study. %A Applebaum, Jennifer W %A Shieu, Monica M %A McDonald, Shelby E %A Dunietz, Galit Levi %A Braley, Tiffany J %K cognitive function %K Cognitive health %K companion animals %K pet ownership %K Pets %X

To examine associations between sustained ownership of a pet and cognitive outcomes among a national sample of U.S. adults. Weighted linear mixed models were estimated using the Health and Retirement Study (2010-2016, = 1369) to compare repeated measures of cognitive function between respondents who endorsed owning a pet in a sustained manner (>5 years), versus those who owned a pet ≤5 years, and non-pet owners. Respondents aged 65+ who owned a pet >5 years demonstrated higher composite cognitive scores, compared to non-pet owners (β = .76, = .03). Sustained pet ownership was associated with higher immediate (β = .3, = .02) and delayed (β = .4, = .007) word recall scores. There were no significant differences in cognitive scores between pet owners and non-owners aged < 65. Sustained ownership of a pet could mitigate cognitive disparities in older adults. Further studies are needed to examine potential causal pathways, including physical activity and stress buffering, versus selection effects.

%B Journal of Aging and Health %G eng %R 10.1177/08982643221122641 %0 Journal Article %J Nat Sci Sleep %D 2023 %T The Interplay Among Natural Menopause, Insomnia, and Cognitive Health: A Population-Based Study. %A Shieu, Monica M %A Braley, Tiffany J %A Becker, Jill %A Dunietz, Galit Levi %K Cognitive health %K insomnia %K Menopause %X

PURPOSE: The interrelationships among age at menopause, sleep, and brain health have been insufficiently studied. This study sought to examine the influence of age at natural menopause and insomnia symptoms on long-term cognitive function among US women.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our study included a nationally representative cohort of US adults age 50+ from the Health and Retirement Study (2008-2018). We restricted this cohort to 5880 women age 50+, from a diverse racial and ethnic groups. Age at menopause was retrieved from baseline (2008) for women having natural menopause. Five questions were used to identify women with insomnia symptoms (2010 and 2012): trouble falling asleep, nighttime awakenings, early morning awakenings, feelings of nonrestorative sleep, and use of sleep aids. A battery of four neuropsychological tests was conducted biennially (years) to evaluate cognitive function. Longitudinal associations between age at natural menopause and cognitive function were estimated with mixed effects models with a random intercept. Insomnia symptoms were examined as potential mediators or modifiers in the pathway between age at menopause and cognition.

RESULTS: One year earlier in age at menopause was associated with a 0.49 lower mean in composite cognitive score, in any given survey year (adjusted p = 0.002). Earlier age at menopause was associated with higher risk of developing insomnia symptoms (eg, trouble falling asleep OR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.96, 0.99), and insomnia symptoms were associated with worse cognitive performance (eg, trouble falling asleep, beta = -0.5, p-value = 0.02). Therefore, insomnia symptoms could potentially mediate the association between age at natural menopause and cognition.

CONCLUSION: Earlier age at menopause is associated with a lower score in cognitive performance. This association may be mediated by insomnia symptoms. Our findings spotlight that among women who experience early menopause, there is the need for studies of sleep-based interventions to mitigate cognitive decline.

%B Nat Sci Sleep %V 15 %P 39-48 %8 2023 %G eng %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/36820129?dopt=Abstract %R 10.2147/NSS.S398019 %0 Journal Article %J Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine %D 2022 %T The association between obstructive sleep apnea risk and cognitive disorders: A population-based study. %A Shieu, Monica M %A Galit L Dunietz %A Paulson, Henry L %A Ronald D Chervin %A Braley, Tiffany J %K cognitive disorders %K Dementia %K effect modification %K obstructive sleep apnea %X

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between OSA risk and cognitive disorders among US adults.

METHODS: Data from the 2016 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) were utilized. Probable OSA cases were identified with survey items that resembled critical elements of a clinically validated OSA screen (STOP-Bang questionnaire). Weighted prevalence of cognitive impairment not dementia (CIND) and dementia among individuals with and without probable OSA were assessed. Cross-sectional analyses of associations between OSA risk and cognitive outcomes, along with effect modification by race and ethnicity, were estimated using imputed data.

RESULTS: Of the 20,910 HRS participants, 60% had probable OSA. CIND and dementia were more common among adults with probable OSA as compared to those without (12.7% vs. 8.0% for CIND; 3.2% vs 2.0% for dementia). Probable OSA was associated with CIND (OR=1.22, 1.08-1.37) and dementia (OR=1.27, 1.04-1.54). Race/ethnicity significantly modified the association between probable OSA and CIND, with a higher risk for CIND in Whites (OR=1.35, 1.17-1.57) as compared to non-Whites (OR=0.98, 0.81-1.19).

CONCLUSIONS: CIND and dementia are more common among older adults who are at high risk for OSA, as compared to low-risk individuals. These data highlight the importance of consideration of OSA risk in large-scale studies of OSA and cognitive disorders.

%B Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine %V 18 %P 1177-1185 %G eng %N 4 %R 10.5664/jcsm.9832 %0 Journal Article %J BMJ Open %D 2020 %T Sleep disturbance as a moderator of the association between physical activity and later pain onset among American adults aged 50 and over: evidence from the Health and Retirement Study %A Whibley, Daniel %A Heidi M Guyer %A Swanson, Leslie M %A Braley, Tiffany J %A Kratz, Anna L %A Galit L Dunietz %K pain %K Physical activity %K sleep disorders %X Objective To examine whether sleep disturbance modifies the association between physical activity and incident pain.Design Prospective population-based study.Setting Health and Retirement Study.Participants American adults aged >=50 years who reported no troublesome pain in 2014 were re-assessed for pain in 2016. Of 9828 eligible baseline respondents, 8036 (82%) had complete follow-up data for adjusted analyses (weighted analysis population N=42 407 222).Exposures Physical activity was assessed via interview with questions about time spent in moderate and vigorous physical activity. Sleep disturbance, assessed using a modified form of the Jenkins Sleep Scale, was examined as a potential moderator.Main outcome measure Troublesome pain.Results In weighted analyses, 37.9% of the 2014 baseline pain-free sample participated in moderate or vigorous physical activity once a week or less, with an overall mean Physical Activity Index Score of 9.0 (SE=0.12). 18.6% went on to report troublesome pain in 2016. Each one-point higher on the Physical Activity Index Score was associated with a reduced odds ratio (OR) of incident pain for those who endorsed sleep disturbance never/rarely (OR=0.97, 95% CI 0.94 to 0.99), but not for those who endorsed sleep disturbance sometimes (OR=0.99, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.01) or most of the time (OR=1.01, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.03). The analysis of possible interaction demonstrated that frequency of sleep disturbance moderated the physical activity and incident pain association (Wald test: p=0.02).Conclusions The beneficial association of physical activity on reduced likelihood of later pain was only observed in persons who endorsed low levels of sleep disturbance. %B BMJ Open %V 10 %P e036219 %G eng %N 6 %R 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036219