Stressful Events, Social Support, and Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged Adults With a Family History of Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

To examine the associations of stressful experiences and social support with cognitive function in a sample of middle-aged adults with a family history of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Using data from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention (WRAP; N = 623), we evaluated relationships between stressful events experienced in the past year, as well as social support, and cognitive performance in four domains: speed and flexibility, immediate memory, verbal learning and memory, and working memory. We assessed interactions between psychosocial predictors, and with APOE ε4 status. Greater number of stressful events was associated with poorer performance on tests of speed and flexibility. Greater social support was associated with better performance in the same domain; this relationship was diminished by the presence of the ε4 allele. No associations were seen in the remaining three domains. Psychosocial factors may influence cognition in at-risk individuals; influence varies by cognitive domain and ε4 status.