Differences In Longitudinal Trajectories Research Articles

RACIAL DIFFERENCES IN LONGITUDINAL TRAJECTORIES OF SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine if there are racial differences in the longitudinal trajectories of social isolation and loneliness among older adults. Data come from the Health and Retirement Study Leave Behind Questionnaire, waves 2006-2016. Social isolation was operationalized as a social network index and loneliness was operationalized by the UCLA-3 item loneliness scale. Race was operationalized by White, Black, and Hispanic. I also adjusted for age, gender, education, household income, and employment status. Racial differences in longitudinal trajectories were determined by multilevel models with survey weights included by the HRS. In unadjusted models, I found Hispanic older adults were less likely to be socially isolated compared to White and Black older adults; furthermore, White older adults were less likely to be lonely compared to Black and Hispanic older adults. In fully adjusted models, White older adults had greater social isolation in comparison to Black and Hispanic older adults, and Black older adults had greater isolation compared to Hispanic older adults. For loneliness, Black older adults were found to be lonelier compared to Hispanic older adults, but not White older adults. This study is one of the first to examine racial differences in longitudinal trajectories of social isolation and loneliness. I find race is a salient factor that may influence objective isolation and feelings of loneliness among older adults. Given the established relationship between isolation, loneliness, and health, these findings are useful for identifying potential racial groups at higher risk for these conditions and informing future interventions.

Sex Differences in Longitudinal Trajectories of Cognitive Aging in Zaragoza, Spain

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to document the longitudinal trajectories of cognitive aging in a sample of cognitively healthy subjects of 55 years or older. The following differences between men and women were hypothesized: 1) in the cognitive loss through aging, 2) in the distinct trajectories identified; and 3) in the predictors associated with the identified trajectories. Design and settingA 4-wave, population-based study in Zaragoza, Spain (1994–2006). ParticipantsA total of 2,403 individuals aged 55+ years, cognitively healthy at baseline. MeasurementsAll participants had at least three measurements with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Validated Spanish versions of international instruments were used for assessment. Random effects linear panel regression model for analyzing differences by sex in MMSE scores through aging were performed, and growth mixture models (GMM) applied independently for each sex for modeling the longitudinal cognitive trajectories. ResultsWomen showed lower mean MMSE scores in all phases and significantly higher loss in the MMSE from phases 2 to 3 and 3 to 4. The best fitting age-adjusted model of the cognitive trajectories was a 4-class GMM in men and a 3-class in women. Education was a predictor of cognitive trajectories in both men and women. Dependence on iADLs and alcohol status were predictors only for men, and depression and diabetes only for women. ConclusionsThe identified differences by sex in cognitive trajectories and their associated factors suggest that men and women may require a different strategy when addressing cognitive aging.

524. Sex Differences in Longitudinal Trajectories of Regional Cerebral Blood Flow During Child Development and Adulthood

524. Sex Differences in Longitudinal Trajectories of Regional Cerebral Blood Flow During Child Development and Adulthood

Longitudinal trajectories of region-level suicide mortality in Tokyo, Japan, 2011 to 2021

Background: Suicide mortality in Japan has declined over a period of more than 10 years, however, differences in longitudinal trajectories at a regional level are not well characterized. Objective was to clarify the longitudinal suicide mortality trajectories at the regional level in Tokyo from 2011 to 2021 by considering spatial smoothing, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This longitudinal cross-sectional analysis used fifty-four regions in Tokyo, Japan. Suicide mortality trends used data from the Cabinet Office of the Japanese government from 2011 to 2021. Regional social and environmental characteristics were used as 10 covariates. Empirical Bayes estimates for the standardized mortality ratio were obtained. A conditional autoregressive (CAR) model was applied to capture the spatial correlation for a crude and adjusted with 10 covariates using OpenBUGS. Spatial clusters were also identified by FlexScan, SaTScan, and Tango’s test. Results: Longitudinal trajectories for both males and females were similar to a decreasing trend in all Japan until 2019. In 2020, the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the age-specific suicide deaths were the highest among those in their 20s. However, those were the highest among males in their 50s in 2021. The results of the CAR models adjusted for 10 covariates detected several regions as having higher suicide rates, but those regions were somewhat varied. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, both sexes in their 20s and males in their 50s showed a tendency toward an increase in suicides. The detected regions by spatial epidemiology varied with sex.

Association of Genetic West African Ancestry, Blood Pressure Response to Therapy, and Cardiovascular Risk Among Self-reported Black Individuals in the Systolic Blood Pressure Reduction Intervention Trial (SPRINT)

Self-identified Black race is associated with higher hypertension prevalence and worse blood pressure (BP) control compared with other race/ethnic groups. The contribution of genetic West African ancestry to these racial disparities appears not to have been completely determined. To determine the association between the proportion of West African ancestry with the response to antihypertensive medication, BP control, kidney function, and risk of adverse cardiovascular (CV) events among self-identified Black individuals in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT). This post hoc analysis of the SPRINT trial incorporated data from a multicenter study of self-identified Black participants with available West African ancestry proportion, estimated using 106 biallelic autosomal ancestry informative genetic markers. Recruitment started on October 20, 2010, and ended on August 20, 2015. Data were analyzed from May 2020 to September 2020. Trajectories of BP and kidney function parameters on follow-up of the trial were assessed across tertiles of the proportion of West African ancestry using linear mixed-effect modeling after adjustment for potential confounders. Multivariable adjusted Cox models evaluated the association of West African ancestry with the risk of composite CV events (nonfatal myocardial infarction, CV death, and heart failure event). Among 2466 participants in the current analysis (1122 women [45.5%]; median West African ancestry, 81% [interquartile range, 73%-87%]), there were 120 composite CV events (4.9%) over a mean (SD) of 3.2 (0.9) years of follow-up. At baseline, mean (SD) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were higher (tertile 3: 56.5 [15.0] mg/dL vs tertile 1: 54.2 [14.9] mg/dL; P = .006), smoking prevalence (never smoking: tertile 3: 367 [47.9%] vs tertile 1: 372 [42.2%]; P = .009) and mean (SD) Framingham Risk scores (tertile 3: 16.7 [9.7] vs tertile 1: 18.1 [10.2]; P = .01) were lower, and baseline BP was not different across increasing tertiles of West African ancestry. On follow-up, there was no evidence of differences in longitudinal trajectories of BP, kidney function parameters, or left ventricular mass (Cornell voltage by electrocardiogram) across tertiles of West African ancestry in either intensive or standard treatment arms. In adjusted Cox models, higher West African ancestry was associated with a lower risk of a composite CV event after adjustment for potential confounders (adjusted hazard ratio per 5% higher West African ancestry, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.85-0.99]). Among self-reported Black individuals enrolled in SPRINT, the trajectories of BP, kidney function, and left ventricular mass over time were not different across tertiles of the proportion of West African ancestry. A higher proportion of West African ancestry was associated with a modestly lower risk for CV events. These findings suggest that extrinsic and structural societal factors, more than genetic ancestry, may be the major drivers of the well-established racial disparity in cardiovascular health associated with hypertension.

Determinants of pulse wave velocity trajectories from youth to young adulthood: the Georgia Stress and Heart Study.

Increased arterial stiffness measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV) has been shown to be an important parameter of cardiovascular risk. Longitudinal development of PWV from youth to early adulthood and its possible sociodemographic, anthropometric, hemodynamic and behavioral moderators will be illustrated. Individual growth curves of carotid-distal PWV across age were created for 559 African American and European American men and women with a maximum of five assessments over an average of 7-year follow-up (mean age at participants' first assessment, 22.3 ± 3.4). African Americans and men had significantly higher PWV than did European Americans and women (Ps < 0.01), respectively. A three-way interaction (P < 0.001) between age, sex and ethnicity was observed with African American men displaying a larger rate of increase in PWV with age than the other three ethnic and sex groups. The ethnicity and sex effects on PWV persisted when controlling for other moderators. Waist circumference was the strongest anthropometric predictor but its effect on PWV was only significant in women. Mean arterial pressure was the strongest hemodynamic predictor, marital status of parents was the strongest socioeconomic predictor and marijuana use was the strongest behavioral predictor of PWV. The best-fitting full model explained in total 59.4% of the between-subject variance in PWV with ethnicity, sex and age explaining 25.6%. We observed significant ethnic and sex differences in longitudinal trajectories of PWV in youth and young adults. In addition, individual differences in PWV growth can largely be explained by mean arterial pressure, waist, marital status of parents and marijuana use.

Longitudinal evaluation of ventricular volume changes associated with mild traumatic brain injury in military service members

ABSTRACTPrimary objective: To investigate differences in longitudinal trajectories of ventricle-brain ratio (VBR), a general measure of brain atrophy, between Veterans with and without history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).Research design: Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to calculate VBR in 70 Veterans with a history of mTBI and 34 Veterans without such history at two time points approximately 3 and 8 years after a combat deployment.Main outcomes and results: Both groups demonstrated a quadratic relationship between VBR and age that is consistent with normal developmental trajectories. Veterans with history of mTBI had larger total brain volume, but no interaction between mTBI and age was observed for brain volume, ventricular volume, or VBR.Conclusions: In our longitudinal sample of deployed Veterans, mTBI was not associated with gross brain atrophy as reflected by abnormally high VBR or abnormal increases in VBR over time.

Abstract P204: Growth and Moderators of Pulse Wave Velocity From Childhood to Adulthood

Background: Increased arterial stiffness measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV) has been shown to be an important parameter in the assessment of cardiovascular risk. However little is known about its longitudinal development from childhood to adulthood and its possible sociodemographic, anthropometric, hemodynamic and behavioral moderators. Methods and Results: Individual growth curves of carotid-distal PWV across age were created for 559 African American and European American males and females with a maximum of 5 assessments over a 13-year period (age, 13.7-37.3). African Americans and males had significantly higher PWV than did European Americans and females (Ps&lt;0.01), respectively. A 3-way interaction (P&lt;0.01) between age, gender and ethnicity was observed with African American males displaying a larger rate of increase in PWV with age than the other 3 ethnic and gender groups. The ethnicity and gender effects on PWV persisted when controlling for other moderators. Waist circumstance was the strongest anthropometric predictor but its effect on PWV was only significant in females. Mean arterial pressure was the strongest hemodynamic predictor, marital status of parents was the strongest socioeconomic predictor, and illegal drug use was the strongest behavioral predictor of PWV. The best-fitting full model explained in total 61.6% of the between-subject variance in PWVwith ethnicity, genderand age explaining25%. Conclusion: We observed significant ethnic and gender differences in longitudinal trajectories of PWV in youth and young adults. Apart from these ethnicity and gender effects, individual differences in PWV growth can largely be explained by mean arterial pressure, waist circumstance, marital status and illegal drug use.

APOEε4 Genotype and Hypertension Modify 8-year Cortical Thinning: Five Occasion Evidence from the Seattle Longitudinal Study

We investigated individual differences in longitudinal trajectories of brain aging in cognitively normal healthy adults from the Seattle Longitudinal Study covering 8 years of longitudinal change (across 5 occasions) in cortical thickness in 249 midlife and older adults (52-95 years old). We aimed to understand true brain change; examine the influence of salient risk factors that modify an individual's rate of cortical thinning; and compare cross-sectional age-related differences in cortical thickness to longitudinal within-person cortical thinning. We used Multivariate Multilevel Modeling to simultaneously model dependencies among 5 lobar composites (Frontal, Parietal, Temporal, Occipital, and Cingulate [CING]) and account for the longitudinal nature of the data. Results indicate (1) all 5 lobar composites significantly atrophied across 8 years, showing nonlinear longitudinal rate of cortical thinning decelerated over time, (2) longitudinal thinning was significantly altered by hypertension andApolipoprotein-E ε4 (APOEε4), varying by location: Frontal and CING thinned more rapidly in APOEε4 carriers. Notably, thinning of parietal and occipital cortex showed synergistic effect of combined risk factors, where individuals who were both APOEε4 carriers and hypertensive had significantly greater 8-year thinning than those with either risk factor alone or neither risk factor, (3) longitudinal thinning was 3 times greater than cross-sectional estimates of age-related differences in thickness in parietal and occipital cortices.

Longitudinal trajectories of cortical thickness as a biomarker for psychosis in individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

Objective.22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DS) or velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) is a genetic condition that has been identified as the highest genetic risk factor for developing psychotic illnesses. This unique biological nature of 22q11DS provides a valuable opportunity to explore predictive biomarkers of psychosis. In this study, we examined the relationship of cortical thickness and surface area between various brain regions and prodromal symptoms of psychosis. Methods75 probands with 22q11DS, 32 age-matched controls and 28 siblings underwent MRIs over 2 or 3 timepoints. Longitudinal mixed model regression analyses, with age as an interaction variable, were carried out to study the differences in longitudinal trajectories of change in average cortical thickness and surface area over 6–9years. Similar analyses were carried out to examine the relationship with positive prodromal symptoms of psychosis. ResultsSignificant differences were noted in the inferior and superior parietal regions in both the average thickness and longitudinal change in cortical thickness with age between the probands and controls. Significant associations were also noted between regions in the frontal cortex and positive prodromal symptoms among probands. No associations were noted with cortical surface area. ConclusionOur results indicate that individuals with 22q11DS who develop positive prodromal symptoms demonstrate differential longitudinal trajectories of cortical thickness in some regions of the frontal lobe. Our results suggest that the pruning stage associated with adolescent brain development may be disrupted.

Gender Differences in Longitudinal Trajectories of Change in Physical, Social, and Cognitive/Sedentary Leisure Activities.

We examined changes in participation in cognitive, social, and physical leisure activities across middle and older adulthood and tested moderation of trajectories of change in participation by gender. In all, 1,398 participants in the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging (SATSA) completed a 7-item leisure activity questionnaire up to 4 times over 17 years. Mean baseline age was 64.9 years (range = 36-91); 59% were women. Factor analysis identified physical, social, and cognitive/sedentary leisure activity participation factors. Age-based latent growth curve models adjusted for marital status, gender, education, depressive symptoms, and physical health were used. Overall, results indicated stability in social activities, increase in cognitive/sedentary activities, and decrease in physical activities, as well as accelerated decline in all three types of activities after about the age of 70 years. Social activity remained mostly stable for women and declined for men. Women reported higher levels of cognitive/sedentary leisure activity across the study. Both men and women declined in physical leisure activity. Variance in leisure activities increased with age; men demonstrated more variance in social activities and women in physical activities. Understanding change in leisure activities with age and by gender can have important implications for interventions and for use of leisure activity data in epidemiological research.

Trajectories of children's social interactions with their infant sibling in the first year: a multidimensional approach.

Individual differences in longitudinal trajectories of children's social behaviors toward their infant sibling were examined simultaneously across multiple social dimensions: Positive engagement (moving toward), antagonism (moving against), and avoidance (moving away). Three distinct social patterns were identified: (C1) positively-engaged (n = 107, 50%); (C2) escalating-antagonism (n = 90, 42%); and (C3) early-onset antagonism (n = 16, 8%). Children in the positively-engaged class had high levels of positive engagement with their infant siblings, coupled with low levels of antagonism and avoidance. The escalating-antagonism class was positively-engaged in sibling interaction with a steep escalation in antagonistic behavior and avoidance from 4 to 12 months. Children in the early-onset antagonism class displayed the highest level of antagonistic behavior starting as early as 4 months, and became increasingly avoidant over time. A path model, guided by a Process × Person × Context × Time model, revealed that low parental self-efficacy heightened by parenting stress and children's dysregulated temperament was directly related to the escalating-antagonism pattern. Punitive parenting in response to children's antagonistic behavior increased the likelihood of being in the early-onset antagonism class. Together, the results highlighted heterogeneity in the earliest emergence of sibling interaction patterns and the interplay of child and parent factors in predicting distinct sibling interaction trajectory patterns.

Demographic predictors of cognitive change in ethnically diverse older persons.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate how demographic variables relate to cognitive change and address whether cross-sectional demographic effects on cognitive tests are mirrored in differences in longitudinal trajectories of cognitive decline. We hypothesized that race and ethnicity, education, and language of test administration would relate to cross-sectional status and that the rate of cognitive decline would differ among African Americans, Hispanics, and Caucasians, across levels of educational attainment, and according to linguistic background. Participants were 404 educationally, ethnically, and cognitively diverse older adults enrolled in an ongoing longitudinal study of cognition. Mixed-effects regression analysis was used to measure baseline status and longitudinal change in episodic memory, executive functioning, and semantic memory. Results showed that ethnicity and education were strongly associated with baseline scores, but were, at most, weakly associated with change in cognition over time after accounting for confounding variables. There was evidence that the episodic-memory scores of Spanish-speaking Hispanic participants with limited education underestimated their true abilities in the initial evaluation, which may reflect lack of familiarity with the testing environment. These results--consistent with other reports in the literature--suggest that cross-sectional effects of demographic variables on cognitive-test scores result from differences in life experiences that directly influence test performance and do not indicate greater disease effects on cognition in minorities and those with limited education.

Individual differences in childhood sleep problems predict later cognitive executive control.

To determine whether individual differences in developmental patterns of general sleep problems are associated with 3 executive function abilities-inhibiting, updating working memory, and task shifting-in late adolescence. 916 twins (465 female, 451 male) and parents from the Colorado Longitudinal Twin Study. Parents reported their children's sleep problems at ages 4 years, 5 y, 7 y, and 9-16 y based on a 7-item scale from the Child-Behavior Checklist; a subset of children (n = 568) completed laboratory assessments of executive functions at age 17. Latent variable growth curve analyses were used to model individual differences in longitudinal trajectories of childhood sleep problems. Sleep problems declined over time, with approximately 70% of children having > or = 1 problem at age 4 and approximately 33% of children at age 16. However, significant individual differences in both the initial levels of problems (intercept) and changes across time (slope) were observed. When executive function latent variables were added to the model, the intercept did not significantly correlate with the later executive function latent variables; however, the slope variable significantly (P < 0.05) negatively correlated with inhibiting (r = -0.27) and updating (r = -0.21), but not shifting (r = -0.10) abilities. Further analyses suggested that the slope variable predicted the variance common to the 3 executive functions (r = -0.29). Early levels of sleep problems do not seem to have appreciable implications for later executive functioning. However, individuals whose sleep problems decrease more across time show better general executive control in late adolescence.

The behavioural phenotype in velo-cardio-facial syndrome

Objective.22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DS) or velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) is a genetic condition that has been identified as the highest genetic risk factor for developing psychotic illnesses. This unique biological nature of 22q11DS provides a valuable opportunity to explore predictive biomarkers of psychosis. In this study, we examined the relationship of cortical thickness and surface area between various brain regions and prodromal symptoms of psychosis.75 probands with 22q11DS, 32 age-matched controls and 28 siblings underwent MRIs over 2 or 3 timepoints. Longitudinal mixed model regression analyses, with age as an interaction variable, were carried out to study the differences in longitudinal trajectories of change in average cortical thickness and surface area over 6–9 years. Similar analyses were carried out to examine the relationship with positive prodromal symptoms of psychosis.Significant differences were noted in the inferior and superior parietal regions in both the average thickness and longitudinal change in cortical thickness with age between the probands and controls. Significant associations were also noted between regions in the frontal cortex and positive prodromal symptoms among probands. No associations were noted with cortical surface area.Our results indicate that individuals with 22q11DS who develop positive prodromal symptoms demonstrate differential longitudinal trajectories of cortical thickness in some regions of the frontal lobe. Our results suggest that the pruning stage associated with adolescent brain development may be disrupted.