Function In Young Adults Research Articles

Simulating the Benefits of Nature Exposure on Cognitive Performance in Virtual Reality: A Window into Possibilities for Education and Cognitive Health.

Purpose: This one-group pretest–posttest, designed within a subject study, looks to compare the effects of an outdoor nature walk (ONW) to those of a virtual nature walk (VRW) on memory and cognitive function. Implications are discussed for education as well as for the world of virtual reality. Methods: Sixty-four healthy university students were asked to complete an ONW and a VRW, which was created using 3D video of the same nature trail used for the ONW. The VRW condition involved a five-minute walk on a treadmill, while wearing a virtual reality mask (Oculus, San Francisco, USA) that projected a previously recorded three-dimensional capture of the same nature walk they experienced outdoors. Both experimental conditions lasted approximately 5 min and were counterbalanced between participants. A Digit Span Test (Digit) for working memory and a Trail Test (TMT) for executive function were administered to all study participants, immediately before and after each type of walk. Results: For executive function testing (Trail Making Test), our results demonstrate that both the ONW and VRW condition improved the TMT time, when compared to a baseline (ONW 37.06 ± 1.31 s vs. 31.75 ± 1.07 s, p < 0.01 and VRW 36.19 ± 1.18 s vs. 30.69 ± 1.11 s, p < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the ONW and VRW groups. Similarly, for the Digit memory task, both conditions improved compared to the baseline (ONW 54.30 ± 3.01 vs. 68.4 ± 2.66, p < 0.01 and VRW 58.1 ± 3.10 vs. 67.4 ± 2.72, p < 0.01). There was a difference at the baseline between the ONW and VRW conditions (54.3 ± 3.01 vs. 58.1 ± 3.10, p < 0.01), but this baseline difference in memory performance was no longer significant post exercise, between groups at follow-up (68.4 ± 2.66 vs. 67.4 ± 2.72, p < 0.08). Conclusions: Our results suggest that both a virtual reality protocol and a nature walk can have positive outcomes on memory and executive function in younger adults.

Adolescent neighborhood disadvantage and memory performance in young adulthood.

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we estimated the average causal effect of neighborhood disadvantage in adolescence on memory performance in young adulthood. We contrasted several different ways of operationalizing a continuous measure of neighborhood disadvantage including a continuous neighborhood disadvantage score and ordinal measures. Neighborhood disadvantage was measured in Wave I when participants were a mean age of 15.41 years (SE: 0.12) and memory performance was measured in Wave IV when participants were a mean age of 28.24 years (SE: 0.12). We found that adolescent neighborhood disadvantage was associated with decreased memory performance in young adulthood. Notably, we observed a linear decline in word recall score among those in the less disadvantaged tail of the distribution (neighborhood disadvantage <1), a finding not observed using traditional ordinal variable classifications of disadvantage. Experiencing neighborhood disadvantage in adolescence may have lasting impacts on cognitive health throughout the life course.

Fetal exposure to maternal cigarette smoking and male reproductive function in young adulthood.

Maternal smoking during pregnancy constitutes a potential, major risk factor for adult male reproductive function. In the hitherto largest longitudinal cohort, we examined biomarkers of reproductive function according to maternal smoking during the first trimester and investigated whether associations were mitigated by smoking cessation prior to the fetal masculinization programming window. Associations between exposure to maternal smoking and semen characteristics, testicular volume and reproductive hormones were assessed among 984 young men from the Fetal Programming of Semen Quality (FEPOS) cohort. Maternal smoking was assessed through interview data and measured plasma cotinine levels during pregnancy. We applied negative binomial, logistic and linear regression models to estimate differences in outcomes according to levels of maternal smoking. Sons of light smokers (≤ 10 cigarettes/day) had a 19% (95% CI - 29%, - 6%) lower sperm concentration and a 24% (95% CI - 35%, - 11%) lower total sperm count than sons of non-smokers. These estimates were 38% (95% CI - 52%, - 22%) and 33% (95% CI - 51%, - 8%), respectively, for sons of heavy smokers (> 10 cigarettes/day). The latter group also had a 25% (95% CI 1%, 54%) higher follitropin level. Similarly, sons exposed to maternal cotinine levels of > 10ng/mL had lower sperm concentration and total sperm count. Smoking cessation prior to gestational week seven was not associated with a higher reproductive capacity. We observed substantial and consistent exposure-response associations, providing strong support for the hypothesis that maternal smoking impairs male reproductive function. This association persisted regardless of smoking cessation in early pregnancy.

Lung function in young adulthood: differences between males and females with asthma.

BackgroundThere are phenotypic differences in asthma in males and females. Differences in lung function between the sexes at the peak lung function level in young adulthood are so far not directly addressed. The aim of the present study was to assess lung function in early adulthood in males and females depending on asthma onset and remission.MethodsParticipants were included from the population-based birth cohort BAMSE and classified as having: never asthma, childhood asthma in remission, adolescent onset asthma or persistent asthma. Pre- and post-bronchodilator lung function (in Z-score) and lung clearance index (LCI) were measured at age 24 years. Lung function was compared stratified for sex between the never asthma and asthma groups univariately and in multiple linear regression analyses adjusted for maternal and paternal asthma, maternal smoking during pregnancy, secondary smoking, daily smoking, early respiratory syncytial virus infection, traffic pollution, childhood allergic sensitisation, and body mass index at age 24 years.ResultsAll asthma phenotypes were associated with a lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) post-bronchodilation at 24 years. This was most pronounced in males with persistent asthma compared to males with never asthma (regression coefficient: −0.503; 95% CI: −0.708– −0.298). Childhood asthma (in remission or persistent) was associated with a lower FEV1. After adjustment, the associations remained significant for males. For females, the significant associations with lower FEV1 and FEV1/FVC remained only for subjects with asthma in remission. Persistent asthma was associated with higher LCI in females.ConclusionsIn females, in contrast to males, the association between asthma and lower lung function was attenuated after adjustment for known risk factors.

Dietary Intervention in Infancy and Cognitive Function in Young Adulthood: The Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project

Consumption of saturated fatty acids (SAFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), cholesterol, and fiber have been linked with cognitive function in adults. We evaluated these associations from childhood by leveraging data from the Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project (STRIP). STRIP recruited children aged 5months and randomly assigned them into intervention/control groups. The intervention introduced a heart-healthy diet, characterized mainly by low consumption of SAFAs and cholesterol, through counseling at least biannually between age 7months and 20years. Diet was assessed repeatedly using food diaries. Sixyears after the end of the intervention phase, at age 26years, the participants were invited to the first postintervention follow-up, which included cognitive testing that covered learning and memory, verbal memory, short-term working memory, reaction time, information processing, and cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control. We studied the associations of the STRIP intervention and the consumptions of SAFAs, PUFAs, cholesterol, and fiber within these cognitive domains. Participants in the STRIP intervention group had better cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control and were better able to manage conflicting information and ignore task-irrelevant information (0.18 SD higher in the intervention group, adjusted for sex and socioeconomic status). No associations were observed with the dietary components studied. The infancy-onset STRIP intervention, which promoted a heart-healthy diet, was favorably associated with cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control at age 26years. No associations were found for the intervention targets studied, indicating that these specific dietary components did not underlie the observed effect of the intervention.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and male reproductive function in young adulthood; a cross-sectional study

BackgroundPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large family of persistent industrial chemicals with endocrine disrupting properties. ObjectivesTo examine biomarkers of reproductive function in young adult males according to current environmental exposure to single and combined PFAS. MethodsThe study population consisted of young men (n = 1041, age 18–21) from the Fetal Programming of Semen Quality (FEPOS) cohort. These men were recruited from pregnancies included in the Danish National Birth Cohort (DNBC) between 1996 and 2002. From 2017 to 2019, participants answered an online questionnaire, completed a clinical examination and provided a blood and a semen sample. Exposure to 15 PFAS was measured in plasma. Six compounds were quantified above the limit of detection in at least 80% of the participants. We applied negative binomial regression and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models to assess associations between single and combined exposure to PFAS and measures of semen quality, testicular volume and reproductive hormones among the young men. ResultsWe found no consistent associations between plasma concentrations of PFAS, semen quality and testicular volume. Higher levels of single and combined PFAS were associated with slightly higher levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (WQS 4% difference, 95% confidence interval: 0, 9). Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was the main contributor to this finding with positive signals also from perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS). DiscussionWe examined exposure to a range of common PFAS in relation to biomarkers of male reproductive function and found an association with higher levels of FSH among young men from the general population in Denmark. Further studies on especially combined exposure to PFAS are needed to expand our understanding of potential endocrine disruption from both legacy and emerging compounds in relation to male reproductive function.

Occupational cognitive stimulation, socioeconomic status, and cognitive functioning in young adulthood

BackgroundOccupational characteristics are associated with late-life cognition. However, little is known about the association between occupational factors and cognition in early adulthood, especially when controlling for early life socioeconomic status (SES) and cognition in childhood. Importantly, sex may shape the impact of occupational characteristics that provide cognitive stimulation given that education, occupational status, and workplace experiences differ by sex. MethodsUsing data on 12,129 participants ages 24–32 from the U.S.-based National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we investigated the association between four factors of occupational cognitive stimulation (repetition, freedom, analytic skills, and social interaction) and young-adult episodic and working memory independent of childhood and young-adult SES, using linear regression. We adjusted for confounding due to sex, race/ethnicity, age, childhood cognition, and education. We further investigated effect measure modification of this association by sex in stratified regression models. ResultsOverall, 1-unit increases in both occupational analytic skills and social interaction were significantly associated with 0.101 (95%CI: 0.28, 0.173) and 0.096 (95%CI: 0.032, 0.160) SD higher memory, respectively. However, when sex-stratified, among men, a 1-unit increase on the social interaction scale was associated with 0.16 (95%CI: 0.05, 0.27) SD higher memory, while there was no association among women. ConclusionOur results indicate that even in adulthood, activities that stimulate the mind can contribute to improved cognitive function, and the most beneficial forms of occupational stimulation are those that use analytic skills and involve social interaction (particularly among young men).

Lifestyle intervention improves Left atrial strain in type 2 diabetes: results from the DIASTOLIC randomised trial

Abstract Introduction Left atrial (LA) strain has been shown to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular events in many conditions and superior to conventional measures of LA function (LA volumes and emptying fraction). The effects of low-energy diet or exercise on cardiovascular function in younger adults with type 2 diabetes (DIASTOLIC) study has previously demonstrated an improvement in left ventricle peak early diastolic strain rate in response to aerobic exercise in patients with type-2 diabetes (T2D). However, the effect of lifestyle intervention on LA function, assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, is unknown. Methods The DIASTOLIC study was a prospective, randomised, open-label, blind endpoint trial, that randomised 90 obese participants with T2D (aged 18–65 years) to a 12-week intervention of: (i) routine care, (ii) aerobic exercise training, or (iii) low energy (≈810kcal/day) meal replacement plan (MRP). CMR was performed at baseline and week-12. Images were analysed using Medis v3.1. LA strain (LAS) was assessed using Feature Tracking (QStrain v2.0), corresponding to LA reservoir (LAS-r), conduit (LAS-cd), and booster pump (LAS-bp) using 4- and 2-chamber standard steady-state free precession cine images, and average values calculated. LA emptying fraction (LAEF) was calculated using biplane area-length method (QMass v8.1) for total, passive and active EF. Results 73 participants with T2D completed the trial and had analysable LA images (28 routine care, 22 exercise and 23 MRP). There was no significant change in CMR measured standard LA volumetric function (LAV/LAEF) and echocardiogram measured LV filling pressures (E/e') in any groups. The routine care arm showed no significant change in body mass index (BMI) or LAS (see Table). In the MRP group, there were significant reductions in BMI (4.8 kg/m2), mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) (13mmHg), and a significant increase in LAS-r and LAS-bp (29.9±7.0 to 32.3±7.0,p=0.036 and 14.6±5.3 to 17.2±3.7,p=0.034). The exercise arm showed a small reduction in BMI (0.8kg/m2), with no significant change in BP or LAS. Conclusion There was significant improvement in LAS post-lifestyle intervention in young adults with T2D, despite no change in volumetric measurements. MRP led to weight loss and improved SBP, with associated improved LA filling and contraction. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) a career development fellowship.

Trajectories of Loneliness and Psychosocial Functioning.

The present study examined the relationship between developmental patterns of loneliness and psychosocial functioning among adolescents (9–21 years; N = 110, 52% male). Four-wave longitudinal data were obtained from the Nijmegen Longitudinal Study (NLS) on Infant and Child Development. Loneliness was measured at 9, 13, 16, and 21 years of age and anxiety, depression and self-esteem at 9 and 21 years of age. Using k-means cluster analysis, three trajectories of loneliness were identified as “stable low” (56% of the subjects), “high decreasing” (22% of the subjects), and “low increasing” (22% of the subjects). Importantly, trajectories of loneliness across adolescence significantly predicted psychosocial functioning in young adulthood. Both the “high-decreasing” and “low-increasing” loneliness clusters were associated with higher risk of depression and lower self-esteem compared to the “stable low” loneliness cluster. The “low-increasing” loneliness cluster was associated with higher risk of anxiety compared to the “stable low” loneliness cluster. These results indicate that loneliness in adolescence is a vulnerability that manifests itself in higher levels of anxiety and depression and lower self-esteem in young adulthood.

Matcha consumption maintains attentional function following a mild acute psychological stress without affecting a feeling of fatigue: A randomized placebo-controlled study in young adults

Tea is a beverage commonly consumed worldwide. Matcha is a type of green tea produced by drying and grinding tea leaves (Camellia sinensis L.) into a fine powder. Matcha contains catechin, theanine, and caffeine, which affect cognitive function. Epidemiological studies conducted in Japan have shown that green tea consumption improves cognitive impairment. Previously, we found that daily matcha intake improves attention and executive function in middle-aged and older people. However, its effect on cognitive function in younger adults remains unclear. Moreover, it is unclear which cognitive functions are impaired by stress. This study aimed to clarify whether the administration of matcha improves the attentional function of young adults after mild acute stress and which cognitive function is improved. We included 42 participants aged 25 to 34 years who consumed 2 g of matcha daily for 2 weeks. The Uchida–Kraepelin test was used to induce mild acute psychological stress. Memory, attention, facial expression recognition, working memory, visual information, and motor function were evaluated. Reaction times on the Stroop test for attentional function were significantly lower in the matcha group than in the placebo group. Correct hits in the emotion perception test increased significantly for participants in the matcha group compared to those in the placebo group. We found no significant between-group differences in the other tests. In conclusion, after 2 weeks of matcha intake, the attentional function was maintained after mild acute psychological stress. Thus, matcha might improve cognitive function during or after stress conditions in young adults.

Learning by task repetition enhances object individuation and memorization in the elderly

A decline in visuospatial Working Memory (vWM) is a hallmark of cognitive aging across various tasks, and facing this decline has become the target of several studies. In the current study we tested whether older adults can benefit from task repetition in order to improve their performance in a vWM task. While learning by task repetition has been shown to improve vWM performance in young adulthood, little is known on whether a similar enhancement can be achieved also by the aging population. By combining different behavioral and electrophysiological measures, we investigated whether practicing a specific task (delayed match-to-sample judgement) over four consecutive sessions could improve vWM in healthy aging, and which are the neurophysiological and cognitive mechanisms modulated by learning. Behavioral data revealed that task repetition boosted performance in older participants, both in terms of sensitivity to change (as revealed by d’ measures) as well as capacity estimate (as measured by k values). At the electrophysiological level, results indicated that only after task repetition both target individuation (as evidenced by the N2pc) and vWM maintenance (as reflected by the CDA) were modulated by target numerosity. Our results suggest that repetition learning is effective in enhancing vWM in aging and acts through modifications at different stages of stimulus processing.

Right ventricular morphology and function analysis in moderately preterm-born young adults

Abstract Background Previous studies have shown that prematurity leads to altered right ventricular (RV) geometry and performance with persistent impairments in RV systolic function in young adulthood. It is unknown to what extent pulmonary physiology impacts these findings. Purpose To better quantify known alterations in RV morphology and function in preterm-born young adults and to determine to what extent these changes are influenced by the pulmonary circulation. Methods A total of 101 normotensive preterm-born (n=47, mean gestational age 32.8±3.2 weeks) and term-born (n=54) young adults were recruited. Echocardiography and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging were performed to characterise RV morphology, RV function, pulmonary hemodynamics and RV-pulmonary arterial vascular (PA) coupling. CMR cine images were used to create a 3D computational atlas of the RV geometry and principal component analysis was undertaken to identify the key modes of shape variation. Spirometry was performed to assess lung function. Results RV CMR revealed a higher absolute and indexed RV mass (P&amp;lt;0.05) and lower ejection fraction (54.90±5.17 versus 57.48±4.39%, P=0.008) in young adults born preterm. RV end-diastolic areas and volumes for CMR and echocardiography were lower in preterm-born compared to term-born young adults (P≤0.001). Principal component analysis of the computational atlas defined the anatomical modes of the RV geometry, with mode 1 accounting for 25.3% of the population variance. Preterm and term cohorts showed significant differences (P&amp;lt;0.001) in mode 1, which represented a smaller and shorter RV cavity in the preterm group (Figure 1). Measurements of RV function by echocardiography, including RV fractional area of change (FAC) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), were lower in preterm-born compared to term-born adults (P&amp;lt;0.05). Despite lower pulmonary artery acceleration times (PAAT) in those born preterm (141.1±15.1 versus 159.2±21.6msec, P&amp;lt;0.001), indicating increased pulmonary vascular resistance, the RV remained coupled to its pulmonary circulation (TAPSE/PAAT: 0.13±0.02 versus 0.14±0.03m/sec, P=0.153). Reduced RV performance in preterm-born individuals remained significant when adjusting for pulmonary function parameters (P&amp;lt;0.05). Conclusions Multimodality cardiac imaging demonstrated that moderately preterm-born young adults exhibit structural and functional RV alterations, independent of lung physiology. Their RV remains hemodynamically coupled to its pulmonary circulation despite higher RV afterload, lower RV function and altered morphology. Figure 1. Statistical shape model of the RV Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): British Heart Foundation

Causal Effects of Foster Care on Cognitive Ability and Adaptive Functioning in Young Adulthood

Causal Effects of Foster Care on Cognitive Ability and Adaptive Functioning in Young Adulthood

Do Recent Experiences of Sexual Violence and Co-Occurring Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Predict Poorer Functioning One Year Later During the Transition to Young Adulthood?

Sexual violence (SV) is a public health concern for youth. Few longitudinal studies address how experiences of SV and co-occurring depression and anxiety symptoms in early young adulthood may contribute to poorer functioning in young adulthood. Using a sample of 2,416 youth aged 18 to 20 (Time 1), we assessed past year SV and co-occurring depression and anxiety symptoms. One year later, when youth were between the ages of 20 and 22 (Time 2), participants indicated their functioning in four domains: physical health and sleep quality, substance use consequences, psychological functioning, and social functioning. Using latent class analyses, we found six participant classes at Time 1 based on SV experiences and co-occurring depression and anxiety symptoms. Classes were variable by participants' reported degree of SV experiences and co-occurring depression and anxiety symptomology. Longitudinal analyses indicated that youth in a class that experienced high levels of both SV and co-occurring depression and anxiety at Time 1 generally reported the poorest functioning in all key domains at Time 2. However, classes where participants reported greater depression and anxiety symptoms-most often in the presence of, but at times in the absence of, SV-were consistently associated with poorer functioning for physical health, psychological functioning, and social health. Classes where participants reported greater SV-in the presence of, but at times in the absence of, depression and anxiety symptoms-were associated with greater alcohol and marijuana consequences. Findings suggest prevention of SV, accessible counseling for those that have experienced SV, and screening to identify and intervene to address depression and anxiety may all be essential to help prevent poorer functioning in young adulthood.

Physical activity, pain interference and comorbidities relate to PROMIS physical function in younger adults following total knee arthroplasty

Purpose To determine if preoperative physical and psychological health risk factors are influential on physical function and satisfaction scores in a cohort of relatively younger adults one year post-total knee arthroplasty. Methods Sixty-five patients were recruited pre- and one year post-total knee arthroplasty. Physical (i.e., body mass index, sex, physical activity level, number of comorbidities) and psychological (i.e., depression, expectations, pain inference) health risk factors were obtained pre-total knee arthroplasty and compared to Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System physical function computerized adaptive testing and satisfaction scores one year post-total knee arthroplasty. Results Bootstrap inclusion fraction methods were performed to compare the stability of each predictor variable prior to final regression analyzes. Poorer preoperative physical activity level (standardized regression coefficient = 0.37; p < 0.01), pain interference (standardized regression coefficient = –0.24; p = 0.03) and greater comorbidities (standardized regression coefficient = –0.27; p = 0.01) resulted in worse physical function scores one year post-total knee arthroplasty. Greater preoperative comorbidities (odds ratio = 0.63; p < 0.01) resulted in worse satisfaction scores one year post-total knee arthroplasty. No other predictor variable had any relationship on either clinical outcome (p > 0.05). Conclusion Younger adults with greater comorbidities, lower physical activity level and higher pain interference scores preoperatively reported poorer functional recovery one year post-total knee arthroplasty. Understanding how preoperative status of younger adults undergoing total knee arthroplasty may lead to better improved surgical decision making and health care delivery for this vulnerable and growing patient subgroup. Implications for Rehabilitation Projections estimate total knee arthroplasty in relatively younger adults (<65 years) will make up the majority of surgical procedures performed in the United States within the next two decades, however little is known in this patient population. This study provides evidence that relatively younger adults with greater comorbidities, lower physical activity level and higher pain interference scores preoperatively result in poorer functional recovery one year post-total knee arthroplasty. The results also suggest greater comorbidities identified preoperatively have the largest influence on one year satisfaction scores in younger adults post-total knee arthroplasty. Modifiable characteristics such as improving physical activity level, incorporating pain management strategies and reducing comorbidities preoperatively or adopting into postoperative rehabilitative care may influence the postoperative physical function and satisfaction scores in relatively younger adults undergoing total knee arthroplasty.

Girls' brain structural connectivity in late adolescence relates to history of depression symptoms.

Girls' depressive symptoms typically increase in adolescence, with individual differences in course and severity being key risk factors for impaired emotional functioning in young adulthood. Given the continued brain white matter (WM) maturation that occurs in adolescence, the present study tested whether structural connectivity patterns in late adolescence are associated with variation in the course of depression symptom severity throughout adolescence. Participants were girls (N=115) enrolled in a multiyear prospective cohort study of risk for depression. Initial depression severity (intercept) at age 10 and change in severity (linear slope) across ages 10-19 were examined in relation to WM tractography collected at age 19. Network-based statistic analyses were used to identify clusters showing variation in structural connectivity in association with depressive symptomintercept, slope, and their interaction. Higher initial depressive severity and steeper positive slope (separately) were associated with greater structural connectivity between temporal, subcortical socioaffective, and occipital regions. Intercept showed more connectivity associations than slope. The interaction effect indicated that higher initial symptom severity and a steeper negative slope (i.e., alleviating symptoms) were related to greater connectivity between cognitive control regions. Moderately severe symptoms that worsened over time were followed by greater connectivity between self-referential and cognitive regions (e.g., posterior cingulate and frontal gyrus). Higher depressive symptomseverity in early adolescence and increasing symptom severity over time may forecast structural connectivity differences in late adolescence, particularly in pathways involving cognitive and emotion-processing regions. Understanding how clinical course relates to neurobiological correlates may inform new treatment approaches to adolescent depression.

PERSONALITY TRAITS AND VERBAL FLUENCY IN 10 COHORTS

Personality traits are associated with cognitive outcomes across the lifespan, including cognitive function in young adulthood and risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in old age. This study examined the association between the Five Factor Model personality traits and verbal fluency in 10 cohorts (11 samples) that totaled more than 90,000 participants (age range 16-101). Meta-analysis indicated that participants who scored lower in Neuroticism, and higher in Extraversion, Openness, and Conscientiousness retrieved more words, independent of age, gender, and education. These associations were consistent across semantic and letter fluency tasks. Moderation analysis indicated that the associations between personality and semantic fluency were stronger in older samples (except for Openness) and among individuals with lower education. This pattern suggests that these associations are stronger in groups vulnerable to cognitive impairment and dementia. Personality traits have pervasive associations with fluency tasks that are replicable across samples and age groups.

Cognitive Performance in Young APOE ε4 Carriers: A Latent Variable Approach for Assessing the Genotype-Phenotype Relationship.

The ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein (APOE) gene is a widely recognized genetic risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease in older age. However, it is controversial whether there is a positive impact of the APOE ε4 allele on human cognitive performance in young adulthood, possibly representing a case of antagonistic pleiotropy. Here we explored associations of the APOE ε4 allele with cognitive ability in young adulthood. In contrast to previous studies, we used structural equation modeling that allows a multivariate measurement of the cognitive phenotype. Results based on four independent samples (N1 = 245; N2 = 300; N3 = 244; N4 = 206) overall revealed a complex effect of the APOE ε4 genotype on cognitive ability in young adulthood: Whereas the ε4 allele tends to be negatively associated with cognitive performance in individuals with lower education levels, there might be a weak positive association in persons with higher education-a finding that is partly in line with the antagonistic pleiotropy view on APOE and cognitive ability. The education-related findings support protective effects of environmental factors.

801-P: Group Appointments (GA) via Home Telehealth (HT) for Young Adults (YA) with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) May Improve Psychosocial Functioning

Background: Participation in GA via HT is associated with improved attendance, satisfaction, and psychosocial functioning in YA with T1D. The effects of long-term participation are unknown. Objective: Evaluate whether exposure to GA via HT improves psychosocial functioning in YA with T1D receiving care via HT. Methods: Patients in the Colorado Young Adults with T1D (CoYoT1) prospective study of GA via HT self-selected into an initial year-long study phase comparing GA to usual care. Next, 58 new and returning patients were randomized to receive HT with or without GA for one year. Overall, 19 patients were exposed to HT alone for one year (GA0), 29 were exposed to HT with GA for one year (GA1), and 10 were exposed to HT with GA for two years (GA2). They completed the EQ-5D, Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D), Self-Efficacy in Diabetes (SED), and Self-Management of Type 1 Diabetes in Adolescence (SMOD-A) measures. Results: YA patients were 67% female, 86% white, and 11% Latinx. Regardless of attendance, greater exposure to GA was associated with greater communication and self-efficacy; and reduced pain, depressive symptoms, and distress at study end (See Figure 1). Overall, GA1 and GA2 reported better psychosocial functioning than GA0. Conclusions: Greater exposure to GA via HT may improve psychosocial functioning in YA with T1D. Disclosure D.I. Bisno: None. M.W. Reid: None. C. Berget: Consultant; Self; Insulet Corporation, Medtronic. C.L. Cain: None. G.J. Klingensmith: Consultant; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Research Support; Self; Novo Nordisk Foundation. Stock/Shareholder; Spouse/Partner; Dexcom, Inc. J. Raymond: Other Relationship; Self; Insulet Corporation. Funding The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust

Five-factor model personality traits and verbal fluency in 10 cohorts.

Personality traits, such as Neuroticism and Conscientiousness, are associated with cognitive outcomes across the life span, including cognitive function in young adulthood and risk of cognitive impairment and dementia in old age. Research on personality and age-related cognition has focused primarily on memory-related tasks and outcomes. The purpose of this research is to address the relation between Five Factor Model personality traits and another critical marker of cognitive function that has received less attention-verbal fluency. We examine this relation across adulthood in 10 cohorts (11 samples) that totaled more than 90,000 participants (age range 16-101). Participants in all samples reported on their personality traits and completed at least one fluency task (semantic and/or letter). A meta-analysis of semantic fluency (N = 86,044) indicated that participants who scored lower in Neuroticism, and higher in Extraversion, Openness, and Conscientiousness, retrieved more words, independent of age, gender, and education. These associations generally replicated for the letter fluency task (3 samples; N = 11,551). Moderation analysis indicated that the associations between personality and semantic fluency were stronger in older samples (except for Openness) and among individuals with lower education. This pattern suggests that these associations are stronger in groups vulnerable to severe cognitive impairment. Personality traits have pervasive associations with fluency tasks that are replicable across samples and age groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).