Function In Late Adulthood Research Articles

Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with cognitive function in late adulthood: baseline findings from the IGNITE study

ObjectivesTo evaluate the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and cognition in a large sample of older adults, and to examine clinical and demographic factors that might moderate these associations.MethodsCRF was...

Life Course Associations of Sibling Relationships and Cognitive Functioning in Late Adulthood.

Relying on the linked lives concept within the life course perspective, the current study examined the lifelong associations of sibling relationships and their effects on cognitive functioning in late adulthood. Using data from the sibling cohort of the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, we estimated a mediational model, examining the effects of childhood sibling interactions and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), as proxy measures for the parent-child relationship, on cognitive functioning in late adulthood through adult sibling closeness and contact. Respondents' cognitive functioning was assessed using the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-modified (TICS-m) when they were in their early 80s, on average. We conducted multilevel structural equation modeling. Positive childhood sibling interactions (e.g., hugging, helping) were associated with increased adult sibling closeness and contact, while higher cumulative ACEs were associated with decreased adult sibling closeness and contact. We found significant indirect associations: a) positive sibling interactions during childhood were associated with more frequent sibling contact across respondents' mid-50s through early 70s, which was in turn associated with higher TICS-m scores in their early 80s; b) higher cumulative ACEs were associated with less frequent sibling contact, which was in turn associated with lower TICS-m scores. The results suggest that childhood experiences within the family of origin may have lasting impacts on adult sibling relationships and the cognitive functioning of older adults. This study highlights the potential cognitive benefits of frequent contact with adult siblings, underscoring the importance of nurturing sibling relationships throughout one's life.

Decoupage as an art therapy technique in human functioning in late adulthood.

The article presents research on the use of decoupage as an art therapy technique among the residents of a social welfare home. The technique used here is described along with its location in the history of art therapy. The author establishes the definition, goals and functions that this field of therapy fulfills in human life, with particular focus on the impact in late adulthood. The research was conducted in the Nursing Home in Gniezno on the basis of an interview questionnaire and a survey conducted among seniors living in the Social Welfare Home. The research was preceded by conducting classes using the decoupage technique.

Loneliness partially mediates the relationship between Internet access and cognitive function in late adulthood: A cross-lagged panel analysis

ObjectivePrevious studies have shown an association between Internet access and cognitive function, and have also found that loneliness is a precursor to cognitive impairment. However, little is known about the bidirectional relationship between Internet access and cognitive function, and the potential mechanisms that underlie these three variables. This study examined the reciprocal relationship between Internet access and cognitive function, as well as the mediating role of loneliness among middle-aged and older Chinese adults. MethodsData were derived from four waves (2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. A total of 6578 participants aged 50 and above with complete cognitive test data at baseline were selected for the analysis. Cross-lagged panel models were applied to explore the relationship between Internet access and cognitive function, with attention to the mediating role of loneliness. ResultsReciprocal 4-wave lagged associations between Internet access and cognitive function, and the partial mediating role of loneliness were found in this study, controlling for all covariates. Increased Internet access predicts better cognitive function over time, and vice versa. Notably, this association was partially mediated by loneliness, indicating that more Internet access was associated with reduced loneliness, which was then associated with better cognitive performance. ConclusionsThis suggests that Internet access can influence individuals' cognitive function by impacting their feelings of loneliness. Multidisciplinary interventions utilizing digital connections to alleviate loneliness, enhance cognitive resilience, and delay cognitive decline may thus contribute to healthier aging in the digital era.

Relationship of prefrontal brain lateralization to optimal cognitive function differs with age

There is considerable debate about whether additional fMRI-measured activity in the right prefrontal cortex readily observed in older adults represents compensatory activation that enhances cognition or whether maintenance of youthful brain activity best supports cognitive function in late adulthood. To investigate this issue, we tested a large lifespan sample of 461 adults (aged 20–89) and treated degree of left-lateralization in ventrolateral and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during a semantic judgment fMRI task as an individual differences variable to predict cognition. We found that younger adults were highly left-lateralized, but lateralization did not predict better cognition, whereas higher left-lateralization of prefrontal cortex predicted better cognitive performance in middle-aged adults, providing evidence that left-lateralized, youth-like patterns are optimal in middle age. This relationship was reversed in older adults, with lower laterality scores associated with better cognition. The findings suggest that bilaterality in older adults facilitates cognition, but early manifestation of this pattern during middle age is characteristic of low performers. Implications of these findings for current theories of neurocognitive aging are discussed.

Socioeconomic position over the life course and impaired lung function of older adults in Central and Eastern Europe: the HAPIEE study

BackgroundSocial differences in lung functioning have been reported, but the role of socioeconomic position (SEP) at different stages of life is less well understood, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe....

Educational mobility and older adults’ working memory updating ability: association and role of resilience

Objective Previous research revealed that a low childhood socioeconomic status, including low parental education, correlates with impaired executive functioning. However, there is a lack of research on the association of working memory updating (WMU) ability, which is one of the major components of executive functioning, and of resilience with educational mobility. The purpose of the present two studies was to further examine these associations. Method In Study 1, 180, 60–88-year old adults with different levels of educational mobility performed a WMU task. In Study 2, 130, 60–89-year old adults that had experienced different levels of upward educational mobility completed a WMU task and a resilience questionnaire. Results Study 1 revealed that extent of educational mobility was significantly positively associated with WMU ability. Study 2 revealed significant positive associations among extent of educational mobility, resilience, and WMU task performance. Conclusion The results were discussed in terms of possible causal relations between the variables and implications for interventions that aim to enhance upward educational mobility and cognitive functioning in late adulthood.

Executive and Motor Functions in Older Individuals with Cognitive Impairment.

Background: A current research trend is the examination of the interplay between cognitive functioning, higher-order processes, and motor efficiency in late adulthood. However, the association between motor and cognitive functions when cognitive decline occurs has not been extensively explored. This study investigated whether gait features, functional mobility, and handgrip strength were associated with executive functions in older people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. Methods: 127 older participants (Mage = 77.9 years, SD = 5.8 years) who had received a diagnosis of MCI and dementia voluntarily took part in the study. A battery of tests assessing global cognitive function, executive functions, muscular strength, functional mobility, and spatio-temporal parameters of gait was completed by the participants. Results: Statistically significant correlations were obtained between global cognitive function, executive functions, and motor efficiency measures. Moreover, a series of regression analyses showed that 8–13% of the variance of several motor parameters was predicted by several executive functions. Additionally, walking, functional mobility, and global cognitive function predicted 53–71% of the variance relative to the occurrence of dementia. In conclusion, motor functioning is closely related to cognitive functioning in late adulthood. Conclusions: The assessment of muscular strength and functional mobility should be promoted in clinical settings.

Memory decline in older individuals predicts an objective indicator of oral health: findings from the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study

BackgroundGrowing evidence suggests that there is an association between poor oral health and cognitive function in late adulthood. However, most studies to date have relied on cross-sectional research methods that do not permit inferences about the temporality of any association. Moreover, the few longitudinal studies that do exist have typically relied on small samples and quite limited cognitive or oral health assessments. The aim of the present study was therefore designed to provide the first direct evaluation of whether cognitive function is predictive of poor oral health in older adults.MethodsThis longitudinal research included data from 339 participants aged 70 years or older from The Sydney Memory and Ageing Study (MAS), a large cohort of healthy community-dwelling older adults. Cognitive function was assessed using a battery of tests at baseline (Wave 1) in 2005 and six years later (Wave 4) in 2011. In 2015 (Wave 6), participants were assessed for oral health using the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT), number of functional occluding pairs of natural teeth and sublingual resting saliva pH (SRSpH). Ordinal least squares regression analysis was used to model the effect of cognitive function on total OHAT score, and binomial logistic regression used for SRSpH and occluding pairs of functional teeth.ResultsTwo models were tested. In the partially adjusted model, age, gender and years of education were included. The fully adjusted model additionally included medical conditions, general health, depression, smoking, alcohol consumption, functionality, and dental care utilization. The key finding to emerge was that a six-year change in memory (from Wave 1 to Wave 4) was associated with lower sublingual resting saliva pH at Wave 6 in partially (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.65) and fully adjusted model (OR = 0.63).ConclusionsThis longitudinal study provides further evidence that a relationship between cognitive function and oral health exists, and also points to this relationship potentially being bi-directional, as previous evidence suggests. The findings from the study also suggest that older adults who present with greater than normal memory decline at an earlier point in life were more likely to experience poor oral health when this was evaluated at a later time-point, four years later.

Aerobic exercise improves episodic memory in late adulthood: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundAerobic exercise remains one of the most promising approaches for enhancing cognitive function in late adulthood, yet its potential positive effects on episodic memory remain poorly understood and a matter of intense debate. Prior meta-analyses have reported minimal improvements in episodic memory following aerobic exercise but have been limited by restrictive inclusion criteria and infrequent examination of exercise parameters.MethodsWe conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to determine if aerobic exercise influences episodic memory in late adulthood (M = 70.82 years) and examine possible moderators. Thirty-six studies met inclusion criteria, representing data from 2750 participants.ResultsHere we show that aerobic exercise interventions are effective at improving episodic memory (Hedges’g = 0.28; p = 0.002). Subgroup analyses revealed a moderating effect of age (p = 0.027), with a significant effect for studies with a mean age between 55–68 but not 69–85. Mixed-effects analyses demonstrated a positive effect on episodic memory among studies with a high percentage of females (65–100%), participants with normal cognition, studies reporting intensity, studies with a no-contact or nonaerobic physical activity control group, and studies prescribing >3900 total minutes of activity (range 540–8190 min).ConclusionsAerobic exercise positively influences episodic memory among adults ≥55 years without dementia, with larger effects observed among various sample and intervention characteristics—the clearest moderator being age. These results could have far-reaching clinical and public health relevance, highlighting aerobic exercise as an accessible, non-pharmaceutical intervention to improve episodic memory in late adulthood.

Cognitive Aging and the Promise of Physical Activity.

Is the field of cognitive aging irretrievably concerned with decline and deficits, or is it shifting to emphasize the hope of preservation and enhancement of cognitive function in late life? A fragment of an answer comes from research attempting to understand the reasons for individual variability in the extent and rate of cognitive decline. This body of work has created a sense of optimism based on evidence that there are some health behaviors that amplify cognitive performance or mitigate the rate of age-related cognitive decline. In this context, we discuss the role of physical activity on neurocognitive function in late adulthood and summarize how it can be conceptualized as a constructive approach both for the maintenance of cognitive function and as a therapeutic for enhancing or optimizing cognitive function in late life. In this way, physical activity research can be used to shape perceptions of cognitive aging.

Declining complexity of behavioural sequences in late adulthood: its meaning and implications

Abstract This study looks at the time-use patterns of older adults and examines how complexity of daily behavioural sequences is related to an individual's age. Maintaining complex behavioural sequences in daily lives means that a person is able to lead a relatively rich life, but this becomes increasingly difficult as individuals face growing functional, cognitive or social limitations. The data used in the study came from four nationally representative time-use surveys: German (2012/2013), Polish (2013/2014), Finish (2009/2010), and British (2014/2015). The analyses were carried out on a total sample of 25,495 time-use diaries of respondents aged between 65 and 102. The association between sequence complexity, age, and a set of other covariates was analysed using multivariable regression models fitted independently for each country. The results provide evidence of a significant age-related decline in the complexity of individuals' daily time-use patterns. The steepness of this decline varied across populations. Commonalities in the complexity covariates included the positive net effects of female gender, and tertiary education, and the negative net effect of living in a larger household, which potentially indicated loss of independence. Those effects held in all countries. Decline in complexity was primarily driven by loss of entropy that is decreasing diversity of activities that filled older adults' daily lives. This study concludes that sequence complexity may serve as a behavioural indicator of an individual's general functioning in late adulthood. Key messages Declining sequence complexity is driven by loss of diversity of activities - some activities are dropped and not replaced with other. While complexity declines with age, there are important country and socioeconomic differences in complexity of older adults daily time use patterns.

The Role of Socioecological Factors in Cognition in Older Blacks and Whites

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To investigate 1) the role of socioecological factors in predicting cognitive status among older adults, 2) the moderating effects of race on the role of socioecological factors in cognitive status. <h3>Design</h3> The current study involves a secondary data analysis. Data were taken from Wave 3 National Social Life, Health and Aging Project, a US national study of older adults living in community that examines the associations between health, social relationships, community environments, and wellbeing. <h3>Setting</h3> There were three waves of data collection. The first took place from 2005 to 2006. Two data collection methods were adopted: in-home interviews and leave-behind questionnaire . The second wave collected data from 2010 through 2011. The third wave was done between 2015 and 2016. <h3>Participants</h3> The study sample included participants aged 60 and over (n = 2,829). <h3>Interventions</h3> N/A. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Cognitive status was measured as continuous variable by the 18-item, Survey-Adapted Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-SA). <h3>Results</h3> Black older adults reported a significantly lower overall MoCA-SA mean score. Among meso-level factors, white older adults reported more engagement in social activities, as well as more social support than older blacks. Among the macro-level factors, black older adults rated more issues in community cleanliness, safety, community cohesion, and neighbor relations than their White counterparts. After controlling for covariates, social and neighborhood factors were found to be positively associated with cognitive status. Race moderated the associations between social participation, community cleanliness issues, and cognitive status. The parallel analyses showed that social and neighborhood factors uniquely predicted cognitive status among whites only. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Findings provided evidence for racial differences in cognitive status. Socioecological factors were significant predictors for cognition, and they correlated with cognitive outcomes differently for older blacks and whites. Further understanding of the relationship between ecological factors and cognitive status may be accomplished with longitudinal studies that look at the persisting effects of socicoecological conditions on cognitive function in late adulthood. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> There are no conflicts to disclose.

Changes in Diet Quality from Mid- to Late Life Are Associated with Cognitive Impairment in the Singapore Chinese Health Study

BackgroundAlthough higher diet quality at mid-life has been associated with better cognitive function in late adulthood, it is unclear whether dietary improvement after mid-life may reduce the risk of cognitive impairment. ObjectivesWe examined associations between changes in diet quality and risk of cognitive impairment in the Singapore Chinese Health Study cohort. MethodsWe used data from 14,683 Chinese men and women who were recruited at ages 45 to 74 y from 1993 to 1998 and re-interviewed after 20 y at ages 61 to 96 y during follow-up 3 (2014–2016). Diet quality was measured using the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) scores at baseline and follow-up 3 interviews. Cognitive impairment was defined using scores from the Singapore-modified Mini-Mental State Examination at the follow-up 3 interview. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate ORs and 95% CIs for the associations between change in DASH scores and cognitive impairment. ResultsHigher quintiles in DASH scores at baseline and follow-up 3 interviews were associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment in a dose-dependent manner (both: P-trend < 0.001). Compared with participants with consistently low DASH scores, the OR (95% CI) of cognitive impairment was lowest, at 0.64 (0.51, 0.79), in those with consistently high DASH scores. Those with small (OR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.65, 0.98) or moderate–large (OR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59, 0.86) increases in DASH scores were associated with significantly lower odds of cognitive impairment than those with consistently low DASH scores. Associations were consistent across subgroups by sex, BMI (kg/m2; <23 or ≥23), and age (<60 y, ≥60 y) at baseline. ConclusionsAlthough maintaining high diet quality confers the lowest risk, improving diet quality from mid- to late life was still associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment in late adulthood.

Implementation intentions and prospective memory function in late adulthood.

Prospective memory (PM) is a critically important component of memory that often declines in late adulthood. Implementation intentions, an encoding strategy, consisting of an explicit if-then "I will . . ." statement, has been effectively used to enhance older adults' prospective memory function. However, it remains to be established whether forming a mental representation of carrying out the task when forming the intention enhances these age effects, as well as whether the type of cue (event or time based) moderates age-related benefits. To test these questions, we randomly allocated 125 younger and 125 older adults to 1 of 5 conditions, in which they were directed to use different strategies when forming their PM intentions (Statement Only, Imagine in Game, Statement and Imagine Combined, Imagine in Daily Life, Control). The results indicated that use of the implementation intentions statement alone and in combination with forming a mental representation of carrying out the task substantially enhanced older adults' event- but not time-based PM. In addition, while the Statement Only condition reduced age-related difficulties for event-based tasks, the condition that combined this statement with visualization led to the greatest reduction in age effects. These data suggest that both rehearsing the implementations intention in the specific statement format combined with visualizing may be optimally effective for enhancing PM function in late adulthood but that the type of PM cue is an important moderator of these age effects. In addition to theoretical implications, these results may inform the refinement of interventions focused on enhancing PM function in late adulthood. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Mental health and motor efficiency of older adults living in the Sardinia's Blue Zone: a follow-up study.

The main aim of this study was to examine the impact of age-related changes on mental health, metacognitive, and motor functioning in late adulthood, while controlling for the effect of gender. Additionally, this investigation intended to study the association between motor efficiency indexes and self-reported psychological well-being, depression and cognitive failures over a period of 24 months. Prospective longitudinal study: post hoc analysis. Ninety-one community-dwelling older participants (mean age = 78.7 years, SD = 5.6) were recruited in a rural village of the Sardinian Blue Zone - an area of exceptional longevity located in the central-eastern region of Sardinia, an Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea. All respondents completed a battery of tests and questionnaires assessing motor and general cognitive efficiency, self-reported psychological well-being, negative affect, and cognitive failures. The adoption of a multilevel modeling approach highlighted the significative impact of time on psychological well-being, as well as on mobility parameters like gait speed and cadence, while controlling for the gender effect. Overall, psychological well-being and motor swing significantly increase at follow-up, whereas the further above-mentioned measures decreased after 24months. Moreover, compared to the national cut-off, at baseline and follow-up, participants reported higher perceived emotional well-being. Finally, significant relationships between motor scores and self-reported mental health and metacognitive measures were found both at baseline and follow-up. The maintenance of motor efficiency and preserved mental health seems to contribute to the successful aging of older people living in the Sardinian Blue Zone.

Extensive Experience with Multiple Languages May Not Buffer Age-Related Declines in Executive Function

ABSTRACT Background Whether bilingualism can improve aspects of cognitive function in late adulthood is hotly debated. A few limited studies have reported that bilingualism may provide a limited buffer against age-related cognitive decline; however, others have not. The present study furthered this inquiry by analyzing the combined effects of age and language experience upon executive function in a geographically diverse online sample. Methods Amazon Mechanical Turk was used to recruit a sample of younger (YA) and older adults (OA) from 24 countries. A total of 81 monolingual participants (YA = 37; OA = 44) and 82 bilingual/multilingual participants (YA = 43; OA = 39) completed task-pure executive function assessments of inhibition, memory updating, and attention switching. Results YAs performed better than OAs on both the inhibition and updating tasks. On the attention switching task, a greater switch cost occurred when participants had less time to process a stimulus cue. Notably, no effects of language (i.e., bilingualism) were significant: no main effects or interactions with aging were found for executive function performance. Conclusion The results of the present study challenge the claim that extensive experience with multiple languages can be a reliably protective factor against some normative age-related declines in executive function.

Physical activity modifies the association between depression and cognitive function in older adults.

To examine the effects of gender and physical activity on the interplay between depression and cognitive function in late adulthood. Data on physical activity, depressive symptoms, two measures of cognitive function (the Animal Fluency Test (AFT) and the Digital Symbol Substitution Test (DSST)), and other demographic characteristics were extracted from 2604 adults aged ≥ 60 years participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2014). Gender-specific multiple linear regressions examined the relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive function in the overall sample and stratified by level of leisure-time physical activity. Sample included 1327 women and 1277 men (mean age 69.0 years), Women with moderate to severe depressive symptoms had a 1.7 (95% CI: 0.5-2.9) point lower score on the AFT than those with none or minimal depressive symptoms. No such association was observed in men. In the stratified analyses, lower AFT test scores only persisted among women who were inactive. With respective to the DSST, lower test scores were observed in both men (-7.2, 95% CI: -13.1 to -1.3) and women (-6.4, 95% CI: -11.8 to -1.1) with moderate to severe depressive symptoms. In the stratified analyses, this association persisted in those who were insufficiently active, but attenuated to null among those engaged in sufficient physical activity. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity modifies the depression-cognition relationship and preserves cognition function. Engaging in sufficient (150 min/week) leisure-time physical activity at moderate-to-vigorous intensity may protect those with depressive symptoms from cognitive decline in older age.

Internet Use and Cognitive Functioning in Late Adulthood: Longitudinal Findings from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).

Research suggests that cognitive functioning is associated with technology use in late life, but longitudinal research in this domain is still sparse. This study explored the reciprocal association between Internet use and cognitive functioning over a 2-year period. We analyzed representative data across 14 countries from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The sample included 29,576 participants between 50 and 100 years of age. We used data from 2013 (Wave 5) and a 2-year follow-up in 2015 (Wave 6). Participants provided information on cognitive functioning measures and Internet use at both time points. Cross-lagged panel analysis indicated reciprocal effects between cognitive functioning and Internet use. Internet use had a greater impact on cognitive functioning than vice versa. This study sheds light on the direction of the association between cognitive functioning and Internet use. Findings indicate that using the Internet positively affects cognitive functioning in late life.

Hand dexterity, not handgrip strength, is associated with executive function in Japanese community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundAn association between handgrip strength, hand dexterity and global cognition is suggested; however, it is unclear whether both hand motor functions are associated with executive function, which is important for performing daily activities. Understanding this association will help identify motor risk factors for impairment of executive function in late adulthood. We aim to investigate the relationship of handgrip strength and hand dexterity with executive function in physically and mentally healthy community-dwelling older adults.MethodsThree hundred and twenty-six older adults (287 women, mean age ± SD, 70.1 ± 5.6) underwent handgrip strength and hand dexterity tests using a hand dynamometer and the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT), respectively. Executive function was evaluated with the Trail Making Test (TMT)-A, TMT-B and Digit symbol; global cognition was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).ResultsAge-group differences showed that the younger groups (60–64, 65–69 and 70–74) had a significant better PPT and executive function performance than the oldest group (75 and older), whereas no significant age differences were observed for handgrip strength. Multiple regression analysis adjusted for potential covariates, including MMSE scores, showed that TMT-A, TMT-B, and Digit symbol were significantly associated with PPT scores; however, no significant association was observed between executive function variables and handgrip strength.ConclusionsHand dexterity is vulnerable to the effects of aging and, contrary to handgrip strength, it strongly associates with executive function, independent of global cognition. Our results suggest that assessing hand dexterity may help identify individuals at higher risk of impairment of executive function among high-functioning older adults.