Centenarian Study Research Articles

The Relationship Between Lifespan Volunteerism and Personality Among Oldest Old Adults

There has been a lack of studies exploring volunteerism from the life span perspective. This study aims to examine the relationship between personality and volunteerism among the oldest old population, using three types of volunteerism: “ever volunteered,” “last volunteered,” and “currently volunteering.” “Ever volunteered” assesses whether individuals ever volunteered in their life. “Last volunteered” examines when an individual last volunteered. “Currently volunteering” explores whether an individual is currently volunteering. By comparing the three volunteerism measures, this study took a life span view of volunteerism. Data of 208 oldest old adults, octogenarians (34.1%) and centenarians (65.9%), from the Georgia Centenarian Study were included in this study. The majority of the sample had volunteered sometime during their lifetime (88.9%), many of them still volunteered when they were in their 80s and 90s (40.4%), and the majority of the sample indicated that they were not currently volunteering (78.8%). Multiple regression analyses indicated that competence (a facet of conscientiousness) significantly predicted “ever volunteered,” and extraversion significantly predicted “last volunteered.” In other words, oldest old adults with high competence levels were more likely to have volunteering experiences in their life. Also, those with high levels of extraversion were likely to have more recent volunteering experiences. None of five personality traits significantly predicted “currently volunteering.” This study sheds light on the importance of different types of volunteerism which enables us to better understand the relationship between volunteerism and personality. We recommend future research to test the link between different types of volunteerism and well-being outcomes.

Cognitive Reserve and Well-Being Among Centenarians

The purpose of this study was to assess cognitive reserve among centenarians and to evaluate whether reserve variables explain significantly more variance in cognitive functioning than education alone. Centenarians from the Georgia Centenarians Study were included. Results indicate that education, activity, social engagement, and engaged lifestyle significantly related to cognitive functioning. After adding cognitive reserve variables, the effect of education on cognitive functioning diminished. The overall model fit well, Χ2 (df=6) = 12.35, p = .06; CFI = .97, RMSEA = .067. Education indirectly related to cognitive functioning through occupational responsibility and engaged lifestyle. Social engagement directly related to cognitive functioning but also indirectly through activity levels. The four direct predictors (i.e., education, social engagement, activity, and engaged lifestyle) explained 33 percent of the variance in cognitive functioning. The results provide important information for cognitive reserve theories with implications for physical health and interventions that build cognitive reserves.

Socioeconomic Status, Health Behaviors, and Oral Health of Older Adults In China

Many Chinese older adults suffer from oral health diseases and problems due to low oral health literacy, limited dental coverage and lack of dental care services for this segment of the population in China. However, so few studies have been conducted to examine social and behavior factors related to oral health among Chinese older adults. This symposium examines how socioeconomic status (SES) and health behaviors are associated with oral health among Chinese older adults. The first paper used the Nanjing Centenarians Study to examine the association between health behaviors and oral health among Chinese centenarians. The results showed that health behaviors were associated with self-rated oral health and edentulism. Using the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, the second one employed an ‘after death’ approach to examine risk factors for orofacial pain symptoms at the end of life among Chinese older adults. The third paper investigated the association between SES and tooth loss among middle-aged and older adults in ten cities of China. SES played a stronger role in tooth retention for non-migrants and migrants with high education vs those migrants with low education. The last paper examined the association between health behaviors and retention of teeth among Chinese older adults using data from the Chinese 4th National Oral health Survey. This symposium provides empirical evidence on the current status of oral health and health behaviors at the national level, and also suggests that is critical to improve oral health education and access to dental care.

Health Behaviors and Oral Health Among Centenarians in Nanjing, China: A Cross-Sectional Study

The aim of this study was to examine the association between health behaviors and oral health among Chinese centenarians. Data from the Nanjing Centenarians Study (NCS) in China was used (N=185, Mean age = 102). Oral health status was measured by self-reported oral health and edentulous status. Results from ordinal regression and logistic regression models indicated that centenarians who were male, smoking, normal weight (18.5-24.9kg/m2), participated in more activities, and brushed teeth more frequently were more likely to report better oral health. Those who ate fruits daily and brushed teeth more frequently were more likely to be dentate. The association between frequent toothbrushing and oral health was stronger for those who had some formal education and were living with family members. Our study demonstrated the significance of health behaviors on oral health in very old age, and the importance of lifestyle on healthy aging.

Review of How Genetic Research on Segmental Progeroid Syndromes Has Documented Genomic Instability as a Hallmark of Aging But Let Us Now Pursue Antigeroid Syndromes!

The purpose of this early contribution to the new Fellows Forum of this pioneering journal for what is now called Geroscience is to provide an example of how the author's interest in using the emerging tools of human genetics has led to strong support for one of the hallmarks of aging-Genomic Instability. We shall also briefly review our emerging interests in the genetic analysis of what we have called Antigeroid Syndromes. While there has been significant progress in that direction via genetic studies of centenarians, the search for genetic pathways that make individuals unusually resistant or resilient to the ravages of specific geriatric disorders has been comparatively neglected. We refer to these disorders as Unimodal Antigeroid Syndromes. It is our hope that our young colleagues will consider research efforts in that direction.

Inflammaging in Endemic Areas for Infectious Diseases.

Immunosenescence is marked by a systemic process named inflammaging along with a series of defects in the immunological activity that results in poor responses to infectious agents and to vaccination. Inflammaging, a state of low-grade chronic inflammation, usually leads to chronic inflammatory diseases and frailty in the elderly. However, some elderly escape from frailty and reach advanced age free of the consequences of inflammaging. This process has been called immunological remodeling, and it is the hallmark of healthy aging as described in the studies of centenarians in Italy. The biological markers of healthy aging are still a matter of debate, and the studies on the topic have focused on inflammatory versus remodeling processes and molecules. The sub-clinical inflammatory status associated with aging might be a deleterious event for populations living in countries where chronic infectious diseases are not prevalent. Nevertheless, in other parts of the world where they are, two possibilities may occur. Inflammatory responses may have a protective effect against these infectious agents. At the same time, the long-term consequences of protective immune responses during chronic infections may result in accelerated immunosenescence in these individuals. Therefore, the biological markers of healthy aging can vary according to environmental, cultural, and geographical settings that reflect worldwide, and in a non-biased, non-westernized perspective, the changes that we experience regarding our contacts with microorganisms and the outcomes of such contacts.

339 - A psychological profile of near-centenarians and centenarians with and without dementia from the Sydney Centenarian Study

Background:Studying those who have achieved exceptional longevity can provide a model of successful ageing, however current research remains limited. Previous work on centenarians has primarily focused on depression and anxiety; life satisfaction remains understudied.Objectives:To compare the psychological profile of near-centenarians (95-99) and centenarians (100+) with and without dementia. To compare the psychological distress and life satisfaction in near-centenarians and centenarians without dementia with younger age groups. To identify the risk and protective factors of psychological distress and life satisfaction in near-centenarians and centenarians without dementia.Methods:The Sydney Centenarian Study (SCS) collected data from 343 participants aged 95 years and older, of whom 119 had dementia. Psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Life satisfaction was measured using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Persons aged 70-90 years from the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study (MAS) were used as a cross-sectional comparison group, for which dementia was an exclusion. Multiple linear regressions were undertaken to investigate the predictors for psychological distress and life satisfaction in SCS.Findings:There was no significant difference in K10 or SWLS score between SCS participants with and without dementia. SCS participants without dementia reported significantly higher levels of psychological distress (15.3, 13.4, t=3.869, p<0.001) and life satisfaction (6.0, 5.6, t=5.835, p<0.001) compared to cognitively intact younger age groups in MAS. In SCS, a greater number of psychotropic medications and less contact with friends and family were associated with higher psychological distress. Higher scores on the Mini -Mental State Examination and greater contact with friends and family were associated with higher life satisfaction.Conclusions:Psychological health was similar in near-centenarians and centenarians whether or not they had dementia. Although near-centenarians and centenarians without dementia demonstrated higher levels of psychological distress in the past 4 weeks than younger age groups, their satisfaction with life was higher. Social support and cognition may be protective factors against poor psychological health and promote greater life satisfaction. Factors identified as associated with psychological distress and life satisfaction may be targets for interventions to maintain good psychological health in this vulnerable population.

Association between heart diseases, social factors and physical frailty in community-dwelling older populations: The septuagenarians, octogenarians, nonagenarians investigation with centenarians study.

Heart diseases and social factors are associated with physical frailty, but there are few studies of older people living in the community. Consequently, the aim of this study was to examine the association between heart diseases, social factors and physical frailty in community-dwelling older populations including the oldest-old people. The cross-sectional study included 1882 participants of community-dwelling older and oldest-old people. The survey site assessed questionnaires on medical history, social factors, blood samples and physical examination. Physical frailty was based on slow gait speed or weak grip strength. Associations were analyzed using multiple logistic regression with adjustments for covariate factors. Subjects with heart disease had a higher prevalence of physical frailty than those without heart disease. After adjusting the covariate factors, heart diseases were associated with a slow gait speed (odds ratio [OR] = 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-2.32, P = 0.009). Frequency of going outdoors and direct interaction with relatives or friends were associated with a slow gait speed (OR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.75-0.91, P ≤ 0.001 and OR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.81-0.94, P < 0.001), and associated with physical frailty (OR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.72-0.89, P ≤ 0.001 and OR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.82-0.95, P = 0.002). Living alone and frequency of direct interaction with relatives or friends were associated with physical frailty in subjects with heart disease. Our findings indicate that in community-dwelling older people, heart diseases and social factors were associated with physical frailty. Older people with heart disease, those living alone and the frequency of direct interaction with relatives or friends were associated with physical frailty. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 974-979.

The Impact of Distal Influences and Proximal Resources on the Mental Health of African American Older Adults: Findings From the Georgia Centenarian Study.

Background and ObjectivesOver the years, a large amount of research has been devoted to the investigation of factors that led to mental health outcomes in older adults. For African American older adults, their lived experiences place them at high risk for mental health problems. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of early life influences (i.e., education, childhood life events, and childhood financial well-being) and present psychosocial resources (i.e., individual, financial, and social) on current mental health outcomes in a sample of African American older adults in their 60s, 80s, and 100s.Research Design and MethodsUsing data from the Georgia Centenarian Study, 125 participants were interviewed about their mental health, resources, and early life influences.ResultsA structural equation model was tested and resulted in a good fit. Results indicated that the more social resources African American older adults had available, the lower the number of depressive symptoms they reported. African Americans with higher levels of financial well-being during childhood reported higher self-rated mental health. Older adults had higher levels of financial resources. Level of education showed a positive relationship with financial resources. Indirect effects of distal influences on health outcomes via current resources were not found.Discussion and ImplicationsThe findings are of direct practical relevance and can be used to more readily identify older African Americans who may be susceptible to poorer mental health outcomes based upon the impact of their unique distal and proximal psychosocial resources.

Association of anemia and SRH in older people: the SONIC study.

The incidence of anemia increases with aging, and it is considered to affect mortality through complex pathophysiological outcomes. Although it has been suggested that self-rated health may also contribute to the prognosis of anemia in older people, the relationship between anemia and self-rated health is not well understood. This study thus examined the actual status of anemia in older community-dwelling Japanese people and clarified the relationship between anemia and self-rated health. We conducted medical interviews, physical measurements and blood testing in 2083 people aged 69-91 years who participated in the long-term observational Septuagenarians, Octogenarians, Nonagenarians, Investigation with Centenarians (SONIC) study. Subjects were divided into two groups according to whether they had anemia. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between anemia and self-rated health after adjusting for possible confounding factors. The prevalence of anemia was 22.3% in all participants, 7.2% in men and 11.6% in women aged 69-71 years, 27.4% in men and 26.3% in women aged 79-81 years, and 55.8% in men and 44.9% in women aged 89-91 years. Multivariate analysis revealed a correlation between the presence of anemia and poor self-rated health in all (odds ratio 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.48-0.93) and aged 69-71 years (odds ratio 0.47, 95% confidence interval 0.25-0.86). Anemia was associated with self-rated health in older Japanese people, suggesting that careful management of anemia may contribute to health and longevity. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; ••: ••-••.

Resilience in Very Advanced Ages: A Study With Centenarians.

This study intends to assess the relationship between resilience in extremely long-lived individuals and sociodemographic, cognitive and health status variables, and significant life events. A selected sample of 48 centenarians (mean age = 100.8 years, SD = 1.2; 83.3% female) from two centenarian studies was considered. A resilience score covering five items (aging and usefulness, hopefulness, worryness, loneliness, and control) was considered. Multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted in order to identify predictors of resilience. No significant differences in the resilience score regarding sociodemographic variables or typology of significant life events were found. Our findings underscore that health perception (better) and pain (less frequent) were associated with higher levels of resilience. In being present in extremely long-lived individuals, resilience should be object of interest in further research.

A Cultural Comparison of Personality Profiles of U.S. and Japanese Centenarians.

The purpose of this study was a cross-cultural examination of centenarians' personality through a person-centered approach to examine if there is a "resilient" personality profile consistent across cultures. Proxy reports information was obtained from family and close friends of 239 U.S. centenarians from the Georgia Centenarians Study and 272 Japanese centenarians from the Tokyo Centenarian Study. Latent profile analyses were conducted to identify personality profiles in centenarians from the United States and Japan. Two personality profiles were identified in both samples: a "resilient" personality profile and "nonresilient" personality profile. The "resilient" group had higher levels of positive personality traits with higher scores on agreeableness and extraversion and lower scores on neuroticism, conscientiousness, and openness. The "nonresilient" group had higher scores on neuroticism and lower scores on extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Fifty percent of U.S. centenarians and 65% of Japanese centenarians were in the "resilient" group.

Prevalence and coincidence of hypertension and orthostatic hypotension in pre- and centenarians and their effect on mortality: preliminary results of Moscow centenarian study

Objective. To estimate the prevalence and impact on mortality of arterial hypertension (HTN) and orthostatic hypotension (OH) in centenarians (95 years and older) in Moscow.Design and methods. The study participants were 82 super-long-livers of Moscow city aged 95 years and older (minimum age of 95 years, maximum 105 years), who underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment at home by a multidisciplinary team (geriatrician, nurse and social worker). The following prospective observation lasted for three years (36 months).Results. Past medical history of HTN was noted in 78 %. The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the supine position was 151 ± 27,9 mm Hg (100–216 mm Hg), and the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 74 ± 12,8 mm Hg (44–197 mm Hg). OH was detected in 31 % of 61 long-livers who was able to perform an orthostatic test. The presence of OH was not associated with the higher intake of antihypertensive drugs. Within three years, 44 study participants died. The level of blood pressure (BP), history of HTN, and the presence of OH did not affect mortality (p &gt; 0,05).Conclusions. Centenarians have a wide range of SBP and DBP, high prevalence of HTN and OH. BP level, presence of HTN and OH did not affect mortality over 3 year period. Further investigation is needed to understand better the health status of long-livers and factors affecting the prognosis.

Longitudinal Maintenance of Cognitive Health in Centenarians in the 100-plus Study

Some individuals who reach ages beyond 100 years in good cognitive health may be resilient against risk factors associated with cognitive decline. Exploring the processes underlying resilience may contribute to the development of therapeutic strategies that help to maintain cognitive health while aging. To identify individuals who escape cognitive decline until extreme ages and to investigate the prevalence of associated risk factors. The 100-plus Study is a prospective observational cohort study of community-based Dutch centenarians enrolled between 2013 and 2019 who were visited annually until death or until participation was no longer possible. The centenarians self-reported their cognitive health, as confirmed by a proxy. Of the 1023 centenarians approached for study inclusion, 340 fulfilled the study criteria and were included in analyses. Data analysis was performed from April 2019 to December 2019. Cognition was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). To identify centenarians who escape cognitive decline, this study investigated the association of baseline cognition with survivorship and cognitive trajectories for at least 2 years of follow-up using linear mixed models, adjusted for sex, age, and education. This study investigated the prevalence of apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes and cardiovascular disease as risk factors associated with cognitive decline. At baseline, the median age of 340 centenarians was 100.5 years (range, 100.0-108.2 years); 245 participants (72.1%) were female. The maximum survival estimate plateaued at 82% per year (95% CI, 77% to 87%) across centenarians who scored 26 to 30 points on the baseline MMSE (hazard ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.42 to 0.75; P < .001), suggesting that an MMSE score of 26 or higher is representative of both cognitive and physical health. Among the 79 centenarians who were followed up for 2 years or longer, those with baseline MMSE score less than 26 experienced a decline in MMSE score of 1.68 points per year (95% CI, -2.45 to -0.92 points per year; P = .02), whereas centenarians with MMSE scores of 26 or higher at baseline experienced a decline of 0.71 point per year (95% CI, -1.08 to -0.35 points per year). For 73% of the centenarians with baseline MMSE scores of 26 or higher, no cognitive changes were observed, which often extended to ensuing years or until death. It is estimated that this group is representative of less than 10% of Dutch centenarians. In this group, 18.6% carried at least 1 APOE-ε4 allele, compared with 5.6% of the centenarians with lower and/or declining cognitive performance. Most centenarians who scored 26 or higher on the MMSE at baseline maintained high levels of cognitive performance for at least 2 years, in some cases despite the presence of risk factors associated with cognitive decline. Investigation of this group might reveal the processes underlying resilience against risk factors associated with cognitive decline.

Further survival at age 100: Findings from the Oporto Centenarian study

This paper aims to identify the health-related predictors of survival in centenarians. A population-based study conducted in North Portugal (PT100) followed 140 individuals from the age of 100+ years. A detailed questionnaire at baseline was completed including information on sociodemographic characteristics, physical health, functional, cognitive, and nutritional status and life-style. Survival of study participants was checked every six months over the period of December 2013 until June 2019. In the univariate Cox proportional hazards model, longer survival was associated with the absence of acute disease, better functional status, absence of physical fatigue and better cognition. Multivariate analysis revealed that acute disease, functional status and physical fatigue remained significant. Acute disease, functional status and physical fatigue are predictors of survival in the PT100 centenarians.

Exceptionally Long-Lived Individuals (ELLI) Demonstrate Slower Aging Rate Calculated by DNA Methylation Clocks as Possible Modulators for Healthy Longevity.

Exceptionally long-lived individuals (ELLI) who are the focus of many healthy longevity studies around the globe are now being studied in Israel. The Israeli Multi-Ethnic Centenarian Study (IMECS) cohort is utilized here for assessment of various DNA methylation clocks. Thorough phenotypic characterization and whole blood samples were obtained from ELLI, offspring of ELLI, and controls aged 53–87 with no familial exceptional longevity. DNA methylation was assessed using Illumina MethylationEPIC Beadchip and applied to DNAm age online tool for age and telomere length predictions. Relative telomere length was assessed using qPCR T/S (Telomere/Single copy gene) ratios. ELLI demonstrated juvenile performance in DNAm age clocks and overall methylation measurement, with preserved cognition and relative telomere length. Our findings suggest a favorable DNA methylation profile in ELLI enabling a slower rate of aging in those individuals in comparison to controls. It is possible that DNA methylation is a key modulator of the rate of aging and thus the ELLI DNAm profile promotes healthy longevity.

Concentrations of Circulating Phylloquinone,but Not Cerebral Menaquinone-4, Are Positively Correlated with a Wide Range of Cognitive Measures: Exploratory Findings in Centenarians

Vitamin K (VK) exists in the form of phylloquinone (PK) and menaquinones (MKs). Roles of VK on cognitive health in the elderly are emerging, but there is limited evidence on VK uptake and metabolism in human brain. The primary objective of this study was to characterize VK distribution in brains of an elderly population with varied cognitive function. In addition, associations among circulating (a biomarker of VK intake) and cerebral VK concentrations and cognition were investigated. Serum or plasma (n=27) and brain samples from the frontal cortex (FC; n=46) and the temporal cortex (TC; n=33) were acquired from 48 decedents (aged 98-107 y; 25 demented and 23 nondemented) enrolled in the Georgia Centenarian Study. Both circulating and brain VK concentrations were measured using HPLC with fluorescence detection. Cognitive assessment was performed within 1 y prior to mortality. Partial correlations between serum/plasma or cerebral VK concentrations and cognitive function were performed, adjusting for covariates and separating by dementia and antithrombotic use. MK-4 was the predominant vitamer in both FC (mean±SD=4.92±2.31 pmol/g, ≥89.15%±5.09% of total VK) and TC (4.60±2.11 pmol/g, ≥89.71%±4.43% of total VK) regardless of cognitive status. Antithrombotic users had 34.0% and 53.9% lower MK-4 concentrations in FC (P<0.05) and TC (P<0.001), respectively. Circulating PK was not correlated with cerebral MK-4 or total VK concentrations. Circulating PK concentrations were significantly associated with a wide range of cognitive measures in nondemented centenarians (P<0.05). In contrast, cerebral MK-4 concentrations were not associated with cognitive performance, either before or after exclusion of antithrombotic users. Circulating VK concentrations are not related to cerebral MK-4 concentrations in centenarians. Cerebral MK-4 concentrations are tightly regulated over a range of VK intakes and cognitive function. Circulating PK may reflect intake of VK-rich foods containing other dietary components beneficial to cognitive health. Further investigation of VK uptake and metabolism in the brain is warranted.

Protein Signatures of Centenarians and Their Offspring Suggest Centenarians Age Slower than Other Humans

We used a high-throughput Somascan platform to quantify 4116 proteins in the serum of 224centenarians, offspring, and controls (mean ages: 105, 80, 79 years) from the New England Centenarian Study, and to characterize the serum proteome of aging and longevity. We identified 1312 proteins that significantly differ between centenarians and their offspring and controls (FDR<1%), and replicated the association of 484 of these using 2 independent proteomic studies of aging. By comparing the patterns of proteins associated with aging to protein profiles of centenarians, we also identified serum-protein signatures of extreme old age and of immune senescence. We then searched for protein signatures that distinguish between short and long survival within various age groups and we identified two differentprotein signatures that predict longer survival in older people and in centenarians. The data suggest that centenarians acquire similar aging patterns as seen in younger cohorts that have short survival periods, suggesting that centenarians do not escape normal aging markers, but rather acquire them much later than usual. For example, centenarian signatures are significantly enriched for senescence-associated secretory phenotypes, consistent with those seen with younger aged individuals, and from this findingwe provide a new list of serum proteins that can be used to measure cellular senescence. Consistently with this findings, protein co-expression network analysis showed that the serum proteome of offspring and controls clusters in a small number of modules of correlated proteins, some of which are conserved in centenarians’ serum while others break down in smaller modules thus suggesting that a small number of biological drivers may regulate aging and that changes in gene regulation may be important to reach extreme old age. This centenarian study thus provides additional signatures that can be used to measure aging, and provides specific biomarkers of healthy aging and longevity, suggesting potential mechanisms that could help prolong health and support longevity.

Age group differences in association between IADL decline and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling elderly

BackgroundInstrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) is an indicator of whether a community-dwelling elderly can live independently. IADL decline was reported to be associated with aging and depression. The present study aimed to investigate whether the association between IADL decline and depressive symptoms differs with aging, using two age groups of community-dwelling Japanese elderly in their 70s and 80s.MethodsWe conducted longitudinal analysis among participants in their 70s and 80s at the baseline from Septuagenarians, Octogenarians, Nonagenarians Investigation with Centenarians (SONIC) study. IADL was assessed by The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (TMIG) index of competence. As a main predictor, depressive symptoms were measured by the five-item version of the Geriatrics Depression Scale (GDS-5). As possible confounders, we considered cognitive function, body mass index, solitary living, education, economic status, medical history of stroke and heart disease, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and sex. We obtained odds ratios (ORs) of IADL decline for having depressive symptoms in each age group (70s/80s) and tested interactions between depressive symptoms and age groups in relation to IADL decline in 3 years by logistic regression. Additionally, to confirm age group differences, we conducted multiple group analysis.ResultsThere were 559 participants in their 70s and 519 in their 80s. Compared to participants without depressive symptoms, those with depressive symptoms had higher OR of IADL decline in 70s (OR [95% CI] = 2.33 [1.13, 4.78]), but not in 80s (OR [95% CI] = 0.85 [0.46, 1.53]). There were significant interactions between depressive symptoms and age groups in relation to IADL decline (p-value = 0.03). Multiple group analyses showed differences between the age groups by Akaike information criterion (AIC), and ORs (95%CI) decline for depressive symptoms was 2.33 (1.14, 4.77) in 70s and 0.85 (0.47, 1.54) in 80s.ConclusionThe association of depressive symptoms and IADL decline during the 3 years was significantly different between the 70s and 80s age groups, and significant association was found only in people in their 70s. Detecting depressive symptoms may be a key for preventing IADL decline in people in their 70s and not for those in their 80s.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COGNITION, FUNCTIONAL ABILITIES, AND THE LATENT DEMENTIA PHENOTYPE AMONG CENTENARIANS

Adequate assessment of cognitive abilities and functional capacity is essential for a diagnosis of dementia. However, cognition is only moderately related to functional status, and this relationship is poorly understood among centenarians, a group of older adults with high risk for dementia. A bifactor structural equation model can be used to delineate the variance attributed to dementia-specific related cognitive changes (i.e., the latent variable delta) and the variance due to general intelligence (i.e., g’). This study aimed to determine the validity of delta as a marker of cognitive decline among centenarians. It was hypothesized that delta was correlated with cognitive status, functional abilities and, dementia severity. Overall, 244 community dwelling centenarians (Mage = 100.58, 84.8% female) were recruited through the Georgia Centenarian Study, a population-based study of octogenarians and centenarians from northern Georgia. Older adults were administered measures of cognition and a self-report measure of functional abilities. Latent variable scores (i.e., g’ and delta) were modeled and correlated with standard global cognitive screening measures (i.e., MMSE) and measures of dementia severity. Results indicate that delta was significantly correlated with functional ability and cognitive abilities. Consistent with our hypotheses, delta was also significantly related to dementia severity. Overall, estimates of the latent dementia phenotype, delta, were significantly related to cognitive and functional abilities among centenarians, providing validation of delta as a useful index of dementia severity.