Compliance with safety precautions plays significant role in containing pandemic. On a personal level, one critical precaution is to disclose sickness status to people who one comes into direct contact with. Yet, factors governing this personal decision remain uncertain. This study examined age-related differences across adulthood in (i) the likelihood to disclose symptoms of sickness (LDSS) during COVID-19 pandemic, (ii) the level of COVID-19-associated anxiety (CAA), and (iii) the relationship between LDSS and CAA.

Data were obtained from a large-scale survey “Measuring Worldwide COVID-19 Attitudes and Beliefs” (Fetzer et al., 2020). Retained data included sociodemographic characteristics, number of chronic conditions and self-rated quality of health for USA sample (n=11,445) which we stratified by age into five groups (18-29 years old n=2065; 30-39 n=3765; 40-49 n=2463; 50-59 n=1760; 60+ n=1392). Disclosure of sickness was measured with statement: “in the past week if I had exhibited symptoms of sickness, I would have immediately informed the people around me”, where participants self-rated it on the scale from 0–“does not apply at all to me” to 100– “applies very much to me”. We computed LDSS score with thresholds: ≤50–unlikely/uncertain, >50–likely, 100–certain to disclose. CAA symptoms were measured with the following statements which participants self-rated on a scale from 1–“does not apply at all” to 5– “strongly applies”: I am nervous when I think about current circumstances; I am calm and relaxed; I am worried about my health; I am worried about the health of my family members; I am stressed about leaving my house. ANOVA w/Bonferroni post-hoc tests compared LDSS and CAA between the age groups. Multivariate regression (accounting for: gender, education, self-rated health, number of chronic conditions) examined LDSS–CAA relationship.

Age groups were comparable in gender (∼40% males), education (∼17 years of education), and relationship status (∼65% married/cohabitating). Most participants rated own health as good and reported one chronic condition. LDSS was increasing with aging, F(df=4)=35.552 (p<0.001), with 72% youngest vs. 85% oldest adults indicating certainty about disclosing sickness status. Anxiety about own health was increasing with age, F(df=4)=7.319 (p<0.001), while anxiety about health of family members was decreasing with age, F(df=4)=25.398 (p<0.001). Middle-aged adults showed the highest anxiety related to thinking about the current circumstances, F(df=4)=10.476 (p<0.001), and feeling stressed about leaving own house, F(df=4)=6.368 (p<0.001). LDSS was positively related to anxiety about health of family members and/or feeling stressed about leaving own house in young and middle-aged adults (B=0.042, p=0.001, CI95%=0.017–0.068), but not related to any CAA symptoms in adults aged 60+.

This study suggests that people can become more likely to disclose sickness status as they age and can be prone to different CAA symptoms across life stages. The results further indicate that distinct CAA symptoms can play a role in LDSS in young and middle adulthood, but may loose significance in older age. Acknowledgement of these diverse mechanisms can inform clinical practice dedicated to individuals with illness anxiety, as well as can help develop age-targeted campaigns that promote compliance with the safety precautions.

The presence of an e4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE ε4) is considered the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in the US. Evidence suggests that APOE ε4 carriers have worse memory performances compared to APOE ε4 non-carriers in cognitively normal older adults and that female APOE ε4 carriers are at greater risk of AD compared to male carriers. Recent advancements in estimating biological age using DNA methylation markers may enhance understanding of the associations between sex and APOE ε4 on cognitive aging. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate whether associations between APOE ε4 status and memory vary according to rates of biological aging, using a DNA methylation age biomarker, in older men and women without dementia.

Cross-sectional data were obtained from 1771 older adults enrolled in the 2016 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (Mean age = 75, SD = 7; 57% female; 76% non-Hispanic white). The standardized residual from regressing chronological age on the epigenetic clock “DNAGrimAge” was used as a measure of the aging rate. A series of ANCOVAs with Bonferroni corrected post hoc pairwise tests, adjusting for education, white blood cell count, chronological age, and depressive symptoms were used to test the main and interaction effects of APOE ε4 status (non-carriers = 0; carriers = 1) and aging rates, defined as 1 standard deviation below (i.e., slow rate), or above (i.e., fast rate) sex-specific mean rate (i.e., average) of aging, on a standardized composite measure of verbal memory. Alpha was set at .05 and all raw scores were converted to z-score metric prior to analyses.

APOE ε4 female carriers with slow rates of aging (n = 34) had significantly better memory performances compared to APOE ε4 female carriers with fast rates of aging (n = 41), mean difference = .61, p = .006, and average rates of aging (n = 170), mean difference = .44, p = .017. There was no effect of aging rate on memory in the female non-carriers and there were no significant differences in memory performances based on rates of aging in either male APOE ε4 carriers or non-carriers.

Although the presence of the APOE ε4 has previously been shown to represent a stronger risk of AD for women compared to men, results from the current study suggest that slower rates of aging in this high-risk group may confer protection against clinical symptoms (i.e., memory impairment). Conversely, faster than average aging in female APOE ε4 carriers may represent a group at greater risk of memory impairment due to AD. However, longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes are needed to evaluate the risk of dementia/memory impairment based on rates of aging in female APOE ε4 carriers.

Higher cardiovascular burden and peripheral inflammation are associated with small vessel vascular disease, a predominantly dysexecutive cognitive profile, and a higher likelihood of conversion to vascular dementia. The digital clock drawing test, a digitized version of a standard neuropsychological tool, is useful in identifying cognitive dysfunction related to vascular etiology. However, little is known about the specific cognitive implications of vascular risk, peripheral inflammation, and varying levels of overall brain integrity. The current study aimed to examine the role of cardiovascular burden, peripheral inflammation, and brain integrity on digitally acquired clock drawing latency and graphomotor metrics in non-demented older adults.

The final prospectively recruited IRB-consented participant sample included 184 non-demented older adults (age: 69±6 years, education: 16±3 years, 46% female, 94% white) who completed digital clock drawing, vascular assessment, blood draw, and brain MRI. Digital clock drawing variables of interest included: total completion time (TCT), pre-first hand latency (PFHL), digit misplacement, hour hand distance from center, and clock face area (CFA). Cardiovascular burden was calculated using the revised version of the Framingham Stroke Risk Profile (FSRP-10). Peripheral inflammation was operationalized using interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). The brain integrity composite was comprised of bilateral entorhinal cortex volume, bilateral ventricular volume, and whole brain leukoaraiosis.

Over and above age and cognitive reserve, hierarchical regressions showed FSRP-10, inflammatory markers, and brain integrity explained an additional 13.3% of the variance in command TCT (p< 0.001), with FSRP-10 (p=0.001), IL-10 (p= 0.019), and hsCRP (p= 0.019) as the main predictors in the model. FSRP-10, inflammatory markers, and brain integrity explained an additional 11.7% of the variance in command digit misplacement (p= 0.009), with findings largely driven by FSRP-10 (p< 0.001).

Overall, in non-demented older adults, subtle behavioral nuances seen in digital clock drawing metrics (i.e., total completion time and digit misplacement) are partly explained by cardiovascular burden, peripheral inflammation, and brain integrity over and above age and cognitive reserve. These nuanced behaviors on digitally acquired clock drawing may associate with an emergent disease process or overall vulnerability.

Funding sources: Barber Fellowship; K07AG066813; R01 AG055337; R01 NR014810; American Psychological Foundation Dissertation Award; APA Dissertation Research Award

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD), the self-reported experience of worsening cognitive abilities (Jessen et al., 2014), is associated with increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment. Modifiable factors such as purpose in life (PiL), the experience of living a meaningful life where one’s life goals are attainable or being achieved (Boyle et al., 2009), and loneliness, an individual’s perceived social isolation (Luhmann & Hawkley, 2016), are known to be associated with SCD. These relationships are understudied among ethnically diverse groups. Using an online survey, we examined associations between PiL, loneliness and SCD in older ethnically diverse individuals living in the US.

870 older adults (126 Latino, 74 Black, 33 Asian, and 637 White; average age=67.0 [7.6]) completed an online survey including the Life Purpose Questionnaire, the Gierveld Loneliness Scale, and the Everyday Cognition scale (ECog), which measures subjective cognitive concerns in memory, language, executive function, and divided attention. Chi-square tests and analyses of variance were conducted to assess group differences in SCD and demographic/lifestyle predictors. Multiple regressions and correlations were conducted to assess the relationships between ethnicity and PiL with SCD, and the moderating effect of race/ethnicity. Multiple regressions and correlations were conducted to identify sociodemographic and lifestyle predictors of SCD in each study group.

White participants were older (p<.001), and White and Asian groups had higher levels of education (p=.009) compared to Latinos. The White group had a higher proportion of female (p=.016) and middle-income (p=.019) respondents. Black participants had higher PiL (p=.035) and lower loneliness (p=.047) compared to White participants; there were no group differences in ECog ratings (p=.143). Regression results indicated that higher PiL associated with lower SCD in the whole sample (β=-.435, p<.001). The interaction between PiL and ethnic group was significant (β=.078, p=.025), suggesting the relationship between PiL and SCD was strongest in White participants, followed by Asian, then Latino, and finally Black participants. In Latinos, female sex (β=-.281, p=.004) and higher PiL (β=-.240, p=.034) predicted lower SCD ratings. In White participants, higher PiL (β = -.394, p < .001), and lower loneliness (β = .128, p = .003) predicted lower SCD ratings. Correlation analyses revealed no significant associations with SCD in the Black group, although the correlation between loneliness and SCD was trending (r=.222, p=.063). In the Asian group, greater PiL was associated with lower SCD ratings (r=-.439, p=.011).

Our findings suggest that PiL may be protective against SCD, particularly in Latino, Asian, and White adults. Differential predictive factors of SCD were also identified for our study groups, suggesting certain groups may benefit from specific targeted interventions. Overall, findings suggest that interventions geared toward increasing PiL and/or mitigating loneliness may help reduce SCD and the risk of cognitive decline in older adults in the US. As the current study was cross-sectional and faced sample size limitations in Asian and Black groups, future studies should include longitudinal assessment of these associations with larger and more representative samples to confirm our findings.

Depression is a common problem among older adults and is further exacerbated by poor treatment response. The vascular depression hypothesis suggests that white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and executive dysfunction are main contributors to treatment non-response in older adults. While a previous meta-analysis has demonstrated the effects of executive dysfunction on treatment response, similar techniques have not been used to address the relationship between WMH and treatment response. Multiple commonly-cited studies demonstrate a relationship between WMH and treatment response, however, the literature on the predictive nature of the relationship is quite inconsistent. Additionally, many studies supporting this relationship are not randomized controlled studies. Critically examining data of well-controlled treatment response outcome studies using meta-analytic methods will allow for an aggregate evaluation of the relationship between WMH burden and treatment response.

A MEDLINE search was conducted to identify regimented antidepressant treatment trials contrasting white matter hyperintensity burden between remitters and non-remitters. Only regimented treatment trials for depressed outpatients aged 50 and older that had a pre-treatment measure of WMH burden and remitter/non-remitter comparison were included. Hedge’s g was calculated for each trial’s treatment effect. A Bayesian meta-analysis was used to estimate an aggregate effect size.

Eight studies met inclusion criteria. The log odds ratios average was significantly less than zero (.25, SE=.12, p=.019), suggesting that there is a significant effect of WMH hyperintensity burden on antidepressant remission status.

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to rigorously evaluate randomized controlled trials to determine the relationship between WMH burden and antidepressant treatment response. Findings revealed that WMH burden predicted antidepressant remission, that is, individuals with high WMH burden are less likely to meet remission criteria compared to individuals with low WMH burden. Results suggest that it may be important to consider vascular depression as a distinct treatment target of alternate interventions.

Although the relationship between visual attention, impulsivity, and cognitively restrained eating patterns has been established in previous research, less is known about the relationship of cognitive processes and disinhibited eating patterns in older adults. Research postulates that disinhibited eating behaviors may be associated with stress, limited emotional capacity, anxiety, and impulsivity. The current study investigated impulsivity as a potential mediator of the relationship between visual attention and disinhibited eating in older veterans.

This study included 101 Veterans who were screened as part of a larger study assessing the impact of multi-modal activity-based interventions on brain health in older adulthood. The sample included largely White (76%), male (94%) Veterans aged 54 to 88 (M = 70.1, SD 8.9). The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire was used to assess daily disinhibited eating patterns, and attentional impulsivity was assessed with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. Visual attention was evaluated using the Stroop Color Word Test (Color Trial). Mediation analyses were conducted using the SPSS PROCESS Macro. The outcome variable for analysis was disinhibited eating. The predictor variable was visual attention. The mediator variable was impulsivity. Body mass index (BMI) was included as a covariate as it was significantly associated with the predictor and outcome variables.

The indirect effect of visual attention on disinhibited eating was found to be statistically significant (effect = 0.06, 95%: 0.02, 0.12)

Attentional impulsivity appears to mediate the relationship between visual attention and disinhibited eating behaviors. This finding extends the current literature about the relationship between visual attention, impulsivity, and other eating patterns (e.g., cognitively restrained eating) in older adults. Exploring this relationship helps us better understand the impact of eating habits through the aging process. Caregivers and older adults should be informed about the impact of increased impulsivity on disinhibited eating behaviors, especially in those with limited visual attention processes. Further understanding of the neurobiological impact of eating behaviors on cognition in older adulthood may assist in developing awareness about the importance of healthy eating patterns when considering brain health in the aging process.

Cannabis use in older adults is becoming increasingly common as cannabis becomes both more socially acceptable and legally permissible, whether for medical or recreational purposes. While previous research has found harmful effects of cannabis use on cognition in adolescents and younger adults, few studies have explored cognition and cannabis use in older adults. This study aimed to examine the relationship between lifetime cannabis use patterns and subjective cognitive performance in older adults.

The sample (N=51) consisted of adults ages 60 and older residing in the United States who endorsed cannabis use within the previous year. Participants completed online questionnaires on demographics, mental health [Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS) short form and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) short form], and measures of subjective cognitive function [Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), the Cognitive Problems and Strategies Assessment (CPSA), and part IV of the Cognitive Self Efficacy Questionnaire (CSEQ)]. The Daily Sessions, Frequency, Age of Onset, and Quantity of Cannabis Use Inventory (DFAQCU) and the Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test (CUDIT) were used to assess cannabis use, and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption items (AUD-C) were used to assess alcohol use. Partial Pearson’s correlations were used to examine relationships between scores of subjective cognitive functioning and cannabis use patterns while controlling for alcohol consumption.

Participants aged 60+ (M=68.06, SD=5.80, 49% women) had 15.39 (SD=2.21, range 12-18) years of education on average. Participants’ race/ethnicity was reported as 90.2% White (n=47), 5.9% Latinx or Hispanic (n=3), 2% Black or African American (n=1), and 1% Other (n=1). Most participants (59%) reported first using cannabis as a child or adolescent (range of ages 7-17 years), while 31% reported first using cannabis as an adult (ages 18-58 years), and only 8% endorsed initial use in older adulthood (62-84 years). On average, this sample reported using cannabis for 19.75 days (SD=11.14) in the last month with n=35 (69%) and having used cannabis for 20 or more years (range 1-60 years). The total CUDIT score was positively correlated with CFQ (rp=.47, p<.001), CPSA problems (rp=.46, p<.001), GAS (rp=.43, p=.002), and GDS (rp=.35, p=.014), and negatively correlated with the CSEQ (rp=-.33, p=.02), all while controlling for alcohol consumption. Days of use in the past month and total years of use were not significantly associated with subjective cognitive function.

Among older adult cannabis users, symptoms of Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) were significantly associated with greater self-reported cognitive failures/problems and worse self-efficacy for cognitive ability, as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression, when controlling for alcohol use. Notably, there was no relationship between subjective cognition and frequency of recent use or lifetime use. For patients who use cannabis, neuropsychologists may find it helpful to focus their clinical interview on CUD symptoms when discussing cognitive complaints rather than other measures of cannabis use. Additional research is needed to examine objective measures of cognitive functioning in older adult cannabis users.

The current study investigated whether older adults’ cognitive test scores at the time of long-term care nursing home admission are associated with psychological well-being over the first six months. We analyzed the link between Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (DRS-2) subscale scores and anxiety, depression, quality of life, and positive/negative affect.

Participants were recently admitted long-term care residents from 13 nursing homes in the Louisville, KY area. Sixty-two older adults were administered the DRS-2 shortly after nursing home admission. Using a cutoff of less than 6 scaled score on the DRS-2, 52% of participants scored as cognitively impaired. Self-report measures of anxiety (RAID), depression (PHQ9), quality of life (QoL-AD), and positive/negative affect (Philadelphia Geriatric Center Affect Rating Scale) were collected at time of admission, and 3 and 6 months later.

The DRS-2 attention subscale significantly correlated with baseline depression symptoms. No other DRS-2 subscale or the DRS-2 total score correlated with anxiety, depression, quality of life, or affect ratings at admission. Baseline DRS-2 attention, initiation/perseveration, and memory had significant correlations with self-report measures at 3 and 6 months; these DRS-2 scores were selected for further analysis. Mixed ANOVAs found a significant main effect of group (impaired vs. not-impaired) for the initiation/perseveration subscale, memory subscale, and DRS-2 total score on negative affect; impairment in any of these domains was associated with lower reported negative affect at all three time points. There was no significant effect of cognitive scores on any other self-report measure. There was a significant, positive linear trend in quality of life over time. There was a significant quadratic trend in depression symptoms, with decreased depression reported at 3 months and increase at 6 months.

Impaired performance on the DRS-2 was associated with lower negative affect over time. Cognitive impairment was not associated with anxiety, depression, quality of life, or positive affect. There appear to be reliable trends in some psychological factors regardless of cognitive scores, with an increase in quality of life over time and a temporary decrease in reported depression captured at 3 months. The relationship between cognitive impairment and negative affect should be interpreted with caution, as only 22 residents completed the affect self-report at all three time points. Overall, we found limited evidence of an association between cognitive scores at time of admission and self-reported psychological factors at 3 and 6 months.

Social support may protect against Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), potentially through emotional or instrumental support elements. Black and Hispanic/Latinx older adults bear a disproportionate burden of ADRD. However, independent effects of emotional and instrumental support on cognition, a primary indicator of ADRD risk, are largely understudied in these groups. Guided by the differential vulnerability hypothesis – the theoretical framework which posits that systemic racism disadvantages Black and Hispanic/Latinx individuals’ health – we hypothesize that emotional and instrumental support may be particularly important to protect against worse cognition for Black and Hispanic/Latinx older adults, who often have fewer resources due to these inequalities (e.g., wealth, educational opportunities) to otherwise maintain health. Using the NIH Toolbox Emotion Module measures of emotional (e.g., the extent to which individuals can rely on others in challenging times) and instrumental support (e.g., the extent to which individuals can rely on others for assistance in daily activities), we aimed to identify positive social support factors (i.e., emotional and instrumental support) that may protect against ADRD risk (i.e., longitudinal executive function and memory performance) among Black and Hispanic/Latinx older adults.

Participants were 362 Black and 265 Hispanic/Latinx adults aged 65-89 (63% female, average age=75) from the Kaiser Healthy Aging and Diverse Life Experiences (KHANDLE) Study who completed baseline and up to two additional waves of assessments (every 1.5 years), including questionnaires, neuropsychological evaluations, and the NIH toolbox. Predictors included baseline covariates (i.e., age, language of test administration, gender, education, income, self-rated health) and NIH toolbox emotional and instrumental support variables. Outcomes were baseline and longitudinal memory (visual and verbal episodic memory) and executive functioning (verbal fluency and working memory) composites from the Spanish and English Neuropsychological Assessment Scales (SENAS). Latent growth curve models were conducted separately in Black and Hispanic/Latinx participants to estimate effects of emotional and instrumental support on baseline cognition and subsequent change in each domain.

Black participants reported greater emotional support. There were no group differences in levels of instrumental support. Greater instrumental support was associated with better initial memory (standardized β= .194, 95%CI: [.063, .325]) among Black participants but not among Hispanic/Latinx participants. In Hispanic/Latinx participants, greater emotional support was associated with better initial executive functioning (standardized β= .215, 95%CI: [.079, .350]. Emotional support was not associated with either cognitive domain in Black participants. There were no associations between emotional or instrumental support on cognitive change in either group.

Results point to differences between Black and Hispanic/Latinx older adults in the impact of specific aspects of social support on different cognitive domains. Positive associations between instrumental support and baseline memory in Black participants and between emotional support and executive functioning in Hispanic/Latinx participants suggest unique cognitive consequences of social support across groups. Differences in the role of specific types of social supports may be useful in identifying intervention targets specifically for Black and Hispanic/Latinx older adults, who are disproportionately affected by ADRD. Future research will examine these constructs using multiple group models to test these associations more rigorously.

The brain is reliant on mitochondria to carry out a host of vital cellular functions (e.g., energy metabolism, respiration, apoptosis) to maintain neuronal integrity. Clinically relevant, dysfunctional mitochondria have been implicated as central to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Phosphorous magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31p MRS) is a non-invasive and powerful method for examining in vivo mitochondrial function via high energy phosphates and phospholipid metabolism ratios. At least one prior 31p MRS study found temporal-frontal differences for high energy phosphates in persons with mild AD. The goal of the current study was to examine regional (i.e., frontal, temporal) 31p MRS ratios of mitochondrial function in a sample of older adults at-risk for AD. Given the high energy consumption in temporal lobes (i.e., hippocampus) and preferential age-related changes in frontal structure-function, we predicted 31p MRS ratios of mitochondrial function would be greater in temporal as compared to frontal regions.

The current study leveraged baseline neuroimaging data from an ongoing multisite study at the University of Florida and University of Arizona. Participants were older adults with memory complaints and a first-degree family history of AD [N = 70; mean [M] age [years] = 70.9, standard deviation [SD] =5.1; M education [years] = 16.2, SD = 2.2; M MoCA = 26.5, SD = 2.4; 61.4% female; 91.5% non-latinx white]. To achieve optimal sensitivity, we used a single voxel method to examine 31p MRS ratios (bilateral prefrontal and left temporal). Mitochondrial function was estimated by computing 5 ratios for each voxel: summed adenosine triphosphate to total pooled phosphorous (ATP/TP; momentary energy), ATP to inorganic phosphate (ATP/Pi; energy consumption), phosphocreatine to ATP (PCr/ATP; energy reserve), phosphocreatine to inorganic phosphate (PCr/Pi; oxidative phosphorylation), and phosphomonoesters to phosphodiesters (PME/PDE; cellular membrane turnover rate). All ratios were corrected for voxel size and cerebrospinal fluid fraction. Separate repeated measures analyses of variance controlling for scanner site differences (RM ANCOVAs) were performed.

31p MRS ratios were unrelated to demographic characteristics and were not included as additional covariates in analyses. Results of separate RM ANCOVAs revealed all 31p MRS ratios of mitochondrial function were greater in left temporal relative to bilateral prefrontal voxel: ATP/TP (p < .001), ATP/Pi (p = .001), PCr/ATP (p = .004), PCr/Pi (p = .004), and PME/PDE (p = .017). Effect sizes (partial eta squared) ranged from 0.6-.20.

Consistent and extending one prior study, all 31p MRS ratios of mitochondrial function were greater in temporal as compared to frontal regions in older adults at-risk for AD. This may in part be related to the intrinsically high metabolic rate of the temporal region and preferential age-related changes in frontal structure-function. Alternatively, findings may reflect the influence of unaccounted factors (e.g., hemodynamics, auditory stimulation). Longitudinal study designs may inform whether patterns of mitochondrial function across different brain regions are present early in development, occur across the lifespan, or some combination. In turn, this may inform future studies examining differences in mitochondrial function (as measured using 31p MRS) in AD.

Aging is associated with changes in cortical excitability which may affect motor learning and cognitive function via selective modulation of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). Previous studies using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to measure GABA in older adults found that increased baseline GABA levels in the sensorimotor cortex (M1S1) were associated with better motor performance. GABA levels in M1S1 have tended to decrease during the execution of a repeated motor sequence. The dynamic change in GABA density in M1S1 in older adults is currently unknown and represents a critical gap in our understanding of how it could impact motor learning and cognitive performance. As such, the purpose of the current study is to quantify changes in cortical GABA during motor learning in the aging brain and examine those changes in relation to motor and cognitive performance. We hypothesize that older adults with greater dynamic range in M1S1 GABA levels will display more efficient motor learning and increased cognitive scores.

We report on a total of 18 healthy older adults aged 64 to 80 years (M = 70.44, SD = 4.99, 12 females). Using MRS at 3T, we measured changes in GABA concentration in M1S1 at rest, during an eight or 12 finger-movement motor entrainment task, and during a recall task. Gannett was used for GABA quantification relative to water. Change in GABA was calculated by subtracting Rest1 GABA from Recall1 GABA. In a separate session, participants completed a battery of cognitive assessments. We computed linear regressions to examine the relationship between dynamic GABA change, recall accuracy of the motor task and cognitive performance.

In relation to motor performance, we found that both greater baseline (Rest1) GABA levels and greater dynamic change in GABA significantly predicted better recall accuracy on the motor task. For cognitive performance, we found that greater dynamic change in GABA significantly predicted better performance on Word Reading in the Stroop Color and Word Test and Delayed Recall in the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT). No additional significant relationships were found for the remaining cognitive assessments.

Older adults who were able to accurately perform the task had a greater dynamic change in GABA and increased baseline GABA levels. These adults with greater dynamic change also had better cognitive performance on HVLT Delay and Stroop Word Reading. This modulation of GABA associated with better performance could be related to changes in neuroplasticity. Although these results are in the preliminary stages, they point to a greater understanding of aging related changes in motor and cognitive performance. We’ll continue to explore the relationship between sensory motor performance and changes in GABA concentration as a potential predictor for cognitive performance and future rehabilitation.

Pain is a mechanism for attention disruption due, in part, to a shared reliance on the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Amongst older adults, the experience of pain is both prevalent and functionally impactful. Dual-task walking (DTW) paradigms are a useful means of assessing the impact of pain on attentional control and known to be sensitive to changes in the cortical hemodynamic response within the PFC. To date, however, few studies have utilized such paradigms to examine the impact of self-reported pain on attentional control via assessment of cognitive, gait and neuroimaging outcomes. Examining these associations would facilitate a better understanding of the ways in which pain may negatively impact neural efficiency, thereby increasing risk of adverse functional outcomes, in healthy aging.

Study participants (N= 408; mean age = 76 ± 6.5ys; % female =55.4) were grouped into pain (n= 266) and no pain (n= 142) groups based upon their responses on the MOS-PSS and MOS-PES. These questionnaires were also used to assess self-reported levels of pain severity and interference amongst individuals with reported pain. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy was used to measure intraindividual variability (IIV) of the cortical hemodynamic response within the PFC during a DTW paradigm which consisted of Single-Task-Walk (STW), Cognitive Interference (Alpha), and Dual-Task-Walk (DTW) conditions. Participants walked along an electronic walkway and quantitative gait data were extracted in order to assess IIV in stride length during STW and DTW conditions. The rate of correct letter generation was used as a measure of cognitive accuracy during Alpha and DTW conditions. Linear mixed effects models (LMEMs) were used to examine the effects of perceived pain on neural and behavioral responses as well as on the change in these outcomes form single- to dual-task conditions. Stratified LMEMs were used to examine whether these associations differed by gender.

LMEMs revealed that perceived pain presence was associated with reduced IIV in PFC oxygenation (estimate = -0.032, p = 0.037) and reduced IIV in stride length in the DTW condition (estimate = -1.180, p = 0.006). High pain severity was associated with a greater increase in stride length IIV from STW to DTW (estimate = -1.301, p = 0.039). Stratified LMEMs revealed that the association between pain and neural IIV was significant in only males (estimate = -0.049, p = 0.037), while the association between pain and gait IIV was significant in only females (estimate = -1.712, p = .008).

Study results suggest that self-reported pain over one month is associated with differential patterns of neural and behavioral responding amongst healthy, community-dwelling older adults. Furthermore, it appears that males are more susceptible to the neural effects of pain, while females are more susceptible to the behavioral effects under attention-demanding conditions. In this population, these patterns may reflect a tendency towards inefficient neural and behavioral modifications in response to perceived pain. These findings highlight the need for clinical use of routine pain assessments and, when appropriate, the implementation of timely and effective pain treatments in aging.

Women are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) than men. The menopausal transition, which involves a neuroendocrine shift, is a potential contributor to this sex difference. Multiple estrogen-regulated systems (i.e., circadian rhythms) are disrupted during this transition which affects cognitive functioning (Barha & Liu-Ambrose, 2020), most notably verbal learning and memory. Little is known about how lifestyle factors (i.e., sleep, physical activity (PA), stress) may promote neurocognitive functioning across this transition (Maki & Weber, 2021). Utilizing data from the Human Connectome Aging project (HCP-A), the current study will examine whether distinct lifestyle profiles including sleep, PA, and stress relate to multiple domains of cognitive performance among a sample of perimenopausal/menopausal women.

Perimenopausal/menopausal women (ages 45 to 65) from the HCP-A were included (n =150, M age = 54.6, SD = 5.5). Demographic information, menopausal status, sleep problems (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), PA (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), stress (Distress subscale of the Perceived Stress Scale) were assessed with surveys, and participants completed several lab-based tasks including: dimensional change card sort (DCCS), flanker, pattern recognition processing speed (PS), working memory (WM), picture sequencing, oral reading, Trails Making Test A and B (TMT), and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning (RAVLT) tasks. Using latent profile analysis (LPA), lifestyle profiles were identified via sleep problems, PA, and stress levels. A MANOVA compared cognitive performance between these lifestyle profiles, above and beyond age and education status.

Fit indices indicated that a three-class solution fit the sample best: high PA, low stress and sleep problems (Class 1, n=38), high PA, stress, and sleep problems (Class 2, n= 17), and low PA, high stress and sleep problems (Class 3, n= 95) which were not significantly different based on age or menopausal status (p>0.05). A significant multivariate effect of age and education on cognitive performance (p<.001) emerged. There was a significant multivariate effect of lifestyle profile on cognitive performance, F (18, 260) = 1.73, p=.034, eta squared = .11, after controlling for age and education. Univariate analyses determined that certain lifestyle profiles were associated with better performance on all cognitive tasks except verbal memory. Contrary to expectation, Class 3 performed better on TMT A & B, DCCS, flanker, WM, and PS tasks as compared to Class 1. Class 3 performed better on reading and picture sequencing tasks than Class 2. There was no difference in performance between Class 1 and 2.

Results suggest three distinct lifestyle profiles exist in this analytic sample. After controlling for age and education, cognitive performance on all tasks except for verbal memory significantly differed between lifestyle profiles. The profile characterized by low PA and high stress and sleep problems demonstrated superior performance as compared to other classes. These findings provide preliminary evidence that women who have high levels of stress and sleep problems with low PA are performing better on cognitive tasks, but replication of these findings utilizing longitudinal designs are needed.

A commonly used confrontation naming task used in the United States is The Boston Naming Test (BNT). Performance differences has been found in Caucasian and ethnic minorities on the BNT. The Cordoba Naming Test (CNT) is a 30-item confrontation naming task developed in Argentina. Past research has shown acculturation levels can influence cognitive performance. Furthermore, one study evaluated geriatric gender differences on CNT performance in Spanish. Researchers reported that older male participants outperformed female participants on the CNT. To our knowledge, researchers have not evaluated ethnic differences on the CNT using a geriatric sample. The purpose of the present study was to examined CNT performance and acculturation in a Latinx and Caucasian geriatric sample. It was predicted the Caucasian group would outperform the Latinx group on the CNT. Moreover, the Caucasian group would report higher acculturation levels on the Abbreviated Multidimensional Acculturation Scale (AMAS) compared to the Latinx group.

The sample consisted of 9 Latinx and 11 Caucasian participants with a mean age of 66.80 (SD =6.10), with an average of 14.30 (SD = 2.00) years of education. All participants were neurologically and psychologically healthy and completed the CNT and the AMAS in English. Acculturation was measured via the AMAS English subscales (i.e., English Language, United States. Identity, United States, Competency). A series of ANCOVAs, controlling for years of education completed and gender, was used to evaluate CNT performance and acculturation.

The ethnic groups were not well demographically matched (i.e., years of education and gender).We found that the Caucasian group outperformed the Latinx group on CNT performance p = .012, ηp 2 = .34. Furthermore, the Caucasian group reported higher acculturation levels (i.e., English Language, United States, Identity, United States, Competency) compared to the Latinx group p’s < .05, ηps2 = .42-.64.

To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate CNT performance between ethnic groups with a geriatric sample. As expected the Caucasian group outperformed the Latinx group on the CNT. Also, as expected the Caucasian group reported higher English acculturation levels compared to the Latinx group. Our findings are consistent with past studies showing ethnic differences on confrontational naming performance (i.e., The Boston Naming Test), favoring Caucasians. A possible explanation for group differences could have been linguistic factors (e.g., speaking multiple languages) in our Latinx group. Therefore, since our Latinx group reported lower levels of English Language, United States identity, and United States competency the Latinx group assimilation towards United States culture might of influence their CNT performance. Future studies with different ethnic groups (e.g., African-Americans) and a larger sample size should examine if ethnic differences continue to cross-validate in a geriatric sample.

The concept of cognitive reserve (CR) explains why individuals with higher education, intelligence, or occupational attainment exhibit less severe cognitive changes in the presence of age-related or neurodegenerative pathology. CR may be a useful construct in understanding the cognitive performance of patients with late life depression (LLD), a cohort who are twice as likely to later receive a clinical diagnosis of dementia. It follows that depressed older adults with low CR may be at greater risk of cognitive decline compared to non-depressed older adults matched for CR. However, the literature on CR and LLD is limited to cross-sectional studies with mixed findings as to whether proxies of CR moderate cognitive outcomes in LLD. For example, both higher and lower education levels in LLD are associated with greater cognitive impairment in LLD compared to similarly educated non-depressed older adults. Longitudinal studies may help disentangle the association between CR and cognitive outcomes in LLD. The current study investigated the interaction between proxies of CR (e.g., education) and depression status on cognitive functioning over three years. We hypothesized that depressed older adults with low CR would demonstrate greater cognitive impairment and decline compared to depressed elders with high CR and non-depressed older adults with comparable CR.

Older adults with LLD and non-depressed older adults age 59+ participated. All participants were free of dementia at baseline. We divided both patients and non-depressed participants into low (<16) and high (>=16) education groups based upon the median years of education (16) of the entire sample. All participants underwent detailed neuropsychological testing. Composite measures of episodic memory (CERAD Wordlist and recall, LM I and LM II, BVRT), processing speed-executive functioning (SDMT and Trail Making Part B), working memory (forward, reverse, ascending Digit Span), and verbal fluency (Animal Naming and COWA) were calculated based on the non-depressed older adults.

The baseline sample included 210 non-depressed older adults and 465 older adults with major depression (LLD). 150 non-depressed older adults and 235 LLD patients provided three-year follow-up data. Separate ANOVAs revealed a statistically significant interaction between education and depression status at baseline on the composite score of executive functioning F (1, 668) = 8.74, p <.003. Consistent with our hypothesis, LLD with low education performed significantly worse compared to non-depressed with low education (z-score difference -1.35) and this effect was significantly greater than the difference between LLD patients and non-depressed with high education (z-score difference -0.36). No other interactions were found at baseline. Longitudinal analyses also revealed significant interactions between education and depression on memory over time, although sensitivity analyses did not suggest findings consistent with our hypothesis.

Cognitive reserve contribute to group differences between LLD and non-depressed older adults in cognitive performance but may not alter cognitive trajectories over time. Future studies should further explore structural and functional brain changes associated with CR in LLD.

Psychological wellness and strong cognitive skills are both important to successful aging. Although there are well-established relationships between psychiatric illness (e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD) and cognitive dysfunction, few studies have focused on the relationships between positive psychological factors and neurocognitive function in older adults. Our goal was to explore associations between these two sets of measures in older adults.

Participants (n=111) were part of a longitudinal study of biopsychosocial functioning in independently living older adult residents of a Continuing Care Senior Housing Community. Participants were administered a cognitive screening test (Montreal Cognitive Assessment; MoCA), a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, and a set of published self-report scales measuring positive emotional and psychological function. Neuropsychological scores were appropriately normed, and composite scores were calculated for the following domains: language (Boston Naming Test, Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System [D-KEFS] Verbal Fluency), attention/working memory (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV [WAIS-IV] Digit Span, DKEFS Visual Scanning), learning and delayed recall (Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised, Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised), processing speed (WAIS-IV Coding, D-KEFS Trails Number and Letter Sequencing, D-KEFS Color-Word Interference Test Color and Word Naming), and executive function (D-KEFS Color-Word Inhibition and Inhibition/Switching, DKEFS Letter/Number Switching). Self-Report scales included the Perceived Stress Scale, Center for Epidemiological Studies in Depression Scale, Emotional Support Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Coping Humor and Self-Efficacy Scales, Personal Mastery Scale, Meaning in Life Scale, Self-Rated Successful Aging, Satisfaction with Life, Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, and Lifetime Orientation Test-Revised. Due to the large number of psychological functioning measures, dimension reduction was undertaken via principal component analysis, resulting in a two-factor solution. Bivariate Pearson correlations were then computed between the two factor scores and each neurocognitive variable.

Factor 1 consisted of variables reflecting Positive Subjective Functioning. A higher score on Factor 1 (indicating higher self-rating of successful aging, fewer perceived cognitive failures, fewer reported depressive symptoms, less perceived stress/anxiety, more perceived emotional support, more satisfaction with life, more meaningfulness in life, and more search for meaning in life) was associated with better attention/working memory (r=0.226, p=0.049) and executive function (r=0.242, p=0.035). Factor 2 consisted of variables that reflected Positive Coping Skills. A higher score on Factor 2 (indicating more happiness, higher optimism, greater resilience, higher sense of personal mastery, more use of humor as a coping strategy, and greater coping self-efficacy) was associated with better performance on tests of language (r=0.325, p=0.004), learning (r=0.313, p=0.006) and delayed recall (r=0.241, p=0.035) of visual and verbal information, and better MoCA performance (r=0.440, p<0.001). Neither factor was associated with processing speed.

Higher levels of subjective functioning and positive outlook/coping skills were associated with better neuropsychological performance. Given that late life is a time of risk for cognitive decline, future research should consider the influence of positive psychological functioning on neurocognitive outcomes and vice versa, as these relationships may have neurobiological and therapeutic implications for overall function in later life.

Trait mindfulness is associated with reduced stress and psychological well-being. However, evidence regarding its effects on cognitive function is mixed and certain facets of trait mindfulness are associated with higher negative affect (NA). This study investigated whether specific mindfulness skills were associated with cognitive performance and affective traits.

165 older adults from the Maine Aging Behavior Learning Enrichment (M-ABLE) Study completed the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center T-Cog battery, the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule-SF.

All five facets of trait mindfulness were associated with higher Positive Affect and lower NA, with the exception that Observation was not associated with trait NA. Partial correlations adjusting for age indicated that better episodic memory was associated with Observation, Describing, and Nonreactivity. Verbal fluency performance was associated with Observation, while Working Memory was associated with Nonjudgment. Executive Attention/Processing speed was associated with total mindfulness scores and showed a trend relationship with Nonreactivity.

Mindfulness skills showed specific patterns with affective traits and cognitive function. These findings suggest that the ability to maintain awareness, describe, and experience internal and external states without reacting to them may partly rely on episodic memory. Mindful awareness skills also may depend on frontal and language functions, while the ability to experience emotional states without reacting may require Executive Attention. Global mindfulness and a non-judgmental stance may require auditory attention. Alternatively, mindfulness skills may serve to enhance these functions. Hence, longitudinal research is needed to determine the directionality of these findings.

As the population continues to age at a rapid pace, an important question that has been raised by clinicians and researchers alike, is “how can we preserve our cognitive abilities as older adults?” Cognitive reserve (CR) is thought to account for inter-individual differences in the cognitive trajectories of older people experiencing similar levels of brain pathology. Being a hypothetical construct, CR cannot be measured directly and therefore, must be operationalized through a combination of demographic and lifestyle variables. While there is sufficient empirical evidence supporting the relationship between individual CR proxies and cognitive functioning, few studies to date have explored which CR proxy is most important in predicting aspects of late-life cognitive functioning and whether composite measure of CR accurately predict cognitive functioning, above and beyond variables traditionally associated with late-life cognitive ability (e.g., age, gender, cardiovascular risk, depression). The present cross-sectional study sought to examine the relationship between three well-established CR proxies—educational attainment, mental workplace demands, crystallized intelligence—and baseline neuropsychological functioning in a clinical sample of older adults without dementia.

Using archival data from 248 older adult patients seen at geriatric specialist hospital in Ontario, Canada, we examined the cumulative and independent effects of educational attainment (years of formal education), mental workplace demands (mean analyst rating for 10 O*NET variables measuring cognitively complex work activities), and crystallized intelligence (score on WASI-I Vocabulary subtest) on performance across several neuropsychological tests assessing i.) verbal memory, ii.) visual memory, iii.) attention, concentration, and working memory, iv.) executive functioning, v.) visuospatial processing, and vi.) language. Composite scores for all six cognitive domains were calculated by averaging converted z-scores on domain-specific tests of neuropsychological functioning. A series of regression models were then constructed to evaluate the relationship between CR and late-life cognitive functioning. To determine the relative importance of each CR proxy, a follow-up relative weight analysis (RWA) was performed for each regression model.

After controlling for age, gender, cardiovascular risk, and depression, our composite measure of CR (average z-score of educational attainment, mental workplace demands, crystallized intelligence) proved to be a significant predictor across all domains of cognitive functioning. Of the six cognitive domains assessed, CR was the most important in predicting higher-order cognitive functions, such as working memory and executive functioning. Out of the three CR proxies, crystallized intelligence was the only CR proxy that significantly predicted performance across all six cognitive domains. RWA revealed that crystallized intelligence was the most important in predicting neuropsychological functioning, followed by educational attainment, and mental workplace demands.

Despite being closely related, all three CR proxies demonstrated differential effects on late-life cognitive functioning. Overall, our findings suggest that the effects of CR are not generalizable across all cognitive domains and appears to be somewhat dependent on the CR proxy used. This study supports the existing literature in demonstrating the robustness of crystallized intelligence as a CR proxy and provides preliminary evidence supporting the idea that tasks that require higher levels of cognitive processing are the most influenced by CR.

The Cordoba Naming Test (CNT) is a 30-item confrontation naming test developed in Argentina. A common confrontation naming task used in the United States is the Boston Naming Test (BNT). Research shows that age affects BNT performance in the 60-item long form. In fact, studies show that scores on confrontation naming tasks increase in childhood and continue to improve until approximately 40 years of age. However, after this period, scores start to subsequently decline, and especially so after 70 years of age. On the other hand, some studies have reported that older adults maintain high BNT performance despite advancing age. To our knowledge, no study has investigated the aging effects of the CNT across various age groups. We expected CNT scores to increase significantly from young adulthood to mid-adulthood and then significantly decline with advancing age.

The present study sample consisted of 272 neurologically and psychologically healthy participants with a mean age of 27.06 (SD = 12.21) with 14.29 years of education completed (SD = 2.46). Participants were divided into six different age groups: 18-19-year-old group, 20-29-year-old group, 30-39-year-old group, 40-49-year-old group, 50-59-year-old group, and 60-69-year-old group. All participants consented to voluntary participation and completed the CNT and a comprehensive background questionnaire in English. The CNT consisted of 30 black and white line drawings, ranging from easy to hard difficulty. An ANCOVA, controlling for gender, was used to evaluate CNT performance between the six age groups. We used a threshold of p < .05 for statistical significance.

Results revealed significant group differences between the six age groups on the CNT, p = .000, ηp2 = .14. A post-hoc test revealed that the 30-39-year-old group outperformed the 18-19-year-old, 20-29-yearold, and 60-69-year-old groups on the CNT. Finally, the 40-49-year-old group outperformed the 18-19-year-old and 60-69-year-old groups on the CNT.

As we predicted, participants demonstrated steady improvement in the CNT until the age of 40. However, we found that until the age of 60, CNT performance started to decline significantly. Our data suggests that CNT performance declines significantly at the age of 60 compared to previous research using the BNT. Research shows other demographic variables (e.g., gender, linguistic factors) influence BNT performance. Future investigations on the CNT using a healthy sample should use a multivariate statistical analysis method to help explain influencing factors across aging. This research can have the potential to improve public health to better support and understand individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Remote assessment for cognitive screening and monitoring in the elderly has many potential advantages, including improved convenience/access and ease of repeat testing. As remote testing becomes more feasible and common, it is important to examine what factors might influence performance and adherence with these new methods. Personal beliefs about one’s ability to remember effectively have been shown to impact memory performance, especially in older adults (Lineweaver & Hertzog, 1998). The perception of a low level of personal control over memory may impact a person’s use of memory strategies which might otherwise enhance performance, as well as their beliefs about the efficacy of those strategies (Lineweaver et al., 2021). The present study examined the relationship between perceived memory self-efficacy and performance and adherence on self-administered, smartphonebased remote cognitive assessments.

Participants were 123 cognitively unimpaired adults (ages 55-80, 68.3% female, 87% White, M= 16.5 years of education) recruited from the Butler Hospital Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry as part of an ongoing study evaluating novel cognitive assessment methods. A cutoff of score of ≥34 on the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICSm) was required for enrollment. Perceived memory self-efficacy was assessed using two subscales of the Personal Beliefs about Memory Instrument (PBMI; Lineweaver et al., 1998): “prospective control”, the perception of control one currently has to influence future memory functioning, and “future control”, the perception of the amount of control over memory function one will have in the future. Participants completed three brief self-administered cognitive testing sessions per day for 8 consecutive days using a mobile app-based platform developed as part of the National Institute of Aging’s Mobile Toolbox initiative. Cognitive tasks assessed visual working memory (WM), processing speed (PS), and episodic memory (EM)(see Thompson et al., 2022).

Statistical analyses were conducted using univariate ANOVA tests to look for main effects of each PBMI subscale score on remote assessment adherence and average performance on each task over 8 days. After adjusting for aging, we found a higher rate of false alarms (proportion of misidentified stimuli) on the WM task was associated with higher levels of both self-reported prospective control (F(2, 86) = 4.188, p = .018) and future control (F(2, 96) = 5.003, p = .009). Increased response time on the PS task was also associated with higher levels of future control when adjusted for aging (F(2, 96) = 6.075, p = .003). There was no main effect of memory self-efficacy ratings on EM. We found no main effects of memory self-efficacy ratings on assessment adherence.

These findings suggest perceptions of high prospective and future control are associated with positive response bias on a forced-choice WM task, and high perceptions of future control are also associated with slower response times on PS tasks. Future research should examine whether this is due to increased deliberation, cautiousness, or other factors. Limitations include the potentially limited generalizability of this largely White, highly educated, and motivated sample self-selected for AD research. Next steps for this research include comparing these results with the effects of perceived self-efficacy on in-person cognitive assessments.