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Stressful life events and cognitive decline in late life: moderation by education and age. The Cache County Study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Tschanz, JT; Pfister, R; Wanzek, J; Corcoran, C; Smith, K; Tschanz, BT; Steffens, DC; Østbye, T; Welsh-Bohmer, KA; Norton, MC
Published in: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry
August 2013

OBJECTIVE: Stressful life events (SLE) have been associated with increased dementia risk, but their association with cognitive decline has been inconsistent. In a longitudinal population-based study of older individuals, we examined the association between SLE and cognitive decline, and the role of potential effect modifiers. METHODS: A total of 2665 non-demented participants of the Cache County Memory Study completed an SLE questionnaire at Wave 2 and were revisited 4 and 7 years later. The events were represented via several scores: total number, subjective rating (negative, positive, and unexpected), and a weighted summary based on their impact. Cognition was assessed at each visit with the modified Mini-Mental State Exam. General linear models were used to examine the association between SLE scores and cognition. Effect modification by age, education, and APOE genotype was tested. RESULTS: Years of formal education (p = 0.006) modified the effect of number of SLE, and age (p = 0.009) modified the effect of negative SLE on the rate of cognitive decline. Faster decline was observed among those with fewer years of education experiencing more SLE and also among younger participants experiencing more negative SLE. There was no association between other indicators of SLE and cognitive decline. APOE genotype did not modify any of the aforementioned associations. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of SLE on cognition in late life are complex and vary by individual factors such as age and education. These results may explain some of the contradictory findings in the literature.

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Published In

Int J Geriatr Psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

1099-1166

Publication Date

August 2013

Volume

28

Issue

8

Start / End Page

821 / 830

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Linear Models
  • Life Change Events
  • Humans
  • Geriatrics
  • Female
  • Educational Status
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Tschanz, J. T., Pfister, R., Wanzek, J., Corcoran, C., Smith, K., Tschanz, B. T., … Norton, M. C. (2013). Stressful life events and cognitive decline in late life: moderation by education and age. The Cache County Study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry, 28(8), 821–830. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.3888
Tschanz, Joann T., Roxane Pfister, Joseph Wanzek, Chris Corcoran, Ken Smith, Brian T. Tschanz, David C. Steffens, Truls Østbye, Kathleen A. Welsh-Bohmer, and Maria C. Norton. “Stressful life events and cognitive decline in late life: moderation by education and age. The Cache County Study.Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 28, no. 8 (August 2013): 821–30. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.3888.
Tschanz JT, Pfister R, Wanzek J, Corcoran C, Smith K, Tschanz BT, et al. Stressful life events and cognitive decline in late life: moderation by education and age. The Cache County Study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2013 Aug;28(8):821–30.
Tschanz, Joann T., et al. “Stressful life events and cognitive decline in late life: moderation by education and age. The Cache County Study.Int J Geriatr Psychiatry, vol. 28, no. 8, Aug. 2013, pp. 821–30. Pubmed, doi:10.1002/gps.3888.
Tschanz JT, Pfister R, Wanzek J, Corcoran C, Smith K, Tschanz BT, Steffens DC, Østbye T, Welsh-Bohmer KA, Norton MC. Stressful life events and cognitive decline in late life: moderation by education and age. The Cache County Study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2013 Aug;28(8):821–830.

Published In

Int J Geriatr Psychiatry

DOI

EISSN

1099-1166

Publication Date

August 2013

Volume

28

Issue

8

Start / End Page

821 / 830

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Linear Models
  • Life Change Events
  • Humans
  • Geriatrics
  • Female
  • Educational Status