Paul Brewster|Rebecca J. Melrose|María Marquine|Julene K. Johnson|Anna María Nápoles|Anna MacKay?Brandt|Sarah Tomaszewski Farias|Bruce Reed|Dan Mungas
Life experience and demographic influences on cognitive function in older adults.
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System|Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research
examined influence broad spectrum life experiences longitudinal cognitive trajectories demographically diverse sample older adultsparticipants 333 educationally ethnically cognitively diverse older adults enrolled longitudinal aging study mixedeffects regression used measure baseline status episodic memory executive functioning semantic memory change global cognition factor defined change 3 domainspecific measures examined effects life experience variables literacy childhood socioeconomic status morphometric measures physical development life course physical recreational activity longitudinal cognitive trajectories covarying age apolipoprotein e apoe genotype demographics education ethnicity languagenonlatino whites higher baseline cognition life experience variables attenuated ethnic differences cognitive scores age literacy childhood socioeconomic status physical activity significantly influenced baseline cognition age apoe 4 decline intellectually socially stimulating recreational activity mid late life independently associated increased late life cognitive decline higher literacy late life recreational activity associated less decline literacy similar effects english spanish readersspeakers bilingual english spanish speakers differ english speakers cognitive performancelife experience variables especially literacy level strongly related baseline cognition substantially attenuated effects raceethnicity education cognitive change best explained age apoe 4 literacy current recreational activities literacy robust associations baseline cognition cognitive change english spanish speakers