Early-Life Characteristics, Psychiatric History, and Cognition Trajectories in Later Life

Autor/in	Brown, Maria Teresa
Titel	Early-Life Characteristics, Psychiatric History, and Cognition Trajectories in Later Life
Quelle	In: Gerontologist, 50 (2010) 5, S.646-656 (11 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0016-9013
DOI	10.1093/geront/gnq049
Schlagwörter	Human Services; Health Conditions; Health Behavior; Children; Cognitive Processes; Depression (Psychology); Cognitive Ability; Mental Disorders; Disadvantaged; Child Health; Socioeconomic Status; Intervention; Correlation + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Humanitäre Hilfe; Health behaviour; Gesundheitsverhalten; Child; Kind; Kinder; Cognitive process; Kognitiver Prozess; Denkfähigkeit; Mental illness; Geisteskrankheit; Socio-economic status; Sozioökonomischer Status; Korrelation
Abstract	Purpose of the Study: Although considerable attention has been paid to the relationship between later-life depression and cognitive function, the relationship between a history of psychiatric problems and cognitive function is not very well documented. Few studies of relationships between childhood health, childhood disadvantage, and cognitive function in later life consider both childhood health and disadvantage, include measures for psychiatric history, or use nationally representative longitudinal data. Design and Methods: This study uses growth curve models to analyze the relationships between childhood health and disadvantage, psychiatric history, and cognitive function using 6 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, controlling for demographics, health behavior, and health status. Results: A history of psychiatric problems is associated with lower cognitive function and steeper declines in cognitive function with age. The influence of childhood health is mediated by later-life health status and behaviors. A combined history of childhood disadvantage and psychiatric problems more strongly affects cognitive function, but cognitive declines remain consistent with those associated with psychiatric history. These effects are partially mediated by later-life demographic, socioeconomic, or health characteristics. Implications: These findings demonstrate that cumulative disadvantage and a history of psychiatric problems shape later-life cognition and cognitive decline. This evidence can enhance public understanding of the trajectories of cognitive decline experienced by groups living with disadvantage and can enable policy makers and human services providers to better design and implement preventative interventions and support services for affected populations. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10