Dataset Information

Late-life deficits in cognitive, physical and emotional functions, childhood intelligence and occupational profile: a life-course examination of the Aberdeen 1936 Birth Cohort (ABC1936).

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

the 'triad of impairment' phenomenon describes the co-occurrence of age-related cognitive, emotional and physical functioning deficits. We investigated how occupational profile and childhood intelligence contribute to the triad of impairment in late life.

Methods

we analysed data of a subsample of the Aberdeen Birth Cohort of 1936 (n = 346). Data were collected on participants' childhood intelligence, late-life cognitive ability, physical functioning, depressive symptoms and main lifetime occupation. We summarised the various occupational and impairment measures into two latent variables, 'occupational profile' and the 'triad of impairment'. We used a series of data reduction approaches and structural equation models (SEMs) of increasing complexity to test both the validity of the models and to understand causal relationships between the life-course risks for the triad of impairment.

Results

occupational profile had a significant effect on the triad of impairment independent of childhood intelligence. Childhood intelligence was the predominant influence on the triad of impairment and exerted its effect directly and indirectly via its influence on occupation. The direct effect of childhood intelligence exceeded the independent influence of the occupational profile on impairment by a factor of 1.7-1.8 and was greater by a factor of ?4 from the indirect pathway (via occupation).

Conclusions

childhood intelligence was the predominant influence on the triad of impairment in late life, independently of the occupational profile. Efforts to reduce impairment in older adults should be informed by a life-course approach with special attention to the early-life environment.

SUBMITTER: Chapko D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4916342 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Late-life deficits in cognitive, physical and emotional functions, childhood intelligence and occupational profile: a life-course examination of the Aberdeen 1936 Birth Cohort (ABC1936).

Chapko Dorota D Staff Roger T RT McNeil Christopher J CJ Whalley Lawrence J LJ Black Corri C Murray Alison D AD

Age and ageing 20160413 4

<h4>Objectives</h4>the 'triad of impairment' phenomenon describes the co-occurrence of age-related cognitive, emotional and physical functioning deficits. We investigated how occupational profile and childhood intelligence contribute to the triad of impairment in late life.<h4>Methods</h4>we analysed data of a subsample of the Aberdeen Birth Cohort of 1936 (n = 346). Data were collected on participants' childhood intelligence, late-life cognitive ability, physical functioning, depressive symptom ...[more]

PMID: 27076527

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Project description:Abstract Introduction although neighbourhood may predict late-life cognitive function, studies mostly rely on measurements at a single time point, with few investigations applying a life-course approach. Furthermore, it is unclear whether the associations between neighbourhood and cognitive test scores relate to specific cognitive domains or general ability. This study explored how neighbourhood deprivation across eight decades contributed to late-life cognitive function. Methods data were drawn from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (n = 1,091) with cognitive function measured through 10 tests at ages 70, 73, 76, 79 and 82. Participants’ residential history was gathered with ‘lifegrid’ questionnaires and linked to neighbourhood deprivation in childhood, young adulthood and mid-to-late adulthood. Associations were tested with latent growth curve models for levels and slopes of general (g) and domain-specific abilities (visuospatial ability, memory and processing speed), and life-course associations were explored with path analysis. Results higher mid-to-late adulthood neighbourhood deprivation was associated with lower age 70 levels (β = −0.113, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: −0.205, −0.021) and faster decline of g over 12 years (β = −0.160, 95%CI: −0.290, −0.031). Initially apparent findings with domain-specific cognitive functions (e.g. processing speed) were due to their shared variance with g. Path analyses suggested that childhood neighbourhood disadvantage is indirectly linked to late-life cognitive function through lower education and selective residential mobility. Conclusions to our knowledge, we provide the most comprehensive assessment of the life-course neighbourhood deprivation and cognitive ageing relationship. Living in advantaged areas in mid-to-late adulthood may directly contribute to better cognitive function and slower decline, whereas an advantaged childhood neighbourhood likely affects functioning through cognitive reserves.

Dataset Information

Late-life deficits in cognitive, physical and emotional functions, childhood intelligence and occupational profile: a life-course examination of the Aberdeen 1936 Birth Cohort (ABC1936).

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Late-life deficits in cognitive, physical and emotional functions, childhood intelligence and occupational profile: a life-course examination of the Aberdeen 1936 Birth Cohort (ABC1936).

Similar Datasets

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