@article {12543, title = {Access to Disease-Modifying Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Therapies: Addressing Possible Challenges Using Innovative Payment Models.}, journal = {Value in Health}, year = {Forthcoming}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: Aduhelm is the first approved disease-modifying therapies (DMT) for Alzheimer disease (AD). Nevertheless, under current payment models, AD DMTs-especially because they treat broader populations-will pose challenges to patient access since costs may accrue sooner than benefits do. New payment approaches may be needed to address this difference in timing.

METHODS: We use the Future Elderly Model that draws on nationally representative data sets such as the Health and Retirement Study to estimate the potential benefits because of hypothetical AD DMTs in 4 stylized treatment scenarios for patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild AD, and develop a payment model to estimate the accrual of net costs and benefits to private and public payers.

RESULTS: The modeled AD DMTs result in clinical benefit of 0.30 to 0.55 quality-adjusted life-years gained per patient in the baseline treatment scenario and 0.13 to 0.24 quality-adjusted life-years gained per patient in the least optimistic scenario. Private payers may observe a net loss in patients at the age of 61 to 65 years under the status quo (payment upon treatment). Constant and deferred installment payment models resolve this issue.

CONCLUSIONS: Innovative payment solutions, such as installment payments, may be required to address misaligned incentives that AD DMTs may create among patients younger than the age of 65 years and may help address concerns about the timing and magnitude of costs and benefits accrued to private payers.

}, keywords = {disease-modifying therapies, payment, prescription drugs}, issn = {1524-4733}, doi = {10.1016/j.jval.2022.06.003}, author = {Hl{\'a}vka, Jakub P and Tysinger, Bryan and Yu, Jeffrey C and Lakdawalla, Darius N} } @article {13792, title = {The Association of Allergy-Related and Non-Allergy-Related Olfactory Impairment with Cognitive Function in Older Adults: Two Cross-Sectional Studies.}, journal = {Current Alzheimer Research}, year = {Forthcoming}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Evidence on the association of Olfactory Impairment (OI) with age-related cognitive decline is inconclusive, and the potential influence of allergy remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the cross-sectional associations of allergy-related and non-allergy- related OI to cognitive function.

METHODS: We included 2,499 participants from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS)-Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP) sub-study and 1,086 participants from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)-HCAP. The Olfactory Function Field Exam (OFFE) using Sniffin{\textquoteright} Stick odor pens was used to objectively assess olfactory function and an olfactory score <6/11 indicated OI. Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) was used to assess global cognitive function and define cognitive impairment (<24/30). A neuropsychologic battery was used to assess five cognitive domains.

RESULTS: Compared to non-OI participants, individuals with OI had lower MMSE z-score [βHRS = -0.33, 95\% Confidence Interval (CI): -0.41 to -0.24; βELSA = -0.31, -0.43 to -0.18] and higher prevalence of cognitive impairment [Prevalence Ratio (PR)HRS = 1.46, 1.06 to 2.01; PRELSA = 1.63, 1.26 to 2.11]. The associations were stronger for non-allergy-related OI (βHRS = -0.36; βELSA = -0.34) than for allergy-related OI (βHRS = -0.26; βELSA = 0.13). Similar associations were observed with domain- specific cognitive function measures.

CONCLUSION: OI, particularly non-allergy-related OI, was related to poorer cognitive function in older adults. Although the current cross-sectional study is subject to several limitations, such as reverse causality and residual confounding, the findings will provide insights into the OI-cognition association and enlighten future attention to non-allergy-related OI for the prevention of potential cognitive impairment.

}, keywords = {allergic status, cognitive domains, cognitive impairment, cross-- sectional studies., Global cognitive function, olfactory impairment}, issn = {1875-5828}, doi = {10.2174/0115672050284179240215052257}, author = {Chen, Hui and Ding, Yihong and Huang, Liyan and Zhong, Wansi and Lin, Xiaojun and Zhang, Baoyue and Zheng, Yan and Xu, Xin and Lou, Min and Yuan, Changzheng} } @article {13530, title = {Associations between psychological resilience and epigenetic clocks in the health and retirement study.}, journal = {GeroScience}, year = {Forthcoming}, abstract = {

The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between psychological resilience and epigenetic clocks assessed by DNA methylation age predictions. We used data from 4018 participants in the Health and Retirement Study. Multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate the association between psychological resilience and epigenetic clocks adjusted for age, sex, race, body mass index, smoking status, and years of education. Thirteen epigenetic clocks were used in our analysis and were highly correlated with one another. A higher psychological resilience score was associated with slower DNA methylation age acceleration for the majority of epigenetic clocks after multivariable adjustment. These findings imply that people with a higher level of psychological resilience may experience slower DNA methylation age acceleration and biological aging.

}, keywords = {; DNA methylation, Agin, epigenetic clock, Resilience}, issn = {2509-2723}, doi = {10.1007/s11357-023-00940-0}, author = {Zhang, Aijie and Zhang, Yasi and Meng, Yaxian and Ji, Qianqian and Ye, Meijie and Zhou, Liqiong and Liu, Miao and Yi, Chao and Karlsson, Ida K and Fang, Fang and H{\"a}gg, Sara and Zhan, Yiqiang} } @article {13772, title = {Depressive symptom trajectory of older adults with diabetes: exploring the role of physical activities using latent growth modeling.}, journal = {Aging \& mental health}, year = {Forthcoming}, pages = {1-9}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: The literature highlights the role of physical activities in reducing depression, primarily in clinical samples and international longitudinal studies on older adults with diabetes. Based on Andersen{\textquoteright}s Behavioral Model, this study aims to describe the trajectory of depressive symptoms in this population and examine whether physical activities are associated with this trajectory.

METHODS: This study used a longitudinal survey design, utilizing three waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study. The respondents were adults aged 50 or older ( = 4,278) with diabetes. After conducting descriptive analyses, latent growth modeling was performed including unconditional and conditional models.

RESULTS: The overall trajectory of depressive symptoms in adults with diabetes decreased over a 4-year period. Physical activities were significantly associated with the variance in the intercept of the trajectory (~.05), but not associated with the variance in the slope (~>~.05). Additionally, this study identified factors significantly associated with the variance in the intercept (e.g. age, gender, race, marriage, education, income, self-reported health) or the slope (e.g. race, marriage, education, self-reported health) of the depressive symptom trajectory (~.05).

CONCLUSION: The findings underscore the importance of implementing targeted interventions to encourage and promote physical activities among older adults with diabetes, recognizing the potential benefits for managing their mental health.

}, keywords = {Depressive symptoms, Diabetes, Mental Health, Older Adults, physical activities}, issn = {1364-6915}, doi = {10.1080/13607863.2024.2313722}, author = {Yoon, Young Ji} } @article {11997, title = {Exploring the bidirectional associations between handgrip strength and depression in middle and older Americans.}, journal = {Journal of Psychosomatic Research}, year = {Forthcoming}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Current evidence on the relationship between decreased handgrip strength and depression risk is controversial, and there is limited study focus on the potential bidirectional associations between them. We aim to explore their bidirectional relationships.

METHODS: This study used panel data from the Health and Retirement Study involving 17,713 aging Americans (>=50~years old) who participated in at least 2 waves. Smedley spring-type hand-held dynamometer was used to assess the handgrip strength. Depression was evaluated by the 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CESD) scale. Time-lagged general estimating equations (GEE) were used to assess the bidirectional association between handgrip strength and the depression risk.

RESULTS: In the fully adjusted model, every 5~kg decreased handgrip strength was associated with a 6\% (95\%CI: 3\%-9\%) increased risk of depression. Compared with non-weakness participants, those with weakness had a higher depression risk (OR~=~1.22, 95\%CI: 1.09-1.36). Conversely, depression might associate with a 0.33~kg (95\% CI: 0.09-0.56) decrease in handgrip strength and increased the risk of weakness by 18\% (95\% CI: 6\%-33\%). In addition, the results remained stable in the stratified analyses by gender and sex. Interestingly, the above-mentioned associations were also observed in overweight and obese participants.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study found bidirectional associations between handgrip strength and depression risk. Our results indicated early interventions for depression and handgrip strength might achieve reciprocal benefits over time.

}, keywords = {Bidirectional associations, depression, Handgrip strength}, issn = {1879-1360}, doi = {10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110678}, author = {Luo, Jia and Yao, Wenqin and Zhang, Tianhao and Ge, Honghan and Zhang, Dongfeng} } @article {13708, title = {Gender-specific association of the accumulation of chronic conditions and disability in activities of daily living with depressive symptoms.}, journal = {Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics}, volume = {118}, year = {Forthcoming}, pages = {105287}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: In the era of rapid aging with a rising prevalence of multimorbidity, complex interactions between physical and psychological conditions have challenged the health care system. However, little is known about the association of the accumulation of chronic conditions and disability in activities of daily living with depressive symptoms, especially in developed countries.

METHODS: This population-based cohort study used data from the Health and Retirement Study. A total of 22,335 middle-aged and older adults participated in the 2014 (T1), 2016 (T2), and 2018 (T3) waves of the cohort were included. The accumulation of chronic conditions and disability were defined as the number of chronic diseases and the five activities of daily living. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. A longitudinal mediation model with a cross-lagged panel model was run. As robust check, the models were applied with a longer follow-up period (from 2012 to 2018). Additionally, results were estimated in China.

RESULTS: Bidirectional associations have been found among the accumulation of chronic conditions, disability, and depressive symptoms, especially between disability and depression. Disability (T2) mediated 11.11~\% and 16.87~\% of the association between the accumulation of chronic conditions (T1) and depression (T3) for men and women in the United States. The results were consistent in robust analysis.

CONCLUSIONS: This study found that men and women routinely experienced disability and depressive symptoms because of the accumulation of chronic conditions. In terms of depressive symptoms, women were more sensitive to the accumulation of chronic conditions through disability.

}, keywords = {Depressive symptoms, Disability in activities of daily living, Longitudinal mediating effect, The accumulation of chronic conditions}, issn = {1872-6976}, doi = {10.1016/j.archger.2023.105287}, author = {Hu, Mengxiao and Yu, Haiyang and Zhang, Yike and Xiang, Bowen and Wang, Qing} } @article {13787, title = {The Impact of Online Services on the COVID-19 Resilience of Korean Older Adults.}, journal = {Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health}, year = {Forthcoming}, pages = {10105395241233066}, keywords = {COVID-19, korean, Older Adults, online services, Pandemic}, issn = {1941-2479}, doi = {10.1177/10105395241233066}, author = {Nam, Su-Jung and Yeo, JeongHee} } @article {12777, title = {Investigating biological pathways underpinning the longitudinal association between loneliness and cognitive impairment.}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology, Series A }, year = {Forthcoming}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Loneliness precedes the onset of cognitive impairment (CI) in older adults. Although the mechanisms through which loneliness "gets under the skin" to influence the risk of developing CI has been conceptually proposed, they are rarely empirically examined. The Evolutionary Theory of Loneliness posits that loneliness as a stressor could cause dysregulations in multiple physiological systems. The current study investigated whether inflammatory, cardiovascular, and kidney biomarkers mediate the longitudinal association between loneliness and CI.

METHODS: Cross-lagged panel models (CLPM) were used to examine the hypothesized relationships, using 2006, 2010, and 2014 waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study (N=7,037). Loneliness was measured with the 3-item UCLA loneliness scale. CI was assessed with the modified telephone interview for cognitive status. Biomarkers included HbA1C, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, CRP, and Cystatin C. Using a stepwise model-building approach, first, the model included only loneliness, CI, and biomarker variables; then, sociodemographic covariates were added; lastly, health and behavioral covariates were controlled for.

RESULTS: In unadjusted and partially adjusted models, loneliness was associated with higher odds of worse cognitive status in an 8-year follow-up. Only HbA1C mediated the longitudinal association between loneliness and CI. However, after further controlling for health status, all associations became non-significant.

CONCLUSIONS: Examining a large number of participants and linking a limited number of biological markers with cognition and loneliness longitudinally, our empirical data did not support theoretical propositions, highlighting the critical importance of controlling for confounders in future studies examining longitudinal mediational relationships underlying loneliness and CI.

}, keywords = {Biomarkers, cognitive aging, Epidemiology, Loneliness, Psychosocial}, issn = {1758-535X}, doi = {10.1093/gerona/glac213}, author = {Yu, Kexin and Ng, Ted Kheng Siang} } @article {13675, title = {A naturally occurring variant of SHLP2 is a protective factor in Parkinson{\textquoteright}s disease.}, journal = {Molecular Psychiatry}, year = {Forthcoming}, abstract = {

Mitochondrial DNA single nucleotide polymorphisms (mtSNPs) have been associated with a reduced risk of developing Parkinson{\textquoteright}s disease (PD), yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we investigate the functional role of a PD-associated mtSNP that impacts the mitochondrial-derived peptide (MDP) Small Humanin-like Peptide 2 (SHLP2). We identify m.2158 T > C, a mtSNP associated with reduced PD risk, within the small open reading frame encoding SHLP2. This mtSNP results in an alternative form of SHLP2 (lysine 4 replaced with arginine; K4R). Using targeted mass spectrometry, we detect specific tryptic fragments of SHLP2 in neuronal cells and demonstrate its binding to mitochondrial complex 1. Notably, we observe that the K4R variant, associated with reduced PD risk, exhibits increased stability compared to WT SHLP2. Additionally, both WT and K4R SHLP2 show enhanced protection against mitochondrial dysfunction in in vitro experiments and confer protection against a PD-inducing toxin, a mitochondrial complex 1 inhibitor, in a mouse model. This study sheds light on the functional consequences of the m.2158 T > C mtSNP on SHLP2 and provides insights into the potential mechanisms by which this mtSNP may reduce the risk of PD.

}, keywords = {DNA, Parkinson Disease}, issn = {1476-5578}, doi = {10.1038/s41380-023-02344-0}, author = {Kim, Su-Jeong and Miller, Brendan and Hartel, Nicolas G and Ramirez, Ricardo and Braniff, Regina Gonzalez and Leelaprachakul, Naphada and Huang, Amy and Wang, Yuzhu and Arpawong, Thalida Em and Crimmins, Eileen M and Wang, Penglong and Sun, Xianbang and Liu, Chunyu and Levy, Daniel and Yen, Kelvin and Petzinger, Giselle M and Graham, Nicholas A and Jakowec, Michael W and Cohen, Pinchas} } @article {13620, title = {Neighborhood Features and Cognitive Function: Moderating Roles of Individual Socioeconomic Status.}, journal = {American journal of preventive medicine}, year = {Forthcoming}, abstract = {

INTRODUCTION: There is an interest in exploring the associations between neighborhood characteristics and individual cognitive function; however, little is known about whether these relationships can be modified by individual socioeconomic status, such as educational attainment and income.

METHODS: Drawing from the 2010-2018 Health and Retirement Study, this study analyzed 10,621 older respondents (aged 65+) with a total of 33,931 person-waves. These respondents did not have dementia in 2010 and stayed in the same neighborhood throughout the study period. Cognitive function was measured with a 27-point indicator biennially, and neighborhood characteristics (i.e., walkability, concentrated disadvantage, and social isolation) were assessed in 2010. All analyses were performed in 2023.

RESULTS: Cognitive function is positively associated with neighborhood walkability and negatively related to concentrated disadvantage, suggesting that exposures to these neighborhood characteristics have long-lasting impacts on cognitive function. Furthermore, individual socioeconomic status modifies the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and cognitive function. Compared with those graduating from college, respondents without a bachelor{\textquoteright}s degree consistently have lower cognitive function but the educational gap in cognitive function narrows with increases in walkability (b= -0.152, SE=0.092), and widens when neighborhood concentrated disadvantage (b=0.212, SE=0.070) or social isolation (b=0.315, SE=0.125) rises. The income gap in cognitive function shrinks with increases in walkability (b= -0.063, SE=0.027).

CONCLUSIONS: The moderating role of socioeconomic status indicates that low-socioeconomic status older adults who also live in disadvantaged neighborhoods face a higher risk of poor cognitive function. Low-education and low-income aging adults may have the most to gain from investments to improve neighborhood characteristics.

}, keywords = {cognitive function, low-education, low-income, Older Adults, socioeconomic status}, issn = {1873-2607}, doi = {10.1016/j.amepre.2023.10.012}, author = {Yang, Tse-Chuan and Kim, Seulki and Choi, Seung-Won Emily and Halloway, Shannon and Mitchell, Uchechi A and Shaw, Benjamin A} } @article {13715, title = {State home and community-based services expenditures and unmet care needs in the United States: Has everyone benefitted equally?}, journal = {health services research}, year = {Forthcoming}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To test whether the impacts of Medicaid{\textquoteright}s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) expenditures have been equitable.

DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING: This is a secondary data analysis. We linked annual data on state-level Medicaid HCBS expenditures with individual data from U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS; 2006-2016).

STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated the association between state-level HCBS expenditure quartiles and the risk of experiencing challenges in basic or instrumental activities of daily living (I/ADLs) without assistance (unmet needs for care). We fitted generalized estimating equations (GEE) with a Poisson distribution, log link function, and an unstructured covariance matrix. We controlled demographics, time, and place-based fixed effects and estimated models stratified by race and ethnicity, gender, and urbanicity. We tested the robustness of results with negative controls.

DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: Our analytic sample included HRS Medicaid beneficiaries, aged 55+, who had difficulty with >=1 I/ADL (n = 2607 unique respondents contributing 4719 person-wave observations).

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Among adults with IADL difficulty, higher quartiles of HCBS expenditure (vs. the lowest quartile) were associated with a lower overall prevalence of unmet needs for care (e.g., Prevalence Ratio [PR], Q4 vs. Q1: 0.91, 95\% CI: 0.84-0.98). This protective association was concentrated among non-Hispanic white respondents (Q4 vs. Q1: 0.82, 95\% CI: 0.73-0.93); estimates were imprecise for Hispanic individuals and largely null for non-Hispanic Black participants. We found no evidence of heterogeneity by gender or urbanicity. Negative control robustness checks indicated that higher quartiles of HCBS expenditure were not associated with (1) the risk of reporting I/ADL difficulty among 55+ Medicaid beneficiaries, and (2) the risk of unmet care needs among non-Medicaid beneficiaries.

CONCLUSION: The returns to higher state-level HCBS expenditures under Medicaid for older adults with I/ADL disability do not appear to have been equitable by race and ethnicity.

}, keywords = {aging/elderly/geriatrics, long term care, Medicaid, Social determinants of health}, issn = {1475-6773}, doi = {10.1111/1475-6773.14269}, author = {Yang, Yulin and Lee, Ah-Reum and Rapp, Thomas and Chen, Ruijia and Glymour, M Maria and Torres, Jacqueline M} } @article {12856, title = {Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Population Attributable Risk of Dementia Associated with Traumatic Brain Injury in Civilians and Veterans.}, journal = {Journal of Neurotrauma}, year = {Forthcoming}, abstract = {

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an established risk factor for dementia. However, the magnitude of risk is highly variable across studies. Identification of sub-populations at highest risk, with careful consideration of potential sources of bias, is urgently needed to guide public health policy and research into mechanisms and treatments. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of risk of all-cause dementia after all-severity TBI. We assessed for effect of participant age and sex, veteran status, research methods, and region. The search window covered January 1990 to January 2019. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines. Thirty-two studies met inclusion criteria. Data were pooled using random effects models. Population attributable risk (PAR) of dementia due to TBI in the U.S. was calculated by sex and veteran status. Pooled risk ratio (RR) for dementia after TBI was 1.66 (95\% confidence interval 1.42-1.93). Younger age, male sex, and studies from Asia were associated with significantly higher risk; veteran status was not. Risk of dementia associated with "head injury/trauma" was not significantly different from that associated with "TBI" diagnosis specifically. PAR of dementia due to TBI among U.S. veterans was twice that of the general U.S. population, largely due to the high prevalence of TBI exposure in the majority male veteran population. This meta-analysis found that TBI is associated with nearly 70\% increased risk of dementia. Risk may be highest among younger adults, men, and cohorts in Asia. Efforts to prevent TBI and also to prevent post-TBI dementia are of high importance. Additionally, improved methods for diagnosing and tracking TBI on a public health level, such as national registries, may improve the quality and generalizability of future epidemiological studies investigating the association between TBI and dementia.

}, keywords = {Dementia, systematic review, Traumatic Brain Injury, veteran}, issn = {1557-9042}, doi = {10.1089/neu.2022.0041}, author = {Gardner, Raquel C and Bahorik, Amber and Kornblith, Erica S and Allen, Isabel Elaine and Plassman, Brenda L and Yaffe, Kristine} } @article {13815, title = {Associations of Everyday and Lifetime Experiences of Discrimination With Willingness to Undergo Alzheimer Disease Predictive Testing.}, journal = {Neurology}, volume = {102}, year = {2024}, pages = {e208005}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Rapid developments in Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarker research suggest that predictive testing may become widely available. To ensure equal access to AD predictive testing, it is important to understand factors that affect testing interest. Discrimination may influence attitudes toward AD testing, particularly among racially and ethnically minoritized populations, because of structural racism in health care systems. This study examined whether everyday or lifetime discrimination experiences shape interest in AD predictive testing.

METHODS: In the 2010 and 2012 biennial Health and Retirement Study waves, respondents were randomly selected to complete questions on interest in receiving free testing that could determine whether they would develop AD in the future. The exposures were everyday discrimination (6 items) and lifetime discrimination (7 items); both were transformed into a binary variable. Logistic regression models predicting interest in AD testing were controlled for deciles of propensity scores for each discrimination measure. Odds ratios were re-expressed as risk differences (RDs).

RESULTS: Our analytic sample included 1,499 respondents. The mean age was 67 (SD = 10.2) years, 57.4\% were women, 65.7\% were White, and 80\% endorsed interest in AD predictive testing. Most of the participants (54.7\%) experienced everyday discrimination in at least one domain; 24.1\% experienced major lifetime discrimination in at least one domain. Those interested in predictive testing were younger (66 vs 70 years) and more likely to be Black (20\% vs 15\%) or Latinx (14\% vs 8\%) than participants uninterested in testing. The probability of wanting an AD test was not associated with discrimination for Black (RD everyday discrimination = -0.026; 95\% CI [-0.081 to 0.029]; RD lifetime discrimination = -0.012; 95\% CI [-0.085 to 0.063]) or Latinx (RD everyday discrimination = -0.023, 95\% CI [-0.082 to 0.039]; RD lifetime discrimination = -0.011; 95\% CI [-0.087 to 0.064]) participants.

DISCUSSION: Despite historical and contemporary experiences of discrimination, Black and Latinx individuals express interest in AD testing. However, Black and Latinx individuals remain underrepresented in AD research, including research on AD testing. Interest in personalized information about dementia risk may be a pathway to enhance their inclusion in research and clinical trials.

}, keywords = {Alzheimer disease, Logistic Models, Odds Ratio, Propensity Score, Retirement}, issn = {1526-632X}, doi = {10.1212/WNL.0000000000208005}, author = {Hill-Jarrett, Tanisha G and Choi, Minhyuk and Buto, Peter T and Miramontes, Silvia and Thomas, Marilyn D and Yang, Yulin and Kim, Min Hee and Sims, Kendra D and Glymour, M Maria} } @article {13584, title = {The Mediating Role of Sense of Control in the Associations Between Remote Contacts and Loneliness Among Older Adults.}, journal = {Research on Aging}, volume = {46}, year = {2024}, pages = {167-175}, abstract = {

This study explored whether a sense of control over social life mediated the associations between using remote contact (phone calls, letters/emails, social media) and loneliness for socially isolated older adults. We used path analysis with the 2014 and 2016 Health and Retirement Study datasets ( = 3767). Results showed that more frequent phone calls and letters/emails were associated with lower levels of loneliness through sense of control. However, sense of control did not mediate the association between social media and loneliness. Findings suggest that promoting sense of control over social life by remote contact, particularly phone calls and letters/emails, may be effective in alleviating loneliness for isolated older adults.

}, keywords = {isolated older adults, Loneliness, path analysis, remote contact, Sense of control}, issn = {1552-7573}, doi = {10.1177/01640275231206484}, author = {Yoon, Dokyung and Gallo, Haley and Gassoumis, Zachary D and Joo, Susanna} } @article {13743, title = {Perceived neighborhood disorder and type 2 diabetes disparities in Hispanic, Black, and White Americans.}, journal = {Frontiers in Public Health}, volume = {12}, year = {2024}, pages = {1258348}, abstract = {

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 32 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, and that number continues to grow. Higher prevalence rates are observed among certain subgroups, including members of marginalized racial/ethnic groups as well as residents of disordered neighborhoods (i.e., those with more trash and vandalism). Institutionalized discriminatory practices have resulted in disproportionate representation of marginalized racial/ethnic groups in disordered neighborhoods compared to non-Hispanic Whites. These neighborhood disparities may partially contribute to health disparities, given that signs of neighborhood disorder often relate to a general withdrawal from the neighborhood, minimizing opportunities for both physical and social engagement. Yet, research suggests variability across racial/ethnic groups both in reporting rates of neighborhood disorder and in the extent to which neighborhood disorder is interpreted as posing a threat to health and well-being.

METHODS: Using 2016-2018 Health and Retirement Study data (n = 10,419, mean age = 67 years), a representative sample of older US adults, this study examined the possibility of racial/ethnic differences in associations between perceived neighborhood disorder and type 2 diabetes risk. Participants reported their perceptions of neighborhood disorder and type 2 diabetes status. Weighted logistic regression models predicted type 2 diabetes risk by perceived neighborhood disorder, race/ethnicity, and their interaction.

RESULTS: Non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics had higher type 2 diabetes risk; these two groups also reported more disorder in their neighborhoods compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Perceiving more neighborhood disorder was associated with increased type 2 diabetes risk, but the interaction between race/ethnicity and disorder was not significant.

DISCUSSION: Findings from the current study suggest that the negative effects of perceiving neighborhood disorder, a neighborhood-level stressor, extend to increased type 2 diabetes risk.

}, keywords = {Adult, Aged, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, ethnicity, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Middle Aged, United States, White, White People}, issn = {2296-2565}, doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2024.1258348}, author = {Yu, Min Ying and Velasquez, Alfredo J and Campos, Belinda and Robinette, Jennifer W} } @article {13082, title = {15 years of GWAS discovery: Realizing the promise.}, journal = {Am J Hum Genet}, volume = {110}, year = {2023}, pages = {179-194}, abstract = {

It has been 15 years since the advent of the genome-wide association study (GWAS) era. Here, we review how this experimental design has realized its promise by facilitating an impressive range of discoveries with remarkable impact on multiple fields, including population genetics, complex trait genetics, epidemiology, social science, and medicine. We predict that the emergence of large-scale biobanks will continue to expand to more diverse populations and capture more of the allele frequency spectrum through whole-genome sequencing, which will further improve our ability to investigate the causes and consequences of human genetic variation for complex traits and diseases.

}, keywords = {Gene Frequency, Genetics, Population, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Multifactorial Inheritance, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide}, issn = {1537-6605}, doi = {10.1016/j.ajhg.2022.12.011}, author = {Abdellaoui, Abdel and Yengo, Loic and Verweij, Karin J H and Visscher, Peter M} } @conference {13131, title = {Abstract 85: Food Swamps Are Associated With Incident Stroke In The Health And Retirement Study}, booktitle = {INTERNATIONAL STROKE CONFERENCE}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Introduction: The role of {\textquotedblleft}food swamps{\textquotedblright}, an area characterized by a high-density of establishments selling fast-food and junk food relative to healthier options, on incident stroke is not well studied. Hypothesis We hypothesized that a higher retail food environment index (RFEI), indicative of food swamps, would be associated with greater odds of incident stroke. Methods: The sample comprised of community-dwelling stroke-free participants aged >=50 years who enrolled in the 2010 epoch of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), which is representative of the US population. If a participant moved to a new area during follow-up through 2016, we only considered incident strokes reported before relocation. The traditional RFEI is a county{\textquoteright}s ratio of the number of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores to the number of grocers. The expanded RFEI additionally includes full-service restaurants as unhealthy food options, and farmers{\textquoteright} markets and specialized food stores as healthy food retailers. We averaged RFEI across all included follow-up years and dichotomized RFEI using a threshold of 5, previously shown to discriminate obesity rates. We used logistic regression models to assess the association between RFEI groups and incident stroke, adjusting for key covariates and weighting to account for survey design. Results: Among 84,023,542 participants (mean age 64{\textpm}10 years, 54\% female, 84\% white) in weighted analysis, 3,224,378 (3.8\%) reported an incident stroke during follow-up. The average traditional and expanded RFEI were 6.5{\textpm}2.7 (72\% in >=5 group) and 6.9{\textpm}2.3 (84\% in >=5 group), respectively. In fully adjusted weighted analyses, the higher traditional RFEI group had greater odds of incident stroke compared to the lower group (OR [95\% CI]: 1.135 [1.132-1.138]). We found a similar association with expanded RFEI groups and incident stroke (OR [95\% CI]: 1.095 [1.092-1.098]). Conclusions: Among community-dwelling adults in HRS, RFEI was associated with incident stroke, independent of demographics and health characteristics. Results highlight the potential importance of an area{\textquoteright}s food options as a structural determinant in stroke, especially given most participants resided in areas with 6 times the amount of relative unhealthy to healthy food choices.}, keywords = {food, Stroke}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1161/str.54.suppl_1.85}, author = {Dixon Yang and Imama A Naqvi and Jose Gutierrez and Sarah Tom} } @article {13361, title = {Adult Children{\textquoteright}s Four-year College Completion by Parent{\textquoteright}s Race, Ethnicity, and Educational Attainment}, year = {2023}, institution = {National Center for Family \& Marriage Research}, address = {Bowling Green, Ohio}, keywords = {College, ethnicity, Parent{\textquoteright}s Race, Racial Disparities, University}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.25035/ncfmr/fp-23-12 }, author = {Kellyanne Bunkley and Jaycob Applegate and Jenjira Yahirun} } @article {12379, title = {Assessing patterns and stability of ADL hierarchical scales for functional disability assessment.}, journal = {Gerontologist}, volume = {63}, year = {2023}, pages = {773-782}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study examined the stability over time of activities of daily living (ADL) items in three comparable longitudinal datasets and evaluated ADL loss sequences for older adults in the U.S., South Korea, and Japan.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study, and its two international sister surveys, were analyzed. Subjects were community-dwelling adults aged 60 and above. For each dataset, Rasch analysis was implemented to determine if the ordering of items remained stable across multiple waves (2006-2014), such that a single ADL hierarchy may be derived from multi-wave data.

RESULTS: Data fitted the Rasch model well. Item calibrations were sufficiently stable across measurement periods in each dataset, reflecting a stable frame of reference. Results were also robust to sample variations. The derived ADL hierarchies based on scaled logit scores revealed that "dressing" and "bathing" were relatively more difficult items for older adults in all study populations.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Scale stability is essential when exploiting longitudinal data to analyze patterns in ADL disabilities. The consistency in ADL scales across measurement periods supports their use as screening tools and identifying those at risk for transitions in care. Interventions to reduce dependency in bathing and dressing can help improve independent functioning for community-dwelling elderly.

}, keywords = {ADL index, Epidemiology, functional disability, Psychometrics, Rasch analysis}, issn = {1758-5341}, doi = {10.1093/geront/gnac057}, author = {Fong, Joelle H and Youn, Yongjoon} } @article {13320, title = {Association Between Serum Cystatin C and Cognitive Decline Independently from Creatinine: Evidence from Two Nationally Representative Aging Cohorts.}, journal = {J Alzheimers Dis}, volume = {93}, year = {2023}, pages = {459-469}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Studies on the association between cystatin C based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRcys) and cognitive outcomes yielded inconsistent results.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to examine the potential association of eGFRcys with subsequent cognitive decline rate.

METHODS: A total of 11,503 community-based participants were involved in our analyses, including 5,837 (aged 72.9{\textpm}6.3; 58.6\% women) in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) from the US and 5,666 (aged 58.1{\textpm}9.2; 49.0\% women) in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The association of eGFRcys with subsequent cognitive decline rate was evaluated by linear mixed models.

RESULTS: During 85,266 person-years of follow-up, both baseline elevated serum cystatin C (-0.048 standard deviation [SD]/year per mg/L; 95\% confidence interval [CI], -0.060 to -0.036; p < 0.001) and decreased eGFRcys (0.026 SD/year per 30 mL/min/1.73m2; 95\% CI, 0.020 to 0.032; p < 0.001) were associated with faster cognitive decline rate after full adjustment. Compared with those had eGFRcys >=90 mL/min/1.73m2, participants with eGFRcys between 60 to 90 mL/min/1.73m2 (-0.012 SD/year; 95\% CI, -0.020 to -0.004; p = 0.004) and those with eGFRcys <60 mL/min/1.73m2 (-0.048 SD/year; 95\% CI, -0.058 to -0.039; p < 0.001) experienced statistically significantly faster cognitive decline after adjustment. The associations were independent from serum creatinine/eGFRcre (eGFR that was calculated from serum creatinine).

CONCLUSION: Decreased eGFRcys are significantly associated with faster cognitive decline after full adjustment, independently from serum creatinine/eGFRcre. Serum cystatin C might be a risk factor or a prodromal biomarker of cognitive decline.

}, keywords = {Aging, Cognitive Dysfunction, Creatinine, Cystatin C, Female, Glomerular Filtration Rate, Humans, kidney, Longitudinal Studies, Male}, issn = {1875-8908}, doi = {10.3233/JAD-221162}, author = {Ma, Yanjun and Li, Chenglong and Hua, Rong and Yang, Chao and Xie, Wuxiang and Zhang, Luxia} } @article {13182, title = {Association Between Types of Loneliness and Risks of Functional Disability in Older Men and Women: A Prospective Analysis.}, journal = {Am J Geriatr Psychiatry}, year = {2023}, month = {2023 Feb 25}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between types of loneliness (transient, incident, and chronic) and the risk of functional disability.

METHODS: Data were from the Health and Retirement Study 2006/2008-2016/2018. A total of 7,148 adults aged >=50 was included. Functional status was measured by activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Loneliness was assessed using the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale. We defined loneliness as no/transient/incident/chronic loneliness based on the pattern and duration of loneliness across 2006/2008 and 2010/2012. We applied multivariate Cox proportional hazard models with the new-onset ADL/IADL disability as outcome.

RESULTS: Overall, 69.3\% respondents showed no loneliness; while 10.3\%, 8.9\%, and 11.5\% showed transient, incident, and chronic loneliness, respectively. A total of 1,298 (18.16\%) and 1,260 (17.63\%) functionally normal respondents developed ADL and IADL disability during 36,294 person-years of follow-up, respectively. After adjusting for socio-demographic, behavioral, and health factors, chronic loneliness was associated with higher risks of ADL (hazard ratio [HR]~=~1.37, 95\% confidence interval [CI]~=~1.16-1.63, p <0.001, χ~=~3.60, degree of freedom [df]~=~1) and IADL disability (HR~=~1.25, 95\% CI~=~1.09-1.44, p~=~0.002, χ~=~3.17, df~=~1) compared to no loneliness. By contrast, no significant associations between transient loneliness and ADL (HR~=~1.17, 95\% CI~=~0.88-1.57, p~=~0.273, χ~=~1.10, df~=~1) or IADL disability (HR~=~1.16, 95\% CI~=~0.97-1.39, p~=~0.112, χ~=~1.59, df~=~1) were found. Chronic loneliness was not associated with the risk of IADL disability in men (HR~=~1.13, 95\% CI~=~0.91-1.40, p~=~0.263, χ~=~1.12, df~=~1).

CONCLUSION: Chronic loneliness, rather than transient loneliness, is an independent risk factor for functional disability in middle-aged and older adults, especially for women.

}, issn = {1545-7214}, doi = {10.1016/j.jagp.2023.02.046}, author = {Qi, Xiang and Belsky, Daniel W and Yang, Yang Claire and Wu, Bei} } @article {13650, title = {Association of cumulative loneliness with all-cause mortality among middle-aged and older adults in the United States, 1996 to 2019.}, journal = {PNAS}, volume = {120}, year = {2023}, pages = {e2306819120}, abstract = {

Loneliness is a growing public health concern worldwide. We characterized the association between cumulative loneliness and subsequent all-cause mortality, using data from 9,032 participants aged 50+ in the population-based US Health and Retirement Study (HRS) from 1996 to 2019. Loneliness status (yes; no) was measured biennially from 1996 to 2004, and we categorized the experience of cumulative loneliness over the 8-y period as never, one time point, two time points, and >=three time points. A multivariable-adjusted age-stratified Cox proportional hazards regression model was fitted to examine the association between cumulative loneliness from 1996 to 2004 and all-cause mortality from 2004 to 2019. Excess deaths due to each category of cumulative loneliness were calculated. Compared to those who never reported loneliness from 1996 to 2004, participants experiencing loneliness at one time point, two time points, and >=three time points respectively had 1.05 (95\% CI: 0.96 to 1.15), 1.06 (95\% CI: 0.95 to 1.19), and 1.16 (95\% CI: 1.02 to 1.33) times higher hazards of mortality from 2004 to 2019 ( trend = 0.01). These results correspond to 106 (95\% CI: 68 to 144), 202 (95\% CI: 146 to 259), and 288 (95\% CI: 233 to 343) excess deaths per 10,000 person-years, for those experiencing loneliness at each of one, two, or >=three time points from 1996 to 2004. Cumulative loneliness in mid-to-later life may thus be a mortality risk factor with a notable impact on excess mortality. Loneliness may be an important target for interventions to improve life expectancy in the United States.

}, keywords = {cumulative loneliness, excess death, Mortality}, issn = {1091-6490}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.2306819120}, author = {Yu, Xuexin and Cho, Tsai-Chin and Westrick, Ashly C and Chen, Chen and Kenneth M. Langa and Lindsay C Kobayashi} } @article {13242, title = {Association of Joint Genetic and Social Environmental Risks With Incident Myocardial Infarction: Results From the Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {J Am Heart Assoc}, volume = {12}, year = {2023}, pages = {e028200}, abstract = {

Background Myocardial infarction (MI) is a significant clinical and public health problem worldwide. However, little research has assessed the interplay between genetic susceptibility and social environment in the development of MI. Methods and Results Data were from the HRS~(Health and Retirement Study). The polygenic risk score and polysocial score for MI were classified as low, intermediate, and high. Using Cox regression models, we assessed the race-specific association of polygenic score and polysocial score with MI and examined the association between polysocial score and MI in each polygenic risk score category. We also examined the joint effect of genetic (low, intermediate, and high) and social environmental risks (low/intermediate, high) on MI. A total of 612 Black and 4795 White adults aged >=65 years initially free of MI were included. We found a risk gradient of MI across the polygenic risk score and polysocial score among White participants; no significant risk gradient across the polygenic risk score was found among Black participants. A disadvantaged social environment was associated with a higher risk of incident MI among older White adults with intermediate and high genetic risk but not those with low genetic risk. We revealed the joint effect of genetics and social environment in the development of MI among White participants. Conclusions Living in a favorable social environment is particularly important for people with intermediate and high genetic risk for MI. It is critical to developing tailored interventions to improve social environment for disease prevention, especially among adults with a relatively high genetic risk.

}, keywords = {Adult, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Humans, Myocardial Infarction, Proportional Hazards Models, Retirement, Risk Factors}, issn = {2047-9980}, doi = {10.1161/JAHA.122.028200}, author = {Tang, Junhan and Sheng, Chen and Wu, Yan Yan and Yan, Lijing L and Wu, Chenkai} } @article {13068, title = {Association of the Mediterranean Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) Diet With the Risk of Dementia.}, journal = {JAMA Psychiatry}, year = {2023}, abstract = {

IMPORTANCE: Dementia threatens the well-being of older adults, making efforts toward prevention of great importance.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of the Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet with the risk of dementia in 3 prospective studies and a meta-analysis.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cohort analyses included the Whitehall II study (WII), the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), and the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort (FOS), and the meta-analysis included 11 cohort studies. Participants were middle-aged and older women and men from WII in 2002 to 2004, HRS in 2013, and FOS in 1998 to 2001 without dementia at the study baseline. Data were analyzed from May 25 to September 1, 2022.

EXPOSURES: MIND diet score was measured using food frequency questionnaires, and scores ranged from 0 to 15, with a higher score indicating higher adherence to the MIND diet.

MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES: Incident all-cause dementia, with cohort-specific definitions.

RESULTS: Included in this study were 8358 participants (mean [SD] age, 62.2 [6.0] years; 5777 male [69.1\%]) from WII, 6758 participants (mean [SD] age, 66.5 [10.4] years; 3965 female [58.7\%]) from HRS, and 3020 participants (mean [SD] age, 64.2 [9.1] years; 1648 female [54.6\%]) from FOS. The mean (SD) baseline MIND diet score was 8.3 (1.4) in WII, 7.1 (1.9) in HRS, and 8.1 (1.6) in FOS. Over 166 516 person-years, a total of 775 participants (220 in WII, 338 in HRS, and 217 in FOS) developed incident dementia. In the multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard model, higher MIND diet score was associated with lower risk of dementia (pooled hazard ratio [HR] for every 3-point increment, 0.83; 95\% CI, 0.72-0.95; P for trend = .01; I2 = 0\%). The associations were consistently observed in subgroups defined by sex, age, smoking status, and body mass index. In the meta-analysis of 11 cohort studies with 224 049 participants (5279 incident dementia cases), the highest tertile of MIND diet score was associated with lower risk of dementia compared with the lowest tertile (pooled HR, 0.83; 95\% CI, 0.76-0.90; I2 = 35\%).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Results suggest that adherence to the MIND diet was associated with lower risk of incident dementia in middle-aged and older adults. Further studies are warranted to develop and refine the specific MIND diet for different populations.

}, keywords = {Dementia, Hypertension, Mediterranean diet}, issn = {2168-6238}, doi = {10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.0800}, author = {Chen, Hui and Dhana, Klodian and Huang, Yuhui and Huang, Liyan and Tao, Yang and Liu, Xiaoran and Melo van Lent, Debora and Zheng, Yan and Ascherio, Alberto and Willett, Walter and Yuan, Changzheng} } @article {doi:10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.6531, title = {Associations of loneliness and mortality risk among cancer survivors in the United States.}, journal = {Journal of Clinical Oncology}, volume = {41}, year = {2023}, pages = {6531-6531}, abstract = {6531Background: Loneliness (i.e., the subjective feeling of being isolated from others), has been linked to multiple adverse health outcomes, including chronic conditions such as heart disease, mental health disorders, and higher risk for early mortality. However, associations between loneliness and worse health outcomes have not been thoroughly examined in cancer survivors. This study examined associations between loneliness and mortality risk among cancer survivors in the U.S. Methods: Cancer survivors were identified from the 2008-2018 Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative longitudinal survey conducted biannually among individuals aged >=50 years, with follow-up was through December 31, 2020. Loneliness was measured at every 4 years using an abbreviated 11-item version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3. Example items include feelings of lacking companionship and isolation from others. Items were summed to create total loneliness scores, which were categorized into four levels: 11-12 (low/no loneliness), 13-15 (mild loneliness), 16-19 (moderate loneliness), and 20-33 (high loneliness). Time-varying Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the association of loneliness and mortality risk among cancer survivors, while accounting for measurements at multiple time points. Sex, marital status, educational attainment, number of health conditions other than cancer, and year since cancer diagnosis were included in multivariable models. Results: Among 5808 person-years, there were 724 deaths during the study period. Compared to the low/no loneliness group, survivors reporting greater loneliness had higher hazard ratios (HR), indicating higher mortality risks; the highest HR observed was among the high loneliness group (HR:1.90, 95\%CI:1.58-2.29), following a dose-response association (Table). HRs were attenuated after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, but findings were largely unchanged, and HRs remained highest for the high loneliness group (HR:1.71, 95\%CI:1.39-2.12). Conclusions: Any elevated loneliness was associated with higher mortality risks among cancer survivors. Programs to screen for loneliness among cancer survivors and to provide social support to those in need are warranted. Association of loneliness and mortality risk among cancer survivors. Loneliness ScoreUnadjusted HR (95\%CI)Adjusted HR (95\%CI)11-121113-151.28 (1.00-1.63)1.21 (0.92-1.58)16-191.62 (1.33-1.98)1.47 (1.19-1.82)20-331.90 (1.58-2.29)1.71 (1.39-2.12)}, doi = {10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.6531}, author = {Zhao, Jingxuan and Reese, Jennifer B. and Han, Xuesong and Yabroff, Robin} } @article {13466, title = {Black-White Differences in Offspring Educational Attainment and Older Parents{\textquoteright} Dementia.}, journal = {J Health Soc Behav}, year = {2023}, pages = {221465231168910}, abstract = {

Emerging research documents the health benefits of having highly educated adult offspring. Yet less is known about whether those advantages vary across racial groups. This study examines how offspring education is tied to parents{\textquoteright} dementia risk for Black and White parents in the United States. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, findings suggest that children{\textquoteright}s education does not account for the Black-White gap in dementia risk. However, results confirm that parental race moderates the relationship between children{\textquoteright}s education and dementia risk and that the association between children{\textquoteright}s education and parents{\textquoteright} dementia risk is strongest among less-educated parents. Among less-educated parents, higher levels of children{\textquoteright}s attainment prevent the risk of dementia onset for Black parents, but low levels of offspring schooling increase dementia risk among White parents. The study highlights how offspring education shapes the cognitive health of social groups differently and points to new avenues for future research.

}, keywords = {cognitive health; health disparities; intergenerational relationships; life course.}, issn = {2150-6000}, doi = {10.1177/00221465231168910}, author = {Yahirun, Jenjira J and Vasireddy, Sindhu and Hayward, Mark D} } @article {13244, title = {BMI trajectories in late middle age, genetic risk, and the incident diabetes in older adults: evidence from a 26-year longitudinal study.}, journal = {Am J Epidemiol}, year = {2023}, abstract = {

This study investigated the association between BMI trajectories in late middle age and incident diabetes in later years. A total of 11,441 participants aged 50-60 years from the Health and Retirement Study with at least two self-reported BMI records were included. Individual BMI trajectories representing average BMI changes per year were generated using multilevel modeling. Adjusted risk ratios (ARRs) and 95\% confidence intervals (95\% CIs) were calculated. Associations between BMI trajectories and diabetes risk in participants with different genetic risks were estimated for 5720 participants of European ancestry. BMI trajectories were significantly associated with diabetes risk in older age (slowly increasing vs. stable: ARR 1.31, 95\% CI 1.12-1.54; rapidly increasing vs. stable: ARR 1.5, 95\% CI 1.25-1.79). This association was strongest for normal-initial-BMI participants (slowly increasing: ARR 1.34, 95\% CI 0.96-1.88; rapidly increasing: ARR 2.06, 95\% CI 1.37-3.11). Participants with a higher genetic liability to diabetes and a rapidly increasing BMI trajectory had the highest risk for diabetes (ARR 2.15, 95\% CI 1.67-2.76). These findings confirmed that BMI is the leading risk factor for diabetes and that although the normal BMI group has the lowest incidence rate for diabetes, people with normal BMI are most sensitive to changes in BMI.

}, issn = {1476-6256}, doi = {10.1093/aje/kwad080}, author = {Luo, Yaxin and Liu, Zheran and Luo, Jiawei and Li, Ruidan and Wei, Zhigong and Yang, Lianlian and Li, Juejin and He, Ling and Su, Yonglin and Peng, Xingchen and Hu, Xiaolin} } @article {13103, title = {BMI, waist circumferences and urinary incontinence in older women compared with older men: findings from three prospective longitudinal cohort studies}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Background Obesity and urinary incontinence (UI) among older people, particularly older men, are yet to be fully explored. Utilising multiple nationwide prospective longitudinal cohorts representative of the US, UK, and European samples, we examined the association of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) with UI among both older women and men. Methods We derived the data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS, 2010-2018), the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA, 2011-2019), and the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE, 2004-2010) that surveyed UI. Participants were asked if they had experienced urine leakage within the past 12 months (HRS and ELSA) or within the past six months (SHARE). The measure of obesity was based on BMI and WC. We employed a random-effect logistic model to associate BMI and WC with UI, adjusting for covariates including age, race, education, residence area, marital status, number of children, smoking, drinking, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, stroke, functional ability, and cognitive impairment. We visualised the associations by using restricted cubic spline curves. Findings A total of 200,717 participants with 718,822 observations (207,805 in HRS; 98,158 in ELSA; 412,859 in SHARE) were included in the baseline analysis. The 12-months prevalence of UI among female and male participants were 15.6\% and 6.6\% in the HRS, 10.6\% and 4.4\% in the ELSA. The 6-months prevalence of UI were 2.8\% and 1.4\% in the SHARE{\textquoteright}s female and male participants. Compared to those without UI, both female and male participants with UI demonstrated a higher BMI and WC. Among females, the fully adjusted models showed linear associations between BMI, WC, and UI (Ps<0.001) in three cohorts. However, we observed U-shaped associations of BMI, WC with UI among males. The lowest likelihood of having UI was found among male participants with a BMI between 24 and 35 kg/m2 . Interpretation Findings from our study revealed that the associations of obesity indices with UI varied among older men compared to older women. As a result, weight loss interventions could be applied to older women rather than older men as a means of treating UI. Interventions aimed at preventing UI among older adults must take sex into account.}, keywords = {BMI}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2441866/v1}, author = {Xiyin Chen and Shaoxiang Jiang and Yao Yao} } @article {13057, title = {Breast and prostate cancer screening rates by cognitive status in US older adults.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {71}, year = {2023}, pages = {1558-1565}, abstract = {

INTRODUCTION: For most older adults with dementia, the short-term harms and burdens of routine cancer screening likely outweigh the delayed benefits. We aimed to provide a more updated assessment of the extent that US older adults with dementia receive breast and prostate cancer screenings.

METHODS: Using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Wave 12 (2014-2015) linked to Medicare, we examine rates of breast and prostate cancer screenings in adults 65+ years by cognitive status. We used claims data to identify eligibility for screening and receipt of screening. We used a validated method using HRS data to define cognitive status.

RESULTS: The analytic sample included 2439 women in the breast cancer screening cohort and 1846 men in the prostate cancer screening cohort. Average ages were 76.8 years for women and 75.6 years for men, with 9.0\% and 7.6\% with dementia in each cohort, respectively. Among women with dementia, 12.3\% were screened for breast cancer. When stratified by age, 10.6\% of those 75+ and have dementia were screened for breast cancer. When stratified by predicted life expectancy, 10.4\% of those with predicted life expectancy of <10 years and have dementia were screened for breast cancer. Among men with dementia, 33.9\% were screened for prostate cancer. When stratified by age, 30.9\% of those 75+ and have dementia were screened for prostate cancer. When stratified by predicted life expectancy, 34.4\% of those with predicted life expectancy of <10 years and have dementia were screened for prostate cancer. Using multivariable logistic regression, dementia was associated with lower odds of receiving breast cancer screening (OR 0.36, 95\% CI 0.23-0.57) and prostate cancer screening (OR 0.58, 95\% CI 0.36-0.96).

DISCUSSION: Our results suggest potential over-screening in older adults with dementia. Better supporting dementia patients and caregivers to make informed cancer screening decisions is critical.

}, keywords = {Aged, Breast Neoplasms, Cognition, Dementia, Early Detection of Cancer, Humans, Male, Mass Screening, Medicare, Prostate-Specific Antigen, Prostatic Neoplasms, United States}, issn = {1532-5415}, doi = {10.1111/jgs.18222}, author = {Schoenborn, Nancy L and Cidav, Tom and Boyd, Cynthia M and Pollack, Craig E and Sekhon, Vishaldeep Kaur and Yasar, Sevil} } @article {article, title = {Change of productivity loss due to presenteeism among the ageing workforce: Role of work support, workplace discrimination, and the work-nonwork interface}, journal = {Human Resource Management Journal}, volume = {33}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Presenteeism behaviour (working while one is ill or experiencing cognitive or emotional difficulties) and the consequent productivity loss are attracting growing attention. Without proper support, employees who are under stress or ill are prone to presenteeism, which incurs invisible burdens on organizations. In this study, we focussed on productivity loss due to presenteeism (PRE) among the ageing workforce, because this group may be more vulnerable to productivity loss due to age-related deteriorating cognitive functions and physical abilities. We established a longitudinal latent difference score model over a two-wave period so we could examine whether and how the work{\textendash}nonwork interface mediates the effects of work support and workplace discrimination (DIS) on PRE. The results showed that the work{\textendash}nonwork interface fully mediated the positive influence of DIS on PRE as well as the negative influence of supervisor support.}, keywords = {ageing workforce, cognitive functions, Presenteeism, productivity decline}, doi = {10.1111/1748-8583.12475}, author = {Yang, Tianan and Liu, Yexin and Chen, Zhenjiao and Deng, Jianwei} } @article {13623, title = {The Construction of a Multidomain Risk Model of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease and Related Dementias.}, journal = {Journal of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease : JAD}, volume = {96}, year = {2023}, pages = {535-550}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD) and related dementia (ADRD) risk is affected by multiple dependent risk factors; however, there is no consensus about their relative impact in the development of these disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To rank the effects of potentially dependent risk factors and identify an optimal parsimonious set of measures for predicting AD/ADRD risk from a larger pool of potentially correlated predictors.

METHODS: We used diagnosis record, survey, and genetic data from the Health and Retirement Study to assess the relative predictive strength of AD/ADRD risk factors spanning several domains: comorbidities, demographics/socioeconomics, health-related behavior, genetics, and environmental exposure. A modified stepwise-AIC-best-subset blanket algorithm was then used to select an optimal set of predictors.

RESULTS: The final predictive model was reduced to 10 features for AD and 19 for ADRD; concordance statistics were about 0.85 for one-year and 0.70 for ten-year follow-up. Depression, arterial hypertension, traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular diseases, and the APOE4 proxy SNP rs769449 had the strongest individual associations with AD/ADRD risk. AD/ADRD risk-related co-morbidities provide predictive power on par with key genetic vulnerabilities.

CONCLUSION: Results confirm the consensus that circulatory diseases are the main comorbidities associated with AD/ADRD risk and show that clinical diagnosis records outperform comparable self-reported measures in predicting AD/ADRD risk. Model construction algorithms combined with modern data allows researchers to conserve power (especially in the study of disparities where disadvantaged groups are often grossly underrepresented) while accounting for a high proportion of AD/ADRD-risk-related population heterogeneity stemming from multiple domains.

}, keywords = {Alzheimer disease, Comorbidity, Dementia, Humans, Hypertension, Medicare, United States}, issn = {1875-8908}, doi = {10.3233/JAD-221292}, author = {Akushevich, Igor and Yashkin, Arseniy and Ukraintseva, Svetlana and Yashin, Anatoliy I and Kravchenko, Julia} } @article {13427, title = {Contributions of neighborhood social environment and air pollution exposure to Black-White disparities in epigenetic aging.}, journal = {PLoS One}, volume = {18}, year = {2023}, month = {2023}, pages = {e0287112}, abstract = {

Racial disparities in many aging-related health outcomes are persistent and pervasive among older Americans, reflecting accelerated biological aging for Black Americans compared to White, known as weathering. Environmental determinants that contribute to weathering are poorly understood. Having a higher biological age, measured by DNA methylation (DNAm), than chronological age is robustly associated with worse age-related outcomes and higher social adversity. We hypothesize that individual socioeconomic status (SES), neighborhood social environment, and air pollution exposures contribute to racial disparities in DNAm aging according to GrimAge and Dunedin Pace of Aging methylation (DPoAm). We perform retrospective cross-sectional analyses among 2,960 non-Hispanic participants (82\% White, 18\% Black) in the Health and Retirement Study whose 2016 DNAm age is linked to survey responses and geographic data. DNAm aging is defined as the residual after regressing DNAm age on chronological age. We observe Black individuals have significantly accelerated DNAm aging on average compared to White individuals according to GrimAge (239\%) and DPoAm (238\%). We implement multivariable linear regression models and threefold decomposition to identify exposures that contribute to this disparity. Exposure measures include individual-level SES, census-tract-level socioeconomic deprivation and air pollution (fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone), and perceived neighborhood social and physical disorder. Race and gender are included as covariates. Regression and decomposition results show that individual-level SES is strongly associated with and accounts for a large portion of the disparity in both GrimAge and DPoAm aging. Higher neighborhood deprivation for Black participants significantly contributes to the disparity in GrimAge aging. Black participants are more vulnerable to fine particulate matter exposure for DPoAm, perhaps due to individual- and neighborhood-level SES, which may contribute to the disparity in DPoAm aging. DNAm aging may play a role in the environment "getting under the skin", contributing to age-related health disparities between older Black and White Americans.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aging, Air Pollution, Black or African American, Cross-Sectional Studies, Epigenesis, Genetic, Humans, Particulate Matter, Retrospective Studies, Social Environment, United States, White}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0287112}, author = {Yannatos, Isabel and Stites, Shana and Brown, Rebecca T and McMillan, Corey T} } @article {12586, title = {Cumulative loneliness and subsequent memory function and rate of decline among adults aged >=50 in the United States, 1996 to 2016: Cumulative loneliness and memory aging in the US: Cumulative loneliness and memory aging in the US.}, journal = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s \& Dementia}, year = {2023}, abstract = {

INTRODUCTION: The study objective was to investigate the association between loneliness duration and memory function over a 20-year period.

METHODS: Data were from 9032 adults aged >=50 in the Health and Retirement Study. Loneliness status (yes vs. no) was assessed biennially from 1996 to 2004 and its duration was categorized as never, 1 time point, 2 time points, and >=3 time points. Episodic memory was assessed from 2004 to 2016 as a composite of immediate and delayed recall trials combined with proxy-reported memory. Mixed-effects linear regression models were fitted.

RESULTS: A longer duration of loneliness was associated with lower memory scores (P < 0.001) and a faster rate of decline (P < 0.001). The association was stronger among adults aged >=65 than those aged <65 (three-way interaction P = 0.013) and was stronger among women than men (three-way interaction P = 0.002).

DISCUSSION: Cumulative loneliness may be a salient risk factor for accelerated memory aging, especially among women aged >=65.

HIGHLIGHT: A longer duration of loneliness was associated with accelerated memory aging. The association was stronger among women than men and among older adults than the younger. Reducing loneliness in mid- to late life may help maintain memory function.

}, keywords = {loneliness trajectories, memory aging}, issn = {1552-5279}, doi = {10.1002/alz.12734}, author = {Yu, Xuexin and Westrick, Ashly C and Lindsay C Kobayashi} } @article {12449, title = {Current Marital Status and Epigenetic Clocks Among Older Adults in the United States: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {Journal of Aging and Health}, year = {2023}, abstract = {

This study examines how current marital status is associated with epigenetic aging. Data from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study were used to examine marital status differences in the four epigenetic clocks, that is, , , , and ( = 3765). Weighted ordinary least square regression models were estimated separately for men and women. Remarried, cohabiting, divorced/separated and widowed older adults showed greater epigenetic aging than the continuously married similarly among men and women. Distinct sex difference was observed among the never married. While never-married women exhibited greater epigenetic aging than their continuously married counterparts, older men in lifelong singlehood showed comparable epigenetic aging to their continuously married peers. The findings speak to the importance of marital context for epigenetic aging in later life and the biological risk associated with lifelong singlehood for older women in the US.

}, keywords = {biological aging, epigenetic clock, intimate partnerships, Marital Status}, issn = {1552-6887}, doi = {10.1177/08982643221104928}, author = {Yu, Yan-Liang} } @article {13506, title = {The devil{\textquoteright}s in the details: Variation in estimates of late-life activity limitations across national cohort studies.}, journal = {J of the American Geriatric Society}, volume = {71}, year = {2023}, pages = {858-868}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Assessing activity limitations is central to aging research. However, assessments of activity limitations vary, and this may have implications for the populations identified. We aim to compare measures of activities of daily living (ADLs) and their resulting prevalence and mortality across three nationally-representative cohort studies: the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS), and the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS).

METHODS: We compared the phrasing and context of questions around help and difficulty with six self-care activities: eating, bathing, toileting, dressing, walking inside, and transferring. We then compared the prevalence and 1-year mortality for difficulty and help with eating and dressing.

RESULTS: NHATS, HRS, and MCBS varied widely in phrasing and framing of questions around activity limitations, impacting the proportion of the population found to experience difficulty or receive help. For example, in NHATS 12.4\% [95\% confidence interval (CI) 11.5\%-13.4\%] of the cohort received help with dressing, while in HRS this figure was 6.4\% [95\% CI 5.7\%-7.2\%] and MCBS 5.3\% [95\% CI 4.7\%-5.8\%]. When combined with variation in sampling frame and survey approach of each survey, such differences resulted in large variation in estimates of the older population of older adults with ADL disability.

CONCLUSIONS: In order to take late-life activity limitations seriously, we must clearly define the measures we use. Further, researchers and clinicians seeking to understand the experience of older adults with activity limitations should be careful to interpret findings in light of the framing of the question asked.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Cohort Studies, Disabled Persons, Medicare, Self Care}, issn = {1532-5415}, doi = {10.1111/jgs.18158}, author = {Ankuda, Claire K and Covinsky, Kenneth and Freedman, Vicki A and Kenneth M. Langa and Aldridge, Melissa D and Yee, Cynthia and Kelley, Amy S} } @article {13163, title = {Dietary Intake Levels of Iron, Copper, Zinc, and Manganese in Relation to Cognitive Function: A Cross-Sectional Study.}, journal = {Nutrients}, volume = {15}, year = {2023}, month = {2023 Jan 30}, abstract = {

: Previous studies have related circulating levels of trace metal elements, of which dietary intake is the major source, to cognitive outcomes. However, there are still relatively few studies evaluating the associations of dietary intake levels of iron, copper, zinc, and manganese with cognitive function (CF). : We leveraged the data of 6863 participants (mean [standard deviation] age = 66.7 [10.5] years) in the Health and Retirement Study (2013/2014). Dietary intake levels of iron, copper, zinc, and manganese were calculated from a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. CF was assessed using the 27-point modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS). We used linear regression models to calculate the mean differences in global CF scores by quintiles of dietary intake levels of trace metal elements. : Among the study participants, the mean (SD) values of daily dietary intake were 13.3 (6.3) mg for iron, 1.4 (0.7) mg for copper, 10.7 (4.6) mg for zinc, and 3.3 (1.6) mg for manganese. Compared with the lowest quintile of dietary iron intake (<8.1 mg), the highest quintile (>=17.7 mg) was associated with a lower cognitive score (-0.50, -0.94 to -0.06, P-trend = 0.007). Higher dietary copper was significantly associated with poorer CF (P-trend = 0.002), and the mean difference in cognitive score between extreme quintiles (>=1.8 vs. <0.8 mg) was -0.52 (95\% confidence interval: -0.94 to -0.10) points. We did not observe significant associations for dietary intake of zinc (P-trend = 0.785) and manganese (P-trend = 0.368). : In this cross-sectional study, higher dietary intake of iron and copper was related to worse CF, but zinc and manganese intake levels were not significantly associated with CF.

}, keywords = {Aged, Cognition, Copper, Cross-Sectional Studies, Eating, Humans, Iron, Manganese, Trace Elements, Zinc}, issn = {2072-6643}, doi = {10.3390/nu15030704}, author = {Zhao, Dong and Huang, Yilun and Wang, Binghan and Chen, Hui and Pan, Wenfei and Yang, Min and Xia, Zhidan and Zhang, Ronghua and Yuan, Changzheng} } @article {13198, title = {Differences in Risk of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease Following Later-Life Traumatic Brain Injury in Veteran and Civilian Populations.}, journal = {J Head Trauma Rehabil}, year = {2023}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To directly compare the effect of incident age 68+ traumatic brain injury (TBI) on the risk of diagnosis of clinical Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD) in the general population of older adults, and between male veterans and nonveterans; to assess how this effect changes with time since TBI.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling traditional Medicare beneficiaries 68 years or older from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS).

DESIGN: Fine-Gray models combined with inverse-probability weighting were used to identify associations between incident TBI, post-TBI duration, and TBI treatment intensity, with a diagnosis of clinical AD dementia. The study included 16 829 older adults followed over the 1991-2015 period. For analyses of veteran-specific risks, 4281 veteran males and 3093 nonveteran males were identified. Analysis of veteran females was unfeasible due to the age structure of the population. Information on occurrence(s) of TBI, and onset of AD and risk-related comorbidities was constructed from individual-level HRS-linked Medicare claim records while demographic and socioeconomic risk factors were based on the survey data.

RESULTS: Later-life TBI was strongly associated with increased clinical AD risk in the full sample (pseudo-hazard ratio [HR]: 3.22; 95\% confidence interval [CI]: 2.57-4.05) and in veteran/nonveteran males (HR: 5.31; CI: 3.42-7.94), especially those requiring high-intensity/duration care (HR: 1.58; CI: 1.29-1.91). Effect magnitude decreased with time following TBI (HR: 0.72: CI: 0.68-0.80).

CONCLUSION: Later-life TBI was strongly associated with increased AD risk, especially in those requiring high-intensity/duration care. Effect magnitude decreased with time following TBI. Univariate analysis showed no differences in AD risk between veterans and nonveterans, while the protective effect associated with veteran status in Fine-Gray models was largely due to differences in demographics, socioeconomics, and morbidity. Future longitudinal studies incorporating diagnostic procedures and documentation quantifying lifetime TBI events are necessary to uncover pathophysiological mediating and/or moderating mechanisms between TBI and AD.

}, keywords = {Alzheimer disease, Traumatic Brain Injury, veteran}, issn = {1550-509X}, doi = {10.1097/HTR.0000000000000865}, author = {Yashkin, Arseniy P and Gorbunova, Galina A and Tupler, Larry and Yashin, Anatoliy I and Doraiswamy, Murali and Akushevich, Igor} } @article {13356, title = {An Early and Unequal Decline: Life Course Trajectories of Cognitive Aging in the United States.}, journal = {J Aging Health}, year = {2023}, pages = {8982643231184593}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: Cognitive aging is a lifelong process with implications for Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease and dementia. This study aims to fill major gaps in research on the natural history of and social disparities in aging-related cognitive decline over the life span.

METHODS: We conducted integrative data analysis of four large U.S. population-based longitudinal studies of individuals aged 12 to 105 followed over two decades and modeled age trajectories of cognitive function in multiple domains.

RESULTS: We found evidence for the onset of cognitive decline in the 4 decade of life, varying gender differences with age, and persistent disadvantage among non-Hispanic Blacks, Hispanics, and those without college education. We further found improvement in cognitive function across 20 century birth cohorts but widening social inequalities in more recent cohorts.

DISCUSSION: These findings advance an understanding of early life origins of dementia risk and invite future research on strategies for promoting cognitive health for all Americans.

}, keywords = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, cognitive aging, Dementia, social disparities}, issn = {1552-6887}, doi = {10.1177/08982643231184593}, author = {Yang, Yang C and Walsh, Christine E and Shartle, Kaitlin and Stebbins, Rebecca C and Aiello, Allison E and Belsky, Daniel W and Harris, Kathleen Mullan and Chanti-Ketterl, Marianne and Plassman, Brenda L} } @mastersthesis {13330, title = {EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION TRENDS AMONG OLDER WORKERS IN JOB SEARCH ACTIVITIES, JOB AVAILABILITY, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PARTICIPATION IN THE UNITED STATES: A THREE-STUDY DISSERTATION }, volume = {Doctor of Philosophy}, year = {2023}, school = {University of Georgia}, address = {Athens, Georgia}, abstract = {In the United States, the labor market participation rate of older workers aged 50 and above has increased, and one-third of the labor force is made up of older workers in 2020. The trend of lifetime employment with one firm has been displaced by contingent employment in the current flexible labor market. Consequently, many older workers experience frequent employment transitions until they exit the labor market completely. However, the dynamics of labor market participation among older workers, especially those experiencing repetitive unemployment and employment in older age, are not well understood. This dissertation aimed to investigate trends in employment transitions among older workers, with a focus on job search activity, job availability in the community market, and employment support program participation in a state. In Chapter 1, the historical and theoretical evolution of aging populations was discussed, with three specific periods defined in this study: the initial introduction of welfare provisions, the looming individual safety net collapse, and visualized risks and retirement insecurity. Chapter 2 utilized latent class analysis, which identified five latent classes in the patterns of job search activities among older workers from the Health and Retirement Study. Multinomial regression analysis revealed that the patterns of job search activities are significantly associated with different types of employment outcomes, in addition to individual and employment characteristics. Chapter 3 examined job availability in the local market using two datasets, including the O*NET database and the American Community Survey. The findings showed low rates of matching between job vacancies and older workers, with higher concentrations in three occupational groups among older workers despite a wide range of available occupations. Chapter 4 demonstrated that workforce development programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act improved the employability of older female participants but not for other disadvantaged participants who were older in age or nonwhite individuals. This study found that commonly chosen training programs aligned well with common occupations of the older workforce throughout the state. Finally, Chapter 5 provides implications of the three studies in this dissertation and discusses future directions to improve employment transitions among older workers in the United States.}, keywords = {Bridge employment, Employment transition, Job availability, Job search activities, Older workers, Workforce development programs, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act}, url = {https://s3.amazonaws.com/na-st01.ext.exlibrisgroup.com/01GALI_UGA/storage/alma/F6/77/24/B5/9E/45/62/7C/C8/EB/4A/51/4D/5C/87/0D/YEO_final\%20dissertation.pdf?response-content-type=application\%2Fpdf\&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256\&X-Amz-Date=20230620T141324}, author = {HYESU YEO} } @article {13227, title = {A genome-wide association study of frailty identifies significant genetic correlation with neuropsychiatric, cardiovascular, and inflammation pathways.}, journal = {Geroscience}, year = {2023}, abstract = {

Frailty is an aging-related clinical phenotype defined as a state in which there is an increase in a person{\textquoteright}s vulnerability for dependency and/or mortality when exposed to a stressor. While underlying mechanisms leading to the occurrence of frailty are complex, the importance of genetic factors has not been fully investigated. We conducted a large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) of frailty, as defined by the five criteria (weight loss, exhaustion, physical activity, walking speed, and grip strength) captured in the Fried Frailty Score (FFS), in 386,565 European descent participants enrolled in the UK Biobank (mean age 57 [SD 8] years, 208,481 [54\%] females). We identified 37 independent, novel loci associated with the FFS (p < 5 {\texttimes} 10), including seven loci without prior described associations with other traits. The variants associated with FFS were significantly enriched in brain tissues as well as aging-related pathways. Our post-GWAS bioinformatic analyses revealed significant genetic correlations between FFS and cardiovascular-, neurological-, and inflammation-related diseases/traits, and subsequent Mendelian Randomization analyses identified causal associations with chronic pain, obesity, diabetes, education-related traits, joint disorders, and depressive/neurological, metabolic, and respiratory diseases. The GWAS signals were replicated in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS, n = 9,720, mean age 73 [SD 7], 5,582 [57\%] females), where the polygenic risk score built from UKB GWAS was significantly associated with the FFS in HRS individuals (OR per SD of the score 1.27, 95\% CI 1.22-1.31, p = 1.3 {\texttimes} 10). These results provide new insight into the biology of frailty by comprehensively evaluating its genetic architecture.

}, keywords = {genome-wide. cardiovascular, Inflammation, neuropsychiatric}, issn = {2509-2723}, doi = {10.1007/s11357-023-00771-z}, author = {Ye, Yixuan and Noche, Rommell B and Szejko, Natalia and Both, Cameron P and Acosta, Julian N and Leasure, Audrey C and Brown, Stacy C and Sheth, Kevin N and Gill, Thomas M and Zhao, Hongyu and Falcone, Guido J} } @article {13500, title = {Getting under the skin? Influences of work-family experiences on personality trait adaptation and reciprocal relationships.}, journal = {J Pers Soc Psychol}, year = {2023}, abstract = {

The literature on personality trait development has mainly focused on influences of life experiences in one single life domain (e.g., work or family) separate from one another and has primarily examined personality development in early life stages. Thus, less attention has been devoted to influences from interplays across different life domains and personality development in middle and late adulthood. Synthesizing the literature on personality science and organizational research, we built a theoretical model and investigated what, how, and why the interplay between two central life domains-work and family-may be related to personality trait development of people at their middle and late life stages, and more important, change-related reciprocal relationships between personality traits and work-family experiences. Generally, convergent findings with data from two longitudinal studies (National Survey of Midlife in the United States, maximum = 3,192, three waves; and Health and Retirement Study, maximum = 1,133, three waves except anxiety) revealed that work-to-family conflict, family-to-work conflict, work-to-family facilitation, and family-to-work facilitation mostly had lagged effects on changes of Conscientiousness, Extraversion, and Neuroticism, and the influences were generally channeled through changes of anxiety. Personality traits also had lagged influences on changes of work-family experiences, with some influences deteriorating over time. Change-related reciprocal relationships were recorded mainly between Neuroticism and Extraversion with work-family experiences. Some selection effects were larger than socialization effects. Our research contributes to the personality and the work-family literature and represents a useful example of cross-fertilization of research in different areas of psychology to advance personality research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

}, issn = {1939-1315}, doi = {10.1037/pspp0000476}, author = {Li, Wen-Dong and Wang, Jiexin and Allen, Tammy and Zhang, Xin and Yu, Kaili and Zhang, Hong and Huang, Jason L and Liu, Mengqiao and Li, Andrew} } @article {13697, title = {The Hidden Toll of Incarceration: Exploring the Link Between Incarceration Histories and Pain Among Older Adults in the United States.}, journal = {Innovation and Aging}, volume = {7}, year = {2023}, pages = {igad116}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Incarceration is linked to poor health outcomes across the life course. However, little is known whether and to what extent incarceration histories shape pain in later life. This study examines the relationships between incarceration histories and pain outcomes among middle-aged and older adults in the United States.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Data from a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling adults aged 51 and over in the 2012-2018 biennial waves of the U.S. Health and Retirement Study was analyzed to examine how incarceration histories influence older adults{\textquoteright} risks of reporting moderate-to-severe pain and pain with physical limitations. We relied on a propensity score matching approach to account for the potential confounding bias. We fit weighted generalized estimating equation models to assess the relationships between incarceration history and pain outcomes. Models were further stratified by gender.

RESULTS: After propensity score matching, our sample included 2,516 respondents aged 65 years on average ( = 8.72), 21\% female, and 838 with incarceration histories. Persons with incarceration histories have a greater risk of reporting moderate-to-severe pain (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.30, 95\% confidence Interval [CI]: 1.20, 1.52) and pain with physical limitations (PR = 1.48, 95\% CI: 1.30, 1.68) even after adjusting for sociodemographic covariates and early life experiences. In the models stratified by gender, the associations between incarceration histories and incarceration were similar among women and men.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: In a nationally representative sample of older adults (with or without incarceration history), our study demonstrates an independent association between a history of incarceration and pain in later life. Our findings highlight the far-reaching impact of incarceration and the need for developing optimal management strategies to reduce the burden of disabling pain. Interventions should prioritize socioeconomically vulnerable groups who may have the least access to pain treatment in later life.

}, keywords = {incarceration, pain, Palliative care}, issn = {2399-5300}, doi = {10.1093/geroni/igad116}, author = {Yang, Yulin and Lutz, Gabriel and Zhang, Yilin and Chen, Chixiang and Kheirbek, Raya Elfadel} } @article {HERNANDEZ2023101453, title = {In the wake of a crisis: Caught between housing and healthcare}, journal = {SSM - Population Health}, year = {2023}, pages = {101453}, abstract = {Objective To measure the association between housing insecurity and foregone medication due to cost among Medicare beneficiaries aged 65+ during the Recession. Methods Data came from Medicare beneficiaries aged 65+ years from the 2006{\textendash}2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Two-wave housing insecurity changes are evaluated as follows: (i) No insecurity, (ii) Persistent insecurity, (iii) Onset insecurity, and (iv) Onset security. We implemented a series of four weighted longitudinal General Estimating Equation (GEE) models, two minimally adjusted and two fully adjusted models, to estimate the probability of foregone medications due to cost between 2008-2012. Results Our study sample was restricted to non-proxy interviews of non-institutionalized Medicare beneficiaries aged 65+ in the 2006 wave (n = 9936) and their follow up visits (n = 8753; in 2008; n = 7464 in 2010; and n = 6594 in 2012). Results from our fully adjusted model indicated that the odds of foregone medication was 64\% higher among individuals experiencing Onset insecurity versus No insecurity in 2008, and also generally larger for individuals experiencing Onset Insecurity versus Persistent Insecurity. Odds of foregone medication was also larger among females, minority versus non-Hispanic white adults, those reporting a chronic condition, those with higher medical expenditures, and those living in the South versus Northeast. Conclusion This study drew from nationally representative data to elucidate the disparate health and financial impacts of a crisis on Medicare beneficiaries who, despite health insurance coverage, displayed variability in foregone medication patterns. Our findings suggest that the onset of housing insecurity is most closely linked with unexpected acute economic shocks leading households with little time to adapt and forcing trade-offs in their prescription and other needs purchases. Both housing and healthcare policy implications exist from these findings including expansion of low-income housing units and rent relief post-recession as well as wider prescription drug coverage for Medicare adults.}, keywords = {Foregone medication due to cost, Great Recession, Health Disparities, Housing insecurity, Medicare Beneficiaries}, issn = {2352-8273}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101453}, author = {Monica Hernandez and Rebeca Wong and Xiaoying Yu and Neil Mehta} } @article {doi:10.1086/728403, title = {Increased Schooling Reduces Hospitalization Later in Life: New Evidence with Optimal Instruments from the United States}, journal = {American Journal of Health Economics}, year = {2023}, abstract = {We investigate the causal effect of education on hospitalization. We apply novel techniques to estimate a sparse model that uses the least absolute selection and shrinkage operator (LASSO) regression with a data-driven penalty to construct optimal cross-validated instrumental variables and select a parsimonious set of controls. This method yields consistent and more efficient estimates relative to conventional instrumental variable procedures and overcomes the limitations of previous studies using compulsory schooling laws in the United States. We also use an approach for a valid inference that allows instruments to be only plausibly exogenous. Using the 1992-2016 Health and Retirement Study, our results suggest that an additional year of schooling in early life lowers the likelihood of two-year hospitalizations later in life by 2.6 percentage points (or about 9.5\%). This estimate is robust to different model specifications and plausible amounts of imperfect exogeneity and is similar to the local treatment effect among potential compliers. }, keywords = {Education, Hospitalization, Optimal instruments, Plausibly, Sparse model}, doi = {10.1086/728403}, author = {Yue, Dahai and Ponce, Ninez A. and Needleman, Jack and Ettner, Susan L. and Lleras-Muney, Adriana} } @article {WU2023100344, title = {Joint analysis of GWAS and multi-omics QTL summary statistics reveals a large fraction of GWAS signals shared with molecular phenotypes}, journal = {Cell Genomics}, year = {2023}, pages = {100344}, abstract = {Summary Molecular quantitative trait loci (xQTLs) are often harnessed to prioritize genes or functional elements underpinning variant-trait associations identified from genome-wide association studies (GWASs). Here, we introduce OPERA, a method that jointly analyzes GWAS and multi-omics xQTL summary statistics to enhance the identification of molecular phenotypes associated with complex traits through shared causal variants. Applying OPERA to summary-level GWAS data for 50 complex traits (n = 20,833{\textendash}766,345) and xQTL data from seven omics layers (n = 100{\textendash}31,684) reveals that 50\% of the GWAS signals are shared with at least one molecular phenotype. GWAS signals shared with multiple molecular phenotypes, such as those at the MSMB locus for prostate cancer, are particularly informative for understanding the genetic regulatory mechanisms underlying complex traits. Future studies with more molecular phenotypes, measured considering spatiotemporal effects in larger samples, are required to obtain a more saturated map linking molecular intermediates to GWAS signals.}, keywords = {Bayesian analysis, complex trait, gene discovery, genetic regulatory mechanisms, Genome-Wide Association Study, joint analysis, molecular phenotype, molecular quantitative trait locus, multi-omics, summary statistics}, issn = {2666-979X}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xgen.2023.100344}, author = {Yang Wu and Ting Qi and Naomi R. Wray and Peter M. Visscher and Jian Zeng and Jian Yang} } @article { WOS:001077072900001, title = {Latent Cumulative Disadvantage: US Immigrants{\textquoteright} Reversed Economic Assimilation in Later Life}, journal = {SOCIAL FORCES}, year = {2023}, abstract = {One of the most salient findings in research on immigration has been that immigrants experience substantial economic mobility as they accumulate more years in the host-society labor force and eventually approach earnings parity with their native-born counterparts. However, we do not know whether this progress is sustained in retirement. In this paper, I develop a framework of Latent Cumulative (Dis)advantage and hypothesize that even as immigrants are approaching parity with the native-born in terms of current earnings, they accumulate disadvantages in lifetime earnings, job benefits, and retirement planning that eventually lead them to have growing disadvantages in income in later life. Drawing on decades of longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study, I find that while foreign- and native-born men in the United States both experience a decline in income after age 50, the decline is much more substantial among foreign-born men. As a result, immigrant men{\textquoteright}s economic assimilation is reversed in later life. I find evidence that this phenomenon is driven mainly by immigrants{\textquoteright} lower lifetime earnings and cumulative exposure to worse job benefits. Given that the foreign-born elderly population in the United States is projected to quadruple by 2050, findings from this paper have important implications for long-term policy planning.}, keywords = {Aging and the life course, cumulative (dis)advantage, immigrant integration, Retirement income}, issn = {0037-7732}, doi = {10.1093/sf/soad100}, author = {Ye, Leafia Z.} } @article {12740, title = {Living alone during old age and the risk of dementia: Assessing the cumulative risk of living alone.}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology, Series B }, volume = {78}, year = {2023}, pages = {293-301}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: This study examines the association between living alone during old age and dementia. Whereas most previous studies on this topic utilize measures of living alone status that were obtained at a single point in time, we compare this typical approach to one that measures long-term exposure to living alone among older adults and assesses whether dementia is more likely to occur within individuals with more accumulated time living alone.

METHODS: Data come from the Health and Retirement Study, with a follow-up period of 2000 - 2018. A total of 18,171 older adults were followed during this period, resulting in 78,490 person-waves analyzed in a series of multi-level logistic models. Contemporaneous living alone was recorded when a respondent{\textquoteright}s household size was equal to 1 in a given wave. Cumulative living alone was calculated by adding the number of living alone statuses up to a given wave.

RESULTS: Contemporaneous living alone was either not associated (male-only subsample), or inversely associated (female-only subsample) with dementia. By contrast, a one-unit (i.e., one wave) increase in cumulative living alone was associated with about a 10\% increase in the odds of dementia for both men (OR = 1.111) and women (OR = 1.088), net of several covariates, including marital status, age, social activities, and social support.

DISCUSSION: Living alone during late life is an important risk factor for dementia, but the cognitive effects of solitary living probably do not take hold immediately for most older adults and potentially demonstrate a dose-response relationship.

}, keywords = {cognitive impairment, Living arrangements, social isolation}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbac156}, author = {Shaw, Benjamin A and Yang, Tse-Chuan and Kim, Seulki} } @article {13451, title = {Loneliness, Purpose in Life, and Protective Behaviors: Examining Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Relationships in Older Adults Before and During COVID-19.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, year = {2023}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: Existing literature on the effects of psychological resources on health-protective behaviors in COVID-19 and other contexts has focused heavily on cross-sectional relationships. Informed by self-determination theory (SDT), the current study aims to overcome this limitation by investigating the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships among loneliness, purpose in life, and protective behaviors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US older adults.

METHOD: This study uses data from the 2016 and 2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative longitudinal panel study of older adults in the US. The working sample size was 2649. A path model and a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) were applied for the analyses.

RESULTS: Purpose in life fully mediated the negative impact of loneliness on protective behaviors when measured cross-sectionally. Moreover, pre-pandemic loneliness was associated with a decrease in purpose in life over time. On the other hand, pre-pandemic purpose in life was associated with a decrease in loneliness and an increase in protective behaviors over time.

DISCUSSION: Our cross-sectional finding on the mediating role of purpose in life reveals a psychological mechanism useful for future interventions. Furthermore, the longitudinal influence of pre-pandemic loneliness on purpose in life deserves both scholarly and clinical attention. Most importantly, the longitudinal effects of purpose in life on loneliness and protective behaviors provide guidance for preparing older adults during normal times to cope with loneliness and to comply more with recommended measures during future health crises (such as the COVID-19 pandemic).

}, keywords = {Health risk behaviors; longitudinal change; well being.}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbad117}, author = {Ma, Xin and Yang, Yin and Lin, Tong and Zhang, Yan and Zheng, En} } @article {13181, title = {Longitudinal body weight dynamics in relation to cognitive decline over two decades: A prospective cohort study.}, journal = {Obesity (Silver Spring)}, volume = {31}, year = {2023}, month = {2023 Mar}, pages = {852-860}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of body weight change (BWC) and body weight variability (BWV) with changes in cognitive function.

METHODS: In 10,340 Health and Retirement Study participants (mean age: 68.0 years), body weight was reported biennially from 1993/1994 to 2016, and cognitive function was measured biennially from 1998 to 2016. We calculated BWC and BWV as the slope and root-mean-square error by regressing body weight on time for each individual. BWC was categorized by quintiles (Q): stable weight (Q2 to Q4), weight loss (Q1), and weight gain (Q5). BWV was categorized by tertiles. We used linear mixed regression models to assess associations with cognitive change.

RESULTS: Compared with stable weight (median: 0~kg/y), weight loss (median: -1.3~kg/y) predicted faster cognitive decline as demonstrated by mean difference of -0.023 (95\% CI: -0.027 to -0.019) in cognitive change z score per year, whereas weight gain (median: 1~kg/y) was related to slower cognitive decline (β~=~0.006; 95\% CI: 0.003 to 0.009). Larger BWV was also associated with faster cognitive decline (β comparing the top with bottom tertile~=~-0.003; 95\% CI: -0.006 to -0.0002). Similar associations were observed for episodic and working memory.

CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss and large BWV over a long time independently predicted faster cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults, underscoring the importance of long-term dynamic body weight monitoring.

}, keywords = {Aged, Body Weight, Cognitive Dysfunction, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Weight Gain, Weight Loss}, issn = {1930-739X}, doi = {10.1002/oby.23671}, author = {Zhou, Tianjing and Chen, Hui and Huang, Yuhui and Wang, Binghan and Zheng, Yan and Wang, Liang and Rong, Shuang and Ma, Yuan and Yuan, Changzheng} } @article {13124, title = {Long-term variability in physiological measures in relation to mortality and epigenetic aging: prospective studies in the USA and China.}, journal = {BMC Med}, volume = {21}, year = {2023}, month = {2023 Jan 16}, pages = {20}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Visit-to-visit body weight variability (BWV), pulse rate variability (PRV), and blood pressure variability (BPV) have been respectively linked to multiple health outcomes. The associations of the combination of long-term variability in physiological measures with mortality and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) remain largely unknown.

METHODS: We constructed a composite score of physiological variability (0-3) of large variability in BWV, PRV, and BPV~(the top tertiles) in 2006/2008-2014/2016 in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and 2011-2015 in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). All-cause mortality was documented through 2018. EAA was calculated using thirteen DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks~among 1047 participants in a substudy of the HRS. We assessed the relation of the composite score to the risk of mortality among 6566 participants in the HRS and 6906 participants in the CHARLS by Cox proportional models and then investigated its association with EAA using linear regression models.

RESULTS: A higher score of variability was associated with higher mortality risk in both cohorts (pooled hazard ratio [HR] per one-point increment, 1.27; 95\% confidence interval [CI], 1.18, 1.39; P-heterogeneity = 0.344), after adjustment for multiple confounders and baseline physiological measures. Specifically, each SD increment in BWV, PRV, and BPV was related to 21\% (95\% CI: 15\%, 28\%), 6\% (0\%, 13\%), and 12\% (4\%, 19\%) higher hazard of mortality, respectively. The composite score was significantly related to EAA in second-generation clocks trained on health outcomes (e.g., standardized coefficient = 0.126 in the Levine clock, 95\% CI: 0.055, 0.196) but not in most first-generation clocks trained on chronological age.

CONCLUSIONS: Larger variability in physiological measures was associated with a higher risk of mortality and faster EAA.

}, keywords = {Aging, China, Epigenesis, Genetic, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Prospective Studies}, issn = {1741-7015}, doi = {10.1186/s12916-022-02674-w}, author = {Chen, Hui and Zhou, Tianjing and Wu, Shaowei and Cao, Yaying and Zong, Geng and Yuan, Changzheng} } @article {13323, title = {Medication misuse and overuse in community-dwelling persons with dementia.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, year = {2023}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Persons with dementia (PWD) have high rates of polypharmacy. While previous studies have examined specific types of problematic medication use in PWD, we sought to characterize a broad spectrum of medication misuse and overuse among community-dwelling PWD.

METHODS: We included community-dwelling adults aged >=66 in the Health and Retirement Study from 2008 to 2018 linked to Medicare and classified as having dementia using a validated algorithm. Medication usage was ascertained over the 1-year prior to an HRS interview date. Potentially problematic medications were identified by: (1) medication overuse including over-aggressive treatment of diabetes/hypertension (e.g., insulin/sulfonylurea with hemoglobin A1c < 7.5\%) and medications inappropriate near end of life based on STOPPFrail and (2) medication misuse including medications that negatively affect cognition and medications from 2019 Beers and STOPP Version 2 criteria. To contextualize, we compared medication use to people without dementia through a propensity-matched cohort by age, sex, comorbidities, and interview year. We applied survey weights to make our results nationally representative.

RESULTS: Among 1441 PWD, median age was 84 (interquartile range = 78-89), 67\% female, and 14\% Black. Overall, 73\% of PWD were prescribed >=1 potentially problematic medication with a mean of 2.09 per individual in the prior year. This was notable across several domains, including 41\% prescribed >=1 medication that negatively affects cognition. Frequently problematic medications included proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, antihypertensives, and antidiabetic agents. Problematic medication use was higher among PWD compared to those without dementia with 73\% versus 67\% prescribed >=1 problematic medication (p = 0.002) and mean of 2.09 versus 1.62 (p < 0.001), respectively.

CONCLUSION: Community-dwelling PWD frequently receive problematic medications across multiple domains and at higher frequencies compared to those without dementia. Deprescribing efforts for PWD should focus not only on potentially harmful central nervous system-active medications but also on other classes such as PPIs and NSAIDs.

}, issn = {1532-5415}, doi = {10.1111/jgs.18463}, author = {Deardorff, W James and Jing, Bocheng and Growdon, Matthew E and Yaffe, Kristine and Boscardin, W John and Boockvar, Kenneth S and Steinman, Michael A} } @article {12918, title = {Multimorbidity burden and developmental trajectory in relation to later-life dementia: A prospective study.}, journal = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s \& Dementia}, year = {2023}, abstract = {

INTRODUCTION: This study assessed the associations of multimorbidity burden and its developmental trajectory with later-life dementia.

METHODS: Among 5923 Health and Retirement Study participants, major chronic conditions including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cancer, lung diseases, heart disease, stroke, psychological disorders, and arthritis were self- or~proxy-reported in 1994-2008. Dementia diagnosis was self- or proxy-reported in 2008-2018. We used Cox regression to assess the associations of multimorbidity with incident dementia.

RESULTS: During follow-up (median = 8 years), 701 participants developed dementia. Each additional chronic condition in 2008 was related to 15\% (confidence interval: 9\% to 22\%) higher hazard of dementia. Multimorbidity trajectories in 1994-2008 were classified as "rapid growth", "steady growth", "slow growth", and "no new condition" by the group-based trajectory modelling methods. Compared to "no new condition", the "rapid growth" trajectory was related to 32\% (3\% to 69\%) higher dementia risk.

CONCLUSIONS: Both multimorbidity burden and its developmental trajectory were prospectively associated with risk of dementia.

}, keywords = {Dementia, healthy aging, multimorbidity}, issn = {1552-5279}, doi = {10.1002/alz.12840}, author = {Chen, Hui and Zhou, Yaguan and Huang, Liyan and Xu, Xiaolin and Yuan, Changzheng} } @article {13454, title = {Negative wealth shocks in later life and subsequent cognitive function in older adults in China, England, Mexico, and the USA, 2012-18: a population-based, cross-nationally harmonised, longitudinal study.}, journal = {Lancet Healthy Longev}, year = {2023}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Household wealth is positively related to cognitive health outcomes in later life. However, the association between negative wealth shocks and cognitive function in later life, and whether this association might differ across countries at different levels of economic development, is unclear. We aimed to investigate whether negative wealth shocks in later life are associated with cognitive function in older adults in China, England, Mexico, and the USA, and whether this association is modified by country income level.

METHODS: For this population-based, cross-nationally harmonised, longitudinal study, data were analysed from core interviews of the population-based US Health and Retirement Study (2012 and 2016) and its partner studies in China (the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study; 2015 and 2018), England (the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing; 2012 and 2016), and Mexico (Mexican Health and Aging Study; 2012 and 2015-16), and their respective Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocols (HCAPs). Negative wealth shocks over the follow-up periods of the respective cohorts were defined in two ways: an extreme loss of 75\% or greater from the baseline amount of wealth, and a decline in within-population wealth quintile rank. The primary outcome was the harmonised general cognitive function (GCF) factor score, which was constructed with factor analysis on the HCAP neuropsychological assessments of memory, orientation, attention, executive function, and verbal fluency performance (mean 0; SD 1). We used sampling-weighted, multivariable-adjusted linear models to examine associations.

FINDINGS: Data from 9465 participants were included in this analysis: 3796 from China, 1184 from England, 1193 from Mexico, and 3292 from the USA. The mean baseline age of participants was 68{\textperiodcentered}5 (SD 5{\textperiodcentered}4) years in China (49{\textperiodcentered}8\% women), 72{\textperiodcentered}0 (7{\textperiodcentered}0) years in England (54{\textperiodcentered}6\% women), 70{\textperiodcentered}6 (6{\textperiodcentered}8) years in Mexico (55{\textperiodcentered}1\% women), and 72{\textperiodcentered}7 (7{\textperiodcentered}5) years in the USA (60{\textperiodcentered}4\% women). A wealth loss of 75\% or greater was negatively associated with subsequent cognitive function in the USA (β -0{\textperiodcentered}16 SD units; 95\% CI -0{\textperiodcentered}29 to -0{\textperiodcentered}04) and China (-0{\textperiodcentered}14; -0{\textperiodcentered}21 to -0{\textperiodcentered}07), but not in England (-0{\textperiodcentered}01; -0{\textperiodcentered}24 to 0{\textperiodcentered}22) or Mexico (-0{\textperiodcentered}11; -0{\textperiodcentered}24 to 0{\textperiodcentered}03). Similarly, within-population wealth quintile rank declines were negatively associated with subsequent cognitive function in the USA (β -0{\textperiodcentered}07 per quintile rank decline; 95\% CI -0{\textperiodcentered}11 to -0{\textperiodcentered}03) and China (β -0{\textperiodcentered}07; -0{\textperiodcentered}09 to -0{\textperiodcentered}04), but not in England (-0{\textperiodcentered}05; -0{\textperiodcentered}11 to 0{\textperiodcentered}01) or Mexico (-0{\textperiodcentered}03; -0{\textperiodcentered}07 to 0{\textperiodcentered}01).

INTERPRETATION: The impact of wealth shocks in later life on subsequent lower level of cognitive function of older adults in China, England, Mexico, and the USA differed across macro-level socioeconomic structures. These findings suggest that government policies and social safety nets in countries with different levels of economic development might have a role in protecting older adults from adverse health effects of wealth losses in later life.

FUNDING: US National Institute on Aging, US National Institutes of Health.

}, issn = {2666-7568}, doi = {10.1016/S2666-7568(23)00113-7}, author = {Cho, Tsai-Chin and Yu, Xuexin and Gross, Alden L and Zhang, Yuan S and Lee, Jinkook and Kenneth M. Langa and Lindsay C Kobayashi} } @article {13260, title = {A NEW Body Mass Index (NBMI)}, year = {2023}, institution = {Research Square}, abstract = {Body mass index (BMI) is typically used to define overweight and obesity. However, without waist circumference information, BMI may misclassify as overweight or obese. Therefore, we proposed a new index based on BMI. We developed a New Body Mass Index (NBMI) by adding waist circumference (WC) to BMI, which combined BMI and WC. That is, it also combined weight-for-height and waist-to-height ratios. The formula is: NBMI = BMI {\texttimes} WC (m) = WT (kg) / HT (m2) {\texttimes} WC (m) = WT (kg) / HT (m) {\texttimes} WC (m) / HT (m) = weight-for-height {\texttimes} waist-to-height. Firstly, individuals with the same height and weight have the same BMI, but their waist circumferences could vary considerably, and NBMI could distinguish body differences among people{\textquoteright}s waist sizes. Secondly, NBMI could better identify central obesity than BMI. Thirdly, NBMI could not only measure body mass but also classify health and obesity degrees according to a wide range of scores. Firstly, NBMI incorporating WC could better reflect the body difference in waist size than BMI. Secondly, NBMI is more convenient for identifying central obesity. Thirdly, NBMI could better classify different weight types by expanding the score range.}, keywords = {BMI, NBMI, overweight and obesity}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2719634/v1}, author = {Minghui Yin and Caiping Liu} } @article {13703, title = {Patterns and Life Course Determinants of Black-White Disparities in Biological Age Acceleration: A Decomposition Analysis.}, journal = {Demography}, volume = {60}, year = {2023}, pages = {1815-1841}, abstract = {

Despite the prominence of the weathering hypothesis as a mechanism underlying racialized inequities in morbidity and mortality, the life course social and economic determinants of Black-White disparities in biological aging remain inadequately understood. This study uses data from the Health and Retirement Study (n = 6,782), multivariable regression, and Kitagawa-Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition to assess Black-White disparities across three measures of biological aging: PhenoAge, Klemera-Doubal biological age, and homeostatic dysregulation. It also examines the contributions of racial differences in life course socioeconomic and stress exposures and vulnerability to those exposures to Black-White disparities in biological aging. Across the outcomes, Black individuals exhibited accelerated biological aging relative to White individuals. Decomposition analyses showed that racial differences in life course socioeconomic exposures accounted for roughly 27\% to 55\% of the racial disparities across the biological aging measures, and racial disparities in psychosocial stress exposure explained 7\% to 11\%. We found less evidence that heterogeneity in the associations between social exposures and biological aging by race contributed substantially to Black-White disparities in biological aging. Our findings offer new evidence of the role of life course social exposures in generating disparities in biological aging, with implications for understanding age patterns of morbidity and mortality risks.

}, keywords = {Aging, Black or African American, Health Status Disparities, Humans, Life Change Events, Morbidity, Mortality, White}, issn = {1533-7790}, doi = {10.1215/00703370-11057546}, author = {Boen, Courtney E and Yang, Y Claire and Aiello, Allison E and Dennis, Alexis C} } @article {13704, title = {Patterns and Life Course Determinants of Black-White Disparities in Biological Age Acceleration: A Decomposition Analysis.}, journal = {Demography}, volume = {60}, year = {2023}, pages = {1815-1841}, abstract = {

Despite the prominence of the weathering hypothesis as a mechanism underlying racialized inequities in morbidity and mortality, the life course social and economic determinants of Black-White disparities in biological aging remain inadequately understood. This study uses data from the Health and Retirement Study (n = 6,782), multivariable regression, and Kitagawa-Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition to assess Black-White disparities across three measures of biological aging: PhenoAge, Klemera-Doubal biological age, and homeostatic dysregulation. It also examines the contributions of racial differences in life course socioeconomic and stress exposures and vulnerability to those exposures to Black-White disparities in biological aging. Across the outcomes, Black individuals exhibited accelerated biological aging relative to White individuals. Decomposition analyses showed that racial differences in life course socioeconomic exposures accounted for roughly 27\% to 55\% of the racial disparities across the biological aging measures, and racial disparities in psychosocial stress exposure explained 7\% to 11\%. We found less evidence that heterogeneity in the associations between social exposures and biological aging by race contributed substantially to Black-White disparities in biological aging. Our findings offer new evidence of the role of life course social exposures in generating disparities in biological aging, with implications for understanding age patterns of morbidity and mortality risks.

}, keywords = {Aging, Black or African American, Health Status Disparities, Humans, Life Change Events, Morbidity, Mortality, White}, issn = {1533-7790}, doi = {10.1215/00703370-11057546}, author = {Boen, Courtney E and Yang, Y Claire and Aiello, Allison E and Dennis, Alexis C} } @article {13702, title = {Patterns and Life Course Determinants of Black-White Disparities in Biological Age Acceleration: A Decomposition Analysis.}, journal = {Demography}, volume = {60}, year = {2023}, pages = {1815-1841}, abstract = {

Despite the prominence of the weathering hypothesis as a mechanism underlying racialized inequities in morbidity and mortality, the life course social and economic determinants of Black-White disparities in biological aging remain inadequately understood. This study uses data from the Health and Retirement Study (n = 6,782), multivariable regression, and Kitagawa-Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition to assess Black-White disparities across three measures of biological aging: PhenoAge, Klemera-Doubal biological age, and homeostatic dysregulation. It also examines the contributions of racial differences in life course socioeconomic and stress exposures and vulnerability to those exposures to Black-White disparities in biological aging. Across the outcomes, Black individuals exhibited accelerated biological aging relative to White individuals. Decomposition analyses showed that racial differences in life course socioeconomic exposures accounted for roughly 27\% to 55\% of the racial disparities across the biological aging measures, and racial disparities in psychosocial stress exposure explained 7\% to 11\%. We found less evidence that heterogeneity in the associations between social exposures and biological aging by race contributed substantially to Black-White disparities in biological aging. Our findings offer new evidence of the role of life course social exposures in generating disparities in biological aging, with implications for understanding age patterns of morbidity and mortality risks.

}, keywords = {Aging, Black or African American, Health Status Disparities, Humans, Life Change Events, Morbidity, Mortality, White}, issn = {1533-7790}, doi = {10.1215/00703370-11057546}, author = {Boen, Courtney E and Yang, Y Claire and Aiello, Allison E and Dennis, Alexis C and Harris, Kathleen Mullan and Kwon, Dayoon and Belsky, Daniel W} } @article {13362, title = {Perceived Neighborhood Characteristics and Later-Life Pain Outcomes: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {J Aging Health}, year = {2023}, pages = {8982643231185382}, abstract = {

This study examines whether perceived neighborhood characteristics relate to pain outcomes among middle-aged and older adults. Data were from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2014; = 18,814). Perceived neighborhood characteristics were physical disorder, social cohesion, safety, and social ties. We fitted adjusted generalized estimating equation models to evaluate prevalence, incidence, and recovery of moderate-to-severe limiting pain 2~years later. The mean age of our sample was 65.3~years; 54.6\% were female and 24.2\% reported moderate-to-severe limiting pain at baseline. Positive neighborhood characteristics were associated with low prevalence (e.g., prevalence ratio [PR]: .71 for ) and reduced incidence (e.g., PR: .63 for ) of moderate-to-severe limiting pain. Positive neighborhood characteristics were associated with a high recovery rate from moderate-to-severe limiting pain (e.g., PR = 1.15 for ), though the 95\% CIs for disorder and cohesion crossed the null. Neighborhood characteristics may be important determinants in predicting pain in later life.

}, issn = {1552-6887}, doi = {10.1177/08982643231185382}, author = {Yang, Yulin and Sims, Kendra D and Lane, Nancy E and Duchowny, Kate A and Torres, Jacqueline M} } @article {13127, title = {Predictive Models of Life Satisfaction in Older People: A Machine Learning Approach.}, journal = {Int J Environ Res Public Health}, volume = {20}, year = {2023}, month = {2023 Jan 30}, abstract = {

Studies of life satisfaction in older adults have been conducted extensively through empirical research, questionnaires, and theoretical analysis, with the majority of these studies basing their analyses on simple linear relationships between variables. However, most real-life relationships are complex and cannot be approximated with simple correlations. Here, we first investigate predictors correlated with life satisfaction in older adults. Then, machine learning is used to generate several predictive models based on a large sample of older adults (age >= 50 years; = 34,630) from the RAND Health and Retirement Study. Results show that subjective social status, positive emotions, and negative emotions are the most critical predictors of life satisfaction. The Support Vector Regression (SVR) model exhibited the highest prediction accuracy for life satisfaction in older individuals among several models, including Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Ridge Regression (RR), Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator Regression (LASSO), K Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and Decision Tree Regression (DT) models. Although the KNN and DT models exhibited better model fitting than MLR, RR, and LASSO, their performances were poor in terms of model validation and model generalization. These results indicate that machine learning is superior to simple correlations for understanding life satisfaction among older adults.

}, keywords = {Aged, Humans, Linear Models, Machine learning, Middle Aged, Personal Satisfaction}, issn = {1660-4601}, doi = {10.3390/ijerph20032445}, author = {Shen, Xiaofang and Yin, Fei and Jiao, Can} } @article {13624, title = {Progression and trajectory network of age-related functional impairments and their combined associations with mortality}, journal = {iScience}, volume = {26}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Age-related functional impairments (ARFIs) contribute to the loss of independence in older adults, but their progressions, interrelations, and combined relations with mortality are largely unknown. We conducted a prospective study among 17,914 participants in the Health and Retirement Study (2000{\textendash}2020). The incidence rates of visual impairment, hearing impairment, physical frailty, and cognitive impairment increased exponentially with age, while those of restless sleep and depression increased relatively slowly. These ARFIs were associated with each other in temporal sequence and constituted a hazard network. We observed a dose-response relationship between the number of ARFIs and mortality risk, and the dyads involving physical frailty demonstrated the strongest associations with mortality. Our findings may assist in the identification of individuals at higher mortality risk and highlight the potential for future investigations to explore the impact of multiple ARFIs in aging.}, keywords = {Age, association analysis, Bioinformatics, Health sciences}, doi = {10.1016/j.isci.2023.108368}, author = {Chen, Hui and Wang, Binghan and Lv, Rongxia and Zhou, Tianjing and Shen, Jie and Song, Huan and Xu, Xiaolin and Ma, Yuan and Yuan, Changzheng} } @article {12879, title = {Salivary telomere length and the risks of prediabetes and diabetes among middle-aged and older adults: findings from the Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {Acta Diabetologica}, volume = {60}, year = {2023}, pages = {273-283}, abstract = {

AIM: To assess the association of telomere length (TL) with prediabetes/diabetes and to explore the potential factors affecting TL among individuals with prediabetes/diabetes by weight status.

METHODS: This study included 3,379 eligible adults (aged 45-85~years, males: 42\%) from the US Health and Retirement Study in 2008. TL was assayed using quantitative PCR of saliva (T/S ratio). Linear and nonlinear associations between TL and prediabetes/diabetes were assessed using the logistic regression and restricted cubic spline model, respectively, adjusting for TL-plate numbers, age, sex, race, body mass index, lifestyles, diabetes medications, and cardiometabolic parameters (blood pressure, C-reactive protein, and total cholesterol). Multiple linear regression was used for testing any factors associated with TL.

RESULTS: Among 3,379 participants, 868 (25.7\%) had prediabetes with a mean TL of 1.34 {\textpm} 0.37 (T/S ratio) and 858 (25.4\%) had diabetes with a mean TL of 1.36 {\textpm} 0.43 (T/S ratio). Neither linear nor nonlinear association of TL with prediabetes/diabetes was significant by weight status. Age was negatively associated with TL in both normal-weight (β = - 0.002, p = 0.025) and overweight/obese (β = - 0.002, p = 0.006) prediabetes, but non-significant in normal-weight and overweight/obese diabetes. BMI and cardiometabolic parameters were not associated with TL in prediabetes/diabetes by weight status.

CONCLUSIONS: Salivary TL was not associated with prediabetes/diabetes among the US middle-aged and older adults. Further longitudinal studies are required to establish the link between TL and diabetes development and to identify potential factors affecting TL shortening, particularly in normal-weight diabetic patients.

}, keywords = {Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes Mellitus, Obesity, Overweight, Prediabetic State, Telomere, Telomere Shortening}, issn = {1432-5233}, doi = {10.1007/s00592-022-02004-9}, author = {Yu, Hong-Jie and Ho, Mandy and Chau, Pui Hing and Geng, Leiluo and Fong, Daniel Yee Tak} } @article {13463, title = {Spousal synchrony in allostatic load among older couples in the Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {Psychosom Med}, year = {2023}, month = {2023 Jul 07}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: Using national data from the Health and Retirement Study, this study examined interpartner associations of allostatic load (AL) among 2,338 different-sex couples (N = 4,676 individuals) over a four-year period among older American couples from a dyadic approach.

METHODS: AL was indexed by immune (c-reactive protein), metabolic (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol and glycosylated hemoglobin), renal (cystatin C), cardiovascular (systolic and diastolic blood pressures, pulse rate) and anthropometric (waist and body mass index) parameters using the traditional count-based formulation. Actor-partner interdependence models were used to assess interpartner concordance in AL.

RESULTS: Higher partners{\textquoteright} baseline AL was significantly associated with higher own AL both at baseline and four years later. Additionally, partners{\textquoteright} baseline AL was significantly associated with own AL four years later only in women but not men. Lastly, we did not observe any significant moderating effect of relationship quality on interpartner AL concordance.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that older couples{\textquoteright} physiological responses to environmental stress are not only linked concurrently, but the associations persist after four years, alluding to long-term impacts of couples{\textquoteright} psychosocial context and physiology on each other.

}, issn = {1534-7796}, doi = {10.1097/PSY.0000000000001232}, author = {Yu, Yan-Liang and Juster, Robert-Paul} } @article {13157, title = {Understanding Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease in the context of aging: Findings from applications of stochastic process models to the Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {Mech Ageing Dev}, volume = {211}, year = {2023}, month = {2023 Apr}, pages = {111791}, abstract = {

There is growing literature on applications of biodemographic models, including stochastic process models (SPM), to studying regularities of age dynamics of biological variables in relation to aging and disease development. Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD) is especially good candidate for SPM applications because age is a major risk factor for this heterogeneous complex trait. However, such applications are largely lacking. This paper starts filling this gap and applies SPM to data on onset of AD and longitudinal trajectories of body mass index (BMI) constructed from the Health and Retirement Study surveys and Medicare-linked data. We found that APOE e4 carriers are less robust to deviations of trajectories of BMI from the optimal levels compared to non-carriers. We also observed age-related decline in adaptive response (resilience) related to deviations of BMI from optimal levels as well as APOE- and age-dependence in other components related to variability of BMI around the mean allostatic values and accumulation of allostatic load. SPM applications thus allow revealing novel connections between age, genetic factors and longitudinal trajectories of risk factors in the context of AD and aging creating new opportunities for understanding AD development, forecasting trends in AD incidence and prevalence in populations, and studying disparities in those.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aging, Alzheimer disease, Apolipoproteins E, Humans, Medicare, Retirement, United States}, issn = {1872-6216}, doi = {10.1016/j.mad.2023.111791}, author = {Arbeev, Konstantin G and Bagley, Olivia and Yashkin, Arseniy P and Duan, Hongzhe and Akushevich, Igor and Ukraintseva, Svetlana V and Yashin, Anatoliy I} } @article {13420, title = {Use of Advance Directives in US Veterans and Non-Veterans: Findings from the Decedents of the Health and Retirement Study 1992-2014.}, journal = {Healthcare (Basel)}, volume = {11}, year = {2023}, abstract = {

Evidence shows that older patients with advance directives such as a living will, or durable power of attorney for healthcare, are more likely to receive care consistent with their preferences at the end of life. Less is known about the use of advance directives between veteran and non-veteran older Americans. Using data from the decedents of a longitudinal survey, we explore whether there is a difference in having an established advance directive between the veteran and non-veteran decedents. Data were taken from the Harmonized End of Life data sets, a linked collection of variables derived from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Exit Interview. Only male decedents were included in the current analysis (N = 4828). The dependent variable, having an established advance directive, was measured by asking the proxy, "whether the deceased respondent ever provided written instructions about the treatment or care he/she wanted to receive during the final days of his/her life" and "whether the deceased respondent had a Durable Power of Attorney for healthcare?" A "yes" to either of the two items was counted as having an advance directive. The independent variable, veteran status, was determined by asking participants, "Have you ever served in the active military of the United States?" at their first HRS core interview. Logistic regression was used to predict the likelihood of having an established advance directive. While there was no difference in having an advance directive between male veteran and non-veteran decedents during the earlier follow-up period (from 1992 to 2003), male veterans who died during the second half of the study period (from 2004 to 2014) were more likely to have an established advance directive than their non-veteran counterparts (OR = 1.24, < 0.05). Other factors positively associated with having an established advance directive include dying at older ages, higher educational attainment, needing assistance in activities of daily living and being bedridden three months before death, while Black decedents and those who were married were less likely to have an advance directive in place. Our findings suggest male veterans were more likely to have an established advance directive, an indicator for better end-of-life care, than their non-veteran counterparts. This observed difference coincides with a time when the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) increased its investment in end-of-life care. More studies are needed to confirm if this higher utilization of advance directives and care planning among veterans can be attributed to the improved access and quality of end-of-life care in the VHA system.

}, keywords = {Advance directives, United States, Veterans}, issn = {2227-9032}, doi = {10.3390/healthcare11131824}, author = {TUNG, HO-JUI and Yeh, Ming-Chin} } @article {2023, title = {Weight Loss Is a Strong Predictor of Memory Disorder Independent of Genetic Influences}, journal = {Genes}, volume = {14}, year = {2023}, pages = {1563}, keywords = {genetic influences, memory disorder, Weight Loss}, issn = {2073-4425}, doi = {10.3390/genes14081563}, author = {Chen, Sunny and Sarasua, Sara M. and Davis, Nicole J. and DeLuca, Jane M. and Thielke, Stephen M. and Yu, Chang-En} } @article {13483, title = {Wildfire smoke linked to increased risk of dementia, study says}, year = {2023}, publisher = {The Washington Post}, keywords = {Air Pollution, Dementia, smoke, wildfires}, url = {https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/08/22/wildfire-smoke-dementia-risk-increase/}, author = {Yarber, Aara{\textquoteright}L} } @article {12245, title = {Age Profiles of Cognitive Decline and Dementia in Late Life in the Aging, Demographics and Memory Study (ADAMS).}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology, Series B }, volume = {77}, year = {2022}, pages = {1880-1891}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To better understand the temporal dynamics of progression from cognitive decline to onset of dementia in the dementia-free older population in the U.S.

METHODS: We used longitudinal data from a diverse national population-based sample of older adults (N=531) in the Aging, Demographics and Memory Study (ADAMS) from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) with repeated measures of cognitive function and dementia diagnosis during 12 years of follow-up from 1996 to 2009. We employed joint latent class mixed models to estimate the association between cognitive change and competing risks of dementia and non-dementia death and identify heterogeneity in the age profiles of such association adjusting for baseline characteristics.

RESULTS: Our analyses found three latent classes with distinct age profiles of cognitive decline and associated risk of dementia and mortality: "Rapid Cognitive Decline" (19.6\%), "Moderate Progression" (44.6\%), and "Optimal Cognitive Aging" (35.8\%). When simultaneously accounting for cognitive trajectories and time-to-dementia/death, we also found associations of baseline covariates with slope of cognitive decline (e.g., steeper decline among non-Hispanic Blacks and more educated) and risk of dementia (e.g., greater risk for females and apolipoprotein E [APOE-4] carriers, but no difference by education level) that differ substantially from those in separate longitudinal mixed models or survival models.

DISCUSSION: The differential age patterns of cognitive decline predicting dementia incidences identified in this study suggest variation in the course of cognitive aging in older adults that may inform future etiological and intervention studies.

}, keywords = {ADAMS, Cognition, joint models, latent class, longitudinal trajectories, Mortality}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbac038}, author = {Walsh, Christine E and Yang, Yang C and Oi, Katsuya and Allison E Aiello and Daniel W. Belsky and Mullan Harris, Kathleen and Brenda L Plassman} } @article {13001, title = {ARE CAREGIVERS HEALTHIER?: ASSESSING CAREGIVERS{\textquoteright} EPISODIC MEMORY IN A MATCHED AND UNMATCHED SAMPLE}, journal = {Innovation in Aging}, volume = {6}, year = {2022}, pages = {548}, abstract = {Recent findings using an advanced methodological technique of propensity matching have found that caregivers may have better cognitive health compared to non-caregivers. However, there are limited studies assessing how personality and other psychosocial variables may affect the relationship between caregiver status and cognition. Utilizing the healthy caregiver hypothesis (HCH), the current study examined the association between caregiving and episodic memory in a matched (N= 1,246) and unmatched (N=3,112) sample of caregivers from the 2016 wave of the Health and Retirement Study. The interaction between caregiving status and personality was also examined. Unadjusted models showed no difference between caregiver status and episodic memory in the samples; however, depression was significantly (p=<.0001) related to cognition in the unmatched sample. In adjusted models for the unmatched sample, conscientiousness (p=0.043), pessimism (p=0.006), and feeling constrained (p=0.028) were found to be significantly associated with episodic memory. In the matched adjusted models, conscientiousness was no longer a significant predictor, but number of chronic conditions was significantly related to episodic memory (p=0.001). The interaction between caregiving and extraversion also approached significance (p=0.076). Findings suggest extraverted caregivers may have better episodic memory performance. These findings highlight the importance of implementing propensity matching in caregiving research. Future research is needed to examine the relationship between coping style and personality specific domains in relation to the HCH.}, keywords = {Caregivers, Cognitive health, health}, doi = {10.1093/geroni/igac059.2077}, author = {Veal, Britney and Yauk, Jessica Ann and Meng, Hongdao} } @article {12743, title = {Association of Cystatin C Kidney Function Measures With Long-term Deficit-Accumulation Frailty Trajectories and Physical Function Decline.}, journal = {JAMA Network Open}, volume = {5}, year = {2022}, pages = {e2234208}, abstract = {

Importance: It remains unclear whether cystatin C and cystatin C-based kidney function measures are associated with frailty trajectories and physical function decline.

Objective: To examine the associations of cystatin C level, cystatin C estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRcys), and the difference between eGFRs (eGFRdiff) using cystatin C and creatinine levels with long-term deficit-accumulation frailty trajectories and physical function decline.

Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective cohort study used data from 15 949 participants in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and the US Health and Retirement Study (HRS), 2 ongoing nationally representative cohort studies enrolling community-dwelling older people. Biennial surveys, known as waves, are conducted in both the CHARLS and the HRS. Seven-year data from wave 1 (May 2011 to March 2012) to wave 4 (July to September 2018) in the CHARLS and 12-year data from wave 8 (March 2006 to February 2007) to wave 14 (April 2018 to June 2019) in the HRS were assessed, with wave 1 in the CHARLS and wave 8 in the HRS serving as baseline waves. Data were analyzed from February 12 to May 20, 2022.

Exposures: Baseline serum cystatin C and creatinine levels. Cystatin C eGFR and creatinine estimated GFR (eGFRcr) were calculated using the 2021 race-free equations developed by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration. The difference between eGFRcys and eGFRcr was calculated by subtracting eGFRcr from eGFRcys.

Main Outcomes and Measures: Based on 12-year follow-up data from the HRS and 7-year follow-up data from the CHARLS, a 29-item deficit-accumulation frailty index (FI) was constructed to assess frailty trajectories at each visit. Physical function decline was evaluated using repeated objective physical function measurements (grip strength and gait speed). Linear mixed models were used to examine longitudinal associations.

Results: Among 15 949 older adults included in the analysis, 9114 participants were from the HRS (mean [SD] age, 66.2 [10.1] years; 5244 women [57.5\%]), and 6835 were from the CHARLS (mean [SD] age, 58.4 [9.8] years; 3477 women [50.9\%]). With regard to race and ethnicity, the HRS cohort included 7755 White individuals (85.1\%) and 1359 individuals (14.9\%) of other races and/or ethnicities (including American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and other); all participants in the CHARLS cohort were of Chinese ethnicity. Each SD increment in serum cystatin C was associated with a faster increase in FI in both the HRS cohort (β = 0.050 SD/y; 95\% CI, 0.045-0.055 SD/y; P = .001) and the CHARLS cohort (β = 0.051 SD/y; 95\% CI, 0.042-0.060 SD/y; P = .001). An inverse association was observed for eGFRCys (HRS cohort: β = -0.058 SD/y; 95\% CI, -0.062 to -0.053 SD/y; P = .001; CHARLS cohort: β = -0.056 SD/y; 95\% CI, -0.064 to -0.047 SD/y; P = .001). These associations remained after controlling for serum creatinine (β = 0.051 SD/y; 95\% CI, 0.042-0.060 SD/y; P = .001) and eGFRcr (β = -0.056 SD/y; 95\% CI, -0.064 to -0.047 SD/y; P = .001) in the CHARLS cohort. Similar to the results observed for eGFRcys, each SD increment in the eGFRdiff was associated with a slower increase in FI (β = -0.027 SD/y; 95\% CI, -0.035 to -0.018 SD/y; P = .001) in the CHARLS cohort. Similar findings were observed for physical function decline. For example, each SD increment in serum cystatin C was associated with faster decreases in both grip strength (β = -0.006 SD/y; 95\% CI, -0.008 to -0.003 SD/y; P = .001) and gait speed (β = -0.007 SD/y; 95\% CI, -0.011 to -0.003 SD/y; P = .001) in the HRS cohort and faster decreases in gait speed (β = -0.017 SD/y; 95\% CI, -0.027 to -0.006 SD/y; P = .002) in the CHARLS cohort.

Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, cystatin C, eGFRcys, and eGFRdiff were associated with long-term frailty trajectories and physical function decline among community-dwelling older people without frailty. Monitoring kidney function using cystatin C could have clinical utility in identifying the risk of accelerated frailty progression.

}, keywords = {Cystatin C, Kidney function, physical function decline}, issn = {2574-3805}, doi = {10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.34208}, author = {Li, Chenglong and Ma, Yanjun and Yang, Chao and Hua, Rong and Xie, Wuxiang and Zhang, Luxia} } @article {12788, title = {Association of Long-Term Body Weight Variability With Dementia: A Prospective Study.}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology, Series A }, volume = {77}, year = {2022}, pages = {2116-2122}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Body weight variability (BWV) refers to intraindividual weight loss and gain over a period. The association of long-term BWV with dementia remains unclear and whether this association is beyond body weight change is undetermined.

METHODS: In the Health and Retirement Study, a total of 5 547 dementia-free participants (56.7\% women; mean [SD] age, 71.1 [3.2] years) at baseline (2008) were followed up to 8 years (mean = 6.8 years) to detect incident dementia. Body weight was self-reported biennially from 1992 to 2008. BWV was measured as the coefficient of variation utilizing the body weight reported 9 times across 16 years before baseline. Cox-proportional hazard model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95\% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS: Among the 5 547 participants, a total of 427 incident dementia cases were identified during follow-up. Greater long-term BWV was significantly associated with a higher risk of dementia (HR comparing extreme quartiles: 2.01, 95\% CI: 1.48-2.72; HR of each SD increment: 1.21, 95\% CI: 1.10-1.32; p-trend < .001) independent of mean body weight and body weight change. This significant association was even observed for BWV estimated approximately 15 years preceding dementia diagnosis (HR of each SD increment: 1.13, 95\% CI: 1.03-1.23) and was more pronounced for that closer to diagnosis.

CONCLUSION: Our prospective study suggested that greater BWV may be a novel risk factor for dementia.

}, keywords = {Body Weight, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Weight Loss}, issn = {1758-535X}, doi = {10.1093/gerona/glab372}, author = {Chen, Hui and Zhou, Tianjing and Guo, Jie and Ji, John S and Huang, Liyan and Xu, Weili and Zuo, Guangmin and Lv, Xiaozhen and Zheng, Yan and Hofman, Albert and Ma, Yuan and Yuan, Changzheng} } @article {12318, title = {Association of Perceived Job Insecurity With Subsequent Memory Function and Decline Among Adults 55 Years or Older in England and the US, 2006 to 2016.}, journal = {JAMA Network Open}, volume = {5}, year = {2022}, pages = {e227060}, abstract = {

Importance: Intensified global economic competition and recent financial crises, including those associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, have contributed to uncertainty about job security. However, little is known about the association of perceived job insecurity with memory function and decline among older adults.

Objectives: To investigate the association between perceived job insecurity and subsequent memory function and rate of memory decline among older adults in the US and England.

Design, Setting, and Participants: This 10-year prospective population-based cohort study used data from the US Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) collected from 2006 to 2016. Participants included 9538 adults 55 years or older. Data were analyzed from August 1 to 31, 2021.

Exposures: Perceived job insecurity (yes vs no) at baseline.

Main Outcomes and Measures: Episodic memory z scores at baseline and rate of decline during the follow-up.

Results: Among the 9538 study participants, the mean (SD) age at baseline was 60.97 (6.06) years, and 4981 (52.22\%) were women. A total of 2320 participants (24.32\%) reported job insecurity at baseline (1088 of 3949 [27.55\%] in England and 1232 of 5589 [22.04\%] in the US). Perceived job insecurity after 55 years of age was associated with lower baseline memory z scores in the fully adjusted model (β = -0.04 [95\% CI, -0.08 to -0.01]) but not with rate of memory decline (β = 0.01 [95\% CI, -0.01 to 0.01]). The association appeared to be stronger in the US than in England (job insecurity {\texttimes} US, β = -0.05 [95\% CI, -0.11 to 0.02]), but the estimate was imprecise, potentially owing to low statistical power.

Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this cohort study suggest that exposure to job insecurity in middle to late life was associated with worse memory function among older adults in the US and England. This association may vary across socioeconomic and social welfare contexts, although future studies with large samples from diverse socioeconomic settings are warranted.

}, keywords = {COVID-19, ELSA, Employment, England, Female, Male, Memory Disorders, Pandemics, Prospective Studies}, issn = {2574-3805}, doi = {10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.7060}, author = {Yu, Xuexin and Kenneth M. Langa and Cho, Tsai-Chin and Lindsay C Kobayashi} } @article {PAVELA2022101200, title = {The associations between relative and absolute body mass index with mortality rate based on predictions from stigma theory}, journal = {SSM - Population Health}, volume = {19}, year = {2022}, pages = {101200}, abstract = {Background The social consequences of obesity may influence health and mortality rate (MR), given obesity{\textquoteright}s status as a highly stigmatized condition. Hence, a high absolute body mass index (BMI) in conjunction with the stigmatization of a high BMI may each independently increase the rate of MR. Objectives We tested whether relative BMI, defined as ordinal rank within a social reference group jointly defined by age, sex, and race/ethnicity, is associated with MR independent of absolute BMI. Methods Data were from three nationally representative datasets: the Health and Retirement Study (n = 31,115), the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS, n = 529,362), and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 31,115). Relative BMI kg/m2 deciles were calculated within twenty-four subgroups jointly defined by age (6 levels), sex (2 levels), and race/ethnicity (4 levels). The association between ordinal rank BMI and MR was assessed using Cox survival generalized additive models in each dataset with adjustments for age, race, sex, smoking, educational attainment, and absolute BMI. Results Absolute BMI had a significant non-monotonic association with MR, such that BMI was positively associated with mortality at BMI levels above approximately 25 kg/m2. Contrary to expectations, results from NHIS indicated that individuals in the first decile of relative BMI had the highest MR whereas relative BMI was not associated with MR in the NHANES and HRS. Conclusion We hypothesized that the stigmatization of obesity might lead to an increased MR after controlling for absolute BMI. Contrary to expectations, a higher relative BMI was not associated with an increased MR independent of absolute BMI.}, keywords = {BMI, Deviance, Epidemiology, Lifespan, Longevity, Mortality rate, Obesity, Relative weight, Stigma}, issn = {2352-8273}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101200}, author = {Gregory Pavela and Nengjun Yi and Luis Mestre and Stella Lartey and Pengcheng Xun and David B. Allison} } @article {12211, title = {Associations of insomnia symptoms with sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors in persons with HF: Health and retirement study.}, journal = {Research in Nursing \& Health}, volume = {45}, year = {2022}, pages = {364-379}, abstract = {

Insomnia symptoms are very common in persons with heart failure (HF). However, many of the correlates and predictors of insomnia symptoms in this population remain unclear. The purpose of this study is~to investigate the associations of sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors with insomnia symptoms in persons with HF. A theoretical framework was adapted from the neurocognitive model of chronic insomnia to guide the study. Data from the health and retirement study were used for the analysis. Parametric and nonparametric bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to investigate these associations. Age, depressive symptoms, comorbidity, dyspnea, pain, and smoking had significant bivariate associations with all insomnia symptoms. Race, Hispanic ethnicity, marital status, household income, poverty, and physical activity were associated with difficulty initiating sleep (DIS) and early morning awakening (EMA). Female sex, education, and alcohol consumption had a significant bivariate association with DIS. Sleep-disordered breathing and body mass index were significantly associated with EMA. Multivariate analysis suggested that depressive symptoms, comorbidity, dyspnea, and pain had independent associations with each insomnia symptom. Age explained DIS and difficulty maintaining sleep, and significant interaction effects between age and physical activity on DIS and EMA were revealed. Results suggest that insomnia symptoms are associated with several sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors. Age below 70 years, depressive symptoms, comorbidity, dyspnea, and pain might be considered as a phenotype to identify persons with HF who are at increased risk for insomnia symptoms.

}, keywords = {difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep, Heart Failure, insomnia symptoms}, issn = {1098-240X}, doi = {10.1002/nur.22211}, author = {Rida Gharzeddine and Margaret M McCarthy and Yu, Gary and Victoria V Dickson} } @article {11487, title = {Black-White Differences in the Link Between Offspring College Attainment and Parents{\textquoteright} Depressive Symptom Trajectories.}, journal = {Research on Aging}, volume = {44}, year = {2022}, pages = {123-135}, abstract = {

This study examines whether the relationship between children{\textquoteright}s college attainment and their parents{\textquoteright} mental health differs for Black and White parents as they age. Data come from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and multilevel growth curve models are used to assess parents{\textquoteright} depressive symptom trajectories. Results indicated that parents over age 50 whose children all completed college had significantly lower initial levels of depressive symptoms than those with no college-educated children. The initial benefit was stronger for Blacks than Whites. Results stratified further by parents{\textquoteright} education show that Black parents at nearly all levels of schooling experienced stronger returns to their mental health from children{\textquoteright}s college completion compared to White parents, for whom only those with a high school education showed an inverse association between offspring education and depression symptoms. The findings underscore how offspring education is a potential resource for reducing disparities in health across families.

}, keywords = {intergenerational relationships, life course, Mental Health, race}, issn = {1552-7573}, doi = {10.1177/0164027521997999}, author = {Jenjira J Yahirun and Connor M Sheehan and Krysia N Mossakowski} } @article {12330, title = {Cancer{\textquoteright}s Lasting Financial Burden: Evidence from a Longitudinal Assessment.}, journal = {Journal of the National Cancer Institute}, volume = {114}, year = {2022}, pages = {1020-1028}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: To conduct a longitudinal analysis of out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) trajectories for the assessment of cancer{\textquoteright}s lasting financial impact.

METHODS: We identified newly diagnosed cancer patients and constructed matched non-cancer controls from the 2002-2018 Health and Retirement Study. Outcomes included monthly OOPE for prescription drugs (RX-OOPE_MONTHLY) and OOPE for medical services other than drugs in the past 2 years (non-RX-OOPE_2YR), consumer debt and new individual retirement account (IRA) withdrawals. Generalized linear models were used to compare OOPEs between cancer and matched control groups. Logistic regressions were used to compare household-level consumer debt or early IRA withdrawal. Subgroup analysis stratified patients by age, health status, and household income, with the low-income group stratified by Medicaid coverage. All statistical tests were 2-sided.

RESULTS: The study cohort included 2,022 cancer patients and 10,110 matched non-cancer controls. Mean non-RX-OOPE_2YR of cancer patients was similar to that of matched controls before diagnosis, but statistically significantly higher at diagnosis ($1,157, P < 0.001), and 2 ($511, P < 0.001), 4 ($360, P = 0.006), and 6 years ($430, P = 0.01) after diagnosis. A similar pattern was observed in RX-OOPE_MONTHLY. A statistically significantly higher proportion of cancer patients incurred consumer debt at diagnosis (34.5\% vs. 29.9\%, P < 0.001) and 2 years after (32.5\% vs. 28.2\%, P = 0.002). There was no statistically significant difference in new IRA withdrawals. Patients experienced lasting financial consequences following cancer diagnosis that were most pronounced among patients aged >=65 years, in good-to-excellent health at baseline, and with low income, but without Medicaid coverage.

CONCLUSIONS: Policies to reduce costs and expand insurance coverage options while reducing cost-sharing are needed.

}, keywords = {Cancer, Cost of Illness, prescription drugs}, issn = {1460-2105}, doi = {10.1093/jnci/djac064}, author = {Shih, Ya-Chen Tina and Owsley, Kelsey M and Nicholas, Lauren Hersch and Yabroff, K Robin and Bradley, Cathy} } @article {NBERw29649, title = {A Cross-Country Comparison of Old Age Financial Readiness in Asian Countries vs. the United States: The Case of Japan and the Republic of Korea}, number = {29649}, year = {2022}, institution = {National Bureau of Economic Research}, address = {Cambridge, MA}, abstract = {We pursue a cross-country comparison of relative financial readiness of older households in Japan and the Republic of Korea relative to the US. Our comparative analysis, using macro-level and harmonized longitudinal household financial data, covers the principal financial channels of old age support: public and private pension plans, family support, and self-management of private financial portfolios. We find that while all three countries have similar public pension systems, older Americans benefit from more developed and better-funded public and private pension systems, as well as individual management of risky financial portfolios. We find that educational and health attainments of household heads and household wealth lead to a greater tendency to hold and manage risky assets. Our decomposition analysis also shows that the gap in stock ownership in Asian countries relative to the US is attributable to lower development levels of financial and pension markets. However, these gaps are shrinking more recently.}, keywords = {financial readiness, JSTAR, KLoSA, Sister studies}, doi = {10.3386/w29649}, author = {Ehrlich, Isaac and Yin, Yong} } @article {12222, title = {Crosswalk between the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-27/30/40).}, journal = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s \& Dementia}, year = {2022}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: We develop a crosswalk between the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS)-27, TICS-30, and TICS-40 for adults 65 years and older.

METHODS: We examined the scores of 1809 participants, with and without cognitive impairment, who completed the MMSE and the TICS assessment in the 2016 Health and Retirement Study and the 2016 Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol study. Crosswalks between MMSE and TICS-27/30/40 were developed via equipercentile equating.

RESULTS: We present crosswalks for MMSE and TICS-27/30/40 for the 65+ population representative of the US elderly. While monotonic, the pattern of the TICS-30 to MMSE crosswalk differs from the other two crosswalks (MMSE to TICS-27/40).

CONCLUSION: Our analysis offers an empirical crosswalk between two commonly used cognitive measures-the MMSE and TICS. Our findings suggest the need for validated and robust measures that allow for the comparison of scores on different cognitive scales.

}, keywords = {Alzheimer, crosswalk, Dementia, HCAP, Mini-Mental State Examination, Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status}, issn = {1552-5279}, doi = {10.1002/alz.12569}, author = {Hl{\'a}vka, Jakub P and Yu, Jeffrey C and Darius Lakdawalla} } @article {12681, title = {Difficulties with Activities of Daily Living and Receipt of Care Among Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment: Differences Between Those Living Alone and Those Living with Others.}, journal = {Journal of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease}, volume = {89}, year = {2022}, pages = {31-37}, abstract = {

We compared the prevalence of reporting difficulty with basic and instrumental activities of daily living without help received for persons with cognitive impairment living alone versus those living with others. We used data on 13,782 community-dwelling participants aged 55+ with cognitive impairment in the Health and Retirement Study (2000-2016). Models were stratified by gender and race/ethnicity. Among cognitively impaired older adults, those living alone were more likely to report difficulty without help received than those living with others. Results were similar by gender and race/ethnicity. Providers and policymakers might focus their efforts on ensuring the adequate provision of home and community-based services for older adults living alone with cognitive impairment.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Cognitive Dysfunction, home environment, Independent Living, Prevalence}, issn = {1875-8908}, doi = {10.3233/JAD-220172}, author = {Yang, Yulin and Swinnerton, Kaitlin and Portacolone, Elena and Allen, Isabel Elaine and Torres, Jacqueline M and Duchowny, Kate} } @article {12863, title = {Digital exclusion and functional dependence in older people: Findings from five longitudinal cohort studies.}, journal = {eClinicalMedicine}, volume = {54}, year = {2022}, pages = {101708}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Older people are more likely to be excluded from the digital world, and this has been linked to poor health outcomes. The extent and direction of the influence of digital exclusion on functional dependency is, however, not well understood. We aimed to investigate the association between digital exclusion and functional dependency among older adults from high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

METHODS: In this multicohort study, we pooled individual-level data from five longitudinal cohort studies that included nationally representative samples of older adults across 23 countries, including the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA), the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), and the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS). The digital exclusion was recorded as an absence from internet use by self-reported. We assessed basic activities of daily living (BADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and we used interval-of-need methods to categorize the functional dependency. We applied generalized estimating equations models fitting Poisson model to investigate the association of digital exclusion with difficulties in BADL or IADL and functional dependency, adjusting for the causal-directed-acyclic-graph (DAG) minimal sufficient adjustment set (MSAS), including gender, age level, labour force status, education, household wealth level, marital status, and co-residence with children.

FINDINGS: We included 108,621 participants recruited between 2010 and 2018 with a median follow-up of 3 phrases. Digital exclusion in older adults varied across countries, ranging from 23.8\% in Denmark (SHARE) to 96.9\% in China (CHARLS). According to the crude model, digital exclusion was significantly associated with functional dependency. In the MSAS-adjusted model, those associations remained statistically significant: HRS (incidence rate ratio [IRR]~=~1.40, 95\% confidence interval [CI] 1.34-1.48 for BADL; 1.71 [1.61-1.82] for IADL), ELSA (1.31~[1.22-1.40] in BADL and 1.37 [1.28-1.46] in IADL), SHARE (1.69 [1.61-1.78] in BADL and 1.70 [1.63-1.78] in IADL), CHARLS (2.15 [1.73-2.67] in BADL and 2.59 [2.06-3.25] in IADL), and MHAS (1.15 [1.09-1.21] in BADL and 1.17 [1.09-1.25] in IADL). In the subgroup analyses, the associations were more pronounced in the oldest-old (aged~>=~80 years old).

INTERPRETATION: There is a substantial proportion of older adults who are excluded from the Internet, especially those in LMIC. Older people excluded from the Internet regardless of whether they live in HICs or LMICs are more likely to develop functional dependency. It should be made a priority to remove barriers to Internet access in order to assist older people in maintaining their independence and, consequently, to reduce the care burden associated with the ageing population worldwide.

FUNDING: The National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 71904004).

}, keywords = {CHARLS, Digital exclusion, ELSA, Functional dependency, IADLS, instrumental activities of daily living, MHAS, SHARE}, issn = {2589-5370}, doi = {10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101708}, author = {Lu, Xinran and Yao, Yao and Jin, Yinzi} } @article {11618, title = {Do Disability Policies Shape How People Perceive Work Limitation? An International Perspective}, journal = {Journal of Disability Policy Studies}, volume = {33}, year = {2022}, pages = {35-45}, abstract = {This study explored the role that cross-country disability policy differences play in shaping individuals? work limitation reporting styles. We used anchoring vignettes available in comparable U.S. and European survey data to test and adjust for reporting differences in self-reported work limitation measures. We found that disability policy generosity scores showed statistically significant predictive power for respondents? work limitation classification scales, with the association stronger and more statistically significant at the lower end and the middle of the scale. That is, respondents under more generous disability regimes tended to apply a more inclusive (i.e., lenient) scale in classifying a mild, moderate, or severe work limitation. Because there is no natural interpretation of the magnitude of the correlation, we conducted counterfactual policy simulations to illustrate the strength of the association; for example, if the United States were to adopt more generous disability policies such as those in Sweden, there might be an associated increase of more than 36 percentage points in the proportion of Americans aged 50 years and above reporting work limitation (of any severity). This research contributes to a better understanding of the role of disability policy in reporting heterogeneity in comparative disability research, an area that has been seldom studied.}, keywords = {disability policy, work limitations}, isbn = {1044-2073}, doi = {10.1177/10442073211010135}, author = {Yin, Na and Frank Heiland} } @article {12971, title = {Does the Chronic Stress of Everyday Discrimination or Race Itself Better Predict AD Onset Risk?}, journal = {Gerontology \& Geriatric Medicine}, volume = {8}, year = {2022}, pages = {23337214221142944}, abstract = {

Using evidence from the Health and Retirement Study, we explore racial disparities in Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease (AD) onset risk. From a stress process perspective, there is substantial evidence in the literature that everyday discrimination is a chronic strain for Black individuals that acts as a social determinant of illness. However, few studies have examined specific relationships between this social stressor, race, and AD onset risk. Using Cox Proportional Hazard Models, we examined racial differences in exposure and vulnerability to everyday discrimination. Findings suggest that everyday discrimination predicts AD onset risk, and Black individuals experience more frequent exposure to everyday discrimination as a chronic strain. However, contrary to the stress process model, Black respondents were not more vulnerable to the effect of everyday discrimination on AD onset risk. Racial bias from medical professionals during the diagnostic process and mortality selection bias may explain this effect. Overall, the results of this study provide further evidence that discrimination is a key factor in predicting AD while also considering that many racial minorities with high rates of this type of social stress may not receive an unbiased diagnosis and/or survive to late life to develop AD.

}, keywords = {AD/ADRD, Discrimination, medical sociology, Racial Disparities, the stress process}, issn = {2333-7214}, doi = {10.1177/23337214221142944}, author = {Gary, Katharine M and Hoque, Masudul and Yashkin, Arseniy P and Yashin, Anatoliy I and Akushevich, Igor} } @article {13049, title = {EDUCATION GRADIENTS IN LATER-LIFE COGNITIVE FUNCTION ACROSS LOW-, MIDDLE-, AND HIGH-INCOME COUNTRIES}, journal = {Innovation in Aging}, volume = {6}, year = {2022}, month = {12/2022}, type = {Journal Article}, chapter = {103}, abstract = {Education is positively related to cognitive function. However, educational gradients in cognitive function may vary across older populations with different educational compositions and physical and social environments. We conducted one of the first cross-national comparative studies on educational differences in later-life cognitive function using harmonized data. Multivariable linear regressions were employed to estimate the association between education according to International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) categories and cognitive function for adults ages 60+ from the United States, England, Mexico, South Africa, India, and China. Cross-country differences were tested using fully interacted models. Controlling for demographics and parental education, we found significant educational gradients in cognitive function in low- and middle-income countries; however, in high-income countries, only those with upper secondary education and above had a consistent cognitive advantage over those with primary education. This study suggests substantial country-level differences in cognitive benefits of educational attainment. }, keywords = {Education gradient}, doi = {10.1093/geroni/igac059.409}, author = {Yuan Zhang and Brendan O{\textquoteright}Shea and Xuexin Yu and Tsai-Chin Cho and Kenneth M. Langa and Alden Gross and Lindsay C Kobayashi} } @article {12283, title = {Effect of Job Stressors on Presenteeism among Aging Workers: A Longitudinal Moderated Mediation Model.}, journal = {American Journal of Health Behavior}, volume = {46}, year = {2022}, pages = {39-48}, abstract = {

With the rapid global increase in the age of workforces, companies are increasingly concerned with improving the working conditions of older workers. Anxiety is an important psychological variable in sociological studies but has attracted less attention in studies of occupational health and management. In this study, we explored the mediating effect of anxiety on the relationship between job stressors and presenteeism, and the moderating effect of pessimism. We collected longitudinal data from 892 respondents who participated in the 2008 and 2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study in the United States. We tested the proposed moderated mediation model using structural equation modeling. Job stressors were positively related to anxiety and presenteeism. Anxiety was positively related to presenteeism and mediated the relationship between job stressors and presenteeism. Pessimism had a statistically significant negative effect on the relationship between anxiety and presenteeism. These results make theoretical and practical contributions to the literature on the influencing mechanisms of presenteeism. The use of longitudinal data ensured that the research conclusions were reliable; we suggest ways to improve the productivity of aging workers.

}, keywords = {Aging workers, Job stressors}, issn = {1945-7359}, doi = {10.5993/AJHB.46.1.4}, author = {Deng, Jianwei and Wu, Zhennan and Shi, Hubin and Yang, Tianan and Duan, Zhezhe} } @article {11928, title = {Experiences of Older Adults During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States: An Initial Exploration of Nationally Representative Data at the Intersection of Gender and Race.}, journal = {Journal of Applied Gerontology}, volume = {41}, year = {2022}, chapter = {3}, abstract = {

Little is known about the overall experiences and feelings of diverse older populations during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. To provide the baseline information for future research and policy, this study analyzed the 2020 Health and Retirement Study COVID-19 project data ( = 1782). More than 70\% of older adults reported the following activities: watching TV (98\%), reading (90\%), using a computer and the internet (83\%), gardening (82\%), walking (75\%), baking and cooking (73\%), and praying (73\%). Volunteering and attending community groups, which are known to benefit well-being, were unpopular (less than 8\%). During the pandemic, older adults were generally satisfied with their lives, but more than half of them were concerned about their own health, family{\textquoteright}s health, and future prospects. Our study also showed the differences in the experiences and feelings by gender and race as well as the intersection of gender and race in the United States.

}, keywords = {COVID-19, gender, Intersectionality, race}, issn = {1552-4523}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648211048258}, author = {Takashi Yamashita and Punksungka, Wonmai and Van Vleet, Samuel and Helsinger, Abigail and Cummins, Phyllis} } @article {12492, title = {Favourable Lifestyle Protects Cognitive Function in Older Adults With High Genetic Risk of Obesity: A Prospective Cohort Study.}, journal = {Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience}, volume = {15}, year = {2022}, pages = {808209}, abstract = {

The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and cognitive impairment remains controversial, especially in older people. This study aims to confirm the association of phenotypic and genetic obesity with cognitive impairment and the benefits of adhering to a healthy lifestyle. This prospective study included 10,798 participants (aged >= 50 years) with normal cognitive function from the Health and Retirement Study in the United States. Participants were divided into low (lowest quintile), intermediate (quintiles 2-4), and high (highest quintile) groups according to their polygenic risk score (PRS) for BMI. The risk of cognitive impairment was estimated using Cox proportional hazard models. Higher PRS for BMI was associated with an increased risk, whereas phenotypic obesity was related to a decreased risk of cognitive impairment. Never smoking, moderate drinking, and active physical activity were considered favourable and associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment compared with current smoking, never drinking, and inactive, respectively. A favourable lifestyle was associated with a low risk of cognitive impairment, even in subjects with low BMI and high PRS for BMI. This study suggest that regardless of obesity status, including phenotypic and genetic, adhering to a favourable lifestyle is beneficial to cognitive function.

}, keywords = {cognitive function, genetic risk, lifestyle, Obesity}, issn = {1662-5099}, doi = {10.3389/fnmol.2022.808209}, author = {Liu, Huamin and Wang, Zhenghe and Zou, Lianwu and Gu, Shanyuan and Zhang, Minyi and Hukportie, Daniel Nyarko and Zheng, Jiazhen and Zhou, Rui and Yuan, Zelin and Wu, Keyi and Huang, Zhiwei and Zhong, Qi and Huang, Yining and Wu, Xianbo} } @article {11556, title = {Financial Decision-Making Responsibility and Household Wealth Accumulation Among Older Adults: A Comparative Advantage Perspective}, journal = {Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning}, volume = {33}, year = {2022}, pages = {3-23}, abstract = {This article introduces collective rationality and comparative advantage into understanding household financial decision-making responsibility allocation and its relationship to wealth accumulation. Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) shows that conscientiousness, memory, and numeracy are favorable personal attributes for household financial decision-making. Greater relative advantages in these attributes predict a higher probability of assuming financial responsibility. Households that assign the disadvantaged spouse as the financial decision-maker tend to have a lower total net worth and a lower financial net worth. Our results suggest that it is critical for financial planning professionals to engage both spouses in the initial discussion of household finances and to assess the efficiency of the status quo financial decision-making responsibility allocation.}, keywords = {Cognitive Ability, financial decision-making, financial responsibility, personality wealth}, issn = {10523073}, doi = {10.1891/JFCP-19-00075}, author = {Xu, Yilan and Yao, Rui} } @article {13178, title = {FINANCIAL TRANSFERS FROM PARENTS TO ADULT CHILDREN}, year = {2022}, abstract = {This paper uses 1996-2014 longitudinal HRS data to establish the relative importance of intervivos transfers, bequests and coresidency in the United States. We {\"O}nd that when computing the relative importance of intervivos transfers versus bequests, the aggregate perspective that pools all data into a single cross-section is very di{\textsection}erent than the parent-level longitudinal perspective, highlighting the special value of panel data. This di{\textsection}erence re{\'a}ects the fact that large bequests are highly concentrated and play an in{\'a}uential role at the aggregate level, while at the micro parent-level, intervivos transfers constitute the main form of {\"O}nancial support for most parents. Regarding coresidency, we {\"O}nd that although older children and parents tend to coreside when the child is helping the parent, coresidency tends to be more prevalent among poorer, younger parents and their children. Children who ever coreside with parents also receive larger total intervivos transfers.}, keywords = {Bequests, coresidency, intervivos transfers, parental altruism}, url = {https://sites.pitt.edu/~ripoll/research/transfers-JEBO-revision-2.pdf}, author = {Siqiang Yang and Marla Ripoll} } @article {NOTHELLE2022930, title = {Frequency and Implications of Co-occurring Serious Illness in Older Adults (S544)}, journal = {Journal of Pain and Symptom Management}, volume = {63}, year = {2022}, pages = {930}, abstract = {Outcomes 1. Describe how frequently the three categories of serious illness (dementia, functional impairment, advanced medical conditions) overlap in older adults 2. List two ways health service use or caregiving needs differ by type of serious illness Original Research Background Serious illness is a condition with high risk of mortality that negatively affects function or quality of life or excessively strains caregivers. In older adults, serious illness predominantly comprises three overlapping categories: dementia, functional impairment, and other advanced medical conditions. Research Objectives We estimate the frequency and co-occurrence of three categories of serious illness in older adults and describe differences in health service use and caregiving hours by category. Methods Using 2016 data from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study, we selected those with 12 months of linked fee-for-service Medicare claims pre- and post-interview. Dementia status was determined by a survey-based algorithm, functional impairment by self-report of help with >=1 activity of daily living, and advanced medical condition by claims-based ICD10 codes. Results We included 4,503 adults >65 years. Approximately 27\% were seriously ill (9\% dementia, 13\% functional impairment, 16\% advanced medical condition). Approximately 70\% of persons with dementia (PWDs) and 65\% with functional impairment had another category of serious illness, whereas only 31\% with an advanced medical condition did. Functional impairment and advanced medical condition in combination increased prevalence of hospitalization compared to either alone (52\% combined, 32\% functional impairment, 30\% advanced medical condition), but combining dementia with another serious illness category did not meaningfully change hospitalization (39\% alone, 33\% with functional impairment, 39\% with advanced medical condition). PWDs and those with functional impairment reported more than twice the caregiving hours per month (113 and 130 hours, respectively) than those with an advanced medical condition (51 hours). Conclusion Older adults with serious illness due to dementia or functional impairment are more likely than those with an advanced medical condition to have another category of serious illness and have higher caregiving needs. Implications for Research, Policy, or Practice Caregiving policies and interventions for older adults with serious illness may need to be tailored by category of serious illness.}, keywords = {Caregivers, Dementia, Medicare, serious illness}, issn = {0885-3924}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.02.167}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S088539242200252}, author = {Stephanie Nothelle and Cynthia Yee and Evan Bollens-Lund and Kenneth Covinsky and Amy Kelley} } @article {12357, title = {Genetic variation in ALDH4A1 is associated with muscle health over the lifespan and across species.}, journal = {Elife}, volume = {11}, year = {2022}, pages = {e74308}, abstract = {

The influence of genetic variation on the aging process, including the incidence and severity of age-related diseases, is complex. Here we define the evolutionarily conserved mitochondrial enzyme ALH-6/ALDH4A1 as a predictive biomarker for age-related changes in muscle health by combining genetics and a gene-wide association scanning (GeneWAS) from older human participants of the US Health and Retirement Study (HRS). In a screen for mutations that activate oxidative stress responses, specifically in the muscle of , we identified 96 independent genetic mutants harboring loss-of-function alleles of , exclusively. Each of these genetic mutations mapped to the ALH-6 polypeptide and led to the age-dependent loss of muscle health. Intriguingly, genetic variants in show associations with age-related muscle-related function in humans. Taken together, our work uncovers mitochondrial as a critical component to impact normal muscle aging across species and a predictive biomarker for muscle health over the lifespan.

}, keywords = {C. elegans, evolutionary biology, Genetics, Genomics}, issn = {2050-084X}, doi = {10.7554/eLife.74308}, author = {Villa, Osvaldo and Stuhr, Nicole L and Yen, Chia-An and Eileen M. Crimmins and Arpawong, Thalida Em and Curran, Sean P} } @article {Villa2021.09.08.459547, title = {Genetic variation in ALDH4A1 predicts muscle health over the lifespan and across species}, journal = {Elife}, volume = {11}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Environmental stress can negatively impact organismal aging, however, the long-term impact of endogenously derived reactive oxygen species from normal cellular metabolism remains less clear. Here we define the evolutionarily conserved mitochondrial enzyme ALH-6/ALDH4A1 as a biomarker for age-related changes in muscle health by combining C. elegans genetics and a gene-wide association study (GeneWAS) from aged human participants of the US Health and Retirement Study (HRS)1{\textendash}4. In a screen for mutations that activate SKN-1-dependent oxidative stress responses in the muscle of C. elegans5{\textendash}7, we identified 96 independent genetic mutants harboring loss-of-function alleles of alh-6, exclusively. These genetic mutations map across the ALH-6 polypeptide, which lead to age-dependent loss of muscle health. Intriguingly, genetic variants in ALDH4A1 differentially impact age-related muscle function in humans. Taken together, our work uncovers mitochondrial alh-6/ALDH4A1 as a critical component of normal muscle aging across species and a predictive biomarker for muscle health over the lifespan.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.}, keywords = {Genetic Variation, muscle health}, doi = {10.7554/eLife.74308}, author = {Villa, Osvaldo and Stuhr, Nicole L. and Yen, Chia-An and Eileen M. Crimmins and Thalida E. Arpawong and Curran, Sean P.} } @article {12707, title = {Genome-wide meta-analyses reveal novel loci for verbal short-term memory and learning.}, journal = {Molecular Psychiatry}, year = {2022}, abstract = {

Understanding the genomic basis of memory processes may help in combating neurodegenerative disorders. Hence, we examined the associations of common genetic variants with verbal short-term memory and verbal learning in adults without dementia or stroke (N = 53,637). We identified novel loci in the intronic region of CDH18, and at 13q21 and 3p21.1, as well as an expected signal in the APOE/APOC1/TOMM40 region. These results replicated in an independent sample. Functional and bioinformatic analyses supported many of these loci and further implicated POC1. We showed that polygenic score for verbal learning associated with brain activation in right parieto-occipital region during working memory task. Finally, we showed genetic correlations of these memory traits with several neurocognitive and health outcomes. Our findings suggest a role of several genomic loci in verbal memory processes.

}, keywords = {Genome, health outcomes, Memory, neurocognitive outcomes, polygenic score, Verbal Learning}, issn = {1476-5578}, doi = {10.1038/s41380-022-01710-8}, author = {Lahti, Jari and Tuominen, Samuli and Yang, Qiong and Pergola, Giulio and Ahmad, Shahzad and Amin, Najaf and Armstrong, Nicola J and Beiser, Alexa and Bey, Katharina and Bis, Joshua C and Boerwinkle, Eric and Bressler, Jan and Campbell, Archie and Campbell, Harry and Chen, Qiang and Corley, Janie and Cox, Simon R and Davies, Gail and De Jager, Philip L and Derks, Eske M and Jessica Faul and Fitzpatrick, Annette L and Fohner, Alison E and Ford, Ian and Fornage, Myriam and Gerring, Zachary and Grabe, Hans J and Grodstein, Francine and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Simonsick, Eleanor and Holliday, Elizabeth G and Joshi, Peter K and Kajantie, Eero and Kaprio, Jaakko and Karell, Pauliina and Kleineidam, Luca and Knol, Maria J and Kochan, Nicole A and Kwok, John B and Leber, Markus and Lam, Max and Lee, Teresa and Li, Shuo and Loukola, Anu and Luck, Tobias and Marioni, Riccardo E and Mather, Karen A and Medland, Sarah and Mirza, Saira S and Nalls, Mike A and Nho, Kwangsik and O{\textquoteright}Donnell, Adrienne and Oldmeadow, Christopher and Painter, Jodie and Pattie, Alison and Reppermund, Simone and Risacher, Shannon L and Rose, Richard J and Sadashivaiah, Vijay and Scholz, Markus and Satizabal, Claudia L and Schofield, Peter W and Schraut, Katharina E and Scott, Rodney J and Simino, Jeannette and Smith, Albert V and Smith, Jennifer A and Stott, David J and Surakka, Ida and Teumer, Alexander and Thalamuthu, Anbupalam and Trompet, Stella and Turner, Stephen T and van der Lee, Sven J and Villringer, Arno and V{\"o}lker, Uwe and Wilson, Robert S and Wittfeld, Katharina and Vuoksimaa, Eero and Xia, Rui and Yaffe, Kristine and Yu, Lei and Zare, Habil and Zhao, Wei and Ames, David and Attia, John and Bennett, David A and Brodaty, Henry and Chasman, Daniel I and Goldman, Aaron L and Hayward, Caroline and Ikram, M Arfan and Jukema, J Wouter and Sharon L R Kardia and Lencz, Todd and Loeffler, Markus and Mattay, Venkata S and Palotie, Aarno and Psaty, Bruce M and Ramirez, Alfredo and Ridker, Paul M and Riedel-Heller, Steffi G and Sachdev, Perminder S and Saykin, Andrew J and Scherer, Martin and Schofield, Peter R and Sidney, Stephen and Starr, John M and Trollor, Julian and Ulrich, William and Wagner, Michael and David R Weir and Wilson, James F and Wright, Margaret J and Weinberger, Daniel R and Debette, St{\'e}phanie and Eriksson, Johan G and Mosley, Thomas H and Launer, Lenore J and van Duijn, Cornelia M and Deary, Ian J and Seshadri, Sudha and R{\"a}ikk{\"o}nen, Katri} } @article {12329, title = {The Influence of Loneliness on the Smoking and Physical Activity of Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Results from the Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {American Journal of Health Promotion}, volume = {36}, year = {2022}, pages = {959-966}, abstract = {

PURPOSE: To use the loneliness model in examining the influence of loneliness on the number cigarettes smoked per day and the different intensity levels of physical activity among community-dwelling older Americans in the United States.

DESIGN, SETTING, SAMPLE: This study analyzed a nationally representative sample of older adults aged 65+ in two waves (2010 and 2012) of data from the Health and Retirement Study. Response rates for the two waves were 81\% and 89.1\%. The sample size for smoking model was 199, and for physical activity models was 3018.

MEASURES: Outcomes included number of cigarettes smoked per day and physical activity at three intensity levels: light, moderate, and vigorous. Independent variable was the UCLA loneliness scale.

ANALYSIS: A lagged dependent approach for modeling longitudinal data was adopted. Models controlled for outcomes at the first timepoint (Wave 1), health/physical functioning, and demographic variables.

RESULTS: Loneliness was associated with an increased number of cigarettes smoked per day (β = 2.93, < .05) and decreased engagement in moderate and vigorous physical activity for older adults (β = .12, < .05; β = .12, <. 05), after controlling for these behaviors at baseline and other covariates.

CONCLUSION: The findings call for smoking reduction and physical activity enhancement interventions targeting older adults who have high levels of loneliness. Efforts to enhance social support will be crucial to eradicating the harmful health impact of loneliness. Critical limitations include self-reported measures and unobserved confounders.

}, keywords = {Exercise, perceived isolation, purpose, Smoking}, issn = {2168-6602}, doi = {10.1177/08901171221081136}, author = {Yang, Jie and Yockey, R Andrew and Chu, Yoosun and Lee, Joseph G L} } @article {12732, title = {The Influence of the Val66Met Variant on the Association Between Physical Activity/Grip Strength and Depressive Symptoms in Persons With Diabetes.}, journal = {Clinical Nursing Research}, year = {2022}, abstract = {

The rs6265 in the (BDNF) is associated with depression in people with diabetes. Both physical activity (PA) and grip strength are negatively associated with depression. We conducted cross-sectional analyses of the wave 10 survey data for a nationally representative sample of 1,051 diabetes participants of the Health and Retirement Study. Both greater PA (β = -.15) and stronger grip strength (β = -.02) were independently associated with depression. Although the interaction between rs6265 and PA on depressive symptoms was not significant, the negative PA-depression association was stronger among female non-Met carriers (β = -.19) and male Met carriers (β = -.14). Meanwhile, grip strength was associated with depression only in Met carriers (β = -.04), and similar association was observed in both males and females. In conclusion, female non-Met carriers and male Met carriers may benefit from PA, and Met carriers may benefit from grip strength to relieve depression.

}, keywords = {Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Depressive symptoms, Diabetes, Grip strength, Physical activity}, issn = {1552-3799}, doi = {10.1177/10547738221119343}, author = {Zeng, Bin and Yue, Yan and Liu, Tingting and Ahn, Hyochol and Li, Changwei} } @article {11902, title = {Insomnia symptoms are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among adults aged 50 and older.}, journal = {Sleep and Breathing}, volume = {26}, year = {2022}, pages = {1409-1416}, abstract = {

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association of the different degrees of insomnia symptoms with subsequent incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS: The data were extracted from Health and Retirement Study 2006-2014 waves. The association of insomnia symptoms with T2DM incidence was evaluated by the competing risk model with cumulative incidence function (death was considered a competing event) and Cox proportional hazard model with the Kaplan-Meier method. Population attributable fraction (PAF) was calculated. All analyses related to our study were conducted between November 2020 and January 2021.

RESULTS: A total of 14,112 patients were included in this study, with an average follow-up of 6.4~years, and the incidence density was 17.9 per 1000 person-years. Insomnia symptoms were positively associated with T2DM incidence compared with those with no insomnia symptoms, regardless of competing risk model (>= 1 symptoms: sub-distribution hazard ratio (SHR) 1.13; 95\% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.26; P-trend = 0.012) and Cox proportional hazard model (>= 1 symptoms: hazard ratio (HR) 1.13; 95\% CI 1.02-1.26; P-trend = 0.013). The cumulative incidence function (Gray{\textquoteright}s test, p < 0.001) and Kaplan-Meier estimate (log-rank test, p < 0.001) also presented this positive relationship. This positive association was more apparent in women and participants with ages from 50 to 65 years. The PAF was 4.1\% with 95\% CI (0.7-7.9\%).

CONCLUSIONS: Insomnia symptoms may be an important risk factor for the development of T2DM, which is unbiased by the death competing risk. These findings suggest that management of sleep problems may be an important part of strategies to prevent T2DM.

}, keywords = {Competing risk model, Cox proportional hazard model, insomnia symptoms, type 2 diabetes mellitus}, issn = {1522-1709}, doi = {10.1007/s11325-021-02497-8}, author = {Yao, Wenqin and Luo, Jia and Yu, Xiaohui and Jiang, Wenjie and Zhang, Dongfeng} } @article {12731, title = {Level of Concern, Spending, and External Support Related to COVID-19: A Comparison between Working and Non-Working Older Adults.}, journal = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}, volume = {19}, year = {2022}, pages = {11375}, abstract = {

This study compared levels of concern, spending, and use of external support by working status among older adults in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. It assessed whether work influences these variables related to wellness. Data from 2489 older adults from the 2020 U.S. Health and Retirement Study were analyzed using multiple linear and logistic regression. Older adults who worked had lower concerns about the pandemic (β = -0.28, = 0.048), were less likely to increase their spending (OR = 0.74, = 0.041), and were less likely to use external support (OR = 0.50, \< 0.001). Use of external support increased with age (OR = 1.04, \< 0.001) and increased spending (OR = 1.32, = 0.019). Married older adults were less likely to increase spending (OR = 0.75, = 0.007) and had lower concerns toward COVID-19 (β = -0.28, = 0.011). Higher levels of concern were reported among women (β = 0.31, = 0.005) and participants who had friends or family members diagnosed with COVID-19 (β = 0.51, \< 0.001). Women were more likely to use support (OR = 1.80, \< 0.001). Work appears to bolster older adult wellness outcomes.

}, keywords = {COVID-19, Logistic Models, Pandemics, Retirement}, issn = {1660-4601}, doi = {10.3390/ijerph191811375}, author = {Yu, Zuojin and Le, Aurora B and Doerr, Alexa and Smith, Todd D} } @article {12541, title = {Lifecourse Traumatic Events and Cognitive Aging in the Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {American Journal of Preventive Medicine}, volume = {63}, year = {2022}, pages = {818-826}, abstract = {

INTRODUCTION: Much of the heterogeneity in the rate of cognitive decline and the age of dementia onset remains unexplained, and there is compelling data supporting psychosocial stressors as important risk factors. However, the literature has yet to come to a consensus on whether there is a causal relationship and, if there is, its direction and strength. This study estimates the relationship between lifecourse traumatic events and cognitive trajectories and predicted dementia incidence.

METHODS: Using data on 7,785 participants aged >=65 years from the Health and Retirement Study, this study estimated the association between lifecourse experience of 10 traumatic events (e.g., losing a child) and trajectories of Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status from 2006 to 2016 using linear mixed-effects models and predicted incident dementia from 2006 to 2014 using cumulative incidence functions (data analysis was in 2020-2022). Inverse probability weights accounted for loss to follow-up and confounding by sex, education, race/ethnicity, and age.

RESULTS: Experiencing 1 or more traumatic events over the lifecourse was associated with accelerated decline compared with experiencing no events (e.g., β= -0.05 [95\% CI= -0.07, -0.02] Health and Retirement Study-Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status units/year; 1 vs 0 events). In contrast, experiencing traumatic events was associated with better cognitive function cross-sectionally. Furthermore, the impact of trauma on cognitive decline was of greater magnitude when it occurred after the age of 64 years. However, the magnitude and direction of association varied by the specific traumatic event. There were no associations with predicted incident dementia.

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that researchers and clinicians should not aggregate traumatic events for understanding the risk of accelerated cognitive decline.

}, keywords = {Cognition, lifecourse, traumatic events}, issn = {1873-2607}, doi = {10.1016/j.amepre.2022.05.007}, author = {Stebbins, Rebecca C and Maselko, Joanna and Yang, Y Claire and Plassman, Brenda L and Edwards, Jessie K and Aiello, Allison E} } @article {12370, title = {Long-term weight change and its temporal relation to later-life dementia in the Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology \& Metabolism}, volume = {107}, year = {2022}, pages = {e2710-e2716}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Weight loss among middle and older adults has been associated with a higher risk of subsequent dementia. However, most of studies have limited follow-up time or suboptimal control for the potential influence of physical frailty (PF).

OBJECTIVES: Our study aimed to investigate the long-term and temporal relation of weight change to risk of dementia among U.S. middle-aged and older adults.

METHODS: A total of 5985 participants aged 50 years and older were included from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). History of long-term weight change was calculated using nine repeated BMI measurements from 1992-2008. We then followed their dementia status from 2008 to 2018. Multivariable cox proportional hazard models were used.

RESULTS: During the study follow-up (mean = 7.54 years), a total of 682 (11.39\%) dementia cases were documented. After controlling for basic demographic and lifestyle, participants with weight loss (median: -0.23~kg/m 2 per year) were at a significantly higher risk of dementia (HR = 1.60, 95\% CI, 1.33, 1.92), compared with the stable-weight group (median: 0.11~kg/m 2 per year). This association was attenuated but remained strong and significant after further adjustment for PF (HR = 1.57, 95\% CI, 1.30, 1.89). The significant association was observed for weight loss assessed approximately 14-18 years preceding dementia diagnosis (HR = 1.30, 95\% CI, 1.07, 1.58), and was consistent for that closer to diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Both recent and remote weight loss were associated with a higher risk of later-life dementia among middle-aged and older adults independent of the status of physical frailty.

}, keywords = {Dementia, physical frailty, prospective cohort, Weight Change}, issn = {1945-7197}, doi = {10.1210/clinem/dgac229}, author = {Shen, Jie and Chen, Hui and Zhou, Tianjing and Zhang, Simei and Huang, Liyan and Lv, Xiaozhen and Ma, Yuan and Zheng, Yan and Yuan, Changzheng} } @article {12538, title = {Married Mixed-gender Couples{\textquoteright} Midlife Employment and Later Life Well-being and Housework}, journal = {Sex Roles}, volume = {87}, year = {2022}, pages = {154{\textendash}166}, abstract = {This study explored the role of midlife market-work arrangements of married mixed-gender couples on gendered experiences in emotional well-being and housework during the encore years. Working during midlife may shape long-term outcomes after couples leave the workforce and begin retirement. Using three theories of gender as a framework to understand work sharing in couples, the study theoretically connects work arrangements in midlife with long-term predictions of gender differences in couple emotional well-being and housework. Using longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (2000{\textendash}2015; N = 3,231), the study found that gender differences in housework were similar in male-earner and dual-earner couples during the encore years. However, women in male-earner marriages reported low levels of emotional well-being in the encore years, while men in dual-earner couples in mid-life reported high levels of well-being. The findings suggest more gendered experiences in midlife employment correlated with worse mental health in the encore years for women. Understanding midlife employment as a protective factor against depressive symptoms is useful for families, practitioners, and policymakers to be aware of as they seek to understand and mitigate drivers of poor mental health during the encore years. The study demonstrates a need for further development of dynamic theoretical models to explain gender differences over the life course.}, keywords = {Couples, Division of labor, Housework, Sex roles, Well Being}, doi = {10.1007/s11199-022-01306-0}, author = {Wikle, Jocelyn S and Yorgason, Jeremy B.} } @article {12284, title = {My Wife Is My Insurance Policy: Household Bargaining and Couples{\textquoteright} Purchase of Long-Term Care Insurance.}, journal = {Research on Aging}, volume = {44}, year = {2022}, pages = {692-708}, abstract = {

This paper examines household decisions over long-term care insurance (LTCI) purchases through a bargaining lens. Long-term care insurance purchase is a discrete decision around which spouses{\textquoteright} interests may diverge substantially. The cost of buying LTCI is typically borne by both spouses, but the benefits of LTCI go disproportionately to women, who are more likely to need long-term care for themselves, and to benefit from the asset protection and other support LTCI offers in the event their husband needs care. Using panel data on married couples ages 50-75 from the US Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we test and find support for the hypothesis that spouses{\textquoteright} relative bargaining power is related to LTCI purchase decisions. In particular, when husbands have final say in household decisions, LTCI coverage is less likely. The findings suggest that spouse{\textquoteright}s relative bargaining power matters for health care choices and, therefore, for the welfare of older men and women.

}, keywords = {Household bargaining, Long-term care insurance, random-effects multinomial logistic regression}, issn = {1552-7573}, doi = {10.1177/01640275211046322}, author = {Tennyson, Sharon and Yang, Hae Kyung and Woolley, Frances} } @article {11814, title = {Neighborhood Social Cohesion and Mobility Limitations Among Community-dwelling Older Americans: The Mediating Roles of Depressive Symptoms and Mastery.}, journal = {International Journal of Aging \& Human Development }, volume = {94}, year = {2022}, pages = {290-311}, abstract = {

Neighborhood environment plays an important role in late-life health; yet, the social aspect of neighborhood environment and its impact on mobility limitations have rarely been examined. This nonexperimental, cross-sectional study examines the relationship between neighborhood social cohesion and mobility limitations and the potential mediators (i.e., depressive symptoms, mastery) of this relationship. A total of 8,317 Americans aged 65 years and older were selected from the Health and Retirement Study. Using ordinary least squares regressions, this study shows that neighborhood social cohesion was negatively associated with mobility limitations ( = -0.04, < .01). A Sobel test of mediation indicated that this relationship was significantly mediated by depressive symptoms ( = -9.10, < .001) and mastery ( = -8.86, < .001). Findings suggest that neighborhood cohesion can reduce mobility limitations through mitigating depressive symptoms and increasing mastery. Future research should disentangle the temporal ordering of the mediators.

}, keywords = {Depressive symptoms, Mastery, Mobility limitations, neighborhood social cohesion, Social capital}, issn = {1541-3535}, doi = {10.1177/00914150211037657}, author = {Wang, Fei and Qin, Weidi and Yu, Jiao} } @article {12285, title = {Pain and the Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease and Related Dementia Spectrum in Community-Dwelling Older Americans: A Nationally Representative Study.}, journal = {Journal of Pain and Symptom Management}, volume = {63}, year = {2022}, pages = {654-664}, abstract = {

CONTEXT: Pain is a significant concern among older adults with Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease and related dementias (ADRD).

OBJECTIVES: Examine the association between cognitive impairment across the ADRD spectrum and pain assessment and treatment in community-dwelling older Americans.

METHODS: This cross-sectional, population-based study included 16,836 community-dwelling participants >= 50 years in the 2018 Health and Retirement Study. ADRD, assessed by validated cognitive measures, was categorized into "dementia," "cognitive impairment, no dementia (CIND)" and "intact cognition." Pain assessment included pain presence (often being troubled with pain), pain severity (degree of pain most of the time [mild/moderate/severe]), and pain interference (pain making it difficult to do usual activities). Pain treatment included recent use of over-the-counter pain medications and opioids (past 3 months), and regular intake of prescriptions for pain.

RESULTS: Dementia were associated with lower likelihood of reporting pain presence (Odds Ratio [OR]= 0.61, P~=~0.01), pain interference (OR~=~0.46, P < 0.001), reporting lower pain severity (e.g., moderate vs. no: Relative Risk Ratio~=~0.38, P < 0.001), and lower likelihood of receiving pain treatment, that is, recent use of over-the-counter pain medications (OR~=~0.60, P~=~0.02) and opioids (OR~=~0.33, P < 0.001), and regular intake of prescriptions for pain (OR~=~0.461, P~=~0.002). CIND was associated with reporting lower pain severity (e.g., moderate vs. no: Relative Risk Ratio~=~0.75, P~=~0.021), lower likelihood of reporting pain interference (OR~=~0.79, P~=~0.045) and recent over-the-counter pain medication use (OR~=~0.74, P~=~0.026).

CONCLUSION: CIND and dementia increased the risk of under-report and under-treatment of pain. Systematic efforts are needed to improve pain recognition and treatment among older adults with cognitive impairment, regardless of dementia diagnosis.

}, keywords = {Alzheimer, Dementia, pain, Pain Management}, issn = {1873-6513}, doi = {10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.01.012}, author = {Wang, Jinjiao and Cheng, Zijing and Kim, Yeunkyung and Yu, Fang and Heffner, Kathi L and Qui{\~n}ones-Cordero, Maria M and Li, Yue} } @article {12817, title = {Patterns of depressive symptoms over 16 Years with incident dementia: The Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {Journal of Psychiatric Research}, volume = {156}, year = {2022}, pages = {485-490}, abstract = {

The associations of patterns of depressive symptoms, including trajectories of depressive symptoms and significant depressive symptoms among older adults over a long period of time with incident dementia are not frequently studied. We aimed to examine the associations of patterns of depressive symptoms among older adults with incident dementia. Participants of the Health and Retirement Study from 1994 to 2018 with information of incident dementia and complete measurements of depressive symptoms were included. Depressive symptoms assessed on 8 waves between 1994 and 2010 using the 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. Significant depressive symptoms were defined as >=4 points in the CES-D. Trajectories of depressive symptoms and significant depressive symptoms were identified. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the associations of patterns of depressive symptoms with incident dementia. A total of 6317 participants were included in the analysis. Over the follow-up period of 8 years, trajectories of "increase from mild" (hazards ratio (HR): 1.84, 95\% confidence interval (CI): 1.29, 2.63) and "persistently high" (HR: 1.76, 95\% CI: 1.17, 2.65) depressive symptoms were associated with higher risk of incident dementia, after adjustment for covariates. Future studies are needed to examine the interaction of depression in different stages of life on incident dementia. Studies are also expected to estimate the effect of preventing dementia through reducing depressive symptoms.

}, keywords = {Aging, Dementia, Depressive symptoms, Trajectories}, issn = {1879-1379}, doi = {10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.10.064}, author = {Wei, Jingkai and Yang, Chih-Hsiang and Lohman, Matthew C and Brown, Monique J and Friedman, Daniela B} } @article {12280, title = {Psychological Resilience and Cognitive Function Among Older Military Veterans.}, journal = {Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine}, volume = {8}, year = {2022}, pages = {23337214221081363}, abstract = {

The purpose of this study was to explore the association between psychological resilience and cognitive function in military veterans. We obtained public-use data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) for this cross-sectional study of military veterans aged 52 to 101~years ( = 150). We estimated a multivariable linear regression model in which cognitive function served as the dependent variable and psychological resilience served as the independent variable. After controlling for demographics, health conditions, and health behaviors, veterans who had higher psychological resilience scores had better cognitive function (b = 0.22, = 0.03). Our findings suggest that psychological resilience may be associated with cognitive function among veterans. These findings highlight the importance of assessing psychological resilience in gerontological social work practice.

}, keywords = {neurocognitive disorders, psychological resilience, Veterans Health}, issn = {2333-7214}, doi = {10.1177/23337214221081363}, author = {McDaniel, Justin T and Hascup, Erin R and Hascup, Kevin N and Trivedi, Mehul and Henson, Harvey and Rados, Robert and York, Mary and Albright, David L and Weatherly, Taryn and Frick, Kaitlyn} } @article {11751, title = {Racial-ethnic disparities in pain intensity and interference among middle-aged and older U.S. adults.}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology: Series A }, volume = {77}, year = {2022}, pages = {e74-e81}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: This study aims to better understand differing pain experiences across U.S. racial/ethnic subgroups by estimating racial-ethnic disparities in both pain intensity and domain-specific pain-related interference. To address this issue, we use a nationally-representative sample of non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic adults ages 50+ who report recently experiencing pain.

METHODS: Using data from the 2010 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; N=684), we conducted a series of multivariate analyses to assess possible racial/ethnic disparities in pain intensity and seven domains of pain interference, controlling for relevant sociodemographic variables and other health problems.

RESULTS: Black and Hispanic participants reported higher pain intensity than White participants after controlling for socioeconomic status (SES) and other health conditions. Both Black and Hispanic individuals reported more domain-specific pain interference in bivariate analyses. In multivariate analyses, Black (vs. White) participants reported significantly higher levels of pain interference with family-home responsibilities, occupation, sexual behavior, and daily self-care. We did not find significant Hispanic-White differences in the seven pain interference domains, nor did we find Black-White differences in three domains (recreation, social activities, and essential activities).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the need for using multi-dimensional measures of pain when assessing for possible pain disparities with respect to race/ethnicity. Future studies on pain interventions should consider contextualizing the pain experience across different racial subgroups to help pain patients with diverse needs, with the ultimate goal of reducing racial/ethnic disparities in pain.

}, keywords = {health inequity, Pain interference, Racial Disparities}, issn = {1758-535X}, doi = {10.1093/gerona/glab207}, author = {Yang, Yulin and Reid, M Carrington and Grol-Prokopczyk, Hanna and Pillemer, Karl} } @article {11932, title = {Reciprocal effects between depressive symptoms and pain in veterans over 50 years of age or older}, journal = {Pain Medicine}, volume = {23}, year = {2022}, pages = {295-304}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Depression and chronic pain are major problems in American veterans, yet there is limited long-term research examining how they relate to one another in this population. This study examined the relationship between depressive symptoms and pain in U.S. veterans aged 50+.

METHODS: This study used data on veterans from the 2002-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (n = 4,302), a large-scale observational study of Americans aged 50+. Measures included a short form of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale and two items assessing the presence and degree of pain. Analyses included random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM).

RESULTS: In the RI-CLPM, there were roughly equivalent cross-lagged effects between depressive symptoms and pain. There was also evidence that depressive symptoms and pain have a trait-like component and that these trait-like characteristics are associated.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that depressive symptoms and pain in veterans are stable characteristics in American veterans over 50. There appear to be reciprocal effects between the two, whereby deviations in one{\textquoteright}s typical depressive symptoms predict subsequent deviations in one{\textquoteright}s pain level and vice-versa; however, the size of these effects is very small. These findings suggest that clinicians should treat both depressive symptoms and pain, rather than assume that treatment benefits in one domain will lead to major benefits in another.

}, keywords = {depression, pain, Veterans}, issn = {1526-4637}, doi = {10.1093/pm/pnab294}, author = {Sarah C. Griffin and Young, Jonathan R and Naylor, Jennifer C and Allen, Kelli D and Beckham, Jean C and Patrick S Calhoun} } @article {11833, title = {The Relationship between Pain and Psychological Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Is Social Technology Use Protective?}, journal = {Pain Medicine}, volume = {23}, year = {2022}, pages = {280-287}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting shelter-in-place orders have profoundly changed the everyday social environment. This study examines the relationship between pain and psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and loneliness) among US adults ages 54+ during the pandemic. We also test whether use of technology for social purposes moderates the association between pain severity and psychological distress.

METHODS: Using cross-sectional data on 1,014 adults ages 54 + (pain-free, n = 637; mild pain, n = 106; moderate pain, n = 227; and severe pain, n = 64) from the 2020 Health and Retirement Study COVID-19 Project (Early, Version 1.0), we conducted regression analyses to test the association between pain severity and psychological outcomes, and to assess social technology use frequency as a moderator.

RESULTS: Compared to their pain-free peers, participants with mild-to-moderate pain reported more depressive symptoms and greater loneliness; those with severe pain reported higher levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Social technology use was associated with lower levels of depression and loneliness. However, interaction analyses show that social technology use predicted an increase in depression for individuals with pain, but a decrease in depression among pain-free individuals. For anxiety and loneliness, no significant effects of social technology use were observed.

CONCLUSION: Older adults with pain are at high risk of depression, anxiety, and loneliness during the pandemic. Although social technologies have become a common alternative to face-to-face interactions during the COVID-19 crisis, and overall they can provide mental health benefits, our results suggest that social technologies can be detrimental to psychological well-being among people with pain. These findings can inform technology-based interventions aiming to promote well-being among older adults with pain.

}, keywords = {Anxiety, COVID-19, depression, Loneliness, technology use for social purpose}, issn = {1526-4637}, doi = {10.1093/pm/pnab262}, author = {Yang, Yulin and Grol-Prokopczyk, Hanna and Reid, M Carrington and Pillemer, Karl} } @article {12858, title = {Selective mortality and nonresponse in the Health and Retirement Study: Implications for health services and policy research}, journal = {Health Services and Outcomes Research Methodology }, year = {2022}, abstract = {Selective mortality and nonresponse in longitudinal analyses would lead to biased estimates. In this study, we draw data from the 1992{\textendash}2016 Health and Retirement Study and used a multinomial logit model to examine the impacts of participants{\textquoteright} demographics, health conditions, and socioeconomic status on both follow-up status in 2016 (Always-in; Died; Other Attritors, non-death sample attrition; Ever-out, skipped some intermediate surveys) and between-wave dropout. We then applied an inverse probability weighting approach to compensate for attrition in the analysis of education and hospitalizations. We found that many demographics (e.g., sex, age, race, ethnicity, marital status), socioeconomic factors (e.g., education, house ownership, labor force participation) and health conditions (e.g., self-reported health, and chronic conditions) had large and statistically significant associations with loss of follow-up. Our results show that loss of follow-up leads to substantial underestimation of the education-hospitalization association. After correcting attrition bias in a pooled cross-sectional analysis, the association of having a high school degree, some college, and college or above with any two-year hospitalizations increased by 59.7\%, 72.9\%, and 42.6\%, respectively. Differences in estimates before and after correcting attrition bias were only statistically significant for college graduates, but who make up 24.7\% of the {\textquotedblleft}always-in{\textquotedblright} sample. In the longitudinal analysis of the association between education and hospitalization, correcting attrition bias also increases estimates of education by up to 58.9\%, although not statistically significant. It suggests that empirical analyses that inform health policy decisions using the Health and Retirement Study should assess attrition bias from selective mortality and nonresponse.}, keywords = {Attrition bias, Education Hospitalization, Selective mortality, Survey nonresponse}, doi = {10.1007/s10742-022-00290-y}, author = {Yue, Dahai and Susan L Ettner and Jack Needleman and Ninez Ponce} } @article {12459, title = {A Semiparametric Multiple Imputation Approach to Fully Synthetic Data for Complex Surveys}, journal = {Journal of Survey Statistics and Methodology}, volume = {10}, year = {2022}, pages = {618{\textendash}641}, abstract = {Data synthesis is an effective statistical approach for reducing data disclosure risk. Generating fully synthetic data might minimize such risk, but its modeling and application can be difficult for data from large, complex surveys. This article extended the two-stage imputation to simultaneously impute item missing values and generate fully synthetic data. A new combining rule for making inferences using data generated in this manner was developed. Two semiparametric missing data imputation models were adapted to generate fully synthetic data for skewed continuous variable and sparse binary variable, respectively. The proposed approach was evaluated using simulated data and real longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study. The proposed approach was also compared with two existing synthesis approaches: (1) parametric regressions models as implemented in IVEware; and (2) nonparametric Classification and Regression Trees as implemented in synthpop package for R using real data. The results show that high data utility is maintained for a wide variety of descriptive and model-based statistics using the proposed strategy. The proposed strategy also performs better than existing methods for sophisticated analyses such as factor analysis.}, keywords = {parametric regressions model, simulated data, synthetic data}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1093/jssam/smac016}, author = {Yu, Mandi and He, Yulei and Trivellore E. Raghunathan} } @article {11918, title = {Sex Differences in the Association between Metabolic Dysregulation and Cognitive Aging: The Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology, Series A }, volume = {77}, year = {2022}, pages = {1827-1835}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of some metabolic factors increases the risk of dementia. It remains unclear if overall metabolic dysregulation, or only certain components, contribute to cognitive aging and if these associations are sex-specific.

METHODS: Data from the 2006-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) was used to analyze 7,103 participants aged 65+ at baseline (58\% women). We created a metabolic-dysregulation risk score (MDRS) composed of blood pressure/hypertension status, HbA1c/diabetes status, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and waist circumference, and assessed cognitive trajectories from repeated measures of the HRS-Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (HRS-TICS) over 10 years of follow-up. Linear mixed-effects models estimated associations between MDRS or individual metabolic factors (biomarkers) with mean and change in HRS-TICS scores and assessed sex-modification of these associations.

RESULTS: Participants with higher MDRSs had lower mean HRS-TICS scores, but there were no statistically significant differences in rate of decline. Sex-stratification showed this association was present for women only. MDRS biomarkers revealed heterogeneity in the strength and direction of associations with HRS-TICS. Lower HRS-TICS levels were associated with hypertension, higher HbA1c/diabetes, and lower HDL-C and TC; while faster rate of cognitive decline was associated with hypertension, higher HbA1c/diabetes and higher TC. Participants with higher HbA1c/diabetes presented worse cognitive trajectories. Sex-differences indicated women with higher HbA1c/diabetes to have lower HRS-TICS levels while hypertensive males presented better cognitive trajectory.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that metabolic dysregulation is more strongly associated with cognition in women compared to men, though sex-differences vary by individual biomarker.

}, keywords = {Biomarkers, Brain Aging, Diabetes, Epidemiology}, issn = {1758-535X}, doi = {10.1093/gerona/glab285}, author = {Chanti-Ketterl, Marianne and Rebecca C Stebbins and Obhi, Hardeep K and Daniel W. Belsky and Brenda L Plassman and Yang, Yang Claire} } @article {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.067179, title = {Social epigenetics of racial disparities in aging}, journal = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s \& Dementia}, volume = {18}, year = {2022}, pages = {e067179}, abstract = { Racial disparities in many aging-related health outcomes are persistent and pervasive among older Americans. There are well-documented inequities in the social determinants of health for older adults, including the social and physical environment, due to structural and environmental racism, but there is little understanding of the biological intermediates by which social determinants affect disparate health outcomes. Biological aging measured by DNA methylation (DNAm) is robustly associated with worse age-related outcomes and higher social adversity. We hypothesize that individual social determinants, the social environment, and air pollution exposures interact to contribute to racial disparities in DNAm aging according to GrimAge and Dunedin Pace of Aging methylation (DPoAm). Method We performed retrospective cross-sectional analyses among 3250 non-Hispanic participants (80.3\% white, 19.7\% Black) in the Health and Retirement Study whose 2016 epigenetic age is linked to survey responses and geographic data. DNAm aging is defined as the residual after regressing epigenetic age on chronological age. Measures of the neighborhood social environment include the Social Deprivation Index and perceived social stress. Air pollution exposures include particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone. Individual-level determinants include socioeconomic status, healthcare access, health status, and health behaviors. We implemented multivariable linear regression models to identify significant associations, interactions, and mediators in the relationship between each DNAm aging measure and the social and environmental determinants. Result We found on average Black individuals have significantly accelerated DNAm aging compared to white individuals (599\% and 498\%) according to GrimAge and DPoAm, respectively. Individual-level factors evaluated account for approximately 43\% of the disparity in GrimAge and 34\% in DPoAm. Further results suggest that associations between neighborhood social environment and DNAm aging are significant and mediated by individual-level factors. PM2.5 may be associated with DPoAm acceleration in certain sub-populations. NO2 and ozone are not significantly associated with DNAm aging. We are investigating individual-level factors that mediate social environmental exposures and increase vulnerability to PM2.5. Conclusion DNAm aging may play a role in social determinants {\textquotedblleft}getting under the skin{\textquotedblright} and contributing to age-related health disparities between Black and white Americans. Work is ongoing to determine the environmental and individual factors that contribute to these disparities.}, keywords = {Aging, DNA Methylation, epigenetics, Racial Disparities}, doi = {10.1002/alz.067179}, author = {Yannatos, Isabel and Xie, Sharon X and Brown, Rebecca and McMillan, Corey T} } @article {12385, title = {Social Relationships, Wealth, and Cardiometabolic Risk: Evidence from a National Longitudinal Study of U.S. Older Adults.}, journal = {Journal of Aging and Health}, volume = {34}, year = {2022}, pages = {1048-1061}, abstract = {

To investigate multiple dimensions of social relationships related to biomarkers of cardiometabolic health and how their associations vary by wealth in older adults. Growth curve models were used to investigate the longitudinal associations between measures of both positive and negative social relationships and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) over a 10-year period from 2006 to 2016 and the moderation of this association by wealth in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Older adults with better social relationships had lower CMR on average. The protective effects of positive social relationships, however, waned at older ages, particularly for low-wealth individuals. Our results suggest that good social relationships promote healthy aging by buffering against harmful cardiometabolic consequences of psychosocial stress, particularly among relatively wealthy individuals. Efforts to improve old age health would be more effective when focusing simultaneously on fostering social connections and boosting financial resources.

}, keywords = {cardiometabolic risk, Social Relationships, Trajectories, Wealth}, issn = {1552-6887}, doi = {10.1177/08982643221087807}, author = {Shartle, Kaitlin and Yang, Yang Claire and Richman, Laura S and Belsky, Daniel W and Aiello, Allison E and Harris, Kathleen Mullan} } @article {11828, title = {Trans-ethnic Meta-analysis of Interactions between Genetics and Early Life Socioeconomic Context on Memory Performance and Decline in Older Americans.}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology, Series A}, volume = {77}, year = {2022}, pages = {2248-2256}, abstract = {

Later life cognitive function is influenced by genetics as well as early- and later-life socioeconomic context. However, few studies have examined the interaction between genetics and early childhood factors. Using gene-based tests (iSKAT/iSKAT-O), we examined whether common and/or rare exonic variants in 39 gene regions previously associated with cognitive performance, dementia, and related traits had an interaction with childhood socioeconomic context (parental education and financial strain) on memory performance or decline in European ancestry (EA, N=10,468) and African ancestry (AA, N=2,252) participants from the Health and Retirement Study. Of the 39 genes, 22 in EA and 19 in AA had nominally significant interactions with at least one childhood socioeconomic measure on memory performance and/or decline; however, all but one (father{\textquoteright}s education by SLC24A4 in AA) were not significant after multiple testing correction (FDR <0.05). In trans-ethnic meta-analysis, two genes interacted with childhood socioeconomic context (FDR <0.05): mother{\textquoteright}s education by MS4A4A on memory performance, and father{\textquoteright}s education by SLC24A4 on memory decline. Both interactions remained significant (p<0.05) after adjusting for respondent{\textquoteright}s own educational attainment, APOE ε4 status, lifestyle factors, BMI, and comorbidities. For both interactions in EA and AA, the genetic effect was stronger in participants with low parental education. Examination of common and rare variants in genes discovered through GWAS shows that childhood context may interact with key gene regions to jointly impact later life memory function and decline. Genetic effects may be more salient for those with lower childhood socioeconomic status.

}, keywords = {Childhood SES, Cognition, Education, Epidemiology, Gene-Environment Interaction, Genetics, Memory, Rare Variant}, issn = {1758-535X}, doi = {10.1093/gerona/glab255}, author = {Jessica Faul and Kho, Minjung and Zhao, Wei and Rumfelt, Kalee E and Yu, Miao and Colter Mitchell and Smith, Jennifer A} } @article {13125, title = {Trends in prevalence, health disparities, and early detection of dementia: A 10-year nationally representative serial cross-sectional and cohort study.}, journal = {Front Public Health}, volume = {10}, year = {2022}, month = {2022}, pages = {1021010}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To identify trends in the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, and to determine risk factors associated with the early detection of dementia among U.S. middle-aged and older adults.

METHODS: We used 10-year nationally representative longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) (2006-2016). Adults aged 55 years or older were included to examine the trend. To identify the associated factors, adults aged 55 years or older in 2006 who developed MCI or dementia in subsequent waves until the 2016 wave were included. Early and late detection of dementia were identified using the Langa-Weir classification of cognitive function. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with the early detection of dementia.

RESULTS: The sample size for the analysis of the prevalence of MCI and dementia ranged from 14,935 to 16,115 in the six survey years, and 3,729 individuals were identified to determine associated factors of the early detection of dementia. Among them, participants aged 65 years or older accounted for 77.9\%, and male participants accounted for 37.2\%. The 10-year prevalence of MCI and dementia was 14.5 and 6.6\%, respectively. We also found decreasing prevalence trends in MCI (from 14.9 to 13.6\%) and dementia (from 7.4 to 6.0\%) overall in the past decade. Using logistic regression controlling for the year, non-Hispanic black (MCI: OR = 2.83, < 0.001; dementia: OR = 2.53, < 0.001) and Hispanic (MCI: OR = 2.52, < 0.001; dementia: OR = 2.62, < 0.001) had a higher prevalence of both MCI and dementia than non-Hispanic white participants. In addition, men had a lower prevalence of MCI (OR = 0.94, = 0.035) and dementia (OR = 0.84, < 0.001) compared to women. Associated factors of the early detection of dementia include age, gender, race, educational attainment, stroke, arthritis diseases, heart problems, and pensions.

CONCLUSION: This study found a decreasing trend in the prevalence of MCI and dementia in the past decade and associated racial/ethnic and gender disparities among U.S. middle-aged and older adults. Healthcare policies and strategies may be needed to address health disparities in the prevalence and take the associated factors of the early detection of dementia into account in clinical settings.

}, keywords = {Aged, Cognitive Dysfunction, Cohort Studies, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dementia, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Prevalence}, issn = {2296-2565}, doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2022.1021010}, author = {Lu, Kevin and Xiong, Xiaomo and Li, Minghui and Yuan, Jing and Luo, Ye and Friedman, Daniela B} } @article {13000, title = {UNNECESSARY AND HARMFUL MEDICATION USE IN COMMUNITY DWELLING PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA}, journal = {Innovation in Aging}, volume = {6}, year = {2022}, pages = {414}, abstract = {Persons with dementia (PWD) often have multiple comorbidities which results in extensive medication use despite potentially limited benefit and increased risk of adverse events. Compared to the nursing home, little is known about medication overuse and misuse among the ~70\% of PWD in the community. Therefore, we examined medication use from Medicare Part D prescriptions among 1,289 community-dwelling PWD aged >=66 from the Health and Retirement Study. We classified medication overuse as over-aggressive treatment of chronic conditions (e.g., insulin/sulfonylurea use with hemoglobin A1c<7.5\%) and medications inappropriate near the end of life. We classified medication misuse as medications that negatively affect cognition (strongly anticholinergics/sedative-hypnotics) and problematic medications (using Beers and STOPP criteria). We describe the prevalence and patterns of different types of medication overuse/misuse. Frequently problematic medications included antipsychotics (9\%), benzodiazepines (12\%), and gabapentinoids (13\%). Our findings highlight the burden of unnecessary/harmful medications among PWD and inform future deprescribing interventions.}, keywords = {community dwelling, Medication}, doi = {10.1093/geroni/igac059.1626}, author = {Deardorff, W James and Jing, Bocheng and Growdon, Matthew and Yaffe, Kristine and Boockvar, Kenneth S and Steinman, Michael A.} } @article {11763, title = {Active and receptive arts participation and their association with mortality among adults in the United States: a longitudinal cohort study.}, journal = {Public Health}, volume = {196}, year = {2021}, pages = {211-216}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to explore associations between active and receptive arts participation and all-cause mortality among adults in the United States population.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective cohort study.

METHODS: Data were derived from the Health and Retirement Study. Separate Cox proportional hazards models were constructed for two cohorts (2012 and 2014) to examine associations between arts participation and mortality.

RESULTS: Independent of sociodemographic and health factors, participants aged >=65 years had a higher mortality risk if they did not engage in music listening, hazard ratio (HR) 1.39 (95\% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-1.71); singing/playing an instrument, HR 1.49 (95\% CI: 1.07-2.0); or doing arts and crafts, HR 1.39 (95\% CI: 1.00-1.92). For participants aged <65 years, there was a higher mortality risk if they did not listen to music, HR 1.79 (95\% CI: 1.07-3.01). Older participants from the 2014 cohort had a higher mortality risk if they did not engage in active arts, HR 1.73 (95\% CI: 1.08-2.77).

CONCLUSIONS: Engagement in the arts was associated with lower risk of mortality even after risk adjustment, especially for adults aged >=65 years. Greater access and integration of arts in everyday life is recommended.

}, keywords = {Arts participation, Mortality, Music listening}, issn = {1476-5616}, doi = {10.1016/j.puhe.2021.05.034}, author = {Story, Kristin M and Yang, Ziyi and Bravata, Dawn M} } @article {11647, title = {Association Between Immune Response to Cytomegalovirus and Cognition in the Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {American Journal of Epidemiology}, volume = {190}, year = {2021}, pages = {786-797}, abstract = {

Chronic infections and the subsequent immune response have recently been shown to be risk factors for cognitive decline and Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD). While some studies have shown an association between cytomegalovirus (CMV), a chronic and highly prevalent infection, and cognition and/or ADRD, these studies have been limited by nonrepresentative and small samples. Using 2016 data on 5,617 adults aged 65 years or more from the Health and Retirement Study, we investigated the cross-sectional associations of both CMV serostatus and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody response with cognitive function using linear regression models adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and educational attainment. We further investigated potential effect-measure modification by educational attainment. Overall, both CMV seropositivity and higher IgG antibody response were associated with lower cognitive function, though the relationship was not statistically significant in adjusted models. Among participants with less than a high school diploma, CMV seropositivity and being in the first tertile of IgG response, relative to seronegative persons, were associated with lower scores on the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (-0.56 points (95\% confidence interval: -1.63, 0.52) and~-0.89 points (95\% confidence interval: -2.07, 0.29), respectively), and the relationship was attenuated among those with higher education. Our results suggest that CMV may be a risk factor for cognitive impairment, particularly among persons with fewer educational resources.

}, keywords = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, Cognitive decline, Cytomegalovirus, Dementia, Educational attainment, immune function}, issn = {1476-6256}, doi = {10.1093/aje/kwaa238}, author = {Rebecca C Stebbins and Grace A Noppert and Yang Claire Yang and Jennifer B Dowd and Simanek, Amanda and Allison E Aiello} } @article {11383, title = {Associations of Insomnia Symptoms With Cognition in Persons With Heart Failure.}, journal = {Western Journal of Nursing Research}, volume = {43}, year = {2021}, pages = {1105-1117}, abstract = {

Although cognitive impairment is common among persons with heart failure and negatively impacts self-care, hospitalization, and mortality, the associations between cognitive impairment and insomnia symptoms are not clearly understood. The purpose of this study was to explore these associations and examine if they are maintained after adjusting for relevant sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors. Guided by the Neurocognitive model of insomnia and sleep and the self-care conceptual model, a cross-sectional data analysis using parametric testing was conducted on the Health and Retirement Study wave 2016. Difficulty initiating sleep and early morning awakening, but not difficulty maintaining sleep were significantly associated with poorer cognitive performance in the bivariate and multivariate analysis. Our results are suggestive of different phenotypes of insomnia symptoms that may have different associations with cognition in persons with heart failure. Further research using objective measurements of insomnia symptoms and detailed neuropsychiatric testing of cognition is needed to confirm this conclusion.

}, keywords = {Cognition, Heart Failure, insomnia symptoms, sleep initiation and maintenance disorder}, issn = {1552-8456}, doi = {10.1177/0193945920988840}, author = {Rida Gharzeddine and Yu, Gary and Margaret M McCarthy and Victoria V Dickson} } @conference {11822, title = {Associations of Long-term Air Pollution Exposure and Incident Late-Life Disability in Older U.S. Adults: The Health Retirement Study}, booktitle = {ISEE Conference Abstracts}, volume = {2021}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Late-life disability is of critical concern to older adults and can reflect the cumulative burden of chronic disease over the lifespan. Although air pollution has been associated with many common chronic conditions, associations with disability are understudied. We aimed to quantify associations between long-term exposures to air pollution and late-life disability. METHODS: We used biennial data between 2000 and 2016 on self-reported Activities of Daily Living (ADL) from participants 65 years from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study. Using a spatiotemporal prediction model, we estimated 10-year PM2.5, PM10-2.5, NO2, and O3 concentrations at participant residences. We then estimated the risk of incident ADL disability as a function of time-varying air pollution, adjusting for individual and area-level confounders and sampling weights in a Cox model. We fitted single- and two-pollutant models. RESULTS:Our study population of 16,927 adults (70+6.4 years) was predominantly non-Hispanic White (76\%), Non-Hispanic Black (14\%), and Hispanic White (8\%) and 32\% reported a new disability during follow-up. Overall, we found some evidence that air pollution was associated with an increased risk of ADL disability. After adjustment for place and PM2.5, we found that interquartile increases in PM10-2.5 and NO2 were associated with 8\% (HR: 1.08 per 5 {\textmu}g/m3, 95\% CI: 1.01, 1.17) and 9\% (HR: 1.09 per 6 ppb, 95\% CI: 1.00, 1.19) greater hazards of ADL, respectively, with similar findings in the single pollutant models. PM2.5 and O3 were not associated with higher hazards of ADL in single or multipollutant models after detailed adjustment for place. CONCLUSIONS:This prospective study in a nationally representative sample of older adults found some evidence that higher levels of some but not all long-term air pollutants assessed are associated with increased risk of late-life disability.}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Air Pollution, Long-Term Exposure}, url = {https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/action/doSearch?AllField=Associations+of+Long-term+Air+Pollution+Exposure+and+Incident+Late-Life+Disability+in+Older+U.S.+Adults\%3A+The+Health+Retirement+Study}, author = {Gao, Jiaqi and Carlos F. Mendes de Leon and D{\textquoteright}Souza, Jennifer and Zhang, Boya and Szpiro, Adam and Young, Michael and Weuve, Jennifer and Kenneth M. Langa and Jessica Faul and Kaufman, Joel and Richard A Hirth and Sara Dubowsky Adar} } @article {10202, title = {Beyond the Individual: Evidence Linking Neighborhood Trust and Social Isolation Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults.}, journal = {Int J Aging Hum Dev}, volume = {92}, year = {2021}, pages = {22-39}, abstract = {Loneliness and social isolation are significant public health problems. However, the community and neighborhood factors that contribute to this pandemic are less examined. Adopting a neighborhood resource-based social capital theory, we examined whether neighborhood trust was associated with older Americans{\textquoteright} loneliness, number of friends, and perceived support from friends. We analyzed two waves of longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study, with a sample of 5,817 Americans aged 50 years and older. We used first difference models to analyze the data and controlled for potential confounders including perceived support from family and health status. Increases in the perception that neighbors are trustworthy and helpful were associated with statistically significant decreases in loneliness and increases in perceived social support from friends over a 4-year period. Findings have implications for conceptualizing social capital and for potential interventions targeting interpersonal trust and reducing loneliness and social isolation.}, keywords = {neighborhood cohesion, perceived isolation, Social capital}, issn = {1541-3535}, doi = {10.1177/0091415019871201}, author = {Jie Yang and Moorman, Sara M} } @article {11595, title = {The bidirectional relationship between sense of purpose in life and physical activity: a longitudinal study.}, journal = {Journal of Behavioral Medicine}, volume = {44}, year = {2021}, pages = {715-725}, abstract = {

People with a greater sense of purpose in life may be more likely to engage in physical activity. At the same time, physical activity can contribute to a sense of purpose in life. The present research tests these hypotheses using a cross-lagged panel model in a nationally representative, longitudinal panel of American adults (N = 14,159, M = 68). An increase in sense of purpose in life was associated with higher physical activity four years later, above and beyond past activity levels. Physical activity was positively associated with future levels of sense of purpose in life, controlling for prior levels of purpose in life. Results held in a second national panel from the US with a nine-year follow-up (N = 4,041, M = 56). The findings demonstrate a bidirectional relationship between sense of purpose in life and physical activity in large samples of middle-aged and older adults tracked over time.

}, keywords = {Physical activity, Purpose in life}, issn = {1573-3521}, doi = {10.1007/s10865-021-00220-2}, author = {Yemiscigil, Ayse and Vlaev, Ivo} } @article {11566, title = {Booms and Busts in Housing Market and Health Outcomes for Older Americans}, journal = {Innovation in Aging}, volume = {5}, year = {2021}, pages = {igab012}, abstract = {The U.S. housing market has experienced considerable fluctuations over the last decades. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of housing price dynamics on physical health, mental health, and health-related behaviors for older American outright owners, mortgaged owners, and renters.We drew longitudinal data from the 1992-2016 Health and Retirement Study and merged it to the five-digit ZIP-code level Housing Price Index. The analytic sample comprised 34,182 persons and 174,759 person-year observations. We used a fixed-effects model to identify the health impacts of housing price dynamics separately for outright owners, mortgaged owners, and renters. A 100\% increase in Housing Price Index was associated with a 2.81 and 3.50 percentage points (pp) increase in the probability of reporting excellent/very good/good health status for mortgage owners and renters, respectively. It was also related to a lower likelihood of obesity (1.82 pp) for outright owners, and a less chance of obesity (2.85 pp) and smoking (3.03 pp) for renters. All of these relationships were statistically significant (p\<0.05). Renters also experienced significantly decreased depression scores (-0.24), measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, associated with the same housing price changes.Housing price dynamics have significant health impacts, and renters are more sensitive to fluctuations in the housing market. Our study rules out the wealth effect as the mechanism through which changes in housing prices affect older adults{\textquoteright} health. Our findings may inform policies to promote older adults{\textquoteright} health by investing in local area amenities and improving socioeconomic conditions.}, keywords = {health, Housing price dynamics, Mortgaged owners, Outright owners, Renters}, isbn = {2399-5300}, doi = {10.1093/geroni/igab012}, author = {Dahai Yue and Ninez Ponce} } @article {11178, title = {Chronic Pain and Friendship among Middle-Aged and Older U.S. Adults.}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology, Series B }, volume = {76}, year = {2021}, pages = {2131-2142}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: This study examines how chronic pain affects friendship in later life. We test whether onset of pain leads to social network activation, as suggested by research on other health conditions (Latham- Mintus, Forth.), or whether pain-an unverifiable and often stigmatizing condition-functions as a "threat to the social self" (Karos et al., 2018).

METHODS: Using longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; N=4,598; 2006/2008 as Time 1 and 2010/2012 as Time 2), we conducted OLS regressions with the lagged dependent variable approach to assess how new-onset chronic pain predicted (a) respondents{\textquoteright} number of close friends and (b) their frequency of in-person meetings with friends, controlling for sociodemographic variables and health conditions.

RESULTS: New-onset severe pain predicted a decrease in number of friends. New-onset moderate pain, in contrast, predicted more friends and more frequent in-person meetings. (Findings were significant or marginally significant depending on model specifications.) Mild pain showed no significant association with either outcome. Pain had a greater effect on men{\textquoteright}s friendship outcomes than women{\textquoteright}s.

DISCUSSION: The effects of chronic pain on later-life friendships appear to depend on pain severity, and to differ between men and women. Onset of severe pain serves as a "threat to the social self," while onset of moderate pain contributes to social network activation; both associations are significantly more pronounced among men. These findings highlight the complex associations between health and social outcomes.

}, keywords = {Disability, health, number of friends, pain severity, Social networks}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbaa185}, author = {Yang, Yulin and Grol-Prokopczyk, Hanna} } @article {11629, title = {Depression as a Mediator of the Association Between Wealth Status and Risk of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: A Longitudinal Population-Based Cohort Study.}, journal = {Journal of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease}, volume = {80}, year = {2021}, pages = {1591-1601}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Wealth and income are potential modifiable risk factors for dementia, but whether wealth status, which is composed of a combination of debt and poverty, and assessed by wealth and income, is associated with cognitive impairment among elderly adults remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations of different combinations of debt and poverty with the incidence of dementia and cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND) and to evaluate the mediating role of depression in these relationships.

METHODS: We included 15,565 participants aged 51 years or older from the Health and Retirement Study (1992-2012) who were free of CIND and dementia at baseline. Dementia and CIND were assessed using either the modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (mTICS) or a proxy assessment. Cox models with time-dependent covariates and mediation analysis were used.

RESULTS: During a median of 14.4 years of follow-up, 4,484 participants experienced CIND and 1,774 were diagnosed with dementia. Both debt and poverty were independently associated with increased dementia and CIND risks, and the risks were augmented when both debt and poverty were present together (the hazard ratios [95\% confidence intervals] were 1.35 [1.08-1.70] and 1.96 [1.48-2.60] for CIND and dementia, respectively). The associations between different wealth statuses and cognition were partially (mediation ratio range: 11.8-29.7\%) mediated by depression.

CONCLUSION: Debt and poverty were associated with an increased risk of dementia and CIND, and these associations were partially mediated by depression. Alleviating poverty and debt may be effective for improving mental health and therefore curbing the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia.

}, keywords = {cognitive impairment, Dementia, depression, mediation analysis, wealth status}, issn = {1875-8908}, doi = {10.3233/JAD-201239}, author = {Zhou, Rui and Liu, Hua-Min and Li, Fu-Rong and Yang, Hai-Lian and Zheng, Jia-Zhen and Zou, Meng-Chen and Zou, Lian-Wu and Wu, Xiao-Xiang and Wu, Xian-Bo} } @article {11962, title = {Different hypertension thresholds and cognitive decline: a pooled analysis of three ageing cohorts.}, journal = {BMC Medicine}, volume = {19}, year = {2021}, pages = {287}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: The 2017 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines for high blood pressure (BP) in adults came up with a new definition of hypertension with a threshold BP level of 130/80 mmHg. But the 2018 European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Society of Hypertension (ESH) guidelines adhered to a conventional hypertension definition as BP >= 140/90 mmHg. We aimed to compare the trajectories of cognitive decline between participants with BP < 130/80 mmHg in all BP measurement waves and others with all BP < 140/90 mmHg.

METHODS: This pooled analysis involved middle-aged and older participants from three nationally representative ageing cohorts, including the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), and the China Health Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Participants were divided into the Normal (BP < 130/80 mmHg on all occasions throughout the study), the Borderline (BP < 140/90 mmHg on all occasions throughout the study but not in the Normal group), and the High (the rest of participants) BP groups. Global cognitive Z score was calculated from tests on memory, executive function, and orientation.

RESULTS: A total of 17,590 participants (HRS 6964, median follow-ups 12 years; ELSA 5334, median follow-ups 16 years; CHARLS 5292, median follow-ups 7 years) were included. No significant difference in global cognitive decline rate was detected between the Normal and the borderline groups (men, pooled β = - 0.006 standard deviation [SD]/year; 95\% confidence interval [CI], - 0.020 to 0.008; P = 0.377; women, pooled β = 0.006 SD/year; 95\% CI - 0.005 to 0.018; P = 0.269). Participants in the High group had a significantly faster cognitive decline (men, pooled β = - 0.011 SD/year; 95\% CI - 0.020 to - 0.002; P = 0.013; women, pooled β = - 0.017 SD/year; 95\% CI - 0.026 to - 0.008; P < 0.001) than that in the Borderline group.

CONCLUSIONS: Individuals in the Borderline group did not experience significantly faster cognitive decline compared with those in the Normal group. It might not be necessary for individuals with borderline BP (between 130/80 and 140/90 mmHg) to initiate antihypertension therapy in consideration of cognitive decline.

}, keywords = {Blood pressure, CHARLS, Cognitive Dysfunction, ELSA, Hypertension}, issn = {1741-7015}, doi = {10.1186/s12916-021-02165-4}, author = {Ma, Yanjun and Hua, Rong and Yang, Zhenchun and Zhong, Baoliang and Yan, Li and Xie, Wuxiang} } @article {12121, title = {Discovery and fine-mapping of height loci via high-density imputation of GWASs in individuals of African ancestry.}, journal = {The American Journal of Human Genetics}, volume = {108}, year = {2021}, pages = {564-582}, abstract = {

Although many loci have been associated with height in European ancestry populations, very few have been identified in African ancestry individuals. Furthermore, many of the known loci have yet to be generalized to and fine-mapped within a large-scale African ancestry sample. We performed sex-combined and sex-stratified meta-analyses in up to 52,764 individuals with height and genome-wide genotyping data from the African Ancestry Anthropometry Genetics Consortium (AAAGC). We additionally combined our African ancestry meta-analysis results with published European genome-wide association study (GWAS) data. In the African ancestry analyses, we identified three novel loci (SLC4A3, NCOA2, ECD/FAM149B1) in sex-combined results and two loci (CRB1, KLF6) in women only. In the African plus European sex-combined GWAS, we identified an additional three novel loci (RCCD1, G6PC3, CEP95) which were equally driven by AAAGC and European results. Among 39 genome-wide significant signals at known loci, conditioning index SNPs from European studies identified 20 secondary signals. Two of the 20 new secondary signals and none of the 8 novel loci had minor allele frequencies (MAF) < 5\%. Of 802 known European height signals, 643 displayed directionally consistent associations with height, of which 205 were nominally significant (p < 0.05) in the African ancestry sex-combined sample. Furthermore, 148 of 241 loci contained <=20 variants in the credible sets that jointly account for 99\% of the posterior probability of driving the associations. In summary, trans-ethnic meta-analyses revealed novel signals and further improved fine-mapping of putative causal variants in loci shared between African and European ancestry populations.

}, keywords = {Africa, African Americans, Blacks, Body Height, Europe, Female, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Male, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide}, issn = {1537-6605}, doi = {10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.02.011}, author = {Graff, Mariaelisa and Justice, Anne E and Young, Kristin L and Marouli, Eirini and Zhang, Xinruo and Fine, Rebecca S and Lim, Elise and Buchanan, Victoria and Rand, Kristin and Feitosa, Mary F and Wojczynski, Mary K and Yanek, Lisa R and Shao, Yaming and Rohde, Rebecca and Adeyemo, Adebowale A and Aldrich, Melinda C and Matthew A. Allison and Ambrosone, Christine B and Ambs, Stefan and Amos, Christopher and Donna K Arnett and Atwood, Larry and Bandera, Elisa V and Traci M Bartz and Becker, Diane M and Berndt, Sonja I and Bernstein, Leslie and Bielak, Lawrence F and Blot, William J and Erwin P Bottinger and Bowden, Donald W and Bradfield, Jonathan P and Brody, Jennifer A and Broeckel, Ulrich and Burke, Gregory and Brian E Cade and Cai, Qiuyin and Caporaso, Neil and Carlson, Chris and John Carpten and Casey, Graham and Chanock, Stephen J and Chen, Guanjie and Chen, Minhui and Chen, Yii-Der I and Chen, Wei-Min and Chesi, Alessandra and Chiang, Charleston W K and Chu, Lisa and Coetzee, Gerry A and Conti, David V and Cooper, Richard S and Cushman, Mary and Ellen W Demerath and Deming, Sandra L and Dimitrov, Latchezar and Ding, Jingzhong and Diver, W Ryan and Duan, Qing and Michele K Evans and Falusi, Adeyinka G and Jessica Faul and Myriam Fornage and Caroline S Fox and Freedman, Barry I and Garcia, Melissa and Gillanders, Elizabeth M and Phyllis J Goodman and Gottesman, Omri and Grant, Struan F A and Guo, Xiuqing and Hakonarson, Hakon and Haritunians, Talin and Tamara B Harris and Harris, Curtis C and Henderson, Brian E and Hennis, Anselm and Dena G Hernandez and Hirschhorn, Joel N and McNeill, Lorna Haughton and Howard, Timothy D and Howard, Barbara and Hsing, Ann W and Hsu, Yu-Han H and Hu, Jennifer J and Huff, Chad D and Huo, Dezheng and Ingles, Sue A and Irvin, Marguerite R and John, Esther M and Johnson, Karen C and Jordan, Joanne M and Kabagambe, Edmond K and Kang, Sun J and Sharon L R Kardia and Keating, Brendan J and Rick A Kittles and Eric A Klein and Kolb, Suzanne and Kolonel, Laurence N and Charles Kooperberg and Kuller, Lewis and Kutlar, Abdullah and Leslie A Lange and Langefeld, Carl D and Loic Le Marchand and Leonard, Hampton and Lettre, Guillaume and Levin, Albert M and Li, Yun and Li, Jin and Liu, Yongmei and Liu, Youfang and Liu, Simin and Kurt Lohman and Lotay, Vaneet and Lu, Yingchang and Maixner, William and JoAnn E Manson and McKnight, Barbara and Meng, Yan and Monda, Keri L and Monroe, Kris and Moore, Jason H and Thomas H Mosley and Mudgal, Poorva and Murphy, Adam B and Nadukuru, Rajiv and Michael A Nalls and Nathanson, Katherine L and Nayak, Uma and N{\textquoteright}Diaye, Amidou and Nemesure, Barbara and Neslund-Dudas, Christine and Neuhouser, Marian L and Nyante, Sarah and Ochs-Balcom, Heather and Ogundiran, Temidayo O and Ogunniyi, Adesola and Ojengbede, Oladosu and Okut, Hayrettin and Olopade, Olufunmilayo I and Olshan, Andrew and Padhukasahasram, Badri and Palmer, Julie and Palmer, Cameron D and Palmer, Nicholette D and George J Papanicolaou and Patel, Sanjay R and Pettaway, Curtis A and Peyser, Patricia A and Press, Michael F and Rao, D C and Rasmussen-Torvik, Laura J and Redline, Susan and Reiner, Alex P and Rhie, Suhn K and Rodriguez-Gil, Jorge L and Charles N Rotimi and Rotter, Jerome I and Ruiz-Narvaez, Edward A and Rybicki, Benjamin A and Babatunde Salako and Sale, Michele M and Sanderson, Maureen and Eric E Schadt and Schreiner, Pamela J and Schurmann, Claudia and Schwartz, Ann G and Daniel Shriner and Signorello, Lisa B and Andrew B Singleton and David S Siscovick and Smith, Jennifer A and Smith, Shad and Elizabeth K Speliotes and Spitz, Margaret and Stanford, Janet L and Stevens, Victoria L and Stram, Alex and Strom, Sara S and Sucheston, Lara and Yan V Sun and Tajuddin, Salman M and Taylor, Herman and Taylor, Kira and Bamidele O Tayo and Michael J Thun and Tucker, Margaret A and Vaidya, Dhananjay and Van Den Berg, David J and Vedantam, Sailaja and Vitolins, Mara and Wang, Zhaoming and Erin B Ware and Wassertheil-Smoller, Sylvia and David R Weir and Wiencke, John K and Williams, Scott M and L Keoki Williams and Wilson, James G and Witte, John S and Wrensch, Margaret and Wu, Xifeng and Yao, Jie and Zakai, Neil and Zanetti, Krista and Zemel, Babette S and Zhao, Wei and Jing Hua Zhao and Zheng, Wei and Zhi, Degui and Zhou, Jie and Zhu, Xiaofeng and Ziegler, Regina G and Zmuda, Joe and Alan B Zonderman and Psaty, Bruce M and Ingrid B Borecki and Cupples, L Adrienne and Liu, Ching-Ti and Christopher A Haiman and Ruth J F Loos and Ng, Maggie C Y and Kari E North} } @article {11736, title = {Dose-Response Relationship Between Long-Term Blood Pressure Variability and Cognitive Decline.}, journal = {Stroke}, volume = {52}, year = {2021}, pages = {3249{\textendash}3257}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We aimed to test whether higher long-term blood pressure variability was associated with accelerated rate of cognitive decline and evaluate potential dose-response relationship.

METHODS: Original survey data from the Health and Retirement Study and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing were used. Standardized score of cognitive function was the main outcome measure. Visit-to-visit blood pressure SD, coefficient of variation, and variation independent of mean were used. Linear mixed model and restricted spline were applied to assess association and explore dose-response pattern. Segmented regression was used to analyze dose-response relationship and estimate turning point. Meta-analysis using random-effects model was conducted to pool results, with used to test heterogeneity.

RESULTS: A total of 12 298 dementia-free participants were included (mean age: 64.6{\textpm}8.6 years). Significant association was observed between blood pressure variability and cognitive decline. Each 10\% increment in coefficient of variation of systolic and diastolic blood pressure was associated with accelerated global cognitive decline of 0.026 SD/y (95\% CI, 0.016-0.036, 0.001) and 0.022 SD/y (95\% CI, 0.017-0.027, 0.001), respectively. Nonlinear dose-response relationship was found (0.001 for nonlinearity), with clear turning point observed (0.001 for change in slopes).

CONCLUSIONS: Higher long-term blood pressure variability was associated with accelerated cognitive decline among general adults aged >=50 years, with nonlinear dose-response relationship. Further randomized controlled trials are warranted to evaluate potential benefits of blood pressure variability-lowering strategies from a cognitive health perspective.

}, keywords = {Blood pressure, Cognitive decline, ELSA, Hypertension, Retirement}, issn = {1524-4628}, doi = {10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.033697}, author = {Li, Chenglong and Ma, Yanjun and Hua, Rong and Yang, Zhenchun and Zhong, Baoliang and Wang, Hongyu and Xie, Wuxiang} } @article {12047, title = {Gender Modifies the Association of Cognition With Age-Related Hearing Impairment in the Health and Retirement Study}, journal = {Frontiers in Public Health}, volume = {9}, year = {2021}, pages = {2072}, abstract = {Introduction: Despite growing recognition of hearing loss as a risk factor for late life cognitive disorders, sex and gender analysis of this association has been limited. Elucidating this is one means to advocate for holistic medicine by considering the psychosocial attributes of people. With a composite Gender Score (GS), we aimed to assess this among aging participants (50+) from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) cohort. Methods: The GS was derived from gender-related variables in HRS by factor analyses and logistic regression, ranging from 0 (toward masculinity) to 100 (toward femininity). GS tertiles were also used to indicate three gender types (GS tertile 1: lower GS indicates masculinity; GS tertile 2: middle GS indicates androgyny; GS tertile 3: higher GS indicates femininity). Univariate followed by multiple logistic regressions were used to estimate the Odds Ratio (OR) and 95\% confidence intervals (CI) of cognitive impairment (assessed by adapted Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status) from hearing acuity, as well as to explore the interactions of sex and gender with hearing acuity. The risk of cognitive impairment among hearing-impaired participants was assessed using multivariable models including sex and gender as exposure variables. Results: Five variables (taking risks, loneliness, housework, drinking, and depression) were retained to compute the GS for each participant. The distribution of GS between sexes partly overlapped. After adjusting for confounding factors, the OR for cognitive impairment associated with hearing impairment was significantly higher (OR = 1.65, 95\% CI: 1.26, 2.15), and this association was not modified by female sex (OR = 0.77, 95\% CI: 0.46, 1.27), but by androgynous gender (OR = 0.44, 95\% CI: 0.24, 0.81). In the multivariable models for participants with hearing impairment, androgynous and feminine gender, as opposed to female sex, was associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment (OR of GS tertile 2 = 0.59, 95\% CI: 0.41, 0.84; OR of GS tertile 3 = 0.60, 95\% CI: 0.41, 0.87; OR of female sex = 0.78, 95\% CI: 0.57, 1.08). Conclusions: Hearing impairment was associated with cognitive impairment among older people, and this association may be attenuated by a more feminine GS.}, keywords = {Cognition, gender, Hearing impairment}, issn = {2296-2565}, doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2021.751828}, author = {Yuan, Jing and Sang, Shuping and Pham, Jessica and Kong, Wei-Jia} } @article {12104, title = {Gender Modifies the Association of Cognition With Age-Related Hearing Impairment in the Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {Frontiers in Public Health}, volume = {9}, year = {2021}, pages = {751828}, abstract = {

Despite growing recognition of hearing loss as a risk factor for late life cognitive disorders, sex and gender analysis of this association has been limited. Elucidating this is one means to advocate for holistic medicine by considering the psychosocial attributes of people. With a composite Gender Score (GS), we aimed to assess this among aging participants (50+) from the 2016 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) cohort. The GS was derived from gender-related variables in HRS by factor analyses and logistic regression, ranging from 0 (toward masculinity) to 100 (toward femininity). GS tertiles were also used to indicate three gender types (GS tertile 1: lower GS indicates masculinity; GS tertile 2: middle GS indicates androgyny; GS tertile 3: higher GS indicates femininity). Univariate followed by multiple logistic regressions were used to estimate the Odds Ratio (OR) and 95\% confidence intervals (CI) of cognitive impairment (assessed by adapted Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status) from hearing acuity, as well as to explore the interactions of sex and gender with hearing acuity. The risk of cognitive impairment among hearing-impaired participants was assessed using multivariable models including sex and gender as exposure variables. Five variables (taking risks, loneliness, housework, drinking, and depression) were retained to compute the GS for each participant. The distribution of GS between sexes partly overlapped. After adjusting for confounding factors, the OR for cognitive impairment associated with hearing impairment was significantly higher (OR = 1.65, 95\% CI: 1.26, 2.15), and this association was not modified by female sex (OR = 0.77, 95\% CI: 0.46, 1.27), but by androgynous gender (OR = 0.44, 95\% CI: 0.24, 0.81). In the multivariable models for participants with hearing impairment, androgynous and feminine gender, as opposed to female sex, was associated with lower odds of cognitive impairment (OR of GS tertile 2 = 0.59, 95\% CI: 0.41, 0.84; OR of GS tertile 3 = 0.60, 95\% CI: 0.41, 0.87; OR of female sex = 0.78, 95\% CI: 0.57, 1.08). Hearing impairment was associated with cognitive impairment among older people, and this association may be attenuated by a more feminine GS.

}, keywords = {Aging, cognitive impairment, gender, Hearing impairment, risk factor, sex}, issn = {2296-2565}, doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2021.751828}, author = {Yuan, Jing and Sang, Shuping and Pham, Jessica and Kong, Wei-Jia} } @article {12127, title = {Gene-educational attainment interactions in a multi-ancestry genome-wide meta-analysis identify novel blood pressure loci.}, journal = {Mol Psychiatry}, volume = {26}, year = {2021}, pages = {2111-2125}, abstract = {

Educational attainment is widely used as a surrogate for socioeconomic status (SES). Low SES is a risk factor for hypertension and high blood pressure (BP). To identify novel BP loci, we performed multi-ancestry meta-analyses accounting for gene-educational attainment interactions using two variables, "Some College" (yes/no) and "Graduated College" (yes/no). Interactions were evaluated using both a 1 degree of freedom (DF) interaction term and a 2DF joint test of genetic and interaction effects. Analyses were performed for systolic BP, diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure, and pulse pressure. We pursued genome-wide interrogation in Stage 1 studies (N = 117 438) and follow-up on promising variants in Stage 2 studies (N = 293 787) in five ancestry groups. Through combined meta-analyses of Stages 1 and 2, we identified 84 known and 18 novel BP loci at genome-wide significance level (P < 5 {\texttimes} 10). Two novel loci were identified based on the 1DF test of interaction with educational attainment, while the remaining 16 loci were identified through the 2DF joint test of genetic and interaction effects. Ten novel loci were identified in individuals of African ancestry. Several novel loci show strong biological plausibility since they involve physiologic systems implicated in BP regulation. They include genes involved in the central nervous system-adrenal signaling axis (ZDHHC17, CADPS, PIK3C2G), vascular structure and function (GNB3, CDON), and renal function (HAS2 and HAS2-AS1, SLIT3). Collectively, these findings suggest a role of educational attainment or SES in further dissection of the genetic architecture of BP.

}, keywords = {Blood pressure, Epistasis, Genetic, Genetic Loci, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Hypertension, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide}, issn = {1476-5578}, doi = {10.1038/s41380-020-0719-3}, author = {de Las Fuentes, Lisa and Yun Ju Sung and Noordam, Raymond and Thomas W Winkler and Feitosa, Mary F and Schwander, Karen and Bentley, Amy R and Brown, Michael R and Guo, Xiuqing and Alisa Manning and Daniel I Chasman and Aschard, Hugues and Traci M Bartz and Bielak, Lawrence F and Campbell, Archie and Cheng, Ching-Yu and Dorajoo, Rajkumar and Hartwig, Fernando P and Horimoto, A R V R and Li, Changwei and Li-Gao, Ruifang and Liu, Yongmei and Marten, Jonathan and Musani, Solomon K and Ntalla, Ioanna and Rankinen, Tuomo and Melissa Richard and Sim, Xueling and Smith, Albert V and Tajuddin, Salman M and Bamidele O Tayo and Vojinovic, Dina and Warren, Helen R and Xuan, Deng and Alver, Maris and Boissel, Mathilde and Jin-Fang Chai and Chen, Xu and Christensen, Kaare and Divers, Jasmin and Evangelou, Evangelos and Gao, Chuan and Giorgia G Girotto and Sarah E Harris and He, Meian and Hsu, Fang-Chi and K{\"u}hnel, Brigitte and Laguzzi, Federica and Li, Xiaoyin and Lyytik{\"a}inen, Leo-Pekka and Ilja M Nolte and Poveda, Alaitz and Rauramaa, Rainer and Riaz, Muhammad and Rueedi, Rico and Shu, Xiao-Ou and Snieder, Harold and Sofer, Tamar and Takeuchi, Fumihiko and Verweij, Niek and Erin B Ware and Weiss, Stefan and Yanek, Lisa R and Amin, Najaf and Dan E Arking and Donna K Arnett and Bergmann, Sven and Boerwinkle, Eric and Brody, Jennifer A and Broeckel, Ulrich and Brumat, Marco and Burke, Gregory and Cabrera, Claudia P and Canouil, Micka{\"e}l and Chee, Miao Li and Chen, Yii-Der Ida and Cocca, Massimiliano and Connell, John and de Silva, H Janaka and de Vries, Paul S and Eiriksdottir, Gudny and Jessica Faul and Fisher, Virginia and Forrester, Terrence and Fox, Ervin F and Friedlander, Yechiel and Gao, He and Gigante, Bruna and Giulianini, Franco and Gu, Chi Charles and Gu, Dongfeng and Tamara B Harris and He, Jiang and Heikkinen, Sami and Heng, Chew-Kiat and Hunt, Steven and Ikram, M Arfan and Irvin, Marguerite R and K{\"a}h{\"o}nen, Mika and Kavousi, Maryam and Khor, Chiea Chuen and Kilpel{\"a}inen, Tuomas O and Koh, Woon-Puay and Komulainen, Pirjo and Kraja, Aldi T and Krieger, J E and Langefeld, Carl D and Li, Yize and Liang, Jingjing and David C Liewald and Liu, Ching-Ti and Liu, Jianjun and Kurt Lohman and M{\"a}gi, Reedik and McKenzie, Colin A and Meitinger, Thomas and Andres Metspalu and Milaneschi, Yuri and Lili Milani and Dennis O Mook-Kanamori and Michael A Nalls and Nelson, Christopher P and Norris, Jill M and Jeff O{\textquoteright}Connell and Ogunniyi, Adesola and Padmanabhan, Sandosh and Palmer, Nicholette D and Nancy L Pedersen and Thomas T Perls and Peters, Annette and Petersmann, Astrid and Peyser, Patricia A and Polasek, Ozren and David J Porteous and Raffel, Leslie J and Rice, Treva K and Rotter, Jerome I and Rudan, Igor and Rueda-Ochoa, Oscar-Leonel and Sabanayagam, Charumathi and Babatunde Salako and Schreiner, Pamela J and Shikany, James M and Stephen Sidney and Sims, Mario and Sitlani, Colleen M and Smith, Jennifer A and John M Starr and Strauch, Konstantin and Swertz, Morris A and Teumer, Alexander and Tham, Yih Chung and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Vaidya, Dhananjay and van der Ende, M Yldau and Waldenberger, Melanie and Wang, Lihua and Wang, Ya-Xing and Wei, Wen-Bin and David R Weir and Wen, Wanqing and Yao, Jie and Yu, Bing and Yu, Caizheng and Yuan, Jian-Min and Zhao, Wei and Alan B Zonderman and Becker, Diane M and Bowden, Donald W and Ian J Deary and D{\"o}rr, Marcus and T{\~o}nu Esko and Freedman, Barry I and Froguel, Philippe and Paolo P. Gasparini and Gieger, Christian and Jost Bruno Jonas and Kammerer, Candace M and Kato, Norihiro and Lakka, Timo A and Leander, Karin and Lehtim{\"a}ki, Terho and Patrik K E Magnusson and Marques-Vidal, Pedro and Brenda W J H Penninx and Nilesh J Samani and van der Harst, Pim and Wagenknecht, Lynne E and Wu, Tangchun and Zheng, Wei and Zhu, Xiaofeng and Bouchard, Claude and Cooper, Richard S and Correa, Adolfo and Michele K Evans and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Caroline Hayward and Horta, Bernardo L and Tanika N Kelly and Stephen B Kritchevsky and Levy, Daniel and Walter R Palmas and Pereira, A C and Province, Michael M and Psaty, Bruce M and Ridker, Paul M and Charles N Rotimi and Tai, E Shyong and van Dam, Rob M and Cornelia M van Duijn and Wong, Tien Yin and Kenneth Rice and Gauderman, W James and Alanna C Morrison and Kari E North and Sharon L R Kardia and Caulfield, Mark J and Elliott, Paul and Munroe, Patricia B and Franks, Paul W and Rao, Dabeeru C and Myriam Fornage} } @article {9931, title = {Genetic effects and gene-by-education interactions on episodic memory performance and decline in an aging population.}, journal = {Social Science \& Medicine}, volume = {271}, year = {2021}, pages = {112039}, abstract = {Both social and genetic factors contribute to cognitive impairment and decline, yet genetic factors identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) explain only a small portion of trait variability. This "missing heritability" may be due to rare, potentially functional, genetic variants not assessed by GWAS, as well as gene-by-social factor interactions not explicitly modeled. Gene-by-social factor interactions may also operate differently across race/ethnic groups. We selected 39 genes that had significant, replicated associations with cognition, dementia, and related traits in published GWAS. Using gene-based analysis (SKAT/iSKAT), we tested whether common and/or rare variants were associated with episodic memory performance and decline either alone or through interaction with education in >10,000 European ancestry (EA) and >2200 African ancestry (AA) respondents from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Nine genes in EA and five genes in AA were associated with memory performance or decline (p < 0.05), and these effects did not attenuate after adjusting for education. Interaction between education and CLPTM1 on memory performance was significant in AA (p = 0.003; FDR-adjusted p = 0.038) and nominally significant in EA (p = 0.026). In both ethnicities, low memory performance was associated with CLPTM1 genotype (rs10416261) only for those with less than high school education, and effects persisted after adjusting for APOE ε4. For over 70\% of gene-by-education interactions across the genome that were at least nominally significant in either ethnic group (p < 0.05), genetic effects were only observed for those with less than high school education. These results suggest that genetic effects on memory identified in this study are not mediated by education, but there may be important gene-by-education interactions across the genome, including in the broader APOE genomic region, which operate independently of APOE ε4. This work illustrates the importance of developing theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches for integrating social and genomic data to study cognition across ethnic groups.}, keywords = {Education, Genetics, GWAS, Memory}, issn = {1873-5347}, doi = {10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.11.019}, author = {Jennifer A Smith and Kho, Minjung and Wei Zhao and Yu, Miao and Colter Mitchell and Jessica Faul} } @article {11991, title = {Heart Failure as an Independent Predictor of Insomnia Symptoms}, journal = {Circulation}, volume = {144}, year = {2021}, pages = {A12801}, abstract = {Background: Heart failure (HF) is accompanied with several untoward outcomes including insomnia symptoms. Many factors including comorbidities, experienced symptoms, and psychosocial characteristics associated with HF were attributed to the high prevalence of insomnia symptoms in persons with HF. However, it is not yet clear if HF itself contributes to insomnia symptoms regardless of these associated factors. Purpose: The purpose of this analysis was to investigate the association of HF with insomnia symptoms in adjusted models for sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors. Methods: A secondary data analysis guided by the neurocognitive model of insomnia was conducted on data from the health and retirement study using multiple logistic regression. The total sample size included 17,910 subjects of which 1,189 were identified to have HF. Results: The results showed that those with HF were approximately two times more likely to have insomnia symptoms (OR:1.95, p \<0.001) in the unadjusted model. After adjusting for age, sex, race, ethnicity, education, marital status, income, poverty level, sleep-disordered breathing, obesity, depression symptoms, comorbid diseases, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity using block-wise selection, HF maintained a significant association with insomnia symptoms (OR:1.15, p\<0.05). When looking at each insomnia symptom separately, HF significantly predicted difficulty initiating sleep (OR: 1.23, p \< 0.01) in the fully adjusted model, but maintained a trend with difficulty maintaining sleep and early morning awakening. Conclusion: These results are suggestive of an alerting effect in HF which could be attributed to its pathophysiology. Specifically, the neurohormonal compensatory mechanism and the increased sympathetic stimulation in heart failure may exert an alerting effect during the day and contribute to a hyper-arousal state and difficulty initiating sleep before it partially wears off after sleep. Further studies are needed to investigate this hypothesis.}, keywords = {Heart Failure, insomnia symptoms}, doi = {10.1161/circ.144.suppl_1.12801}, author = {Rida Gharzeddine and Margaret M McCarthy and Gary Yu and Victoria V Dickson} } @article {11215, title = {The Importance of Engaging in Physical Activity in Older Adulthood for Transitions between Cognitive Status Categories and Death: A Coordinated Analysis of Fourteen Longitudinal Studies.}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology: Series A }, volume = {76}, year = {2021}, pages = {1661-1667}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Given increasing incidence of cognitive impairment and dementia, further understanding of modifiable factors contributing to increased healthspan is crucial. Extensive literature provides evidence that physical activity (PA) delays the onset of cognitive impairment; however, it is unclear whether engaging in PA in older adulthood is sufficient to influence progression through cognitive status categories.

METHODS: Applying a coordinated analysis approach, this project independently analyzed fourteen longitudinal studies (NTotal = 52,039; mean baseline age across studies= 69.9-81.73) from North America and Europe using multi-state survival models to estimate the impact of engaging in PA on cognitive status transitions (non-impaired, mildly impaired, severely impaired) and death. Multinomial regression models were fit to estimate life expectancy (LE) based on American PA recommendations. Meta-analyses provided the pooled effect sizes for the role of PA on each transition and estimated LEs.

RESULTS: Controlling for baseline age, sex, education and chronic conditions, analyses revealed that more PA is significantly associated with decreased risk of transitioning from non-impaired to mildly impaired cognitive functioning and death, as well as substantially longer LE. Results also provided evidence for a protective effect of PA after onset of cognitive impairment (e.g., decreased risk of transitioning from mild to severe cognitive impairment; increased likelihood of transitioning backward from severe to mild cognitive impairment), though between-study heterogeneity suggests a less robust association.

CONCLUSIONS: These results yield evidence for the importance of engaging in PA in older adulthood for cognitive health, and a rationale for motivating older adults to engage consistently in PA.

}, keywords = {cognitive aging, Exercise, Longevity, Successful aging}, issn = {1758-535X}, doi = {10.1093/gerona/glaa268}, author = {Yoneda, Tomiko and Nathan A Lewis and Knight, Jamie E and Rush, Jonathan and Vendittelli, Rebecca and Kleineidam, Luca and Hyun, Jinshil and Andrea M Piccinin and Scott M Hofer and Emiel O Hoogendijk and Derby, Carol A and Scherer, Martin and Steffi G Riedel-Heller and Wagner, Michael and van den Hout, Ardo and Wang, Wenyu and David A Bennett and Muniz-Terrera, Graciela} } @article {11408, title = {Interaction between physical activity and polygenic score on type 2 diabetes mellitus in older Black and White participants from the Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology: Series A }, volume = {76}, year = {2021}, pages = {1214-1221}, abstract = {

This study investigated the association of lifestyle factors and polygenic risk scores (PGS), and their interaction, on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). We examined data from the United States Health and Retirement Study, a prospective longitudinal cohort of >=50-year-old adults containing nationally representative samples of Black and White Americans with pre-calculated PGS for T2D (N=14,001). Predicted prevalence and incidence of T2D were calculated with logistic regression models. We calculated differences in T2D prevalence and incidence by PGS percentiles and for interaction variables using nonparametric bootstrap method. Black participants had approximately twice the prevalence of Whites (26.2\% vs. 14.2\%), with a larger difference between the 90 th and 10 th PGS percentile from age 50-80 years. Significant interaction (Pinteraction=0.0096) was detected between PGS and physical activity among Whites. Among Whites in the 90 th PGS percentile, T2D prevalence for moderate physical activity was 17.0\% (95\%CI:14.8,19.6), 6.8\% lower compared to no/some physical activity (23.8\%, 95\%CI:20.4,27.5). T2D prevalence was similar (~10\%) for both groups in the 10 th PGS percentile. Incident T2D in Whites followed a similar pattern (Pinteraction=0.0325). No significant interactions with PGS were detected among Black participants. Interaction of different genetic risk profiles with lifestyle factors may inform understanding of varying inventions{\textquoteright} efficacy for different groups of people, potentially improving clinical and prevention interventions.

}, keywords = {Physical activity, Polygenic risk score, Racial differences, type 2 diabetes}, issn = {1758-535X}, doi = {10.1093/gerona/glab025}, author = {Wu, Yan Yan and Mika D. Thompson and Youkhana, Fadi and Catherine M. Pirkle} } @article {11558, title = {Interplay between stress-related genes may influence Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease development: The results of genetic interaction analyses of human data.}, journal = {Mechanisms of Ageing and Development}, volume = {196}, year = {2021}, pages = {111477}, abstract = {

Emerging evidence from experimental and clinical research suggests that stress-related genes may play key roles in AD development. The fact that genome-wide association studies were not able to detect a contribution of such genes to AD indicates the possibility that these genes may influence AD non-linearly, through interactions of their products. In this paper, we selected two stress-related genes (GCN2/EIF2AK4 and APP) based on recent findings from experimental studies which suggest that the interplay between these genes might influence AD in humans. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the effects of interactions between SNPs in these two genes on AD occurrence, using the Health and Retirement Study data on white indidividuals. We found several interacting SNP-pairs whose associations with AD remained statistically significant after correction for multiple testing. These findings emphasize the importance of nonlinear mechanisms of polygenic AD regulation that cannot be detected in traditional association studies. To estimate collective effects of multiple interacting SNP-pairs on AD, we constructed a new composite index, called Interaction Polygenic Risk Score, and showed that its association with AD is highly statistically significant. These results open a new avenue in the analyses of mechanisms of complex multigenic AD regulation.

}, keywords = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, Genetic interactions, Integrated stress response, Polygenic risk score}, issn = {1872-6216}, doi = {10.1016/j.mad.2021.111477}, author = {Anatoliy Yashin and Wu, Deqing and Konstantin G Arbeev and Bagley, Olivia and Akushevich, Igor and Duan, Matt and Arseniy P Yashkin and Svetlana Ukraintseva} } @article {11735, title = {Loneliness mediates the relationships between perceived neighborhood characteristics and cognition in middle-aged and older adults.}, journal = {International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry}, volume = {36}, year = {2021}, pages = {1858-1866}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to examine whether loneliness mediates these associations between perceived neighborhood characteristics and cognition among middle-aged and older adults.

METHODS: Data from wave 10 (2010-2012) to wave 13 (2016-2017) of the Health and Retirement Study were analyzed. Perceived neighborhood characteristics were self-reported. Loneliness was measured by Revised University of California Los Angeles (R-UCLA) Loneliness Scale. Cognition was evaluated by the modified version of Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. Baron and Kenny{\textquoteright}s causal steps and multiple linear regression models based on Karlson/Holm/Breen (KHB) method were used to examine the mediating effect.

RESULTS: At baseline, 15,142 participants had no cognitive impairment, and 11,413 individuals were finally included in our analysis after 6-year follow-up. Multiple linear regression models suggested that lower perceived neighborhood physical disorder (β~=~0.073, p~=~0.033) and greater perceived neighborhood safety (β~=~0.350, p~=~0.009) were associated with better cognition. KHB test identified the significant mediating effect of loneliness on the relationships between perceived neighborhood physical disorder (β~=~0.011, p~=~0.016) and perceived neighborhood safety (β~=~0.023, p~=~0.026) and cognition.

CONCLUSIONS: Perceived neighborhood characteristics are associated with cognition among middle-aged and older American adults. Loneliness mediated associations between perceived neighborhood physical disorder and perceived neighborhood safety and cognition.

}, keywords = {Cognition, Loneliness, mediating effect, Perceived neighborhood characteristics}, issn = {1099-1166}, doi = {10.1002/gps.5595}, author = {Yu, Xiaohui and Yang, Jiulong and Yin, Zhenhua and Jiang, Wenjie and Zhang, Dongfeng} } @article {11149, title = {Longitudinal Assessment of the Relationships Between Geriatric Conditions and Loneliness.}, journal = {Journal of the American Medical Directors Association}, volume = {22}, year = {2021}, pages = {1107-1113.e1}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: In response to the lack of longitudinal evidence, this study aims to disentangle time sequence and directionality between the severity of geriatric conditions (GCs) and loneliness.

DESIGN: Longitudinal panel study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The working sample had 4680 participants of 2006, 2010, and 2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). All participants were at least 65~years old at baseline. Proxy responded cases and individuals who suffered from moderate to severe cognitive impairment were excluded from the analysis.

METHODS: Loneliness was measured with the 3-item UCLA loneliness scale. Five GCs were included: falls, incontinence, vision impairment, hearing impairment, and pain. Severity indicators were the number of times fallen in the past 2~years, number of days experiencing loss of bladder control in the past month, self-rated eyesight, self-rated hearing, and participants{\textquoteright} perceived level of pain.

RESULTS: Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were run to analyze the relationship between the severity of each individual GC and loneliness. All models were controlled for baseline demographics, social isolation, self-rated health, physical function, comorbidities, and hospitalization. The longitudinal association between loneliness and fall was bidirectional: a higher loneliness score predicted an increased number of falls and vice versa. Incontinence, vision impairment, hearing impairment, and pain were not significantly associated with loneliness longitudinally. The association between the random intercept of loneliness and some GCs (vision and pain) were significant, indicating the severity of these GCs were related to loneliness at the between-person level at baseline.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Findings of the longitudinal analysis suggest a reciprocal relationship between fall and loneliness. Fall prevention programs could be integrated with social service for addressing loneliness, and alleviating loneliness might be beneficial for preventing falls. Results of this study highlight the importance of integrating clinical management of falls with social services addressing loneliness in long term care.

}, keywords = {fall, geriatric syndrome, Longitudinal analysis, random intercept cross-lagged panel model, Reciprocal relationships}, issn = {1538-9375}, doi = {10.1016/j.jamda.2020.09.002}, author = {Yu, Kexin and Wu, Shinyi and Yuri Jang and Chou, Chih-Ping and Kathleen H. Wilber and Aranda, Mar{\'\i}a P and Iris Chi} } @conference {11821, title = {Long-Term Air Pollution Exposures and Major Depression in Older U.S. Adults: The Health and Retirement Study}, booktitle = {ISEE Conference Abstracts}, volume = {2021}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Major depression is a leading cause of morbidity worldwide, especially during later life. Since heritability is modest (40-50\%), there is interest in understanding risk from environmental factors like air pollution. However, research examining this issue is scarce, and often does not use clinical diagnostic criteria. Here, we aimed to quantify associations of air pollution with prevalent major depression in a cohort that deploys diagnostic assessments. METHODS: We conducted a repeated measure analysis of 2008-2016 interviews from the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative cohort of older adults in the United States. Major depression status was determined biennially using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Form, with a cutoff of 5. We estimated 1-year average PM2.5, PM10-2.5, NO2, and O3 concentrations at participant residences using fine-scale spatiotemporal models. To estimate prevalence ratios, we fit generalized linear models that accounted for sample weights and clustering by participant. All models included demographic characteristics, individual and neighborhood socioeconomic status, calendar time, and geographic area. RESULTS:Among 25,305 participants with complete data, there was a mean age of 63 years, 53\% were female, and most were Non-Hispanic White (73\%), with some Black (11\%) and Hispanic participants. Eight percent reported major depression. In fully adjusted models, we observed that higher PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations were associated with a greater prevalence of major depression (PR: 1.13 per 3 {\textmu}g/m{\textthreesuperior} PM2.5, 95\% CI: 1.03, 1.23; PR: 1.23 per 5 ppb NO2, 95\% CI: 1.06, 1.20). Only the association with NO2 was robust to adjustment for other pollutants, however, and no associations were observed with PM10-2.5 or O3. CONCLUSIONS:Overall, we observed a robust association of major depression prevalence with long-term exposure to NO2 but not with other air pollutants. This suggests that traffic may be a modifiable risk factor that could be targeted to reduce socioeconomic disparities in mental health. }, keywords = {Health Disparities, Major depression, Psychiatric epidemiology, Traffic-Related Air Pollution}, url = {https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/abs/10.1289/isee.2021.O-LT-071}, author = {Rachel S. Bergmans and D{\textquoteright} Souza, Jennifer and Fossa, Alan and Szpiro, Adam and Young, Michael T and Carlos F. Mendes de Leon and Kaufman, Joel and Richard A Hirth and Sara Dubowsky Adar} } @article {11365, title = {Marital Quality and Salivary Telomere Length Among Older Men and Women in the United States.}, journal = {Journal of Aging and Health}, volume = {33}, year = {2021}, pages = {300-309}, abstract = {

The link between marital quality and cellular aging remains underexplored. This study examined how both positive and negative marital quality were associated with salivary telomere length among partnered adults in the United States over the age of 50{\textdegree}years. Data were from the 2008 Health and Retirement Study ( = 3203). Ordinary least squares regression was used to estimate the link between marital quality and telomere length. While neither positive nor negative marital quality was significantly associated with telomere length among older women, positive and negative marital quality had an interacting effect on telomere length among men. Specifically, when negative marital quality was low, higher positive marital quality was associated with shorter telomere length, whereas when negative marital quality was high, higher positive marital quality was associated with longer telomere length. The findings speak to the complex nature of intimate partnerships and the implications of these partnerships for cellular aging processes.

}, keywords = {Aging, intimate relationships, Marital quality, Telomere}, issn = {1552-6887}, doi = {10.1177/0898264320980250}, author = {Yu, Yan-Liang and Hui Liu} } @article {11269, title = {Marital quality, gender, and later-life depressive symptom trajectories.}, journal = {Journal of Women \& Aging}, volume = {33}, year = {2021}, pages = {122-136}, abstract = {

We analyze six waves of data (2006-2016) from the Health and Retirement Study (n~=~4,342) to examine how marital quality is associated with depressive symptom trajectories among a group of continuously married older adults. Results show gender parity in how own perceptions of positive and negative dimensions of marital quality are related to depressive symptom trajectories. In addition, spousal perceptions of negative marital quality are positively associated with growth in depressive symptomatology regardless of gender. Spousal perceptions of positive marital quality, however, are associated with lower depressive symptoms only for women.

}, keywords = {Depressive symptoms, gender, Marital quality}, issn = {1540-7322}, doi = {10.1080/08952841.2020.1818538}, author = {Jennifer R. Bulanda and Takashi Yamashita and J Scott Brown} } @article {11698, title = {Moderate to severe chronic pain in later life: risk and resilience factors for recovery}, journal = {The Journal of Pain}, volume = {22}, year = {2021}, pages = {1657-1671}, abstract = {Despite extensive research on the development and risk factors of chronic pain, the process of recovery from chronic pain in later life has been rarely studied. We estimated the recovery rate of moderate to severe chronic pain (chronic pain of moderate or severe severity or interfering with usual activities) among older adults and investigated predictors of recovery. Leveraging the longitudinal Health and Retirement Study 2006{\textendash}2016 data (6 waves), we estimated the biennial national attrition-adjusted recovery rate of moderate to severe chronic pain among 6,132 US adults aged 65{\textendash}75 at baseline. Generalized estimating equation Poisson models examined pain-related, sociodemographic, psychosocial and health-related factors in relation to recovery within any 2-year interval using longitudinal lagged design. Between 2006{\textendash}2016, the prevalence of moderate to severe chronic pain increased from 28\% to 33\% with the incidence increasing from 14\% to 18\% and the recovery rate approximately 30\%. Previous chronic pain duration, age, chronic diseases and a personality trait (agreeableness) were associated with a lower probability of recovery. Greater financial wealth and physical activity, better sleep quality and self-reported health were associated with a greater probability of recovery. Interventions that improve physical activity and sleep quality may be important avenues for reducing chronic pain burden among older adults.}, keywords = {biopsychosocial, high-impact chronic pain, Moderate to severe chronic pain, Recovery}, doi = {10.1016/j.jpain.2021.05.007}, author = {Li, Rui and Dworkin, Robert H. and Chapman, Benjamin P and Becerra, Adan Z and Yang, Luoying and Christopher J Mooney and Christopher L Seplaki} } @article {12126, title = {Multi-Ancestry Genome-wide Association Study Accounting for Gene-Psychosocial Factor Interactions Identifies Novel Loci for Blood Pressure Traits.}, journal = {Human Genetics and Genomics Advances}, volume = {2}, year = {2021}, pages = {100013}, abstract = {

Psychological and social factors are known to influence blood pressure (BP) and risk of hypertension and associated cardiovascular diseases. To identify novel BP loci, we carried out genome-wide association meta-analyses of systolic, diastolic, pulse, and mean arterial BP taking into account the interaction effects of genetic variants with three psychosocial factors: depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and social support. Analyses were performed using a two-stage design in a sample of up to 128,894 adults from 5 ancestry groups. In the combined meta-analyses of Stages 1 and 2, we identified 59 loci (p value <5e-8), including nine novel BP loci. The novel associations were observed mostly with pulse pressure, with fewer observed with mean arterial pressure. Five novel loci were identified in African ancestry, and all but one showed patterns of interaction with at least one psychosocial factor. Functional annotation of the novel loci supports a major role for genes implicated in the immune response (), synaptic function and neurotransmission (), as well as genes previously implicated in neuropsychiatric or stress-related disorders (). These findings underscore the importance of considering psychological and social factors in gene discovery for BP, especially in non-European populations.

}, keywords = {blood pressure traits}, issn = {2666-2477}, doi = {10.1016/j.xhgg.2020.100013}, author = {Sun, Daokun and Melissa Richard and Musani, Solomon K and Yun Ju Sung and Thomas W Winkler and Schwander, Karen and Jin-Fang Chai and Guo, Xiuqing and Kilpel{\"a}inen, Tuomas O and Vojinovic, Dina and Aschard, Hugues and Traci M Bartz and Bielak, Lawrence F and Brown, Michael R and Chitrala, Kumaraswamy and Hartwig, Fernando P and Horimoto, Andrea R V R and Liu, Yongmei and Alisa Manning and Noordam, Raymond and Smith, Albert V and Sarah E Harris and K{\"u}hnel, Brigitte and Lyytik{\"a}inen, Leo-Pekka and Ilja M Nolte and Rauramaa, Rainer and van der Most, Peter J and Wang, Rujia and Erin B Ware and Weiss, Stefan and Wen, Wanqing and Yanek, Lisa R and Dan E Arking and Donna K Arnett and Barac, Ana and Boerwinkle, Eric and Broeckel, Ulrich and Chakravarti, Aravinda and Chen, Yii-Der Ida and Cupples, L Adrienne and Davigulus, Martha L and de Las Fuentes, Lisa and de Mutsert, Ren{\'e}e and de Vries, Paul S and Delaney, Joseph A C and Ana V Diez Roux and D{\"o}rr, Marcus and Jessica Faul and Fretts, Amanda M and Gallo, Linda C and Hans-J{\"o}rgen Grabe and Gu, C Charles and Tamara B Harris and Hartman, Catharina C A and Heikkinen, Sami and Ikram, M Arfan and Isasi, Carmen and Johnson, W Craig and Jost Bruno Jonas and Kaplan, Robert C and Komulainen, Pirjo and Krieger, Jose E and Levy, Daniel and Liu, Jianjun and Kurt Lohman and Luik, Annemarie I and Martin, Lisa W and Meitinger, Thomas and Milaneschi, Yuri and Jeff O{\textquoteright}Connell and Walter R Palmas and Peters, Annette and Peyser, Patricia A and Pulkki-Raback, Laura and Raffel, Leslie J and Reiner, Alex P and Kenneth Rice and Robinson, Jennifer G and Rosendaal, Frits R and Schmidt, Carsten Oliver and Schreiner, Pamela J and Schwettmann, Lars and Shikany, James M and Shu, Xiao-Ou and Stephen Sidney and Sims, Mario and Smith, Jennifer A and Sotoodehnia, Nona and Strauch, Konstantin and Tai, E Shyong and Taylor, Kent and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Cornelia M van Duijn and Waldenberger, Melanie and Wee, Hwee-Lin and Wei, Wen-Bin and Wilson, Gregory and Xuan, Deng and Yao, Jie and Zeng, Donglin and Zhao, Wei and Zhu, Xiaofeng and Alan B Zonderman and Becker, Diane M and Ian J Deary and Gieger, Christian and Lakka, Timo A and Lehtim{\"a}ki, Terho and Kari E North and Oldehinkel, Albertine J and Brenda W J H Penninx and Snieder, Harold and Wang, Ya-Xing and David R Weir and Zheng, Wei and Michele K Evans and Gauderman, W James and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Horta, Bernardo L and Liu, Ching-Ti and Dennis O Mook-Kanamori and Alanna C Morrison and Pereira, Alexandre C and Psaty, Bruce M and Amin, Najaf and Fox, Ervin R and Charles Kooperberg and Sim, Xueling and Laura Bierut and Rotter, Jerome I and Sharon L R Kardia and Franceschini, Nora and Rao, Dabeeru C and Myriam Fornage} } @article {11878, title = {The Patterns of Parental Intervivos Transfers to Adult Children}, number = {7144}, year = {2021}, institution = {University of Pittsburgh}, address = {Pittsburgh, PA}, abstract = {Parental intervivos transfers to adult children occur in families across the income distribution. This paper documents and analyzes novel patterns of parental intervivos transfers that are informative to dynamic models of transfers. We use longitudinal data on parental transfers from the 1996-2014 Health and Retirement Study to characterize the age pro{\"O}le of transfers, including the probability and the transfer amount (unconditional and conditional). We then follow the 1967-71 cohort to describe the frequency of transfers, the distribution of years between transfers, and the total transfers received during di{\textsection}erent age brackets. Last, we use a dynamic model of parental altruism to analyze the mechanisms generating the distinct transfer types observed in the data. We {\"O}nd that in addition to the cross-sectional patterns documented in the literature, parental altruism is essential to explain the novel dynamic facts on intervivos transfers from longitudinal data. }, keywords = {age profile of intervivos transfers, borrowing constraints, frequency of transfers, income profile, parental altruism}, url = {https://www.econ.pitt.edu/sites/default/files/working_papers/transfers.pdf}, author = {Yang, Siqiang and Ripoll, Marla} } @article {11724, title = {Personal Mastery and All-Cause Mortality among Older Americans Living with Diabetes}, journal = {Elderly Health Journal}, volume = {7}, year = {2021}, pages = {3-10}, abstract = {Introduction: Higher personal mastery is associated with better physical functioning, wellbeing, and longevity among older populations. However, few studies have focused on whether personal mastery is protective against mortality among older adults living with diabetes over time. Methods: A total of 1,779 participants were identified from an off-year survey of the Health and Retirement Study. Proportional Hazard Models were used to evaluate the significance of selected variables in predicting the survival of participants over a 13-year period. Results: A substantial proportion (46.7\%) of the diabetic patients had survived by the end of 2016. Adults with lower mastery scores were more likely to die (Hazard Ratio = .94, p \< .001). Gender differences in the association patterns between personal mastery and survival were identified. Personal mastery had an independent health-protective effect on the survival of diabetes patients over the study period. With lower educational attainment, the foreign-born female diabetics scored higher in personal mastery measure when compared to their male counterparts. In the face of more severe diabetes comorbidity, foreign-born female diabetics also outlived their male counterparts over the study period. Conclusion: As a crucial psychological resource and a modifiable factor, personal mastery holds a potential for improving the health status among lower SES groups of older adults. Further investigations into the identified gender difference could be applied to break the cycle of poor health among lower Socio-Economic Status groups of older adults.}, keywords = {Aged, Diabetes, Immigrants, Mortality, personal mastery}, doi = { ‎10.18502/ehj.v7i1.6545}, author = {TUNG, HO-JUI and Yeh, Ming-Chin and Ford, Randall and Shah, Gulzar} } @article {12007, title = {Physical activity participation among older adults with diabetes: Applying the World Health Organization{\textquoteright}s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Guidelines}, journal = {The Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling}, volume = {27}, year = {2021}, pages = {75-89}, abstract = {Objective: Physical activity (PA) is a known benefit to older adults with diabetes; however, the determinants of PA are less well studied in this population. Applying the World Health Organization{\textquoteright}s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), a well-established biopsychosocial framework, we explored PA participation among older adult with type 2 diabetes. Method: Using data from the Health and Retirement Study and the RAND Center for the Study of Aging (N = 2,016; mean age = 73.19; SD = 6.16), we conducted hierarchical stepwise regression analysis to evaluate the relative contribution of different biopsychosocial predictors to PA {\textendash} namely, body functions and structure, activity and participation, personal, and environmental factors. Results: Altogether, biopsychosocial factors accounted for 20\% of the variance in PA participation. Of the personal factors, high extraversion and low neuroticism explained approximately 54\% of the variance in PA among the older adults {\textendash} beyond sociodemographics. Low body mass index, reduced pain, reduced depression, and higher cognitive functioning also had good explanatory power (25\% of explained variance), whereas activity participation and environment did not (10\% each). Conclusion: Aligning care with components of the ICF will help to ensure a focus on person-centric practices and, in turn, optimize participation outcomes such as PA.}, keywords = {Physical activity, type 2 diabetes}, doi = {10.1017/jrc.2021.7}, author = {Chenchen Yang and Mpofu, Elias and Li, Xiaoli and Dorstyn, Diana and Li, Qiwei and Brock, Kaye} } @article {YUE2021100918, title = {The relationship between educational attainment and hospitalizations among middle-aged and older adults in the United States}, journal = {SSM - Population Health}, volume = {15}, year = {2021}, pages = {100918}, abstract = {Background There has been little research on the relationship between education and healthcare utilization, especially for racial/ethnic minorities. This study aimed to examine the association between education and hospitalizations, investigate the mechanisms, and disaggregate the relationship by gender, race/ethnicity, and age groups. Methods A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using data from the 1992{\textendash}2016 US Health and Retirement Study. The analytic sample consists of 35,451 respondents with 215,724 person-year observations. We employed a linear probability model with standard errors clustered at the respondent level and accounted for attrition bias using an inverse probability weighting approach. Results On average, compared to having an education less than high school, having a college degree or above was significantly associated with an 8.37 pp (95\% CI, -9.79 pp to -7.95 pp) lower probability of being hospitalized, and having education of high school or some college was related to 3.35 pp (95\% CI, -4.57 pp to -2.14 pp) lower probability. The association slightly attenuated after controlling for income but dramatically reduced once holding health conditions constant. Specifically, given the same health status and childhood environment conditions, compared to those with less than high school degree, college graduates saw a 1.79 pp (95\% CI, -3.16 pp to -0.42 pp) lower chance of being hospitalized, but the association for high school graduates became indistinguishable from zero. Additionally, the association was larger for females, whites, and those younger than 78. The association was statistically significantly smaller for black college graduates than their white counterparts, even when health status is held constant. Conclusions Educational attainment is a strong predictor of hospitalizations for middle-aged and older US adults. Health mediates most of the education-hospitalization gradients. The heterogeneous results across age, gender, race, and ethnicity groups should inform further research on health disparities.}, keywords = {Education, gender, Hospitalization, Race/ethnicity}, issn = {2352-8273}, doi = {10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100918}, author = {Dahai Yue and Ninez Ponce and Jack Needleman and Susan L Ettner} } @article {11978, title = {Roles of interacting stress-related genes in lifespan regulation: Insights for translating experimental findings to humans}, volume = {5}, year = {2021}, pages = {357-379}, abstract = {Aim: Experimental studies provided numerous evidence that caloric/dietary restriction may improve health and increase the lifespan of laboratory animals, and that the interplay among molecules that sense cellular stress signals and those regulating cell survival can play a crucial role in cell response to nutritional stressors. However, it is unclear whether the interplay among corresponding genes also plays a role in human health and lifespan. Methods: Literature about roles of cellular stressors have been reviewed, such as amino acid deprivation, and the integrated stress response (ISR) pathway in health and aging. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in two candidate genes (GCN2/EIF2AK4 and CHOP/DDI3T) that are closely involved in the cellular stress response to amino acid starvation, have been selected using information from experimental studies. Associations of these SNPs and their interactions with human survival in the Health and Retirement Study data have been estimated. The impact of collective associations of multiple interacting SNP pairs on survival has been evaluated, using a recently developed composite index: the SNP-specific Interaction Polygenic Risk Score (SIPRS). Results: Significant interactions have been found between SNPs from GCN2/EIF2AK4 and CHOP/DDI3T genes that were associated with survival 85+ compared to survival between ages 75 and 85 in the total sample (males and females combined) and in females only. This may reflect sex differences in genetic regulation of the human lifespan. Highly statistically significant associations of SIPRS [constructed for the rs16970024 (GCN2/EIF2AK4) and rs697221 (CHOP/DDIT3)] with survival in both sexes also been found in this study. Conclusion: Identifying associations of the genetic interactions with human survival is an important step in translating the knowledge from experimental to human aging research. Significant associations of multiple SNPxSNP interactions in ISR genes with survival to the oldest old age that have been found in this study, can help uncover mechanisms of multifactorial regulation of human lifespan and its heterogeneity.}, keywords = {amino acids starvation, GCN2/EIF2AK4 and CHOP/DDI3T genes, GxG interactions, Integrated stress response, Lifespan}, doi = {10.20517/jtgg.2021.26}, author = {Anatoliy Yashin and Wu, Deqing and Konstantin G Arbeev and Arseniy P Yashkin and Akushevich, Igor and Bagley, Olivia and Duan, Matt and Svetlana Ukraintseva} } @article {11359, title = {Time-Varying Insomnia Symptoms and Incidence of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia among Older US Adults}, journal = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}, volume = {18}, year = {2021}, pages = {351}, abstract = {There is conflicting evidence regarding the association between insomnia and the onset of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. This study aimed to evaluate if time-varying insomnia is associated with the development of MCI and dementia. Data from the Health and Retirement Study (n = 13,833) from 2002 to 2014 were used (59.4\% female). The Brief Insomnia Questionnaire was used to identify insomnia symptoms which were compiled in an insomnia severity index, ranging from 0 to 4. In analysis, participants{\textquoteright} symptoms could vary from wave-to-wave. Dementia was defined using results from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) global cognitive assessment tool. Respondents were classified as either having dementia, MCI, or being cognitively healthy. Cox proportional hazards models with time-dependent exposure using the counting process (start-stop time) were used for analysis. For each one-unit increase in the insomnia symptom index, there was a 5-percent greater hazard of MCI (HR = 1.05; 95\% CI: 1.04{\textendash}1.06) and dementia (HR = 1.05; 95\% CI: 1.03{\textendash}1.05), after fully adjusting. Using a nationally representative sample of adults age 51 and older, this study found that time-varying insomnia symptoms are associated with risk of MCI and dementia. This highlights the importance of identifying sleep disturbances and their change over time as potentially important risk factors for MCI and dementia.}, keywords = {cognitive impairment, Dementia, insomnia, Older Adults, Sleep, time-varying}, isbn = {1661-78271660-4601}, doi = {10.3390/ijerph18010351}, author = {Nicholas V Resciniti and Yelverton, Valerie and Kase, Bezawit E and Zhang, Jiajia and Matthew C. Lohman} } @article {11320, title = {APOE region molecular signatures of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease across races/ethnicities.}, journal = {Neurobiol Aging}, volume = {87}, year = {2020}, month = {2020 03}, pages = {141.e1-141.e8}, abstract = {

The role of even the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD), the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele, in its etiology remains poorly understood. We examined molecular signatures of AD defined as differences in linkage disequilibrium patterns between AD-affected and -unaffected whites (2673/16,246), Hispanics (392/867), and African Americans (285/1789), separately. We focused on 29 polymorphisms from 5 genes in the APOE region emphasizing beneficial and adverse effects of the APOE ε2- and ε4-coding single-nucleotide polymorphisms, respectively, and the differences in the linkage disequilibrium structures involving these alleles between AD-affected and -unaffected subjects. Susceptibility to AD is likely the result of complex interactions of the ε2 and ε4 alleles with other polymorphisms in the APOE region, and these interactions differ across races/ethnicities corroborating differences in the adverse and beneficial effects of the ε4 and ε2 alleles. Our findings support complex race/ethnicity-specific haplotypes promoting and protecting against AD in this region. They contribute to better understanding of polygenic and resilient mechanisms, which can explain why even homozygous ε4 carriers may not develop AD.

}, keywords = {Alleles, Alzheimer disease, Apolipoproteins E, Continental Population Groups, Haplotypes, Heterozygote, Homozygote, Humans, Linkage Disequilibrium, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Risk Factors}, issn = {1558-1497}, doi = {10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.11.007}, author = {Alexander M Kulminski and Shu, Leonardo and Loika, Yury and Nazarian, Alireza and Konstantin G Arbeev and Svetlana Ukraintseva and Anatoliy Yashin and Culminskaya, Irina} } @article {10706, title = {Association of traumatic brain injury with dementia and memory decline in older adults in the United States}, journal = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s \& Dementia}, volume = {16}, year = {2020}, pages = {853-861}, abstract = {Abstract Introduction To examine associations of history of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) with loss of consciousness (LOC) with dementia incidence and memory decline. Methods We studied 2718 participants from the 1992 enrollment cohort of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) aged 65 years or older in 2000. History of TBI with LOC was self-reported in 1992. Dementia was assessed using four algorithms established in HRS. Participants were followed from 2000 to 2014 with repeated measures of dementia and memory performance. Cox models and linear mixed-effects models were used. Results In 1992, 11.9\% of the participants reported a history of TBI with LOC. In fully adjusted models for all four algorithms, participants with a history of TBI with LOC had no statistically significant difference in dementia incidence nor in memory decline, compared to participants without TBI history. Discussion Our study did not find evidence of a long-term association between history of TBI with LOC (of unknown frequency and severity) and dementia incidence or memory decline.}, keywords = {Cognitive decline, Dementia, longitudinal, Traumatic Brain Injury}, doi = {10.1002/alz.12080}, author = {Grasset, Leslie and M. Maria Glymour and Kristine Yaffe and Swift, Samuel L. and Kan Z Gianattasio and Melinda C Power and Adina Zeki Al Hazzouri} } @article {11258, title = {Cardiovascular disease risk prediction for people with type 2 diabetes in a population-based cohort and in electronic health record data}, journal = {Jamia Open}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Electronic health records (EHRs) have become a common data source for clinical risk prediction, offering large sample sizes and frequently sampled metrics. There may be notable differences between hospital-based EHR and traditional cohort samples: EHR data often are not population-representative random samples, even for particular diseases, as they tend to be sicker with higher healthcare utilization, while cohort studies often sample healthier subjects who typically are more likely to participate. We investigate heterogeneities between EHR- and cohort-based inferences including incidence rates, risk factor identifications/quantifications, and absolute risks.This is a retrospective cohort study of older patients with type 2 diabetes using EHR from New York University Langone Health ambulatory care (NYULH-EHR, years 2009{\textendash}2017) and from the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS, 1995{\textendash}2014) to study subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks. We used the same eligibility criteria, outcome definitions, and demographic covariates/biomarkers in both datasets. We compared subsequent CVD incidence rates, hazard ratios (HRs) of risk factors, and discrimination/calibration performances of CVD risk scores.The estimated subsequent total CVD incidence rate was 37.5 and 90.6 per 1000 person-years since T2DM onset in HRS and NYULH-EHR respectively. HR estimates were comparable between the datasets for most demographic covariates/biomarkers. Common CVD risk scores underestimated observed total CVD risks in NYULH-EHR.EHR-estimated HRs of demographic and major clinical risk factors for CVD were mostly consistent with the estimates from a national cohort, despite high incidences and absolute risks of total CVD outcome in the EHR samples.}, keywords = {Cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes}, isbn = {2574-2531}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1093/jamiaopen/ooaa059}, author = {Szymonifka, Jackie and Conderino, Sarah and Christine T Cigolle and Ha, Jinkyung and Mohammed U Kabeto and Yu, Jaehong and John A. Dodson and Thorpe, Lorna and Caroline S Blaum and Zhong, Judy} } @article {10920, title = {Childhood Circumstances and Health Inequality in Old Age: Comparative Evidence from China and the USA}, journal = {Social Indicators Research }, year = {2020}, abstract = {This paper estimates the extent to which childhood circumstances contribute to health inequality in old age and evaluates the importance of major domains of childhood circumstances to health inequalities in the USA and China. We link two waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study in 2013 and 2015 with the newly released 2014 Life History Survey, and two waves of the Health and Retirement Study in 2014 and 2016 with the newly released 2015 Life History Mail Survey in the USA, to quantify health inequality due to childhood circumstances for which they have little control. Using the Shapley value decomposition approach, we show that childhood circumstances may explain 7{\textendash}16 and 14{\textendash}30\% of health inequality in old age in China and the USA, respectively. Specifically, the contribution of childhood circumstances to health inequality is larger in the USA than in China for self-rated health, mental health, and physical health. Examining domains of childhood circumstance, regional and rural/urban status contribute more to health inequality in China, while family socioeconomic status contributes more to health inequality in the USA. Our findings support the value of a life course approach in identifying the key determinants of health in old age. Distinguishing sources of health inequality and rectifying inequality due to early childhood circumstances should be the basis of policy promoting health equity.}, keywords = {childhood circumstances, Frailty, inequality of opportunity, life course approach, Mental Health, Self-rated health}, isbn = {1573-0921}, doi = {10.1007/s11205-020-02436-2}, author = {Chen, Xi and Yan, Binjian and Thomas M Gill} } @article {10899, title = {Childhood Circumstances and Health Inequality in Old Age: Comparative Evidence from China and the United States}, number = {13460}, year = {2020}, note = {ISSN: 2365-9793}, institution = {IZA Institute of Labor Economics}, address = {Bonn, Germany}, abstract = {This paper estimates the extent to which childhood circumstances contribute to health inequality in old age and evaluates the importance of major domains of childhood circumstances to health inequalities in the USA and China. We link two waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2013 and 2015 with the newly released 2014 Life History Survey (LHS), and two waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) in 2014 and 2016 with the newly released 2015 Life History Mail Survey (LHMS) in the USA, to quantify health inequality due to childhood circumstances for which they have little control. Using the Shapley value decomposition approach, we show that childhood circumstances may explain 7-16 percent and 14-30 percent of health inequality in old age in China and the USA, respectively. Specifically, the contribution of childhood circumstances to health inequality is larger in the USA than in China for self-rated health, mental health, and physical health. Examining domains of childhood circumstance, regional and rural/ urban status contribute more to health inequality in China, while family socioeconomic status (SES) contributes more to health inequality in the USA. Our findings support the value of a life course approach in identifying the key determinants of health in old age. Distinguishing sources of health inequality and rectifying inequality due to early childhood circumstances should be the basis of policy promoting health equity.}, keywords = {childhood circumstances, Frailty, inequality of opportunity, life course approach, Mental Health, Self-rated health}, url = {http://ftp.iza.org/dp13460.pdf}, author = {Chen, Xi and Yan, Binjian and Thomas M Gill} } @mastersthesis {11173, title = {CHRONIC PAIN AND SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AMONG MIDLIFE AND OLDER ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES}, volume = {Doctor of Philosophy}, year = {2020}, school = {State University of New York at Buffalo}, address = {Buffalo, NY}, abstract = {The prevalence of chronic pain in the over-50 population is approximately 25-35\% and has been rising over time in the United States. However, the social consequences of chronic pain in later life are relatively understudied in the social sciences. This dissertation examines whether and how chronic pain impacts social lives among midlife and older adults in the United States. Drawing on data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), I address this research question with three empirical chapters using a variety of statistical models. In the first empirical chapter, I examine the impact of chronic pain on relationship-typespecific support and strain from spouses, children, relatives, and friends. Two competing perspectives {\textemdash} the classic sick role theory versus pain as a threat to social self {\textemdash} were tested. I first use group-based trajectory models to identify four pain trajectory groups, then analyze the associations between relationship-type-specific support and strain and pain trajectory groups with multilevel mixed-effect models. Results suggest that respondents who were consistently experiencing moderate or severe pain perceived less support and more strain from all types of relationships. Therefore, the classic sick role hypothesis is not supported, but the pain as a {\textquotedblleft}threat to the social self{\textquotedblright} hypothesis is supported by my findings. The second empirical chapter investigates the association between chronic pain and marital quality among older heterosexual couples using dyadic analysis of Actor{\textendash}Partner Interdependence Models. Results indicate that an actors{\textquoteright} moderate pain is marginally associated with perceiving more support from their partners, while partners{\textquoteright} moderate and severe pain is significantly associated with actor{\textquoteright}s perceptions of less spousal support. Also, an individual{\textquoteright}s moderate pain and his/her partner{\textquoteright}s moderate and severe pain are associated with more strain from the partner. The relationship between partners{\textquoteright} pain and spousal support varies by gender in that wives whose husbands experience pain perceive less spousal support, but not vice versa. In the final empirical chapter, I examine how onset of chronic pain is associated with two aspects of friendship in later life, using linear regression with a lagged dependent variable approach. Results show that the onset of moderate pain is marginally associated with reporting more friends and more frequent meet-ups, which is similar to the effects of life-threatening disease (e.g., cancer) on friendship. This association can be interpreted by both classic sick role theory and the social network activation perspective. However, different from life-threatening diseases, more severe condition, i.e., onset of severe pain, does not necessarily predict more friends or more frequent meetings, indicating that both timing and severity of pain matter in predicting friendship in later life. Overall, my dissertation integrates sociological theories in aging, health, and social relationships/networks, and uses advanced statistical methods to explore the social consequences of chronic pain.}, keywords = {Chronic pain, marital relationships, Social activity}, url = {https://search.proquest.com/openview/1b53d3e318782ea4898140902220dfd7/1?pq-origsite=gscholar\&cbl=18750\&diss=y}, author = {Yang, Yulin} } @article {9939, title = {Depression in Later Life: The Role of Adult Children{\textquoteright}s College Education for Older Parents{\textquoteright} Mental Health in the United States.}, journal = {Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences \& Social Sciences}, year = {2020}, abstract = {

Objectives: Research on the socioeconomic gradient in mental health links disadvantaged family background with subsequent symptoms of depression, demonstrating the "downstream" effect of parental resources on children{\textquoteright}s mental health. This study takes a different approach by evaluating the "upstream" influence of adult children{\textquoteright}s educational attainment on parents{\textquoteright} depressive symptoms.

Methods: Using longitudinal data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (N=106,517 person-years), we examine whether children{\textquoteright}s college attainment influences their parents{\textquoteright} mental health in later life and whether this association increases with parental age. We also assess whether the link between children{\textquoteright}s college completion and parents{\textquoteright} depression differs by parents{\textquoteright} own education.

Results: Parents with children who completed college have significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms than parents without college-educated children, although the gap between parents narrows with age. In addition, at baseline, parents with less than a high school education were more positively affected by their children{\textquoteright}s college completion than parents who themselves had a college education, a finding which lends support to theories of resource substitution.

Discussion: Offspring education is an overlooked resource that can contribute to mental health disparities among older adults in a country with unequal access to college educations.

}, keywords = {Adult children, Depressive symptoms, Education}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gby135}, author = {Jenjira J Yahirun and Connor M Sheehan and Krysia N Mossakowski} } @article {11341, title = {Dyadic Patterns of Marital Quality During Later Life}, journal = {Innovation in Aging}, volume = {4}, year = {2020}, pages = {344}, abstract = {Although earlier cross-sectional studies suggested a U-shaped curve in marital quality over the life course, recent longitudinal studies find stability or continual decline (Proulx, Ermer, \& Kanter, 2017). It is important to better understand patterns of marital quality during later life, as marital quality is associated with older adults{\textquoteright} marital stability, health, and longevity. However, few studies have utilized couple-level data to examine marital quality trajectories, and only one has examined dyadic patterns during later life (Wickrama et al., 2020). We use nationally-representative data from the 2006-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine positive and negative dimensions of marital quality among a sample of continuously-married couples over age 50 in which both partners provided data on marital quality at three time points (n = 1,389 couples). A survey-weighted latent growth curve model simultaneously examines two marital quality trajectories: own and spouse{\textquoteright}s. Preliminary results show that mean baseline positive and negative marital quality are similar for own and spouse{\textquoteright}s trajectories. Although growth rates are statistically non-significant for positive marital quality, the variance of growth rate is statistically significant for spouse{\textquoteright}s trajectory (0.001, p < 0.05), and greater baseline own positive marital quality is associated with negative growth of spouse{\textquoteright}s positive marital quality. Growth rates are similar for own and spouse{\textquoteright}s trajectories of negative marital quality, and variance of growth rate is statistically significant for spouse{\textquoteright}s negative marital quality trajectory. Results point to stability in marital quality over time, and suggest the importance of using couple-level data.}, keywords = {dyadic patterns, Marital quality}, isbn = {2399-5300}, doi = {10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1106}, author = {Jennifer R. Bulanda and Yamashita, Taka and J Scott Brown} } @article {article, title = {The Education of Multiple Family Members and the Life-Course Pathways to Cognitive Impairment}, journal = {The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences}, year = {2020}, type = {Journal}, abstract = {Objectives: This paper asks how the educational attainments of multiple family members, including parents and offspring, are associated with the cognitive health of older adults in the United States. Methods: We use panel data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (2000-2012) to examine how the education of an individual, their parent(s), and their offspring are associated with the prevalence of moderate/severe cognitive impairment and the onset of cognitive impairment among older adults using logistic regression and discrete-time event history analysis, respectively. Results: We found that when combined, only the education of the individual is inversely associated with cognitive impairment at baseline. However, both the educational attainments of an individual and their offspring are negatively associated with the risk of becoming cognitively impaired, among individuals who were not already cognitively impaired. Conversely, parental education was not predictive of being cognitively impaired or the onset of impairment. Furthermore, we found that respondent gender did not moderate the relationship between a family member{\textquoteright}s education and respondent cognitive health. Discussion: This study adds to current research by asking how resources from earlier and subsequent generations matter for older adults{\textquoteright} cognitive health. Although we found little evidence that parental education matters at this life stage, results suggest that offspring education has a salient positive effect on later-lifer cognitive health. This finding underscores an overlooked source of health disparities - offspring resources - and highlights how a family perspective remains a powerful tool for understanding health inequalities in later life.}, keywords = {Cognitive health; Health and Retirement Study; Intergenerational relationships}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbaa039}, author = {Jenjira J Yahirun and Vasireddy, Sindhu and Mark D Hayward} } @mastersthesis {11092, title = {Educational Attainment and Hospital Admissions: New Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study}, volume = {Doctor of Philosophy}, year = {2020}, school = {University of California, Los Angeles}, address = {Los Angelas}, abstract = {Research Objective: Education is one of the most significant correlates of health. However, the extent to which this relationship is causal is yet to be established. Additionally, there is a dearth of studies investigating the effect of education on health care utilization. This dissertation{\textquoteright}s overall objective was to examine the relationship between educational attainment and hospitalizations using a large longitudinal database and more efficient estimation methods. The three specific aims were: 1) to investigate determinants of attrition due to death and non-response in the Health and Retirement Study (first study); 2) to examine the association between education and hospitalizations based on a pre-set conceptual model and assess the impact of attrition on the estimation of the education-hospitalization relationship (second study); and 3) to determine the causal effect of education on hospitalizations (third study). Methods: The primary data source was the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) with restricted files, including state-identifiers from 1992 to 2016. This database was further merged with data consisting of 1919-1973 state-level compulsory schooling laws and the quality of schooling measures to study the causal effects of education on hospitalizations. I used a multinomial logistic regression model to investigate the determinants of attrition status in 2016 as well as the between-wave attrition. I then constructed weights to account for attrition bias in the relationship between education and hospitalizations using the inverse probability weighting approach. To determine the causal effects of education on hospitalizations, I used compulsory schooling laws as instruments for years of completed education. A Post-Double-Selection method based on the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regressions was used to select optimal instruments and a parsimonious set of controls, which yields more efficient but still consistent instrumental variable (IV) estimators. Population Studied: The study population included eligible respondents and their spouses in the HRS survey from 1992 to 2016. The first study excluded the Later Baby Boomer cohort that entered the HRS in 2016. The second study focused on those born in the United States. The third study further restricted the study population to white respondents who had high school or lower educational attainment and were born in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia (excluding Hawaii and Alaska) between 1905 and 1959. Results: Respondents who were female, white, Hispanic, married, who had more living children, who had more years of education, and who were healthier, and financially better off during childhood were more likely to remain in the survey and respond in every follow-up wave. These variables had different impacts on attrition due to death and attrition due to non-response. On average, compared to individuals with less than a high school education, individuals with a high school education or some college had a 3.37 percentage point (pp) (95\% CI, -3.93 pp to -2.80 pp) lower likelihood of being hospitalized, and individuals with a college degree or above had an 8.39 pp (95\% CI, -9.10 pp to -7.67 pp) lower likelihood of hospitalization over the past two years, controlling for demographics, childhood socioeconomic conditions, childhood health status, state-of-birth fixed effects, year-of-birth fixed effects, state-specific linear time trends, and accounting for attrition bias. After age 78, the probability of hospitalization for those with a high school education was not significantly different from that of those with less than a high school education; the estimate was -0.96 pp and not statistically significant. The preferred IV estimator (LASSO-IV estimator) implies that a one year increase in schooling lowered the probability of two-year hospitalization by 6.5 pp (95\% CI: - 9.1 pp to -3.9 pp), which is much larger than that of the OLS estimator (-1.1 pp, 95\% CI: -1.4 pp to -0.7 pp) without correcting for the endogeneity of education. Conclusions: Individuals with more years of schooling had a lower probability of two-year hospitalizations compared to their counterparts with fewer years of education. These effects would be underestimated if attrition bias was not accounted for. Moreover, age modifies the relationship. After age 78, the effect of a high school or some college education became indistinguishable from zero, but the effect of higher education remained statistically significant. Importantly, when accounting for the endogeneity of education, I found a relatively large and significant effect of education on hospitalizations. Implications for Research and Policy: My main finding that educational attainment has a large effect on hospitalizations contributes to the growing literature on the social determinants of health. Results from this study should inform policymakers and suggest that providing more health care resources to the low-education group might be an effective means for reducing health disparities. It also provides rigorous evidence for health care payment reforms that consider incorporating education into the risk-adjustment models. In a broader context, it suggests that investing in the educational system could be a more cost-effective way to reduce intensive health care use and health care costs. Furthermore, the analytic framework constructed in this dissertation to account for attrition bias and produce efficient estimators by selecting optimal instruments and controls with LASSO regression models should guide further research for evaluating the effects of education in other similar studies, and, more generally, longitudinal studies involving many instruments and/or many controls.}, keywords = {Aging, Attrition, Causal inference, Education, Health Economics, Hospitalization}, isbn = {9798617006355}, url = {https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8t8287fr}, author = {Dahai Yue} } @article {ijerph17041425, title = {Effect of Discrimination on Presenteeism among Aging Workers in the United States: Moderated Mediation Effect of Positive and Negative Affect}, journal = {International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}, volume = {17}, year = {2020}, pages = {1425}, abstract = {This study aimed to examine how perceived everyday discrimination influences presenteeism and how conscientiousness moderates the relationship between discrimination and positive affect among older workers. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the mediating effect. The moderated mediation model was examined by PROCESS. The results of the final SEM model showed that discrimination was directly positively associated with presenteeism. Furthermore, positive affect was significantly inversely correlated with discrimination and presenteeism. In addition, negative affect was significantly positively correlated with discrimination and presenteeism. The significant indirect effect between perceived everyday discrimination and positive affect was significantly mediated by positive and negative affect. In addition, the results of the moderated mediation model indicate that positive affect was more likely to be influenced by perceived everyday discrimination among older workers with less conscientiousness, as compared with those with greater conscientiousness. To enhance work outcomes of aging workers in the United States, managers should foster highly conscientious aging workers, award those who are hardworking and goal-oriented, and combine personal goals and organizational goals through bonuses, holidays, and benefits. Policymakers should be mindful of the negative impact of discrimination on presenteeism and should target lowly conscientious older workers.}, keywords = {Discrimination}, issn = {1660-4601}, doi = {10.3390/ijerph17041425}, url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/4/1425}, author = {Deng, Jianwei and Guo, Yuangeng and Shi, Hubin and Gao, Yongchuang and Jin, Xuan and Liu, Yexin and Tianan Yang} } @article {10935, title = {Effect of Work Environment on Presenteeism among Aging American Workers: The Moderated Mediating Effect of Cynical Hostility}, journal = {Sustainability}, volume = {12}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Cynical hostility in the workplace has been studied. However, there is still no complete study examining how cynical hostility affects work performance. We examined how work environment impacts presenteeism through the mediation of cynical hostility and how chronic work discrimination moderates the relationship between work environment and cynical hostility among ageing workforces. The psychosocial vulnerability model supplies theoretical support for our model. We analyzed data from a sample of 2926 aging workforces from the Health and Retirement Study. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the relationships with a moderated mediation model. In the final SEM model, our results showed that work environment was directly negatively associated with presenteeism. Moreover, cynical hostility was significantly inversely correlated with work environment and positively correlated with presenteeism. We found that the significant indirect effect between work environment and presenteeism can be significantly mediated by cynical hostility. In addition, cynical hostility is more likely to be affected by work environment among ageing workforces with lower levels of chronic work discrimination than those with higher levels. Enterprise, government, and employees themselves should be aware of the impact of presenteeism on ageing workforces with high levels of cynical hostility.}, keywords = {chronic work discrimination, cynical hostility, Presenteeism, work environment}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/su12135314}, author = {Deng, Jianwei and Wu, Zhennan and Tianan Yang and Cao, Yunfei and Chen, Zhenjiao} } @mastersthesis {10785, title = {Essays in Retirement Economics }, volume = {Doctor of Philosophy}, year = {2020}, school = {The City University of New York}, type = {Dissertation}, address = {New York City}, abstract = {Chapter 1 The discrepancy between the high demand for annuities predicted by economic theory and the empirical low holdings of these assets, known as the annuity puzzle, is still not completely understood in economic studies of retirement finance. This paper assesses the effect of individuals{\textquoteright} mortality risk learning process on annuitization. I isolate this effect by building a life-cycle model in which individuals have imperfect information of their true survival probability distribution, and therefore have to update their beliefs about it in a Bayesian manner. Using data on subjective mortality by the Health and Retirement Study to evaluate the model, the baseline result shows that the demand for annuities can be about 40 percent lower than full annuitization solely attributable to individuals learning about their true mortality risk{\textemdash}a situation that does not allow for the known strong take-up for annuities to take effect. I further expand the model to have a bequest motive to show how more features that drive down annuitization can be added and interacted with this learning mechanism. Chapter 2 Early claiming of Social Security benefits imply a reduction in the annuity value these payments offer to individuals who retire before the normal retirement age. To understand the prevalence of this behavior, in this paper I investigate the effect of mortality v learning on early benefits take-up and early retirement by building a life-cycle model where individuals reduce their longevity uncertainty as they age. As individuals are more certain of their lifespans, the annuity value provided by Social Security benefits is less appealing, and consequently, early claiming can be optimal. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study to calibrate the model, I find that mortality learning is an important element in explaining this phenomena: early benefits take-up is 37.4 percent lower in a counterfactual scenario where individuals do not learn about their mortality. The impact of this result on a basic policy aimed at discouraging early retirement is discussed. Chapter 3 The Annuity Puzzle has been studied in the economic literature for over 50 years. This chapter provides a summary of the main findings.}, keywords = {Annuitization, mortality risk, Social Security Benefits}, url = {https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4844\&context=gc_etds}, author = {Gunnar Poppe Yanez} } @article {doi:10.1080/01634372.2020.1744057, title = {Formal Volunteering Buffers the Negative Impact of Unemployment among Older Workers: A Longitudinal Analysis}, journal = {Journal of Gerontological Social Work}, year = {2020}, note = {PMID: 32191615}, pages = {1-20}, type = {Journal}, abstract = {ABSTRACTGuided by Jahoda{\textquoteright}s Latent Deprivation Theory, this study examined whether engaging in formal volunteering could moderate the negative impact of unemployment on older workers{\textquoteright} mental health. This study also explored the optimal intensity/hours of volunteering required to have a positive effect. This study analyzed six waves (12 years) of longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study using fixed effects modeling. The outcome variable was depressive symptoms, and the independent variables were labor force status and volunteering status. Observed time-varying confounders were controlled. There was a significant interaction between engaging in formal volunteering and unemployment status. Unemployed older workers who participated in volunteering fared better than those unemployed workers who did not volunteer. Further, those unemployed older workers who volunteered over 100 hours/year did not benefit from volunteering. Results from this study have important implications for future intervention development targeting the mental health of unemployed older workers.}, keywords = {buffer, Jahoda, longitudinal, moderation}, doi = {10.1080/01634372.2020.1744057}, url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01634372.2020.1744057?scroll=top\&needAccess=true}, author = {Jie Yang} } @article {https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12008, title = {Genetic and regulatory architecture of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease in the APOE region}, journal = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s \& Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment \& Disease Monitoring}, volume = {12}, year = {2020}, pages = {e12008}, abstract = {Abstract Introduction Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε2 and ε4 alleles encoded by rs7412 and rs429358 polymorphisms, respectively, are landmark contra and pro {\textquotedblleft}risk{\textquotedblright} factors for Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD). Methods We examined differences in linkage disequilibrium (LD) structures between (1) AD-affected and unaffected subjects and (2) older AD-unaffected and younger subjects in the 19q13.3 region harboring rs7412 and rs429358. Results AD is associated with sex-nonspecific heterogeneous patterns of decreased and increased LD of rs7412 and rs429358, respectively, with other polymorphisms from five genes in this region in AD-affected subjects. The LD patterns in older AD-unaffected subjects resembled those in younger individuals. Polarization of the ε4- and ε2 allele{\textendash}related heterogeneous LD clusters differentiated cell types and implicated specific tissues in AD pathogenesis. Discussion Protection and predisposition to AD is characterized by an interplay of rs7412 and rs429358, with multiple polymorphisms in the 19q13.3 region in a tissue-specific manner, which is not driven by common evolutionary forces.}, keywords = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, Apolipoprotein E, Linkage Disequilibrium}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12008}, url = {https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/dad2.12008}, author = {Alexander M Kulminski and Shu, Leonardo and Loika, Yury and He, Liang and Nazarian, Alireza and Konstantin G Arbeev and Svetlana Ukraintseva and Anatoliy Yashin and Culminskaya, Irina} } @article {10763, title = {Gene{\textendash}obesogenic environment interactions on body mass indices for older black and white men and women from the Health and Retirement Study}, journal = {International Journal of Obesity}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Background Gene{\textendash}obesogenic environment interactions influence body mass index (BMI) across the life course; however, limited research examines how these interactions may differ by race and sex. Methods Utilizing mixed-effects models, we examined the interaction effects of a polygenic risk score (PGS) generated from BMI-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms, and environmental factors, including age, physical activity, alcohol intake, and childhood socioeconomic status on measured longitudinal BMI from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). HRS is a population representative survey of older adults in the United States. This study used a subsample of genotyped Black (N = 1796) and White (N = 4925) men and women (50{\textendash}70 years) with measured BMI. Results Higher PGS was associated with higher BMI. The association between PGS and BMI weakened as individuals aged among White men (Pinteraction = 0.0383) and White women (Pinteraction = 0.0514). The mean BMI difference between the 90th and 10th PGS percentile was 4.25 kg/m2 among 50-year-old White men, and 3.11 kg/m2 among the 70 years old{\textquoteright}s, i.e., a 1.14 kg/m2 (95\% CI: -0.27, 2.82) difference. The difference among 50- and 70-year-old White women was 1.34 kg/m2 (95\% CI: 0.09, 2.60). In addition, the protection effect of physical activity was stronger among White women with higher PGS (Pinteraction = 0.0546). Vigorous physical activity (compared with never) was associated with 1.66 kg/m2 (95\% CI: 1.06, 2.29) lower mean BMI among those in the 90th PGS percentile, compared with 0.83 kg/m2 (95\% CI: 0.37, 1.29) lower among those in the 10th PGS percentile. Interactions were also observed between both PGS and alcohol intake among White men (Pinteraction = 0.0034) and women (Pinteraction = 0.0664) and Black women (Pinteraction = 0.0108), and PGS and childhood socioeconomic status among White women (Pinteraction = 0.0007). Conclusions Our findings reinforce the importance of physical activity among those with an elevated genetic risk; additionally, other detected interactions may underscore the influence of broader social environments on obesity-promoting genes.}, keywords = {Genetics, Obesity, Risk Factors}, isbn = {1476-5497}, doi = {10.1038/s41366-020-0589-4}, url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41366-020-0589-4.epdf?sharing_token=dcGoy9qOloYheiOIjgiIw9RgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0OdnAxNnZKvDHpc27CbgU2Vj5CTrCekNuiSilBXKwZO8PfWIY-1LXuNTi1FOUmVF52AILTnAcluAAWEMu2pbuhw358vUoIeJpg_mgNlFNU3xCmKKSsDHaZ_ChoP4QpkEGI\%3D}, author = {Mika D. Thompson and Catherine M. Pirkle and Youkhana, Fadi and Wu, Yan Yan} } @article {12130, title = {Genome-wide association study of cognitive function in diverse Hispanics/Latinos: results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.}, journal = {Translational Psychiatry}, volume = {10}, year = {2020}, pages = {245}, abstract = {

Cognitive function such as reasoning, attention, memory, and language is strongly correlated with brain aging. Compared to non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics/Latinos have a higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. The genetic determinants of cognitive function have not been widely explored in this diverse and admixed population. We conducted a genome-wide association analysis of cognitive function in up to 7600 middle aged and older Hispanics/Latinos (mean = 55 years) from the Hispanic Community Health Study / Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). Four cognitive measures were examined: the Brief Spanish English Verbal Learning Test (B-SEVLT), the Word Fluency Test (WFT), the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), the Six-Item Screener (SIS). Four novel loci were identified: one for B-SEVLT at 4p14, two for WFT at 3p14.1 and 6p21.32, and one for DSST at 10p13. These loci implicate genes highly expressed in brain and previously connected to neurological diseases (UBE2K, FRMD4B, the HLA gene complex). By applying tissue-specific gene expression prediction models to our genotype data, additional genes highly expressed in brain showed suggestive associations with cognitive measures possibly indicating novel biological mechanisms, including IFT122 in the hippocampus for SIS, SNX31 in the basal ganglia for B-SEVLT, RPS6KB2 in the frontal cortex for WFT, and CSPG5 in the hypothalamus for DSST. These findings provide new information about the genetic determinants of cognitive function in this unique population. In addition, we derived a measure of general cognitive function based on these cognitive tests and generated genome-wide association summary results, providing a resource to the research community for comparison, replication, and meta-analysis in future genetic studies in Hispanics/Latinos.

}, keywords = {Aged, Cognition, Genome-Wide Association Study, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological tests, Public Health, Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzymes}, issn = {2158-3188}, doi = {10.1038/s41398-020-00930-2}, author = {Jian, Xueqiu and Sofer, Tamar and Wassim Tarraf and Bressler, Jan and Jessica Faul and Zhao, Wei and Scott M Ratliff and Lamar, Melissa and Lenore J Launer and Laurie, Cathy C and Schneiderman, Neil and David R Weir and Wright, Clinton B and Kristine Yaffe and Zeng, Donglin and DeCarli, Charles and Thomas H Mosley and Smith, Jennifer A and Hector M Gonz{\'a}lez and Myriam Fornage} } @article {Gillen2019, title = {Health Literacy and Difference in Current Wealth Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults}, journal = {Journal of Family and Economic Issues}, volume = {41}, year = {2020}, pages = {281{\textendash}299}, abstract = {Numerous studies suggest that health literacy improves health outcomes at older ages. But how, and to what extent, health literacy contributes to improving financial outcomes has not been examined. This study proposed a conceptual framework to explain the mechanisms between health literacy and current wealth. Data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) are used to estimate proposed direct and indirect effects between health literacy and current wealth. We found that, for the most part, health literacy is directly associated with wealth rather than indirectly through mediating variables. Alternatively, out of all indirect effects investigated in the model, health literacy affects wealth mainly through the path of chronic condition, work limitation, and income.}, keywords = {health, Health Literacy, Wealth, Wealth Inequality}, issn = {10580476}, doi = {10.1007/s10834-019-09648-w}, author = {Gillen, Martie and Yang, Hongwei and Hyungsoo Kim} } @article {11023, title = {Is Healthy Neuroticism Associated with Health Behaviors? A Coordinated Integrative Data Analysis}, journal = {Collabra: Psychology}, volume = {6}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Current literature suggests that neuroticism is positively associated with maladaptive life choices, likelihood of disease, and mortality. However, recent research has identified circumstances under which neuroticism is associated with positive outcomes. The current project examined whether {\textquotedblleft}healthy neuroticism{\textquotedblright}, defined as the interaction of neuroticism and conscientiousness, was associated with the following health behaviors: smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. Using a pre-registered multi-study coordinated integrative data analysis (IDA) approach, we investigated whether {\textquotedblleft}healthy neuroticism{\textquotedblright} predicted the odds of engaging in each of the aforementioned activities. Each study estimated identical models, using the same covariates and data transformations, enabling optimal comparability of results. These results were then meta-analyzed in order to estimate an average (N-weighted) effect and to ascertain the extent of heterogeneity in the effects. Overall, these results suggest that neuroticism alone was not related to health behaviors, while individuals higher in conscientiousness were less likely to be smokers or drinkers, and more likely to engage in physical activity. In terms of the healthy neuroticism interaction of neuroticism and conscientiousness, significant interactions for smoking and physical activity suggest that the association between neuroticism and health behaviors was smaller among those high in conscientiousness. These findings lend credence to the idea that healthy neuroticism may be linked to certain health behaviors and that these effects are generalizable across several heterogeneous samples.}, keywords = {Coordinated IDA, Health behaviors, Healthy Neuroticism}, doi = {http://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.266}, author = {Graham, Eileen and Sara J Weston and Nicholas A. Turiano and Damaris Aschwanden and Booth, Tom and Harrison, Fleur and James, Byran and Nathan A Lewis and Makkar, Steven and Mueller, Swantje and Wisniewski, Kristi and Yoneda, Tomiko and Zhaoyang, Ruixue and Avron Spiro III and Willis, Sherry and K. Warner Schaie and Sliwinski, Martin and Lipton, Richard and Katz, Mindy and Ian J Deary and Elizabeth Zelinski and David A Bennett and Sachdev, P S and Brodaty, H and Troller, Julian and Ames, David and Margaret J Wright and Denis Gerstorf and Allemand, Mathias and Drewelies, Johanna and Wagner, Gert G and Muniz-Terrera, Graciela and Andrea M Piccinin and Scott M Hofer and Daniel K. Mroczek} } @article {LIU2019, title = {The impact of sleep medications on physical activity among diabetic older adults}, journal = {Geriatric Nursing}, volume = {41}, year = {2020}, pages = {400-405}, abstract = {The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of prescription sleep medications on physical activity (PA) participation among diabetic older adults. We analyzed cross-sectional data of 1,581 respondents >= 50 years from the 2006{\textendash}2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. The respondents self-reported frequency of their PA from light, moderate and vigorous activity and whether they regularly took prescription sleep medications. We found that 381 of 1,581 respondents (24\%) reported regular use of prescription medications for sleep. Hierarchical linear regression models revealed that use of prescription sleep medications significantly predicted less participation in PA after controlling for demographic variables, personality traits, social support, environmental factors, social integration, sensory functions, presence of pain, prescription pain medication use, body mass index, and health conditions. The finding highlights that use of prescription sleep medications may be an important risk factor of physical inactivity in diabetic older adults.}, keywords = {Diabetes, Older Adults, Physical activity, Prescription sleep medication}, issn = {0197-4572}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2019.12.003}, author = {Zhaoli Liu and Chenchen Yang} } @article {11144, title = {A Latent Deprivation Perspective: Mechanisms Linking Volunteering to Mental Health in Later Life.}, journal = {International Journal of Aging and Human Development}, year = {2020}, month = {2020 Oct 13}, abstract = {

This study tests the hypothesis that the latent deprivation model (LDM) can be extended to volunteer work, by exploring the extent to which two potential latent benefits of volunteer work-purpose in life and perceived social status-mediate the negative relationship between volunteerism and mental health (measured as depressive symptoms). Structural equation modeling with the full-information maximum likelihood (FIML) was adopted to model a sample of 5887 respondents from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). The outcome was depressive symptoms; the independent variable was volunteering; and the mediators were "purpose in life" and "perceived social status." Findings show that purpose in life and perceived social status partially mediated the relationship between volunteering and depressive symptoms, with purpose in life having a more substantial effect than perceived social status. Implications for future research and practice are also discussed.

}, keywords = {Depressive symptoms, mediation, Older Adults, Purpose in life, Social status}, issn = {1541-3535}, doi = {10.1177/0091415020959767}, author = {Jie Yang and Matz, Christina} } @article {12124, title = {Meta-analysis of up to 622,409 individuals identifies 40 novel smoking behaviour associated genetic loci.}, journal = {Molecular Psychiatry}, volume = {25}, year = {2020}, pages = {2392-2409}, abstract = {

Smoking is a major heritable and modifiable risk factor for many diseases, including cancer, common respiratory disorders and cardiovascular diseases. Fourteen genetic loci have previously been associated with smoking behaviour-related traits. We tested up to 235,116 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) on the exome-array for association with smoking initiation, cigarettes per day, pack-years, and smoking cessation in a fixed effects meta-analysis of up to 61 studies (up to~346,813 participants). In a subset of 112,811 participants, a further one million SNVs were also genotyped and tested for association with the four smoking behaviour traits. SNV-trait associations with P < 5 {\texttimes} 10 in either analysis were taken forward for replication in up to 275,596 independent participants from UK Biobank. Lastly, a meta-analysis of the discovery and replication studies was performed. Sixteen SNVs were associated with at least one of the smoking behaviour traits (P < 5 {\texttimes} 10) in the discovery samples. Ten novel SNVs, including rs12616219 near TMEM182, were followed-up and five of them (rs462779 in REV3L, rs12780116 in CNNM2, rs1190736 in GPR101, rs11539157 in PJA1, and rs12616219 near TMEM182) replicated at a Bonferroni significance threshold (P < 4.5 {\texttimes} 10) with consistent direction of effect. A further 35 SNVs were associated with smoking behaviour traits in the discovery plus replication meta-analysis (up to 622,409 participants) including a rare SNV, rs150493199, in CCDC141 and two low-frequency SNVs in CEP350 and HDGFRP2. Functional follow-up implied that decreased expression of REV3L may lower the probability of smoking initiation. The novel loci will facilitate understanding the genetic aetiology of smoking behaviour and may lead to the identification of potential drug targets for smoking prevention and/or cessation.

}, keywords = {Biological Specimen Banks, Databases, Factual, Europe, Exome, Female, Genetic Loci, Humans, Male, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Smoking, United Kingdom}, issn = {1476-5578}, doi = {10.1038/s41380-018-0313-0}, author = {Erzurumluoglu, A Mesut and Liu, Mengzhen and Jackson, Victoria E and Barnes, Daniel R and Datta, Gargi and Melbourne, Carl A and Young, Robin and Batini, Chiara and Surendran, Praveen and Jiang, Tao and Adnan, Sheikh Daud and Afaq, Saima and Agrawal, Arpana and Altmaier, Elisabeth and Antoniou, Antonis C and Asselbergs, Folkert W and Baumbach, Clemens and Laura Bierut and Bertelsen, Sarah and Boehnke, Michael and Bots, Michiel L and Brazel, David M and Chambers, John C and Chang-Claude, Jenny and Chen, Chu and Corley, Janie and Chou, Yi-Ling and David, Sean P and de Boer, Rudolf A and Christiaan de Leeuw and Joe G Dennis and Dominiczak, Anna F and Dunning, Alison M and Easton, Douglas F and Charles B Eaton and Elliott, Paul and Evangelou, Evangelos and Jessica Faul and Tatiana Foroud and Goate, Alison and Gong, Jian and Hans-J{\"o}rgen Grabe and Jeffrey Haessler and Christopher A Haiman and Hallmans, G{\"o}ran and Anke R Hammerschlag and Sarah E Harris and Andrew T Hattersley and Andrew C Heath and Hsu, Chris and Iacono, William G and Kanoni, Stavroula and Kapoor, Manav and Kaprio, Jaakko and Sharon L R Kardia and Karpe, Fredrik and Kontto, Jukka and Kooner, Jaspal S and Charles Kooperberg and Kuulasmaa, Kari and Laakso, Markku and Lai, Dongbing and Langenberg, Claudia and Le, Nhung and Lettre, Guillaume and Loukola, Anu and Luan, Jian{\textquoteright}an and Pamela A F Madden and Mangino, Massimo and Riccardo E Marioni and Marouli, Eirini and Marten, Jonathan and Nicholas G Martin and McGue, Matt and Michailidou, Kyriaki and Mihailov, Evelin and Moayyeri, Alireza and Moitry, Marie and M{\"u}ller-Nurasyid, Martina and Naheed, Aliya and Nauck, Matthias and Neville, Matthew J and Sune Fallgaard Nielsen and Kari E North and Markus Perola and Pharoah, Paul D P and Pistis, Giorgio and Tinca J Polderman and Posthuma, Danielle and Neil Poulter and Qaiser, Beenish and Rasheed, Asif and Reiner, Alex and Renstrom, Frida and Rice, John and Rohde, Rebecca and Rolandsson, Olov and Nilesh J Samani and Samuel, Maria and Schlessinger, David and H Steven Scholte and Scott, Robert A and Peter Sever and Shao, Yaming and Shrine, Nick and Smith, Jennifer A and John M Starr and Kathleen E Stirrups and Stram, Danielle and Heather M Stringham and Tachmazidou, Ioanna and Tardif, Jean-Claude and Thompson, Deborah J and Hilary A Tindle and Tragante, Vinicius and Trompet, Stella and Turcot, Val{\'e}rie and Tyrrell, Jessica and Vaartjes, Ilonca and Van Der Leij, Andries R and van der Meer, Peter and Varga, Tibor V and Verweij, Niek and V{\"o}lzke, Henry and Wareham, Nicholas J and Warren, Helen R and David R Weir and Weiss, Stefan and Wetherill, Leah and Yaghootkar, Hanieh and Yavas, Ersin and Jiang, Yu and Chen, Fang and Zhan, Xiaowei and Zhang, Weihua and Zhao, Wei and Zhao, Wei and Zhou, Kaixin and Amouyel, Philippe and Blankenberg, Stefan and Caulfield, Mark J and Chowdhury, Rajiv and Francesco Cucca and Ian J Deary and Deloukas, Panos and Di Angelantonio, Emanuele and Marco M Ferrario and Ferri{\`e}res, Jean and Franks, Paul W and Timothy M Frayling and Frossard, Philippe and Hall, Ian P and Caroline Hayward and Jansson, Jan-H{\r a}kan and Jukema, J Wouter and Kee, Frank and M{\"a}nnist{\"o}, Satu and Andres Metspalu and Munroe, Patricia B and B{\o}rge G Nordestgaard and Palmer, Colin N A and Veikko Salomaa and Sattar, Naveed and Timothy Spector and David P Strachan and van der Harst, Pim and Zeggini, Eleftheria and Saleheen, Danish and Adam S Butterworth and Wain, Louise V and Gon{\c c}alo R Abecasis and Danesh, John and Tobin, Martin D and Scott Vrieze and Liu, Dajiang J and Howson, Joanna M M} } @inbook {Laditka2020, title = {Microsimulation of Health Expectancies, Life Course Health, and Health Policy Outcomes}, booktitle = {International Handbooks of Population: International Handbook of Health Expectancies}, volume = {9}, year = {2020}, pages = {129{\textendash}138}, publisher = {Springer International Publishing}, organization = {Springer International Publishing}, address = {Basel}, abstract = {Active life expectancy measures life expectancy and the proportions of remaining life with and without disease or disability. Microsimulation, a useful tool for life course research, estimates active life expectancy by simulating individual lifetime health biographies, where the individual{\textquoteright}s status in one or more outcomes is known for each measured unit of life. In this chapter we describe how researchers use microsimulation to study active life expectancy, focusing on research of the past 20 years. We summarize the microsimulation process. We describe how researchers model current and future population health, calculate new active life expectancy measures, and forecast effects of policy change. We illustrate the application of microsimulation to active life expectancy research with a study of interval need, a measure of need for health care and other services focused on resource use. We describe strengths of microsimulation, considerations regarding its use, and directions for future research.}, keywords = {Active life expectancy, Forecasting, Health expectancy, health policy, Population Health}, isbn = {978-3-030-37668-0}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-37668-0_9}, author = {Laditka, Sarah B. and Laditka, James N. and Jagger, Carol}, editor = {Jagger, Carol and Eileen M. Crimmins and Saito, Yasuhiko and De Carvalho Yokota, Renata Tiene and Van Oyen, Herman and Robine, Jean-Marie} } @article {2020-27251-00120200420, title = {Novel information processing at work across time is associated with cognitive change in later life: A 14-year longitudinal study.}, journal = {Psychology and Aging}, volume = {35}, year = {2020}, pages = {793{\textendash}805}, type = {Journal}, abstract = {This study examined whether the degree of novel information processing at work (NPW) attenuates cognitive aging across 14 years for adults 50+ in the United States and how NPW links with job complexity. To answer these questions, we used data (N = 4,252) from the Health and Retirement Study. Detailed information on occupational characteristics from ONet between 2000 and 2014 was used to assess NPW and matched with participants{\textquoteright} occupational codes across time. Multilevel transition models were employed to estimate the relationship between NPW and cognitive functioning across time and to explore the moderating effect of cognitive level. Our results showed that exposure to more NPW across time attenuates cognitive decline as indicated by immediate word recall and serial 7s performance, while adjusting for baseline age, leisure, volunteering activities, cognition at previous wave, and other covariates. This buffering effect of NPW is reduced but sustained when controlling for change in jo}, keywords = {Cognitive Ability, cognitive aging, Cognitive Processes, health, Job characteristics, job complexity, novelty processing, Retirement, Stimulus Novelty, Test Construction}, issn = {0882-7974}, doi = {10.1037/pag0000468}, url = {http://proxy.lib.umich.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true\&db=psyh\&AN=2020-27251-001\&site=ehost-live\&scope=site}, author = {Ursula M. Staudinger and Yu, Yan-Liang and Cheng, Bin} } @article {10565, title = {Physical and Functional Impairment Among Older Adults With a History of Traumatic Brain Injury.}, journal = {Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation}, volume = {35}, year = {2020}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association of lifetime history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) with later-life physical impairment (PI) and functional impairment (FI) and to evaluate the impact of neurobehavioral symptoms that frequently co-occur with TBI on these relations.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1148 respondents to the 2014 Wave of the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative survey of older community-dwelling adults, randomly selected to participate in a TBI exposure survey. They reported no prior TBI (n = 737) or prior TBI (n = 411).

DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey study.

MAIN MEASURES: Physical impairment (self-reported difficulty with >=1 of 8 physical activities); FI (self-reported difficulty with >=1 of 11 activities of daily living); self-reported current neurobehavioral symptoms (pain, sleep problems, depression, subjective memory impairment); The Ohio State University TBI Identification Method (OSU-TBI-ID)-short form.

ANALYSES: Stepwise logistic regression models ([1] unadjusted; [2] adjusted for demographics and medical comorbidities; [3] additionally adjusted for neurobehavioral symptoms) compared PI and FI between TBI groups.

RESULTS: Traumatic brain injury-exposed (mean: 33.6 years postinjury) respondents were younger, less likely to be female, and reported more comorbidities and neurobehavioral symptoms. Although TBI was significantly associated with increased odds of PI and FI in unadjusted models and models adjusted for demographics/comorbidities (adjusted odds ratio, 95\% confidence interval: PI 1.62, 1.21-2.17; FI 1.60, 1.20-2.14), this association was no longer statistically significant after further adjustment for neurobehavioral symptoms.

CONCLUSION: History of TBI is associated with substantial PI and FI among community-dwelling older adults. Further research is warranted to determine whether aggressive management of neurobehavioral symptoms in this population may mitigate long-term PI and FI in this population.

}, keywords = {Brain injury, functional impairment, physical impairment}, issn = {1550-509X}, doi = {10.1097/HTR.0000000000000552}, author = {Erica S Kornblith and Kenneth M. Langa and Kristine Yaffe and Raquel C Gardner} } @mastersthesis {11228, title = {PLANNING FOR LONG-TERM CARE}, volume = {Master of Science}, year = {2020}, school = {Miami University}, address = {Oxford, OH}, abstract = {Long-term care planning (LTCP) reduces older adults{\textquoteright} risk of financial instability as they age. The risk of needing long-term care (LTC) increases with age, and there is no universal government program. The study assesses what factors are associated with LTCP, focusing on the factors closely associated with LTC use and sociodemographic variables. Using data from the 2016 wave of the Health and Retirement Study, a series of logistic regression models were fitted looking at LTCP. LTCP was a composite of two variables: planning via the purchase of LTC insurance or planning by living in a retirement community. The two variables were combined, and a respondent who completed one, or both, types of planning were considered LTC planners. Sociodemographic factors, including age, gender, education level, relationship status, and household size, were significantly associated with LTCP. A participant{\textquoteright}s belief that a relative or friend would help with future care also increased the odds of LTCP. Those who were female and had higher levels of education were more likely to plan. Sociodemographic variables were found to play a more significant role than health status and functional health, suggesting that focusing on demographics will be more effective in understanding who plans for LTC.}, keywords = {long-term care planning}, url = {https://etd.ohiolink.edu/apexprod/rws_etd/send_file/send?accession=miami1605102319925788\&disposition=inline}, author = {Yauk, Jessica Ann} } @article {10971, title = {Prevalence of Lifetime History of Traumatic Brain Injury among Older Male Veterans Compared to Civilians: A Nationally Representative Study}, journal = {Journal of NeurotraumaJournal of Neurotrauma}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common among older adults as well as among Veterans in the United States and can increase risk for dementia. We compared prevalence of TBI in older male Veterans and civilians using a nationally representative sample. We examined data from 599 male respondents to the 2014 Wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative survey of older adults, randomly selected to participate in a comprehensive TBI survey. Respondents self-reported no injury, non-TBI head/neck injury (NTI), or TBI. We used weighted analyses to examine prevalence of injury and relative risk of injury sub-types. Among male Veterans, we found a national prevalence of over 70\% for lifetime history of any head/neck injury (TBI plus NTI), 14.3\% for multiple NTI, and 36\% for lifetime history of at least one TBI. In contrast, prevalence estimates for male civilians were 58\% for lifetime history of head/neck injury, 4.8\% for multiple NTI, and 45\% for lifetime history of at least one TBI (all comparisons p<0.001). Male civilians have higher self-reported TBI prevalence, while male Veterans have higher self-reported NTI and multiple-NTI prevalence. Further research on drivers of the unexpectedly higher prevalence of lifetime history of TBI in male civilians, as well as on mechanisms and sequelae of the highly prevalent non-TBI head/neck injuries among older male Veterans, is warranted.Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common among older adults as well as among Veterans in the United States and can increase risk for dementia. We compared prevalence of TBI in older male Veterans and civilians using a nationally representative sample. We examined data from 599 male respondents to the 2014 Wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative survey of older adults, randomly selected to participate in a comprehensive TBI survey. Respondents self-reported no injury, non-TBI head/neck injury (NTI), or TBI. We used weighted analyses to examine prevalence of injury and relative risk of injury sub-types. Among male Veterans, we found a national prevalence of over 70\% for lifetime history of any head/neck injury (TBI plus NTI), 14.3\% for multiple NTI, and 36\% for lifetime history of at least one TBI. In contrast, prevalence estimates for male civilians were 58\% for lifetime history of head/neck injury, 4.8\% for multiple NTI, and 45\% for lifetime history of at least one TBI (all comparisons p<0.001). Male civilians have higher self-reported TBI prevalence, while male Veterans have higher self-reported NTI and multiple-NTI prevalence. Further research on drivers of the unexpectedly higher prevalence of lifetime history of TBI in male civilians, as well as on mechanisms and sequelae of the highly prevalent non-TBI head/neck injuries among older male Veterans, is warranted.}, keywords = {Brain Injuries, Dementia, Traumatic}, isbn = {0897-7151}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2020.7062}, author = {Erica S Kornblith and Kristine Yaffe and Kenneth M. Langa and Raquel C Gardner} } @article {10256, title = {Relationship quality and functional limitations among older adults with cardiovascular disease in the United States of America}, journal = {Ageing and Society}, volume = {40}, year = {2020}, pages = {1694-1717}, abstract = {Substantial research shows that cardiovascular disease is a major cause of disability in the United States of America (USA) and worldwide. Despite the well-documented significance of intimate partnerships for cardiovascular health and disease management, how relationship quality contributes to the functional health of older adults diagnosed with cardiovascular disease is much less understood than mental health and mortality risk. Informed by the disablement process model and the lifecourse perspective, this study examines the association between relationship quality and functional limitations among partnered older adults aged 50 years and older diagnosed with cardiovascular disease in the USA. Data are from the Health and Retirement Study, 2006{\textendash}2012 (N = 1,355). Multi-level linear regression analyses show that baseline negative relationship quality is significantly associated with increased functional limitations over the two- and four-year follow-ups. Additionally, the link between negative relationship quality and functional limitations is stronger among older adults with lower household income over a two-year span, compared to their higher-income counterparts, suggesting that these older adults are doubly disadvantaged by higher relationship strains and limited economic resources. Our findings demonstrate the significance of relationship quality for the functional health of older adults with cardiovascular disease and shed light on the importance of marriage/partnerships as an important social context for a critical stage in the disablement process (i.e. functional limitations).}, keywords = {disease progression, functional health, Health and Retirement Study, Marriage, relationship quality}, isbn = {0144-686X}, doi = {10.1017/S0144686X19000163}, author = {Yu, Yan-Liang and Zhang, Zhenmei} } @article {11107, title = {Sense of Purpose in Life and Likelihood of Future Illicit Drug Use or Prescription Medication Misuse.}, journal = {Psychosomatic Medicine}, volume = {82}, year = {2020}, month = {2020 09}, pages = {715-721}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: In the United States, 28.6 million people used illicit drugs or misused prescription drugs in the last 30 days. Thus, identifying factors linked with lower likelihood of future drug misuse is an important target for research and practice. Sense of purpose in life has been linked with better behavioral and physical health outcomes. Furthermore, a higher sense of purpose may reduce the likelihood of drug misuse because it has been linked with several protective factors including enhanced ability to handle stress, higher pain tolerance, and lower impulsivity. However, the association between sense of purpose and drug misuse has been understudied. Thus, we tested whether people with a higher sense of purpose at baseline had a lower likelihood of future drug misuse 9 to 10 years later.

METHODS: This study included 3535 middle-aged adults from the Midlife in the United States Study who were not misusing drugs at baseline. Using multiple logistic regression models, we assessed whether baseline purpose in life was associated with risk of misusing drugs 9 to 10 years later.

RESULTS: Among respondents not misusing drugs at baseline, people in the highest quartile of purpose (versus lowest quartile) had a substantially lower likelihood of future drug misuse in a model adjusting for demographic variables (odds ratio = 0.50, 95\% confidence interval = 0.31-0.83). Associations remained evident after additionally adjusting for psychological distress, baseline health, and health behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS: A growing knowledge base suggests that a sense of purpose can be increased. Additional research is needed to evaluate sense of purpose as a novel target in the prevention and reduction of drug misuse.

}, keywords = {Drug use, Sense of purpose}, issn = {1534-7796}, doi = {10.1097/PSY.0000000000000842}, author = {Eric S Kim and Carol D Ryff and Hassett, Afton and Brummett, Chad and Yeh, Charlotte and Victor J Strecher} } @mastersthesis {10966, title = {Social determinants of health: Predictors of risk of substance use in older adults}, volume = {Doctor of Philosophy}, year = {2020}, school = {University of the Cumberlands}, address = {Williamsburg, KY}, abstract = {Substance use in older adults is a public health concern, having both mental health and physical health impacts. The social determinants of health (SDOH) framework can aid in developing effective interventions to ensure healthy aging and coping in the older adult population. This study uses the SDOH framework to evaluate risk factors that contribute to substance use to cope with stress in older adults. A multiple regression analysis was used for secondary data analysis of the Health and Retirement Study to examine predictors of substance use to cope with stress in older adults. The main findings indicated predictors of substance use to cope with stress were social and community context, followed by the SDOH categories of health and healthcare, and neighborhood physical cohesion. The findings identify the importance of emphasizing access to equitable healthcare and healthy aging in communities. Implications for clinical practice include the implementation of policies and services that provide support to communities in which older adults reside. The social determinants of health framework may be an essential tool to develop policies and solutions addressing substance use, barriers to health, and community wellness. As the population ages, policy changes and community programs can counteract the stressors associated with aging to promote healthy aging and coping in communities.}, keywords = {coping, Older Adults, Social determinants of health, Stress, substance use}, author = {Young, Jennifer} } @conference {11348, title = {Social Security Eligibility Age and the Health Outcomes and Health Behaviors of the Elderly}, booktitle = {113th Annual Conference on Taxation}, year = {2020}, publisher = {National Tax Association}, organization = {National Tax Association}, abstract = {I use a regression discontinuity design to investigate the causal relationship between Social Security eligibility age and the health outcomes and health behaviors of elderly individuals. Specifically, I examine changes when individuals attain the Earliest Eligibility Age (EEA) of 62. Given the aging of the U.S. population and the heated debate about whether the EEA should be increased to solve Social Security{\textquoteright}s fiscal imbalance problem, understanding such a relationship is important. I use data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to explore this relationship. I find that at the EEA, the probability of receiving Social Security benefits increases by over 30 percentage points. However, there is no evidence that the EEA impacts health. This finding coincides with the idea that health is a stock, the change in which is slow. There is little evidence that the EEA influences mental health. I also show suggestive evidence that when people reach the EEA, they reduce their smoking. I find that males drink more frequently when they reach the EEA. Retirement might be one of the main mechanisms behind the changes in health behaviors. }, keywords = {health, Health Behavior, Social Security, Social Security Benefits, Social Security Eligibility}, url = {https://nta.confex.com/nta/2020/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/3775}, author = {Jun Hyun Yun} } @article {11210, title = {Subjective well-being among male veterans in later life: The enduring effects of early life adversity.}, journal = {Aging \& Mental Health}, year = {2020}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the association between childhood and young adult adversities and later-life subjective well-being among older male veterans. We also explored whether early-life parent-child relationships and later-life social engagement served as moderators and mediators, respectively.

METHODS: Data were from the 2008 to 2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study for male veterans ( = 2026). Subjective well-being measures included depressive symptoms, self-rated health, and life satisfaction. Linear regression with the macro was employed to estimate the relationships.

RESULTS: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) were positively associated with number of depressive symptoms and negatively related to life satisfaction. Combat exposure, a young adulthood adversity experience, was positively associated with depressive symptoms, but not with self-rated health or life satisfaction. Later-life social engagement mediated the relationship between ACEs and subjective well-being indices. Parent-child relationship quality did not moderate the association between the measures of adversity and any measure of subjective well-being.

DISCUSSION: Childhood adversity and combat exposure were related to worse later life subjective well-being. Also, later-life social engagement mediated the association of two early life adversity measures and subjective well-being. Future research should examine subjective well-being and early life adversity for female veterans and should employ more detailed information about combat exposure.

}, keywords = {Adversity, depression, Life Satisfaction, Military service, Self-rated health}, issn = {1364-6915}, doi = {10.1080/13607863.2020.1842999}, author = {Mai See Yang and Lien Quach and Lee, Lewina O and Avron Spiro III and Jeffrey A Burr} } @mastersthesis {11150, title = {THREE ESSAYS ON THE EFFECTS OF PUBLIC POLICIES}, volume = {Doctor of Philosophy}, year = {2020}, school = {Cornell University}, address = {Ithaca, NY}, abstract = {This dissertation consists of three chapters. In Chapter 1, I use a regression discontinuity design to investigate the causal relationship between the Earliest Eligibility Age (EEA) for Social Security and the health outcomes and health behaviors of elderly individuals. I find that at the EEA, the probability of receiving Social Security benefits increases by over 30 percentage points. However, I find little or no evidence that the EEA impacts health and mental health. I also show suggestive evidence that when people reach the EEA, they reduce their smoking. I find that males drink more frequently when they reach the EEA. Retirement might be one of the main mechanisms behind the changes in health behaviors. In Chapter 2, I examine the effects of food stamps on smoking. For this research, I exploit the variations in the eligibility of immigrants for food stamps established by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996, the heterogeneous responses of states, and the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. I show that the food stamp eligibility of immigrants leads to large and statistically significant increases in their probability of food stamp participation and the amount of their annual food stamp benefits. However, I find that the food stamp eligibility of immigrants results in small and statistically insignificant decreases in their probability of smoking and their probability of smoking every day. In Chapter 3, I conduct a multiple event study to investigate the dynamic pattern of the impact of cigarette taxes on smoking behaviors. Some parts of my findings are close to the expectation of the theory of rational addiction (Becker and Murphy, 1988) that due to adjacent complementarity between the past and current consumption of smoking, the long-term effect of a cigarette tax increase is larger than the short-term effect. Other parts of my findings are close to the prediction based on psychology and behavioral economics (Loewenstein and O{\textquoteright}Donoghue, 2005; Baumeister et al., 2007) that because of the erosion of people{\textquoteright}s willpower, the impact of a cigarette tax increase is larger in the short term than in the long term.}, keywords = {food stamps, Smoking, Social Security Benefits}, url = {https://search.proquest.com/openview/124cf05ed3a27978bff0f59c88b8d965/1?pq-origsite=gscholar\&cbl=51922\&diss=y}, author = {Jun Hyun Yun} } @article {10915, title = {Time varying mixed effects model with fused lasso regularization}, journal = {Journal of Applied Statistics}, year = {2020}, month = {2020/07/10}, abstract = {The associations between covariates and the outcomes often vary over time, regardless of whether the covariate is time-varying or time-invariant. For example, we hypothesize that the impact of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, on people?s physical functions differ with aging. However, the age-varying effect would be missed if one models the covariate simply as a time-invariant covariate (yes/no) with a time-constant coefficient. We propose a fused lasso-based time-varying linear mixed effect (FTLME) model and an efficient two-stage parameter estimation algorithm to estimate the longitudinal trajectories of fixed-effect coefficients. Simulation studies are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of the method and its computational efficiency in estimating smooth time-varying effects in high dimensional settings. A real data example on the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) analysis is used to demonstrate the practical usage of our method to infer age-varying impact of chronic disease on older people?s physical functions.}, keywords = {Fussed lasso, linter mixed effect model, Longitudinal analysis, regularization, time-varying fixed effect}, isbn = {0266-4763}, doi = {10.1080/02664763.2020.1791805}, author = {Yu, Jaehong and Zhong, Hua} } @article {11080, title = {The Use of Online Health-Management Tools and Health Care Utilization Among Older Americans.}, journal = {Gerontologist}, volume = {60}, year = {2020}, pages = {1224-1232}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The digital divide, or differences in access to technology, can have far-reaching consequences. This study identified disparities in access to online health-related technology. It then investigated associations between online health-related technology use and health care utilization among older adults in the United States.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional data set of 1,497 adults aged 51 and older from the 2014 Health and Retirement Study (HRS){\textquoteright}s supplemental module (Health Behaviors) and the RAND version of the HRS fat file.

RESULTS: Older age, being a racial/ethnic minority, married, uninsured, and having lower educational attainment, lower income, and reporting poorer health were each associated with lower levels of use of online health-management tools. The use of online health-management tools was associated with a 34\% greater mean number of doctor visits (incidence rate ratio = 1.34, SE = 0.10, p < .05) than nonuse. However, such use was not associated with the number or type of hospitalizations. Indeed, only health care needs as measured by self-rated health status (odds ratio [OR] = 0.58, SE = 0.18, p < .05) and the number of chronic conditions were associated with hospitalizations (OR = 1.68, SE = 0.07, p < .05).

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: While more research is needed to clarify the purposes (e.g., prevention vs. treatment) and outcomes of health care service utilization as a function of technology use, it may be wise to proactively tackle the digital divide as one upstream strategy for improving various health and health care outcomes among older adults.

}, keywords = {Inequities, information and communication technology, Race/ethnicity, Social determinants of health}, issn = {1758-5341}, doi = {10.1093/geront/gnaa068}, author = {Liu, Darren and Takashi Yamashita and Burston, Betty and Keene, Jennifer R} } @article {10209, title = {What age do you feel? {\textendash} Subjective age identity and economic behaviors}, journal = {Journal of Economic Behavior \& Organization}, volume = {173}, year = {2020}, pages = {322-341}, abstract = {Building on recent findings in psychology, we study the impact of subjective age identity (feeling younger or older than one{\textquoteright}s chronological age) on economic behaviors. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study we find: Individuals with a younger age identity have higher work engagement, and their savings profile, as a function of the subjective age gap, is hump-shaped. The effects are economically significant, for example, increasing the subjective age gap by one standard deviation increases an individual{\textquoteright}s likelihood to be employed in a subsequent HRS wave by 1.1\% (about 21\% of the conditional mean). The relationships found are consistent with an interplay of two subjective age channels: Ability (self-perceived abilities to perform certain economic behaviors) and Preference (choosing (avoiding) {\textquotedblleft}young{\textquotedblright} ({\textquotedblleft}old{\textquotedblright}) behaviors). Our results have implications for policy and financial advice that traditionally target individuals based on chronological age. That is, for example, allowing more flexibility with respect to retirement decisions as well as aligning financial products and services with subjective age identities.}, keywords = {Economic behaviors, Employment decision, identity, Portfolio choice, Saving, Subjective age}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2019.08.004}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167268119302525}, author = {Ye, Zihan and Post, Thomas} } @article {10227, title = {Are Marriage-Related Taxes and Social Security Benefits Holding Back Female Labor Supply?}, journal = {National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series}, volume = {No. 26097}, year = {2019}, note = {Author contact info:Margherita BorellaUniversit{\`a} di TorinoDipartimento di Scienze Economico-Socialie Matematico-StatisticheTorino, ItalyE-Mail: margherita.borella@unito.itMariacristina De NardiFederal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis90 Hennepin AveMinneapolis, MN 55401E-Mail: denardim@nber.orgFang YangLouisiana State UniversityDepartment of Economics, 2317Business Education Complex,Nicholson ExtensionBaton Rouge, LA 70803Tel: 225-578-3803E-Mail: fyang@lsu.edu}, month = {2019}, abstract = {In the U.S., both taxes and old age Social Security benefits depend on one{\textquoteright}s marital status and tend to discourage the labor supply of the secondary earner. To what extent are these provisions holding back female labor supply? We estimate a rich life-cycle model of labor supply and savings for couples and singles using the Method of Simulated Moments (MSM) on the 1945 and 1955 birth-year cohorts and we use it to evaluate what would happen without these provisions. Our model matches well the life cycle profiles of labor market participation, hours, and savings for married and single people and generates plausible elasticities of labor supply. Eliminating marriage-related provisions drastically increases the participation of married women over their entire life cycle, reduces the participation of married men after age 55, and increases the savings of couples in both cohorts, including the later one, which has similar participation to that of more recent generations. If the resulting government surplus were used to lower income taxation, there would be large welfare gains for the vast majority of the population.}, keywords = {Labor Supply, Marriage, Social Security Benefits, Taxes, women}, doi = {10.3386/w26097}, url = {http://www.nber.org/papers/w26097}, author = {Borella, Margherita and Mariacristina De Nardi and Yang, Fang} } @article {9922, title = {Assessing Risk for Adverse Outcomes in Older Adults: The Need to Include Both Physical Frailty and Cognition.}, journal = {Journal of the American Geriatrics Society}, volume = {67}, year = {2019}, pages = {477-483}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Physical frailty is a powerful tool for identifying nondisabled individuals at high risk of adverse outcomes. The extent to which cognitive impairment in those without dementia adds value to physical frailty in detecting high-risk individuals remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the effects of combining physical frailty and cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND) on the risk of basic activities of daily living (ADL) dependence and death over 8 years.

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

SETTING: The Health and Retirement Study (HRS).

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 7338 community-dwelling people, 65 years or older, without dementia and ADL dependence at baseline (2006-2008). Follow-up assessments occurred every 2 years until 2014.

MEASUREMENTS: The five components of the Cardiovascular Health Study defined physical frailty. A well-validated HRS method, including verbal recall, series of subtractions, and backward count task, assessed cognition. Primary outcomes were time to ADL dependence and death. Hazard models, considering death as a competing risk, associated physical frailty and CIND with outcomes after adjusting for sociodemographics, comorbidities, depression, and smoking status.

RESULTS: The prevalence of physical frailty was 15\%; CIND, 19\%; and both deficits, 5\%. In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, combining these factors identified older adults at an escalating risk for ADL dependence (no deficit = 14\% [reference group]; only CIND = 26\%, sub-hazard ratio [sHR] = 1.5, 95\% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3-1.8; only frail = 33\%, sHR = 1.7, 95\% CI = 1.4-2.0; both deficits = 46\%, sHR = 2.0, 95\%CI = 1.6-2.6) and death (no deficit = 21\%; only CIND = 41\%, HR = 1.6, 95\% CI = 1.4-1.9; only frail = 56\%, HR = 2.2, 95\% CI = 1.7-2.7; both deficits = 66\%, HR = 2.6, 95\% CI = 2.0-3.3) over 8-year follow-up. Adding the cognitive measure to models that already included physical frailty alone increased accuracy in identifying those at higher risk of ADL dependence (Harrell{\textquoteright}s concordance [C], 0.74 vs 0.71; P < .001) and death (Harrell{\textquoteright}s C, 0.70 vs 0.67; P < .001).

CONCLUSION: Physical frailty and CIND are independent predictors of incident disability and death. Because together physical frailty and CIND identify vulnerable older adults better, optimal risk assessment should supplement measures of physical frailty with measures of cognitive function.

}, keywords = {Cognition \& Reasoning, Frailty, Risk Factors}, issn = {1532-5415}, doi = {10.1111/jgs.15683}, author = {M{\'a}rlon J. R. Aliberti and Irena Cenzer and Alexander K Smith and Sei J. Lee and Kristine Yaffe and Kenneth E Covinsky} } @article {12122, title = {Association studies of up to 1.2 million individuals yield new insights into the genetic etiology of tobacco and alcohol use.}, journal = {Nature Genetics}, volume = {51}, year = {2019}, pages = {237-244}, abstract = {

Tobacco and alcohol use are leading causes of mortality that influence risk for many complex diseases and disorders. They are heritable and etiologically related behaviors that have been resistant to gene discovery efforts. In sample sizes up to 1.2 million individuals, we discovered 566 genetic variants in 406 loci associated with multiple stages of tobacco use (initiation, cessation, and heaviness) as well as alcohol use, with 150 loci evidencing pleiotropic association. Smoking phenotypes were positively genetically correlated with many health conditions, whereas alcohol use was negatively correlated with these conditions, such that increased genetic risk for alcohol use is associated with lower disease risk. We report evidence for the involvement of many systems in tobacco and alcohol use, including genes involved in nicotinic, dopaminergic, and glutamatergic neurotransmission. The results provide a solid starting point to evaluate the effects of these loci in model organisms and more precise substance use measures.

}, keywords = {Alcohol Drinking, Female, Genetic Variation, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Phenotype, Risk, Smoking, Tobacco, Tobacco Use Disorder}, issn = {1546-1718}, doi = {10.1038/s41588-018-0307-5}, author = {Liu, Mengzhen and Jiang, Yu and Wedow, Robbee and Li, Yue and Brazel, David M and Chen, Fang and Datta, Gargi and Davila-Velderrain, Jose and McGuire, Daniel and Tian, Chao and Zhan, Xiaowei and Choquet, H{\'e}l{\`e}ne and Docherty, Anna R and Jessica Faul and Foerster, Johanna R and Fritsche, Lars G and Gabrielsen, Maiken Elvestad and Gordon, Scott D and Jeffrey Haessler and Jouke-Jan Hottenga and Huang, Hongyan and Jang, Seon-Kyeong and Philip R Jansen and Ling, Yueh and M{\"a}gi, Reedik and Matoba, Nana and McMahon, George and Mulas, Antonella and Orr{\`u}, Valeria and Palviainen, Teemu and Anita Pandit and Reginsson, Gunnar W and Skogholt, Anne Heidi and Smith, Jennifer A and Taylor, Amy E and Turman, Constance and Gonneke Willemsen and Young, Hannah and Young, Kendra A and Zajac, Gregory J M and Zhao, Wei and Zhou, Wei and Bjornsdottir, Gyda and Boardman, Jason D and Boehnke, Michael and Dorret I Boomsma and Chen, Chu and Francesco Cucca and Davies, Gareth E and Charles B Eaton and Ehringer, Marissa A and T{\~o}nu Esko and Fiorillo, Edoardo and Gillespie, Nathan A and Gudbjartsson, Daniel F and Haller, Toomas and Kathleen Mullan Harris and Andrew C Heath and Hewitt, John K and Hickie, Ian B and Hokanson, John E and Hopfer, Christian J and Hunter, David J and Iacono, William G and Johnson, Eric O and Kamatani, Yoichiro and Sharon L R Kardia and Matthew C Keller and Kellis, Manolis and Charles Kooperberg and Kraft, Peter and Krauter, Kenneth S and Laakso, Markku and Penelope A Lind and Loukola, Anu and Lutz, Sharon M and Pamela A F Madden and Nicholas G Martin and McGue, Matt and Matthew B McQueen and Sarah E Medland and Andres Metspalu and Mohlke, Karen L and Nielsen, Jonas B and Okada, Yukinori and Peters, Ulrike and Tinca J Polderman and Posthuma, Danielle and Reiner, Alexander P and Rice, John P and Rimm, Eric and Rose, Richard J and Runarsdottir, Valgerdur and Stallings, Michael C and Stan{\v c}{\'a}kov{\'a}, Alena and Stefansson, Hreinn and Thai, Khanh K and Hilary A Tindle and Tyrfingsson, Thorarinn and Wall, Tamara L and David R Weir and Weisner, Constance and Whitfield, John B and Winsvold, Bendik Slagsvold and Yin, Jie and Zuccolo, Luisa and Laura Bierut and Hveem, Kristian and Lee, James J and Munaf{\`o}, Marcus R and Saccone, Nancy L and Willer, Cristen J and Marilyn C Cornelis and David, Sean P and Hinds, David A and Jorgenson, Eric and Kaprio, Jaakko and Stitzel, Jerry A and Stefansson, Kari and Thorgeirsson, Thorgeir E and Gon{\c c}alo R Abecasis and Liu, Dajiang J and Scott Vrieze} } @article {12140, title = {Combined linkage and association analysis identifies rare and low frequency variants for blood pressure at 1q31.}, journal = {European Journal of Human Genetics}, volume = {27}, year = {2019}, pages = {269-277}, abstract = {

High blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is more prevalent in African Americans as compared to other US groups. Although large, population-based genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified over 300 common polymorphisms modulating inter-individual BP variation, largely in European ancestry subjects, most of them do not localize to regions previously identified through family-based linkage studies. This discrepancy has remained unexplained despite the statistical power differences between current GWAS and prior linkage studies. To address this issue, we performed genome-wide linkage analysis of BP traits in African-American families from the Family Blood Pressure Program (FBPP) and genotyped on the Illumina Human Exome BeadChip v1.1. We identified a genomic region on chromosome 1q31 with LOD score 3.8 for pulse pressure (PP), a region we previously implicated in DBP studies of European ancestry families. Although no reported GWAS variants map to this region, combined linkage and association analysis of PP identified 81 rare and low frequency exonic variants accounting for the linkage evidence. Replication analysis in eight independent African ancestry cohorts (N = 16,968) supports this specific association with PP (P = 0.0509). Additional association and network analyses identified multiple potential candidate genes in this region expressed in multiple tissues and with a strong biological support for a role in BP. In conclusion, multiple genes and rare variants on 1q31 contribute to PP variation. Beyond producing new insights into PP, we demonstrate how family-based linkage and association studies can implicate specific rare and low frequency variants for complex traits.

}, keywords = {African Americans, Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1, Gene Frequency, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Hypertension, Linkage Disequilibrium, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide}, issn = {1476-5438}, doi = {10.1038/s41431-018-0277-1}, author = {Wang, Heming and Nandakumar, Priyanka and Tekola-Ayele, Fasil and Bamidele O Tayo and Erin B Ware and Gu, C Charles and Lu, Yingchang and Yao, Jie and Zhao, Wei and Smith, Jennifer A and Hellwege, Jacklyn N and Guo, Xiuqing and Edwards, Todd L and Ruth J F Loos and Donna K Arnett and Myriam Fornage and Charles N Rotimi and Sharon L R Kardia and Cooper, Richard S and Rao, D C and Georg B Ehret and Chakravarti, Aravinda and Zhu, Xiaofeng} } @article {10049, title = {Comparing the utility of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA to adjust for genetic ancestry in association studies.}, journal = {Cells}, volume = {8}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Mitochondrial genome-wide association studies identify mitochondrial single nucleotide polymorphisms (mtSNPs) that associate with disease or disease-related phenotypes. Most mitochondrial and nuclear genome-wide association studies adjust for genetic ancestry by including principal components derived from nuclear DNA, but not from mitochondrial DNA, as covariates in statistical regression analyses. Furthermore, there is no standard when controlling for genetic ancestry during mitochondrial and nuclear genetic interaction association scans, especially across ethnicities with substantial mitochondrial genetic heterogeneity. The purpose of this study is to (1) compare the degree of ethnic variation captured by principal components calculated from microarray-defined nuclear and mitochondrial DNA and (2) assess the utility of mitochondrial principal components for association studies. Analytic techniques used in this study include a principal component analysis for genetic ancestry, decision-tree classification for self-reported ethnicity, and linear regression for association tests. Data from the Health and Retirement Study, which includes self-reported White, Black, and Hispanic Americans, was used for all analyses. We report that (1) mitochondrial principal component analysis (PCA) captures ethnic variation to a similar or slightly greater degree than nuclear PCA in Blacks and Hispanics, (2) nuclear and mitochondrial DNA classify self-reported ethnicity to a high degree but with a similar level of error, and 3) mitochondrial principal components can be used as covariates to adjust for population stratification in association studies with complex traits, as demonstrated by our analysis of height-a phenotype with a high heritability. Overall, genetic association studies might reveal true and robust mtSNP associations when including mitochondrial principal components as regression covariates.}, keywords = {Genetics, GWAS, Survey Methodology}, issn = {2073-4409}, doi = {10.3390/cells8040306}, author = {Miller, Brendan and Thalida E. Arpawong and Jiao, Henry and Kim, Su-Jeong and Yen, Kelvin and Hemal H Mehta and Wan, Junxiang and John Carpten and Cohen, Pinchas} } @article {9968, title = {Education, lifelong learning and self-rated health in later life in the USA}, journal = {Health Education Journal}, volume = {78}, year = {2019}, month = {04/2019}, pages = {328-339}, abstract = {Objective: This study examined the mediating effects of lifelong learning on the association between self-rated health and educational attainment among a nationally representative sample of US residents aged 50 years and older. Setting: Socioeconomic disparities in health are a major public health concern in economically developed nations where improving socioeconomic status (e.g. formal educational attainment) at the population level is challenging. In the light of population ageing, alternative approaches to improve health through malleable factors are urgently needed. Recent research suggests that participation in organised learning activities {\textendash} lifelong learning {\textendash} could attenuate the lack of formal educational attainment on health. Methods: Data come from the 2012 wave of the US Health and Retirement Study. Structural equation models with bootstrapping were used to estimate the mediation effect of lifelong learning activity in the relationship between self-rated health and formal educational attainment. Results: Approximately 3\%{\textendash}5\% of the effect of formal education on self-rated health was mediated by lifelong learning activity. Findings from this study support the notion that ongoing participation in organised learning activities is beneficial for health in later life. Conclusion: Lifelong learning reflects a promising autonomous and sustainable strategy to improve health in later life. Future public health and education policy as well as education institutions should consider providing more learning opportunities for older populations.}, keywords = {Education, Health Disparities, Self-reported health}, issn = {0017-8969}, doi = {10.1177/0017896918809500}, author = {Takashi Yamashita and Anthony R. Bardo and Liu, Darren and Yoo, Ji Won} } @article {SHIMIZUTANI2019100214, title = {Financial literacy of middle-aged and older Individuals: Comparison of Japan and the United States}, journal = {The Journal of the Economics of Ageing}, year = {2019}, pages = {100214}, abstract = {Financial literacy holds growing interest for managing assets/savings during the longer retirement period currently experienced in rapidly aging countries. We examine and compare levels and determinants of financial literacy as well as its association with asset allocation among middle-aged and older individuals of Japan and the United States. We present some interesting findings. First, financial literacy is generally influenced by educational attainment, cognitive skills, coursework in economics or finance, and income level. Second, financial literacy is associated with household asset allocation; individuals with higher literacy also have investment in stocks or securities. These patterns are commonly observed both in Japan and the United States.}, keywords = {Financial literacy, Household asset allocation, JSTAR}, issn = {2212-828X}, doi = {doi.org/10.1016/j.jeoa.2019.100214}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212828X1930101X}, author = {Satoshi Shimizutani and Hiroyuki Yamada} } @article {11321, title = {Genetic heterogeneity of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease in subjects with and without hypertension.}, journal = {Geroscience}, volume = {41}, year = {2019}, month = {2019 04}, pages = {137-154}, abstract = {

Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the interplay of multiple genetic and non-genetic factors. Hypertension is one of the AD risk factors that has been linked to underlying pathological changes like senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles formation as well as hippocampal atrophy. In this study, we investigated the differences in the genetic architecture of AD between hypertensive and non-hypertensive subjects in four independent cohorts. Our genome-wide association analyses revealed significant associations of 15 novel potentially AD-associated polymorphisms (P < 5E-06) that were located outside the chromosome 19q13 region and were significant either in hypertensive or non-hypertensive groups. The closest genes to 14 polymorphisms were not associated with AD at P < 5E-06 in previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Also, four of them were located within two chromosomal regions (i.e., 3q13.11 and 17q21.2) that were not associated with AD at P < 5E-06 before. In addition, 30 genes demonstrated evidence of group-specific associations with AD at the false discovery rates (FDR) < 0.05 in our gene-based and transcriptome-wide association analyses. The chromosomal regions corresponding to four genes (i.e., 2p13.1, 9p13.3, 17q12, and 18q21.1) were not associated with AD at P < 5E-06 in previous GWAS. These genes may serve as a list of prioritized candidates for future functional studies. Our pathway-enrichment analyses revealed the associations of 11 non-group-specific and four group-specific pathways with AD at FDR < 0.05. These findings provided novel insights into the potential genetic heterogeneity of AD among subjects with and without hypertension.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Alzheimer disease, Cohort Studies, disease progression, Female, Genetic Heterogeneity, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Hypertension, Male, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Prognosis, Prospective Studies, Risk Assessment}, issn = {2509-2723}, doi = {10.1007/s11357-019-00071-5}, author = {Nazarian, Alireza and Konstantin G Arbeev and Arseniy P Yashkin and Alexander M Kulminski} } @article {10062, title = {High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and all-cause and cause-specific mortality among the elderly.}, journal = {Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism}, year = {2019}, abstract = {

CONTEXT: The patterns of the association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations and mortality among the elderly are still unclear.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of HDL-C concentrations with mortality, and to identify the optimal HDL-C concentration range that predicts the lowest risk of all-cause mortality among the elderly.

DESIGN: This was a nationwide, community-based prospective cohort study.

METHODS: This study included 7,766 elderly individuals (aged >=65 years; mean age: 74.4 years) from the Health and Retirement Study. Cox proportional hazards models and Cox models with penalized smoothing splines were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95\% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause and cause-specific mortality.

RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 5.9 years, 1,921 deaths occurred. After fully adjustment for covariates, a nonlinear (P for nonlinearity<0.001) association was found between HDL-C and all-cause mortality (minimum mortality risk at 71 mg/dL [1.84 mM]); the risk for all-cause mortality was significantly higher in the group with HDL-C concentration <61 mg/dL (1.58 mM) (HR: 1.18; 95\% CI: 1.05-1.33) and in the group with HDL-C concentration >87 mg/dL (2.25 mM) (HR: 1.56; 95\% CI: 1.17-2.07) than in the group with HDL-C concentrations ranging from 61 to 87 mg/dL (1.58-2.25 mM). Nonlinear associations of HDL-C concentrations with both cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality were also observed (both P for nonlinearity<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Among the elderly, nonlinear associations were found between HDL-C and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. The single optimal HDL-C concentration and range were 71 mg/dL and 61 to 87 mg/dL, respectively.

}, keywords = {Cholesterol, Health Conditions and Status, Mortality}, issn = {1945-7197}, doi = {10.1210/jc.2018-02511}, author = {Li, Zhi-Hao and Lv, Yue-Bin and Zhong, Wen-Fang and Gao, Xiang and Virginia Byers Kraus and Zou, Meng-Chen and Zhang, Xi-Ru and Li, Fu-Rong and Yuan, Jin-Qiu and Shi, Xiao-Ming and Wu, Xian-Bo and Mao, Chen} } @article {Xu2019, title = {Individualized prediction of depressive disorder in the elderly: A multitask deep learning approach}, journal = {International Journal of Medical Informatics}, volume = {132}, year = {2019}, note = {cited By 0}, abstract = {Introduction: Depressive disorder is one of the major public health problems among the elderly. An effective depression risk prediction model can provide insights on the disease progression and potentially inform timely targeted interventions. Therefore, research on predicting the onset of depressive disorder for elderly adults considering the sequential progression patterns is critically needed. Objective: This research aims to develop a state-of-the-art deep learning model for the individualized prediction of depressive disorder with a 22-year longitudinal survey data among elderly people in the United States. Methods: We obtain the 22-year longitudinal survey data from the University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study, which consists of information on 20,000 elderly people in the United States from 1992 to 2014. To capture temporal and high-order interactions among risk factors, the proposed deep learning model utilizes a recurrent neural network framework with a multitask structure. The C-statistic and the mean absolute error are used to evaluate the prediction accuracy of the proposed model and a set of baseline models. Results: The experiments with the 22-year longitudinal survey data indicate that (a) machine learning models can provide an accurate prediction of the onset of depressive disorder for elderly individuals; (b) the temporal patterns of risk factors are associated with the onset of depressive disorder; and (c) the proposed multitask deep learning model exhibits superior performance as compared with baseline models. Conclusion: The results demonstrate the capability of deep learning-based prediction models in capturing temporal and high-order interactions among risk factors, which are usually ignored by traditional regression models. This research sheds light on the use of machine learning models to predict the onset of depressive disorder among elderly people. Practically, the proposed methods can be implemented as a decision support system to help clinicians make decisions and inform actionable intervention strategies for elderly people.}, keywords = {deep learning, depression, Prediction}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2019.103973}, url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31569007}, author = {Xu, Z. and Qingpeng Zhang and Wentian Li and Li, Mingyang and Yip, P.S.F.} } @article {10077, title = {Insomnia symptoms predict both future hypertension and depression.}, journal = {Preventative Medicine}, volume = {123}, year = {2019}, pages = {41-47}, abstract = {The prevalence of hypertension and depression is high in older populations. Moreover, their comorbidity may significantly increase morbidity and mortality. However, the risk factors contributing to both health conditions are not well understood. Older individuals are prone to insomnia; thus we hypothesized that having more insomnia symptoms increases risk for incident hypertension and depression over time. The sample consisted of a longitudinal population-based study of community-dwelling older individuals, from the 2008-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, sampled across the United States. A total of 18,123 subjects, aged 50+, were stratified into three age groups, ages 50-60, 61-74, and 75 and older years. Subjects were excluded for reporting baseline hypertension or depression at the first wave 2008. Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) score >= 4 was the cutoff for elevated depressive symptomatology. Subjective insomnia symptoms were evaluated. Cox proportional hazards regression revealed that SBP (1.02[1.01, 1.02]) and more insomnia symptoms (1.11[1.01, 1.21]) were significant predictors of hypertension for all age groups. For depression, only insomnia symptoms were significant predictors (9.91[6.37, 15.41]). Kaplan-Meier curves revealed that 9.2\% of the overall cohort had both hypertension and depression within 8 years and more insomnia symptoms predicted greater incidences of both conditions (p-values <0.001). In this older prospective cohort, insomnia symptoms are consistent predictors of future hypertension and depression in all age groups, who were not hypertensive and depressed at baseline. Insomnia may contribute to the etiology and comorbidity of hypertension and depression in older individuals.}, keywords = {Blood pressure, Depressive symptoms, Sleep}, issn = {1096-0260}, doi = {10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.02.001}, author = {Dong, Yutong and Frances Margaret Yang} } @article {10177, title = {A life-span approach to examining older vulnerable population{\textquoteright}s subjective well-being: The role of adversity and trauma.}, journal = {Aging and Mental Health}, year = {2019}, type = {Journal}, abstract = {Using the life course guidance, the goal of this study was to examine the degree to which previously experienced adversity and trauma was associated with subjective well-being among older adults. Data from the Health and Retirement Study (1992-2012) was used to examine these trends over time. We used multilevel models to test for specific individual change across time. The study sample included older community dwellers aged 55 and over ( = 5,649). In terms of early childhood adversities, 77\% experienced at least one trauma and 72\% experienced at least one trauma in adulthood. Adverse childhood experiences and adulthood trauma were predictors of depressive symptoms, poorer self-rated health, and worse life satisfaction. Older black, other race, and Hispanic groups have poorer subjective well-being overtime compared to whites. Findings suggested exposure to childhood adversities and adulthood trauma increases depressive symptoms, poor self-rated health, and low satisfaction of life over time. Findings from this study provide insight into how life course exposure of adversity and trauma among older adults showed a negative trend over time.}, keywords = {Childhood adversity, Trauma, Well-being}, issn = {1364-6915}, doi = {10.1080/13607863.2019.1652245}, url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13607863.2019.1652245?scroll=top\&needAccess=true}, author = {Mai See Yang and Hedeker, Donald} } @article {10225, title = {A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies identifies multiple longevity genes.}, journal = {Nature Communications}, volume = {10}, year = {2019}, month = {08/2019}, pages = {3669}, abstract = {

Human longevity is heritable, but genome-wide association (GWA) studies have had limited success. Here, we perform two meta-analyses of GWA studies of a rigorous longevity phenotype definition including 11,262/3484 cases surviving at or beyond the age corresponding to the 90th/99th survival percentile, respectively, and 25,483 controls whose age at death or at last contact was at or below the age corresponding to the 60th survival percentile. Consistent with previous reports, rs429358 (apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4) is associated with lower odds of surviving to the 90th and 99th percentile age, while rs7412 (ApoE ε2) shows the opposite. Moreover, rs7676745, located near GPR78, associates with lower odds of surviving to the 90th percentile age. Gene-level association analysis reveals a role for tissue-specific expression of multiple genes in longevity. Finally, genetic correlation of the longevity GWA results with that of several disease-related phenotypes points to a shared genetic architecture between health and longevity.

}, keywords = {genes, Genome-Wide Association Study, GWA, longevity genes, meta-analysis}, issn = {2041-1723}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-019-11558-2}, url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31413261}, author = {Deelen, Joris and Daniel S Evans and Dan E Arking and Tesi, Niccol{\`o} and Nygaard, Marianne and Liu, Xiaomin and Wojczynski, Mary K and Biggs, Mary L and van der Spek, Ashley and Atzmon, Gil and Erin B Ware and Sarnowski, Chlo{\'e} and Albert Vernon Smith and Sepp{\"a}l{\"a}, Ilkka and Cordell, Heather J and Dose, Janina and Amin, Najaf and Alice M. Arnold and Kristin L. Ayers and Barzilai, Nir and Becker, Elizabeth J and Beekman, Marian and Blanch{\'e}, H{\'e}l{\`e}ne and Christensen, Kaare and Christiansen, Lene and Collerton, Joanna C and Cubaynes, Sarah and Steven R Cummings and Davies, Karen and Debrabant, Birgit and Deleuze, Jean-Fran{\c c}ois and Duncan, Rachel and Jessica Faul and Franceschi, Claudio and Galan, Pilar and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Tamara B Harris and Huisman, Martijn and Hurme, Mikko A and Jagger, Carol and Jansen, Iris and Jylh{\"a}, Marja and K{\"a}h{\"o}nen, Mika and Karasik, David and Sharon L R Kardia and Kingston, Andrew and Kirkwood, Thomas B L and Lenore J Launer and Lehtim{\"a}ki, Terho and Lieb, Wolfgang and Lyytik{\"a}inen, Leo-Pekka and Martin-Ruiz, Carmen and Min, Junxia and Nebel, Almut and Anne B Newman and Nie, Chao and Nohr, Ellen A and Orwoll, Eric S and Thomas T Perls and Province, Michael A and Psaty, Bruce M and Olli T Raitakari and Reinders, Marcel J T and Robine, Jean-Marie and Rotter, Jerome I and Sebastiani, Paola and Jennifer A Smith and S{\o}rensen, Thorkild I A and Kent D Taylor and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and van der Flier, Wiesje and Sven J van der Lee and Cornelia M van Duijn and van Heemst, Diana and James W Vaupel and David R Weir and Ye, Kenny and Zeng, Yi and Zheng, Wanlin and Holstege, Henne and Douglas P Kiel and Kathryn L Lunetta and Eline P Slagboom and Joanne M Murabito} } @article {12128, title = {Multi-ancestry study of blood lipid levels identifies four loci interacting with physical activity.}, journal = {Nature Communications}, volume = {10}, year = {2019}, pages = {376}, abstract = {

Many genetic loci affect circulating lipid levels, but it remains unknown whether lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, modify these genetic effects. To identify lipid loci interacting with physical activity, we performed genome-wide analyses of circulating HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in up to 120,979 individuals of European, African, Asian, Hispanic, and Brazilian ancestry, with follow-up of suggestive associations in an additional 131,012 individuals. We find four loci, in/near CLASP1, LHX1, SNTA1, and CNTNAP2, that are associated with circulating lipid levels through interaction with physical activity; higher levels of physical activity enhance the HDL cholesterol-increasing effects of the CLASP1, LHX1, and SNTA1 loci and attenuate the LDL cholesterol-increasing effect of the CNTNAP2 locus. The CLASP1, LHX1, and SNTA1 regions harbor genes linked to muscle function and lipid metabolism. Our results elucidate the role of physical activity interactions in the genetic contribution to blood lipid levels.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Asians, Blacks, Brazil, Calcium-Binding Proteins, Cholesterol, Cholesterol, HDL, Cholesterol, LDL, Exercise, Female, Genetic Loci, Genome-Wide Association Study, Genotype, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, LIM-Homeodomain Proteins, Lipid Metabolism, Lipids, Male, Membrane Proteins, Microtubule-Associated Proteins, Middle Aged, Muscle Proteins, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Transcription Factors, Triglycerides, Whites, Young Adult}, issn = {2041-1723}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-018-08008-w}, author = {Kilpel{\"a}inen, Tuomas O and Bentley, Amy R and Noordam, Raymond and Yun Ju Sung and Schwander, Karen and Thomas W Winkler and Jakupovi{\'c}, Hermina and Daniel I Chasman and Alisa Manning and Ntalla, Ioanna and Aschard, Hugues and Brown, Michael R and de Las Fuentes, Lisa and Franceschini, Nora and Guo, Xiuqing and Vojinovic, Dina and Aslibekyan, Stella and Feitosa, Mary F and Kho, Minjung and Musani, Solomon K and Melissa Richard and Wang, Heming and Wang, Zhe and Traci M Bartz and Bielak, Lawrence F and Campbell, Archie and Dorajoo, Rajkumar and Fisher, Virginia and Hartwig, Fernando P and Horimoto, Andrea R V R and Li, Changwei and Kurt Lohman and Marten, Jonathan and Sim, Xueling and Smith, Albert V and Tajuddin, Salman M and Alver, Maris and Amini, Marzyeh and Boissel, Mathilde and Jin-Fang Chai and Chen, Xu and Divers, Jasmin and Evangelou, Evangelos and Gao, Chuan and Graff, Mariaelisa and Sarah E Harris and He, Meian and Hsu, Fang-Chi and Jackson, Anne U and Jing Hua Zhao and Kraja, Aldi T and K{\"u}hnel, Brigitte and Laguzzi, Federica and Lyytik{\"a}inen, Leo-Pekka and Ilja M Nolte and Rauramaa, Rainer and Riaz, Muhammad and Robino, Antonietta and Rueedi, Rico and Heather M Stringham and Takeuchi, Fumihiko and van der Most, Peter J and Varga, Tibor V and Verweij, Niek and Erin B Ware and Wen, Wanqing and Li, Xiaoyin and Yanek, Lisa R and Amin, Najaf and Donna K Arnett and Boerwinkle, Eric and Brumat, Marco and Brian E Cade and Canouil, Micka{\"e}l and Chen, Yii-Der Ida and Concas, Maria Pina and Connell, John and de Mutsert, Ren{\'e}e and de Silva, H Janaka and de Vries, Paul S and Demirkan, Ayse and Ding, Jingzhong and Charles B Eaton and Jessica Faul and Friedlander, Yechiel and Gabriel, Kelley P and Ghanbari, Mohsen and Giulianini, Franco and Gu, Chi Charles and Gu, Dongfeng and Tamara B Harris and He, Jiang and Heikkinen, Sami and Heng, Chew-Kiat and Hunt, Steven C and Ikram, M Arfan and Jost Bruno Jonas and Koh, Woon-Puay and Komulainen, Pirjo and Krieger, Jose E and Stephen B Kritchevsky and Kutalik, Zolt{\'a}n and Kuusisto, Johanna and Langefeld, Carl D and Langenberg, Claudia and Lenore J Launer and Leander, Karin and Lemaitre, Rozenn N and Lewis, Cora E and Liang, Jingjing and Liu, Jianjun and M{\"a}gi, Reedik and Manichaikul, Ani and Meitinger, Thomas and Andres Metspalu and Milaneschi, Yuri and Mohlke, Karen L and Thomas H Mosley and Murray, Alison D and Michael A Nalls and Nang, Ei-Ei Khaing and Nelson, Christopher P and Nona, Sotoodehnia and Norris, Jill M and Nwuba, Chiamaka Vivian and Jeff O{\textquoteright}Connell and Palmer, Nicholette D and Papanicolau, George J and Pazoki, Raha and Nancy L Pedersen and Peters, Annette and Peyser, Patricia A and Polasek, Ozren and David J Porteous and Poveda, Alaitz and Olli T Raitakari and Rich, Stephen S and Neil Risch and Robinson, Jennifer G and Rose, Lynda M and Rudan, Igor and Schreiner, Pamela J and Scott, Robert A and Stephen Sidney and Sims, Mario and Smith, Jennifer A and Snieder, Harold and Sofer, Tamar and John M Starr and Sternfeld, Barbara and Strauch, Konstantin and Tang, Hua and Kent D Taylor and Tsai, Michael Y and Tuomilehto, Jaakko and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and van der Ende, M Yldau and van Heemst, Diana and Voortman, Trudy and Waldenberger, Melanie and Wennberg, Patrik and Wilson, Gregory and Xiang, Yong-Bing and Yao, Jie and Yu, Caizheng and Yuan, Jian-Min and Zhao, Wei and Alan B Zonderman and Becker, Diane M and Boehnke, Michael and Bowden, Donald W and de Faire, Ulf and Ian J Deary and Elliott, Paul and T{\~o}nu Esko and Freedman, Barry I and Froguel, Philippe and Paolo P. Gasparini and Gieger, Christian and Kato, Norihiro and Laakso, Markku and Lakka, Timo A and Lehtim{\"a}ki, Terho and Patrik K E Magnusson and Oldehinkel, Albertine J and Brenda W J H Penninx and Nilesh J Samani and Shu, Xiao-Ou and van der Harst, Pim and Jana V. van Vliet-Ostaptchouk and Vollenweider, Peter and Wagenknecht, Lynne E and Wang, Ya X and Wareham, Nicholas J and David R Weir and Wu, Tangchun and Zheng, Wei and Zhu, Xiaofeng and Michele K Evans and Franks, Paul W and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Caroline Hayward and Horta, Bernardo L and Tanika N Kelly and Liu, Yongmei and Kari E North and Pereira, Alexandre C and Ridker, Paul M and Tai, E Shyong and van Dam, Rob M and Fox, Ervin R and Sharon L R Kardia and Liu, Ching-Ti and Dennis O Mook-Kanamori and Province, Michael A and Redline, Susan and Cornelia M van Duijn and Rotter, Jerome I and Charles Kooperberg and Gauderman, W James and Psaty, Bruce M and Kenneth Rice and Munroe, Patricia B and Myriam Fornage and Cupples, L Adrienne and Charles N Rotimi and Alanna C Morrison and Rao, Dabeeru C and Ruth J F Loos} } @article {12123, title = {New alcohol-related genes suggest shared genetic mechanisms with neuropsychiatric disorders.}, journal = {Nature Human Behaviour}, volume = {3}, year = {2019}, pages = {950-961}, abstract = {

Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the main causes of death and disability worldwide. Alcohol consumption is a heritable complex trait. Here we conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies of alcohol consumption (g d) from the UK Biobank, the Alcohol Genome-Wide Consortium and the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology Plus consortia, collecting data from 480,842 people of European descent to decipher the genetic architecture of alcohol intake. We identified 46 new common loci and investigated their potential functional importance using magnetic resonance imaging data and gene expression studies. We identify genetic pathways associated with alcohol consumption and suggest genetic mechanisms that are shared with neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.

}, keywords = {Adult, Aged, Alcohol Drinking, Alcoholism, Brain, Female, genes, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Mental Disorders, Middle Aged, Neuroimaging, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Quantitative Trait Loci, Schizophrenia, Whites}, issn = {2397-3374}, doi = {10.1038/s41562-019-0653-z}, author = {Evangelou, Evangelos and Gao, He and Chu, Congying and Ntritsos, Georgios and Blakeley, Paul and Butts, Andrew R and Pazoki, Raha and Suzuki, Hideaki and Koskeridis, Fotios and Yiorkas, Andrianos M and Karaman, Ibrahim and Elliott, Joshua and Luo, Qiang and Aeschbacher, Stefanie and Traci M Bartz and Baumeister, Sebastian E and Braund, Peter S and Brown, Michael R and Brody, Jennifer A and Clarke, Toni-Kim and Dimou, Niki and Jessica Faul and Homuth, Georg and Jackson, Anne U and Kentistou, Katherine A and Joshi, Peter K and Lemaitre, Rozenn N and Penelope A Lind and Lyytik{\"a}inen, Leo-Pekka and Mangino, Massimo and Milaneschi, Yuri and Nelson, Christopher P and Ilja M Nolte and Per{\"a}l{\"a}, Mia-Maria and Polasek, Ozren and David J Porteous and Scott M Ratliff and Smith, Jennifer A and Stan{\v c}{\'a}kov{\'a}, Alena and Teumer, Alexander and Tuominen, Samuli and Th{\'e}riault, S{\'e}bastien and Vangipurapu, Jagadish and Whitfield, John B and Wood, Alexis and Yao, Jie and Yu, Bing and Zhao, Wei and Dan E Arking and Auvinen, Juha and Liu, Chunyu and M{\"a}nnikk{\"o}, Minna and Risch, Lorenz and Rotter, Jerome I and Snieder, Harold and Veijola, Juha and Alexandra I Blakemore and Boehnke, Michael and Campbell, Harry and Conen, David and Johan G Eriksson and Hans-J{\"o}rgen Grabe and Guo, Xiuqing and van der Harst, Pim and Catharina A Hartman and Caroline Hayward and Andrew C Heath and J{\"a}rvelin, Marjo-Riitta and K{\"a}h{\"o}nen, Mika and Sharon L R Kardia and K{\"u}hne, Michael and Kuusisto, Johanna and Laakso, Markku and Lahti, Jari and Lehtim{\"a}ki, Terho and McIntosh, Andrew M and Mohlke, Karen L and Alanna C Morrison and Nicholas G Martin and Oldehinkel, Albertine J and Brenda W J H Penninx and Psaty, Bruce M and Olli T Raitakari and Rudan, Igor and Nilesh J Samani and Scott, Laura J and Timothy Spector and Verweij, Niek and David R Weir and James F Wilson and Levy, Daniel and Tzoulaki, Ioanna and Bell, Jimmy D and Matthews, Paul M and Rothenfluh, Adrian and Desrivi{\`e}res, Sylvane and Schumann, Gunter and Elliott, Paul} } @article {10211, title = {Perceived Stress, Social Support, and Dry Mouth Among US Older Chinese Adults}, journal = {Journal of the American Geriatrics Society}, volume = {67}, year = {2019}, month = {2019}, pages = {S551-S556}, abstract = {OBJECTIVESDry mouth is a common condition among older adults that negatively influences oral health, general health, and quality of life. The role of psychosocial factors in oral health conditions and diseases remains largely unknown. We conducted a study to examine the relationship between perceived stress and dry mouth among US older Chinese adults and further investigated the potential moderating role of social support and social strain from different sources in the relationship.DESIGNCross-sectional analysis.SETTINGBaseline of the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago, a community-engaged, population-based longitudinal study of health and well-being among community-dwelling US older Chinese adults.PARTICIPANTSIndividuals 60 years or older (N = 3157).MEASUREMENTSPerceived stress was measured by the 10-item Chinese Perceived Stress Scale to evaluate the degree to which life situations were perceived as stressful during the preceding month on a 5-point scale, ranging from 0 ({\textquotedblleft}never{\textquotedblright}) to 4 ({\textquotedblleft}very often{\textquotedblright}). Dry mouth was a binary self-reported outcome variable (1 = {\textquotedblleft}dry mouth{\textquotedblright}). Social support was measured by the Health and Retirement Study{\textquoteright}s social support and strain scale from sources including spouse, other family members, and friends with a 3-point response set, ranging from 0 ({\textquotedblleft}hardly ever{\textquotedblright}) to 2 ({\textquotedblleft}often{\textquotedblright}). Sociodemographics and disease processes were assessed as covariates. We conducted stepwise logistic regressions with interaction terms.RESULTSHaving higher levels of perceived stress was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of reporting dry mouth (odds ratio = 1.03; 95\% confidence interval = 1.02-1.04). The effect of perceived stress on dry mouth may vary by levels of family and friend support.CONCLUSIONPerceived stress may influence dry mouth either directly or indirectly. To prevent or reduce dry mouth, in addition to disease processes, interventions need to consider psychosocial factors in dry mouth, especially perceived stress and social support, in this growing population. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:S551{\textendash}S556, 2019.OBJECTIVESDry mouth is a common condition among older adults that negatively influences oral health, general health, and quality of life. The role of psychosocial factors in oral health conditions and diseases remains largely unknown. We conducted a study to examine the relationship between perceived stress and dry mouth among US older Chinese adults and further investigated the potential moderating role of social support and social strain from different sources in the relationship.DESIGNCross-sectional analysis.SETTINGBaseline of the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago, a community-engaged, population-based longitudinal study of health and well-being among community-dwelling US older Chinese adults.PARTICIPANTSIndividuals 60 years or older (N = 3157).MEASUREMENTSPerceived stress was measured by the 10-item Chinese Perceived Stress Scale to evaluate the degree to which life situations were perceived as stressful during the preceding month on a 5-point scale, ranging from 0 ({\textquotedblleft}never{\textquotedblright}) to 4 ({\textquotedblleft}very often{\textquotedblright}). Dry mouth was a binary self-reported outcome variable (1 = {\textquotedblleft}dry mouth{\textquotedblright}). Social support was measured by the Health and Retirement Study{\textquoteright}s social support and strain scale from sources including spouse, other family members, and friends with a 3-point response set, ranging from 0 ({\textquotedblleft}hardly ever{\textquotedblright}) to 2 ({\textquotedblleft}often{\textquotedblright}). Sociodemographics and disease processes were assessed as covariates. We conducted stepwise logistic regressions with interaction terms.RESULTSHaving higher levels of perceived stress was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of reporting dry mouth (odds ratio = 1.03; 95\% confidence interval = 1.02-1.04). The effect of perceived stress on dry mouth may vary by levels of family and friend support.CONCLUSIONPerceived stress may influence dry mouth either directly or indirectly. To prevent or reduce dry mouth, in addition to disease processes, interventions need to consider psychosocial factors in dry mouth, especially perceived stress and social support, in this growing population. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:S551{\textendash}S556, 2019.}, keywords = {Dry Mouth, Stress, US Chinese Adults}, isbn = {0002-8614}, doi = { https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15890}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jgs.15890}, author = {Mao, Weiyu and Chen, Yiwei and Bei Wu and Ge, Shaoqing and Yang, Wei and Iris Chi and Dong, XinQi} } @article {Kulminski2019, title = {Polygenic risk score for disability and insights into disability-related molecular mechanisms}, journal = {GeroScience}, year = {2019}, month = {Nov}, abstract = {Late life disability is a highly devastating condition affecting 20\% or more of persons aged 65 years and older in the USA; it is an important determinant of acute medical and long-term care costs which represent a growing burden on national economies. Disability is a multifactorial trait that contributes substantially to decline of health/wellbeing. Accordingly, gaining insights into the genetics of disability could help in identifying molecular mechanisms of this devastating condition and age-related processes contributing to a large fraction of specific geriatric conditions, concordantly with geroscience. We performed a genome-wide association study of disability in a sample of 24,068 subjects from five studies with 12,550 disabled individuals. We identified 30 promising disability-associated polymorphisms in 19 loci at p < 10-4; four of them attained suggestive significance, p < 10-5. In contrast, polygenic risk scores aggregating effects of minor alleles of independent SNPs that were adversely or beneficially associated with disability showed highly significant associations in meta-analysi}, keywords = {Disabilities, Disability, Polygenic risk score}, issn = {2509-2723}, doi = {10.1007/s11357-019-00125-8}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-019-00125-8}, author = {Alexander M Kulminski and Kang, Chansuk and Kolpakov, Stanislav A. and Loika, Yury and Nazarian, Alireza and Anatoliy Yashin and Stallard, Eric and Culminskaya, Irina} } @article {doi:10.1002/hec.3978, title = {Smoking, life expectancy, and chronic disease in South Korea, Singapore, and the United States: A microsimulation model}, journal = {Health Economics}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Abstract The substantial social and economic burden attributable to smoking is well-known, with heavy smokers at higher risk of chronic disease and premature mortality than light smokers and nonsmokers. In aging societies with high rates of male smoking such as in East Asia, smoking is a leading preventable risk factor for extending lives (including work-lives) and healthy aging. However, little is known about whether smoking interventions targeted at heavy smokers relative to light smokers lead to disproportionately larger improvements in life expectancy and prevalence of chronic diseases and how the effects vary across populations. Using a microsimulation model, we examined the health effects of smoking reduction by simulating an elimination of smoking among subgroups of smokers in South Korea, Singapore, and the United States. We found that life expectancy would increase by 0.2 to 1.5 years among light smokers and 2.5 to 3.7 years among heavy smokers. Whereas both interventions led to an increased life expectancy and decreased the prevalence of chronic diseases in all three countries, the life-extension benefits were greatest for those who would otherwise have been heavy smokers. Our findings illustrate how smoking interventions may have significant economic and social benefits, especially for life extension, that vary across countries.}, keywords = {healthy aging, heavy smokers, KLoSA, microsimulation, Singapore, smoking interventions, South Korea, tobacco control}, doi = {10.1002/hec.3978}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/hec.3978}, author = {Kim, Daejung and Chen, Cynthia and Tysinger, Bryan and Park, Sungchul and Chong, Ming Zhe and Wang, Lijia and Zhao, Michelle and Yuan, Jian-Min and Koh, Woon-Puay and Yoong, Joanne and Bhattacharya, Jay and Eggleston, Karen} } @article {10170, title = {Understanding the association between perceived financial well-being and life satisfaction among older adults: Does social capital play a role?}, journal = {Journal of Family and Economic Issues}, volume = {40}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Using data from the 2014 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we examined the association between subjective perception of financial well-being and life satisfaction. We also examined the effect of social capital on the link between financial well-being and life satisfaction among older adults. We further explored how the role of social capital in life satisfaction differs by household asset quartiles. The role of social capital was statistically significant in the relationship between financial well-being and life satisfaction among older adults. The findings of this study suggest that participation in social activities explains the link between financial well-being and life satisfaction among older adults, and its mediating effect is slightly larger for the top quartile than the bottom quartile.}, keywords = {Financial Health, Life Satisfaction, Social capital, Social Factors, Well-being}, issn = {1058-0476}, doi = {10.1007/s10834-019-09634-2}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007\%2Fs10834-019-09634-2}, author = {Yeo, JeongHee and Lee, Yoon G.} } @article {9959, title = {Wealth Management While Dealing with Memory Loss}, journal = {Journal of Family and Economic Issues}, volume = {40}, year = {2019}, pages = {470{\textendash}485}, type = {Journal}, abstract = {This study aims to understand the mechanisms through which severe memory problems could affect portfolio choice of older households. We focus on two potential mediators, cognitive ability and survival expectations, which are both expected to be adversely affected by memory disorders. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, our findings show that cognitive ability and survival expectations are negatively associated with severe memory problems. Through the mediating role of cognitive ability, memory problems negatively affect the probability of holding risky assets, the amount of risky assets in the investment portfolios and financial wealth. Survival expectations, on the other hand, do not play a significant mediating role in portfolio allocation. In addition, the financial burden of severe memory problems does not seem to directly affect portfolio decisions.}, keywords = {Cognition \& Reasoning, Dementia, Memory, Mortality}, issn = {1058-0476}, doi = {10.1007/s10834-019-09610-w}, url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007\%2Fs10834-019-09610-w}, author = {Cheung, Cheuk Hee and Tansel Yilmazer} } @article {9799, title = {When God is your only friend: Religious beliefs compensate for purpose in life in the socially disconnected.}, journal = {Journal of Personality}, volume = {87}, year = {2019}, pages = {455-471}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Social relationships supply purpose to life. How can socially disconnected people, who show lower levels of purpose, compensate for purpose in life? We propose that religious beliefs can compensate for the purpose in life that social relationships would otherwise provide, through providing (a) greater purpose to turn to and (b) divine figures that can substitute for social relationships.

METHOD: In three studies, we analyze three nationally representative and longitudinal data sets (N~=~19,775) using moderated regression and cross-lagged panel analyses.

RESULTS: Consistent with our hypotheses, religious beliefs were of minimal influence on purpose in life for socially connected individuals, who already held higher levels of purpose than socially disconnected individuals. However, for socially disconnected individuals, being highly religious predicted higher levels of purpose in life.

CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that although people primarily derive purpose from social relationships, socially disconnected individuals may leverage their religious beliefs for purpose and social comfort until they can reconnect.

}, keywords = {Depressive symptoms, Loneliness, Purpose in life, Religion}, issn = {1467-6494}, doi = {10.1111/jopy.12401}, author = {Chan, Todd and Nicholas M Michalak and Ybarra, Oscar} } @article {9162, title = {The aggregate implications of gender and marriage}, journal = {The Journal of the Economics of Ageing}, volume = {11}, year = {2018}, month = {05/2018}, pages = {6-26}, abstract = {Wages, labor market participation, hours worked, and savings differ by gender and marital status. In addition, women and married people make up a large fraction of the population and of labor market participants, total hours worked, and total earnings. For the most part, macroeconomists have been ignoring women and marriage in setting up structural models and in calibrating them using data on males only. In this paper, we ask whether ignoring gender and marriage in both models and data implies that the resulting calibration matches well the key economic aggregates. We find that it does not and we ask whether there are other calibration strategies or relatively simple models of marriage that can improve the fit of the model to aggregate data.}, keywords = {Employment and Labor Force, Gender Differences, Marriage, Women and Minorities}, issn = {2212828X}, doi = {10.1016/j.jeoa.2017.01.005}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212828X16300494}, author = {Borella, Margherita and Mariacristina De Nardi and Yang, Fang} } @article {9930, title = {The Effect of Adherence to Screening Guidelines on the Risk of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease in Elderly Individuals Newly Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.}, journal = {Gerontology \& Geriatric Medicine}, volume = {4}, year = {2018}, month = {2018 Jan-Dec}, pages = {2333721418811201}, abstract = {The aim of this study was to examine the possibility that type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease may share common behavioral protective factors such as adherence to type 2 diabetes treatment guidelines given that these two diseases have both epidemiological and metabolic similarities. : The method used in this study is a retrospective cohort study of 3,797 U.S. Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged 66+ newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and without a prior record of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease based on the Health and Retirement Study. : Results of a left-truncated Cox model showed that adherence reduces the risk of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease by 20\% to 24\%. Other significant effects were college education (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.65; value: .023), stroke (HR: 1.40; value: .013), and 4+ limitations in physical functioning (HR: 1.33; value: .008). : Risk of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease can be reduced by behavioral factors. Possible mechanisms may include earlier start of interventions to reduce blood glucose levels and improve insulin sensitivity.}, keywords = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, Cognitive Ability, Diabetes, Medicare linkage, Screenings}, issn = {2333-7214}, doi = {10.1177/2333721418811201}, author = {Arseniy P Yashkin and Akushevich, Igor and Svetlana Ukraintseva and Anatoliy Yashin} } @mastersthesis {10310, title = {Essays on Investment in Health and Economic Development}, volume = {PhD}, year = {2018}, note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2018-10-27}, pages = {109}, school = {State University of New York at Buffalo}, type = {phd}, abstract = {This dissertation includes two complementary works that theoretically and empirically examine the role of health on economic development and individual health investment. Previous literature has well documented the relationship between health, health investment, and economic growth. However, most of past studies have not convincingly overcome the causality issue. This thesis is attempting to overcome the challenge by focusing on the causal effect children{\textquoteright}s health investment on economic development, and by establishing the distinct effect of health on investment in health as well as on the natural causal effect of investment in health on health accumulation. In the first essay, I develop a three-period overlapping generation model with endogenous longevity, fertility rate and educational investment on children to investigate the effect of health on economic development. My model suggests that health of children is a critical factor to economic development. The dynamic transition from a stagnant equilibrium to a growth equilibrium is linked by health of children and education. The model predicts that an economy with healthier children has higher educational and health investment in children and a lower fertility rate while moving towards a growth equilibrium. Using annual rainfall as an instrumental variable for health of children, the IV estimates show that the improvement of health of children under age 5 increases the 25 years forward growth rate of GDP per capita. However, the effect of life expectancy at 20 is negative. The IV estimates also indicate that the improvement of health of children increases educational investment but decreases size of population. The improvement of life expectancy at 20 only increases total population. The results show that the health at different ages have significantly different effects on economic development. In the second essay, I examine the effect of health on individuals{\textquoteright} health investment. Attempts to model the relationship between health and health investment has resulted in two conflicting approaches: a constant return to scale health production in Grossman model and a decreasing return to scale health production in Ehrlich-Chuma model. Although past empirical studies on health generally support Grossman model, recent empirical studies show that the correlation between health and medical care spending is negative and support the predictions of Ehrlich-Chuma model. However, these more recent studies suffer from endogeneity bias and fail to prove the causal relationship between health and health investment. This essay investigates methods to solve the endogeneity challenge. Having accounted for these factors, this paper finds that healthier people have higher total medical care spending and number of hospital stays. Moreover, health investment depends on initial health and wealth endowments. The findings are thus in favor of the predictions of Ehrlich-Chuma model.}, keywords = {0511:Economic theory, 0680:Health education, Economic theory, Education, fertility rate, Health education, health investment, Social Sciences}, isbn = {9780438455672}, url = {https://ubir.buffalo.edu/xmlui/handle/10477/78536}, author = {Yang,Po-Chieh} } @article {10712, title = {Gene discovery and polygenic prediction from a genome-wide association study of educational attainment in 1.1 million individuals.}, journal = {Nature Genetics}, volume = {50}, year = {2018}, month = {2018 07 23}, pages = {1112-1121}, abstract = {

Here we conducted a large-scale genetic association analysis of educational attainment in a sample of approximately 1.1 million individuals and identify 1,271 independent genome-wide-significant SNPs. For the SNPs taken together, we found evidence of heterogeneous effects across environments. The SNPs implicate genes involved in brain-development processes and neuron-to-neuron communication. In a separate analysis of the X chromosome, we identify 10 independent genome-wide-significant SNPs and estimate a SNP heritability of around 0.3\% in both men and women, consistent with partial dosage compensation. A joint (multi-phenotype) analysis of educational attainment and three related cognitive phenotypes generates polygenic scores that explain 11-13\% of the variance in educational attainment and 7-10\% of the variance in cognitive performance. This prediction accuracy substantially increases the utility of polygenic scores as tools in research.

}, keywords = {Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cohort Studies, Educational Status, Female, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Multifactorial Inheritance, Phenotype, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide}, issn = {1546-1718}, doi = {10.1038/s41588-018-0147-3}, author = {Lee, James J and Wedow, Robbee and Okbay, Aysu and Kong, Edward and Maghzian, Omeed and Zacher, Meghan and Nguyen-Viet, Tuan Anh and Bowers, Peter and Sidorenko, Julia and Richard Karlsson Linn{\'e}r and Mark Alan Fontana and Kundu, Tushar and Lee, Chanwook and Hui Liu and Li, Ruoxi and Royer, Rebecca and Pascal N Timshel and Walters, Raymond K and Willoughby, Emily A and Yengo, Loic and Alver, Maris and Bao, Yanchun and Clark, David W and Day, Felix R and Furlotte, Nicholas A and Joshi, Peter K and Kathryn E Kemper and Kleinman, Aaron and Langenberg, Claudia and M{\"a}gi, Reedik and Joey W Trampush and Verma, Shefali Setia and Wu, Yang and Lam, Max and Jing Hua Zhao and Zheng, Zhili and Jason D Boardman and Campbell, Harry and Freese, Jeremy and Kathleen Mullan Harris and Caroline Hayward and Herd, Pamela and Kumari, Meena and Lencz, Todd and Luan, Jian{\textquoteright}an and Anil K. Malhotra and Andres Metspalu and Lili Milani and Ong, Ken K and Perry, John R B and David J Porteous and Ritchie, Marylyn D and Smart, Melissa C and Smith, Blair H and Tung, Joyce Y and Wareham, Nicholas J and James F Wilson and Jonathan P. Beauchamp and Dalton C Conley and T{\~o}nu Esko and Lehrer, Steven F and Patrik K E Magnusson and Oskarsson, Sven and Pers, Tune H and Matthew R Robinson and Thom, Kevin and Watson, Chelsea and Chabris, Christopher F and Meyer, Michelle N and David I Laibson and Yang, Jian and Johannesson, Magnus and Philipp D Koellinger and Turley, Patrick and Peter M Visscher and Daniel J. Benjamin and Cesarini, David} } @article {10003, title = {Genetics of human longevity from incomplete data: New findings from the long life family study.}, journal = {Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences \& Medical Sciences}, volume = {73}, year = {2018}, month = {10/2018}, pages = {1472-1481}, abstract = {The special design of the Long Life Family Study provides a unique opportunity to investigate the genetics of human longevity by analyzing data on exceptional lifespans in families. In this article, we performed two series of genome wide association studies of human longevity which differed with respect to whether missing lifespan data were predicted or not predicted. We showed that the use of predicted lifespan is most beneficial when the follow-up period is relatively short. In addition to detection of strong associations of SNPs in APOE, TOMM40, NECTIN2, and APOC1 genes with longevity, we also detected a strong new association with longevity of rs1927465, located between the CYP26A1 and MYOF genes on chromosome 10. The association was confirmed using data from the Health and Retirement Study. We discuss the biological relevance of the detected SNPs to human longevity.}, keywords = {Genetics, Longevity}, issn = {1758-535X}, doi = {10.1093/gerona/gly057}, author = {Anatoliy Yashin and Konstantin G Arbeev and Wu, Deqing and Liubov S Arbeeva and Bagley, Olivia and Stallard, Eric and Alexander M Kulminski and Akushevich, Igor and Fang, Fang and Wojczynski, Mary K and Christensen, Kaare and Anne B Newman and Boudreau, Robert M and Province, Michael A and Stephen M Thielke and Thomas T Perls and An, Ping and Irma Elo and Svetlana Ukraintseva} } @article {9877, title = {Genome-wide association meta-analysis in 269,867 individuals identifies new genetic and functional links to intelligence}, journal = {Nature Genetics}, volume = {50}, year = {2018}, month = {Jan-07-2018}, pages = {912 - 919}, abstract = {Intelligence is highly heritable1 and a major determinant of human health and well-being2. Recent genome-wide meta-analyses have identified 24 genomic loci linked to variation in intelligence3-7, but much about its genetic underpinnings remains to be discovered. Here, we present a large-scale genetic association study of intelligence (n = 269,867), identifying 205 associated genomic loci (190 new) and 1,016 genes (939 new) via positional mapping, expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) mapping, chromatin interaction mapping, and gene-based association analysis. We find enrichment of genetic effects in conserved and coding regions and associations with 146 nonsynonymous exonic variants. Associated genes are strongly expressed in the brain, specifically in striatal medium spiny neurons and hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Gene set analyses implicate pathways related to nervous system development and synaptic structure. We confirm previous strong genetic correlations with multiple health-related outcomes, and Mendelian randomization analysis results suggest protective effects of intelligence for Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease and ADHD and bidirectional causation with pleiotropic effects for schizophrenia. These results are a major step forward in understanding the neurobiology of cognitive function as well as genetically related neurological and psychiatric disorders. }, keywords = {Genome-Wide Association Study, Intelligence, Meta-analyses}, issn = {1061-4036}, doi = {10.1038/s41588-018-0152-6}, url = {http://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-018-0152-6http://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-018-0152-6.pdfhttp://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-018-0152-6http://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-018-0152-6.pdf}, author = {Savage, Jeanne E. and Philip R Jansen and Stringer, Sven and Watanabe, Kyoko and Bryois, Julien and Christiaan de Leeuw and Nagel, Mats and Awasthi, Swapnil and Barr, Peter B. and Coleman, Jonathan R. I. and Grasby, Katrina L. and Anke R Hammerschlag and Kaminski, Jakob A. and Karlsson, Robert and Krapohl, Eva and Lam, Max and Nygaard, Marianne and Chandra A Reynolds and Joey W Trampush and Young, Hannah and Zabaneh, Delilah and H{\"a}gg, Sara and Narelle K Hansell and Ida Karlsson and Linnarsson, Sten and Grant W Montgomery and Mu{\~n}oz-Manchado, Ana B. and Quinlan, Erin B. and Schumann, Gunter and Skene, Nathan G. and Webb, Bradley T. and White, Tonya and Dan E Arking and Avramopoulos, Dimitrios and Robert M Bilder and Bitsios, Panos and Katherine E Burdick and Tyrone D. Cannon and Chiba-Falek, Ornit and Christoforou, Andrea and Elizabeth T. Cirulli and Congdon, Eliza and Corvin, Aiden and Gail Davies and Ian J Deary and DeRosse, Pamela and Dickinson, Dwight and Djurovic, Srdjan and Donohoe, Gary and Conley, Emily Drabant and Johan G Eriksson and Espeseth, Thomas and Nelson A. Freimer and Giakoumaki, Stella and Giegling, Ina and Gill, Michael and David C. Glahn and Ahmad R Hariri and Hatzimanolis, Alex and Matthew C Keller and Knowles, Emma and Koltai, Deborah and Konte, Bettina and Lahti, Jari and Stephanie Le Hellard and Lencz, Todd and David C Liewald and London, Edythe and Astri J Lundervold and Anil K. Malhotra and Melle, Ingrid and Morris, Derek and Anna C Need and William E R Ollier and Aarno Palotie and Payton, Antony and Pendleton, Neil and Russell A Poldrack and Katri R{\"a}ikk{\"o}nen and Reinvang, Ivar and Roussos, Panos and Rujescu, Dan and Fred W Sabb and Matthew A Scult and Smeland, Olav B. and Smyrnis, Nikolaos and John M Starr and Vidar M Steen and Nikos C Stefanis and Richard E Straub and Sundet, Kjetil and Henning Tiemeier and Aristotle N Voineskos and Daniel R Weinberger and Elisabeth Widen and Yu, Jin and Gon{\c c}alo R Abecasis and Andreassen, Ole A. and Breen, Gerome and Christiansen, Lene and Debrabant, Birgit and Danielle M. Dick and Heinz, Andreas and Hjerling-Leffler, Jens and Mohammed Arfan Ikram and Kendler, Kenneth S. and Nicholas G Martin and Sarah E Medland and Nancy L Pedersen and Plomin, Robert and Tinca J Polderman and Ripke, Stephan and van der Sluis, Sophie and Patrick F. Sullivan and Scott Vrieze and Margaret J Wright and Posthuma, Danielle} } @article {9421, title = {Hidden heterogeneity in Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease: Insights from genetic association studies and other analyses}, journal = {Experimental Gerontology}, volume = {107}, year = {2018}, pages = {148-160}, abstract = {Despite evident success in clarifying many important features of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD) the efficient methods of its prevention and treatment are not yet available. The reasons are likely to be the fact that AD is a multifactorial and heterogeneous health disorder with multiple alternative pathways of disease development and progression. The availability of genetic data on individuals participated in longitudinal studies of aging health and longevity, as well as on participants of cross-sectional case-control studies allow for investigating genetic and non-genetic connections with AD and to link the results of these analyses with research findings obtained in clinical, experimental, and molecular biological studies of this health disorder. The objective of this paper is to perform GWAS of AD in several study populations and investigate possible roles of detected genetic factors in developing AD hallmarks and in other health disorders. The data collected in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS), Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and Late Onset Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease Family Study (LOADFS) were used in these analyses. The logistic regression and Cox{\textquoteright}s regression were used as statistical models in GWAS. The results of analyses confirmed strong associations of genetic variants from well-known genes APOE, TOMM40, PVRL2 (NECTIN2), and APOC1 with AD. Possible roles of these genes in pathological mechanisms resulting in development of hallmarks of AD are described. Many genes whose connection with AD was detected in other studies showed nominally significant associations with this health disorder in our study. The evidence on genetic connections between AD and vulnerability to infection, as well as between AD and other health disorders, such as cancer and type 2 diabetes, were investigated. The progress in uncovering hidden heterogeneity in AD would be substantially facilitated if common mechanisms involved in development of AD, its hallmarks, and AD related chronic conditions were investigated in their mutual connection.}, keywords = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, Cancer screenings, Genetics, GWAS}, issn = {05315565}, doi = {10.1016/j.exger.2017.10.020}, url = {http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0531556517304242}, author = {Anatoliy Yashin and Fang, Fang and Kovtun, Mikhail and Wu, Deqing and Duan, Matt and Konstantin G Arbeev and Akushevich, Igor and Alexander M Kulminski and Culminskaya, Irina and Zhbannikov, Ilya and Arseniy P Yashkin and Stallard, Eric and Svetlana Ukraintseva} } @article {9556, title = {Integrative analysis of omics summary data reveals putative mechanisms underlying complex traits}, journal = {Nature Communications}, volume = {9}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The identification of genes and regulatory elements underlying the associations discovered by GWAS is essential to understanding the aetiology of complex traits (including diseases). Here, we demonstrate an analytical paradigm of prioritizing genes and regulatory elements at GWAS loci for follow-up functional studies. We perform an integrative analysis that uses summary-level SNP data from multi-omics studies to detect DNA methylation (DNAm) sites associated with gene expression and phenotype through shared genetic effects (i.e., pleiotropy). We identify pleiotropic associations between 7858 DNAm sites and 2733 genes. These DNAm sites are enriched in enhancers and promoters, and >40\% of them are mapped to distal genes. Further pleiotropic association analyses, which link both the methylome and transcriptome to 12 complex traits, identify 149 DNAm sites and 66 genes, indicating a plausible mechanism whereby the effect of a genetic variant on phenotype is mediated by genetic regulation of transcription through DNAm.}, keywords = {Complex Traits, Genetics, GWAS}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-018-03371-0}, url = {http://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-03371-0http://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-03371-0.pdfhttp://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-03371-0.pdfhttp://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-03371-0}, author = {Wu, Yang and Zeng, Jian and Zhang, Futao and Zhihong Zhu and Qi, Ting and Zheng, Zhili and Lloyd-Jones, Luke R. and Riccardo E Marioni and Nicholas G Martin and Grant W Montgomery and Ian J Deary and Naomi R. Wray and Peter M Visscher and McRae, Allan F. and Yang, Jian} } @article {9774, title = {Life insurance holdings and well-being of surviving spouses}, journal = {Contemporary Economic Policy}, volume = {36}, year = {2018}, pages = {526 - 538}, abstract = {Premature death of a breadwinner can have devastating financial consequences on surviving dependents. This study investigates the role of life insurance in mitigating the long-run financial consequences of spousal mortality. Using the Health and Retirement Study, we examine individuals whose spouses died during or soon after his or her peak earnings years. After controlling for socioeconomic status, we find that sizable lump-sum life insurance payouts do not significantly influence spousal well-being. }, keywords = {Bereavement, Life insurance, Marriage, Well-being}, doi = {10.1111/coep.2018.36.issue-310.1111/coep.12211}, author = {Harris, Timothy F. and Yelowitz, Aaron} } @article {9806, title = {Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for height and body mass index in \~{}700000 individuals of European ancestry.}, journal = {Human Molecular Genetics}, volume = {27}, year = {2018}, pages = {3641-3649}, abstract = {Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of height and body mass index (BMI) in \~{}250000 European participants have led to the discovery of \~{}700 and \~{}100 nearly independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with these traits, respectively. Here we combine summary statistics from those two studies with GWAS of height and BMI performed in \~{}450000 UK Biobank participants of European ancestry. Overall, our combined GWAS meta-analysis reaches N~\~{}700000 individuals and substantially increases the number of GWAS signals associated with these traits. We identified 3290 and 941 near-independent SNPs associated with height and BMI, respectively (at a revised genome-wide significance threshold of P~<~1~{\texttimes}~10-8), including 1185 height-associated SNPs and 751 BMI-associated SNPs located within loci not previously identified by these two GWAS. The near-independent genome-wide significant SNPs explain \~{}24.6\% of the variance of height and \~{}6.0\% of the variance of BMI in an independent sample from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Correlations between polygenic scores based upon these SNPs with actual height and BMI in HRS participants were \~{}0.44 and \~{}0.22, respectively. From analyses of integrating GWAS and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data by summary-data-based Mendelian randomization, we identified an enrichment of eQTLs among lead height and BMI signals, prioritizing 610 and 138 genes, respectively. Our study demonstrates that, as previously predicted, increasing GWAS sample sizes continues to deliver, by the discovery of new loci, increasing prediction accuracy and providing additional data to achieve deeper insight into complex trait biology. All summary statistics are made available for follow-up studies.}, keywords = {BMI, Genetics, GWAS, Height}, issn = {1460-2083}, doi = {10.1093/hmg/ddy271}, author = {Yengo, Loic and Sidorenko, Julia and Kathryn E Kemper and Zheng, Zhili and Andrew R Wood and Michael N Weedon and Timothy M Frayling and Joel N Hirschhron and Yang, Jian and Peter M Visscher} } @article {9988, title = {Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for height and body mass index in \~{}700000 individuals of European ancestry}, journal = {Human Molecular Genetics}, volume = {27}, year = {2018}, pages = {3641-3649}, abstract = {Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of height and body mass index (BMI) in similar to 250000 European participants have led to the discovery of similar to 700 and similar to 100 nearly independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with these traits, respectively. Here we combine summary statistics from those two studies with GWAS of height and BMI performed in similar to 450000 UK Biobank participants of European ancestry. Overall, our combined GWAS meta-analysis reaches N similar to 700000 individuals and substantially increases the number of GWAS signals associated with these traits. We identified 3290 and 941 near-independent SNPs associated with height and BMI, respectively (at a revised genome-wide significance threshold of P < 1 x 10(-8)), including 1185 height-associated SNPs and 751 BMI-associated SNPs located within loci not previously identified by these two GWAS. The near-independent genome-wide significant SNPs explain similar to 24.6\% of the variance of height and similar to 6.0\% of the variance of BMI in an independent sample from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Correlations between polygenic scores based upon these SNPs with actual height and BMI in HRS participants were similar to 0.44 and similar to 0.22, respectively. From analyses of integrating GWAS and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data by summary-data-based Mendelian randomization, we identified an enrichment of eQTLs among lead height and BMI signals, prioritizing 610 and 138 genes, respectively. Our study demonstrates that, as previously predicted, increasing GWAS sample sizes continues to deliver, by the discovery of new loci, increasing prediction accuracy and providing additional data to achieve deeper insight into complex trait biology. All summary statistics are made available for follow-up studies.}, keywords = {BMI, Genetics, GWAS, Height}, issn = {0964-6906}, doi = {10.1093/hmg/ddy271}, author = {Yengo, Loic and Sidorenko, Julia and Kathryn E Kemper and Zheng, Zhili and Andrew R Wood and Michael N Weedon and Timothy M Frayling and Joel N Hirschhron and Yang, Jian and Peter M Visscher} } @article {9526, title = {Protein-altering variants associated with body mass index implicate pathways that control energy intake and expenditure in obesity.}, journal = {Nat Genet}, volume = {50}, year = {2018}, month = {2018 Jan}, pages = {26-41}, abstract = {

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified >250 loci for body mass index (BMI), implicating pathways related to neuronal biology. Most GWAS loci represent clusters of common, noncoding variants from which pinpointing causal genes remains challenging. Here we combined data from 718,734 individuals to discover rare and low-frequency (minor allele frequency (MAF) < 5\%) coding variants associated with BMI. We identified 14 coding variants in 13 genes, of which 8 variants were in genes (ZBTB7B, ACHE, RAPGEF3, RAB21, ZFHX3, ENTPD6, ZFR2 and ZNF169) newly implicated in human obesity, 2 variants were in genes (MC4R and KSR2) previously observed~to be mutated in extreme obesity and 2 variants were in GIPR. The effect sizes of rare variants are ~10 times larger than those of common variants, with the largest effect observed in carriers of an MC4R mutation introducing a stop codon (p.Tyr35Ter, MAF = 0.01\%), who weighed ~7 kg more than non-carriers. Pathway analyses based on the variants associated with BMI~confirm enrichment of neuronal genes and provide new evidence for adipocyte and energy expenditure biology, widening the potential of genetically supported therapeutic targets in obesity.

}, issn = {1546-1718}, doi = {10.1038/s41588-017-0011-x}, author = {Turcot, Val{\'e}rie and Lu, Yingchang and Highland, Heather M and Schurmann, Claudia and Justice, Anne E and Fine, Rebecca S and Bradfield, Jonathan P and T{\~o}nu Esko and Giri, Ayush and Graff, Mariaelisa and Guo, Xiuqing and Hendricks, Audrey E and Karaderi, Tugce and Lempradl, Adelheid and Locke, Adam E and Mahajan, Anubha and Marouli, Eirini and Sivapalaratnam, Suthesh and Young, Kristin L and Alfred, Tamuno and Feitosa, Mary F and Masca, Nicholas G D and Alisa Manning and Medina-Gomez, Carolina and Mudgal, Poorva and Ng, Maggie C Y and Reiner, Alex P and Vedantam, Sailaja and Willems, Sara M and Thomas W Winkler and Gon{\c c}alo R Abecasis and Aben, Katja K and Alam, Dewan S and Alharthi, Sameer E and Matthew A. Allison and Amouyel, Philippe and Asselbergs, Folkert W and Auer, Paul L and Balkau, Beverley and Bang, Lia E and Barroso, In{\^e}s and Bastarache, Lisa and Benn, Marianne and Bergmann, Sven and Bielak, Lawrence F and Bl{\"u}her, Matthias and Boehnke, Michael and Boeing, Heiner and Boerwinkle, Eric and B{\"o}ger, Carsten A and Bork-Jensen, Jette and Bots, Michiel L and Erwin P Bottinger and Bowden, Donald W and Brandslund, Ivan and Breen, Gerome and Brilliant, Murray H and Broer, Linda and Brumat, Marco and Burt, Amber A and Adam S Butterworth and Campbell, Peter T and Cappellani, Stefania and Carey, David J and Catamo, Eulalia and Caulfield, Mark J and Chambers, John C and Daniel I Chasman and Yii-Der I Chen and Chowdhury, Rajiv and Cramer Christensen and Chu, Audrey Y and Cocca, Massimiliano and Collins, Francis S and Cook, James P and Corley, Janie and Jordi Corominas Galbany and Cox, Amanda J and Crosslin, David S and Cuellar-Partida, Gabriel and D{\textquoteright}Eustacchio, Angela and Danesh, John and Gail Davies and Bakker, Paul I W and Groot, Mark C H and Mutsert, Ren{\'e}e and Ian J Deary and George Dedoussis and Ellen W Demerath and Heijer, Martin and Anneke I den Hollander and Hester M den Ruijter and Joe G Dennis and Denny, Josh C and Angelantonio, Emanuele and Drenos, Fotios and Du, Mengmeng and Dub{\'e}, Marie-Pierre and Dunning, Alison M and Easton, Douglas F and Edwards, Todd L and Ellinghaus, David and Ellinor, Patrick T and Elliott, Paul and Evangelou, Evangelos and Farmaki, Aliki-Eleni and Farooqi, I Sadaf and Jessica Faul and Fauser, Sascha and Feng, Shuang and Ferrannini, Ele and Ferri{\`e}res, Jean and Florez, Jose C and Ford, Ian and Myriam Fornage and Franco, Oscar H and Franke, Andre and Franks, Paul W and Friedrich, Nele and Frikke-Schmidt, Ruth and Galesloot, Tessel E and Gan, Wei and Gandin, Ilaria and Paolo P. Gasparini and Gibson, Jane and Giedraitis, Vilmantas and Gjesing, Anette P and Gordon-Larsen, Penny and Gorski, Mathias and Hans-J{\"o}rgen Grabe and Grant, Struan F A and Grarup, Niels and Griffiths, Helen L and Grove, Megan L and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Gustafsson, Stefan and Jeffrey Haessler and Hakonarson, Hakon and Anke R Hammerschlag and Hansen, Torben and Tamara B Harris and Andrew T Hattersley and Have, Christian T and Caroline Hayward and He, Liang and Heard-Costa, Nancy L and Andrew C Heath and Iris M Heid and Helgeland, {\O}yvind and Hernesniemi, Jussi and Hewitt, Alex W and Oddgeir L Holmen and Hovingh, G Kees and Howson, Joanna M M and Hu, Yao and Huang, Paul L and Huffman, Jennifer E and Mohammed Arfan Ikram and Ingelsson, Erik and Jackson, Anne U and Jansson, Jan-H{\r a}kan and Jarvik, Gail P and Jensen, Gorm B and Jia, Yucheng and Johansson, Stefan and J{\o}rgensen, Marit E and J{\o}rgensen, Torben and Jukema, J Wouter and Kahali, Bratati and Kahn, Ren{\'e} S and K{\"a}h{\"o}nen, Mika and Kamstrup, Pia R and Kanoni, Stavroula and Kaprio, Jaakko and Karaleftheri, Maria and Sharon L R Kardia and Karpe, Fredrik and Kathiresan, Sekar and Kee, Frank and Lambertus A Kiemeney and Eric S Kim and Kitajima, Hidetoshi and Komulainen, Pirjo and Kooner, Jaspal S and Charles Kooperberg and Korhonen, Tellervo and Kovacs, Peter and Kuivaniemi, Helena and Kutalik, Zolt{\'a}n and Kuulasmaa, Kari and Kuusisto, Johanna and Laakso, Markku and Lakka, Timo A and Lamparter, David and Lange, Ethan M and Leslie A Lange and Langenberg, Claudia and Eric B Larson and Lee, Nanette R and Lehtim{\"a}ki, Terho and Lewis, Cora E and Li, Huaixing and Li, Jin and Li-Gao, Ruifang and Lin, Honghuang and Lin, Keng-Hung and Lin, Li-An and Lin, Xu and Lars Lind and Lindstr{\"o}m, Jaana and Linneberg, Allan and Liu, Ching-Ti and Liu, Dajiang J and Yongmei Liu and Ken Sin Lo and Lophatananon, Artitaya and Lotery, Andrew J and Loukola, Anu and Luan, Jian{\textquoteright}an and Lubitz, Steven A and Lyytik{\"a}inen, Leo-Pekka and M{\"a}nnist{\"o}, Satu and Marenne, Ga{\"e}lle and Mazul, Angela L and McCarthy, Mark I and McKean-Cowdin, Roberta and Sarah E Medland and Meidtner, Karina and Lili Milani and Mistry, Vanisha and Mitchell, Paul and Mohlke, Karen L and Moilanen, Leena and Moitry, Marie and Grant W Montgomery and Dennis O Mook-Kanamori and Moore, Carmel and Mori, Trevor A and Morris, Andrew D and Morris, Andrew P and M{\"u}ller-Nurasyid, Martina and Munroe, Patricia B and Michael A Nalls and Narisu, Narisu and Nelson, Christopher P and Neville, Matt and Sune Fallgaard Nielsen and Nikus, Kjell and Nj{\o}lstad, P{\r a}l R and B{\o}rge G Nordestgaard and Nyholt, Dale R and Jeff O{\textquoteright}Connell and O{\textquoteright}Donoghue, Michelle L and Ophoff, Roel A and Owen, Katharine R and Packard, Chris J and Padmanabhan, Sandosh and Palmer, Colin N A and Palmer, Nicholette D and Pasterkamp, Gerard and Patel, Aniruddh P and Pattie, Alison and Pedersen, Oluf and Peissig, Peggy L and Peloso, Gina M and Pennell, Craig E and Markus Perola and Perry, James A and Perry, John R B and Pers, Tune H and Person, Thomas N and Peters, Annette and Petersen, Eva R B and Peyser, Patricia A and Pirie, Ailith and Polasek, Ozren and Tinca J Polderman and Puolijoki, Hannu and Olli T Raitakari and Rasheed, Asif and Rauramaa, Rainer and Reilly, Dermot F and Renstrom, Frida and Rheinberger, Myriam and Ridker, Paul M and Rioux, John D and Rivas, Manuel A and Roberts, David J and Neil R Robertson and Robino, Antonietta and Rolandsson, Olov and Rudan, Igor and Ruth, Katherine S and Saleheen, Danish and Veikko Salomaa and Nilesh J Samani and Sapkota, Yadav and Sattar, Naveed and Schoen, Robert E and Schreiner, Pamela J and Schulze, Matthias B and Scott, Robert A and Segura-Lepe, Marcelo P and Svati H Shah and Sheu, Wayne H-H and Sim, Xueling and Slater, Andrew J and Small, Kerrin S and Albert Vernon Smith and Southam, Lorraine and Timothy Spector and Elizabeth K Speliotes and John M Starr and Stefansson, Kari and Steinthorsdottir, Valgerdur and Kathleen E Stirrups and Strauch, Konstantin and Heather M Stringham and Stumvoll, Michael and Sun, Liang and Surendran, Praveen and Swift, Amy J and Tada, Hayato and Tansey, Katherine E and Tardif, Jean-Claude and Kent D Taylor and Teumer, Alexander and Thompson, Deborah J and Thorleifsson, Gudmar and Thorsteinsdottir, Unnur and Thuesen, Betina H and T{\"o}njes, Anke and Tromp, Gerard and Trompet, Stella and Tsafantakis, Emmanouil and Tuomilehto, Jaakko and Tybjaerg-Hansen, Anne and Tyrer, Jonathan P and Uher, Rudolf and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Uusitupa, Matti and Laan, Sander W and Duijn, Cornelia M and Leeuwen, Nienke and van Setten, Jessica and Vanhala, Mauno and Varbo, Anette and Varga, Tibor V and Varma, Rohit and Digna R Velez Edwards and Vermeulen, Sita H and Veronesi, Giovanni and Vestergaard, Henrik and Vitart, Veronique and Vogt, Thomas F and V{\"o}lker, Uwe and Vuckovic, Dragana and Wagenknecht, Lynne E and Walker, Mark and Wallentin, Lars and Wang, Feijie and Wang, Carol A and Wang, Shuai and Wang, Yiqin and Erin B Ware and Wareham, Nicholas J and Warren, Helen R and Dawn M Waterworth and Wessel, Jennifer and White, Harvey D and Willer, Cristen J and Wilson, James G and Daniel Witte and Andrew R Wood and Wu, Ying and Yaghootkar, Hanieh and Yao, Jie and Yao, Pang and Laura M Yerges-Armstrong and Young, Robin and Zeggini, Eleftheria and Zhan, Xiaowei and Zhang, Weihua and Wei Zhao and Zhou, Wei and Krina T Zondervan and Rotter, Jerome I and Pospisilik, John A and Fernando Rivadeneira and Ingrid B Borecki and Deloukas, Panos and Timothy M Frayling and Lettre, Guillaume and Kari E North and Lindgren, Cecilia M and Joel N Hirschhron and Ruth J F Loos} } @article {9515, title = {Step-grandparenthood in the United States.}, journal = {Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences \& Social Sciences}, volume = {73}, year = {2018}, month = {08/2018}, abstract = {

Objectives: This study provides new information about the demography of step-grandparenthood in the United States. Specifically, we examine the prevalence of step-grandparenthood across birth cohorts and for socioeconomic and racial/ethnic groups. We also examine lifetime exposure to the step-grandparent role.

Methods: Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and the Health and Retirement Study, we use percentages to provide first estimates of step-grandparenthood and to describe demographic and socioeconomic variation in who is a step-grandparent. We use life tables to estimate the exposure to step-grandparenthood.

Results: The share of step-grandparents is increasing across birth cohorts. However, individuals without a college education and non-Whites are more likely to become step-grandparents. Exposure to the step-grandparent role accounts for approximately 15\% of total grandparent years at age 65 for women and men.

Discussion: A growing body of research finds that grandparents are increasingly instrumental in the lives of younger generations. However, the majority of this work assumes that these ties are biological, with little attention paid to the role of family complexity across three generations. Understanding the demographics of step-grandparenthood sheds light on the family experiences of an overlooked, but growing segment of the older adult population in the United States.

}, keywords = {Adult children, Family Roles/Relationships, Grandparents}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbx164}, author = {Jenjira J Yahirun and Sung S Park and Judith A Seltzer} } @article {12139, title = {Study of 300,486 individuals identifies 148 independent genetic loci influencing general cognitive function.}, journal = {Nature Communications}, volume = {9}, year = {2018}, pages = {2098}, abstract = {

General cognitive function is a prominent and relatively stable human trait that is associated with many important life outcomes. We combine cognitive and genetic data from the CHARGE and COGENT consortia, and UK Biobank (total N = 300,486; age 16-102) and find 148 genome-wide significant independent loci (P < 5 {\texttimes} 10) associated with general cognitive function. Within the novel genetic loci are variants associated with neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, physical and psychiatric illnesses, and brain structure. Gene-based analyses find 709 genes associated with general cognitive function. Expression levels across the cortex are associated with general cognitive function. Using polygenic scores, up to 4.3\% of variance in general cognitive function is predicted in independent samples. We detect significant genetic overlap between general cognitive function, reaction time, and many health variables including eyesight, hypertension, and longevity. In conclusion we identify novel genetic loci and pathways contributing to the heritability of general cognitive function.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cognition, Genetic Loci, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Humans, Mental Disorders, Middle Aged, Multifactorial Inheritance, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Reaction Time, Young Adult}, issn = {2041-1723}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-018-04362-x}, author = {Gail Davies and Lam, Max and Sarah E Harris and Joey W Trampush and Luciano, Michelle and W David Hill and Hagenaars, Saskia P and Ritchie, Stuart J and Riccardo E Marioni and Fawns-Ritchie, Chloe and David C Liewald and Okely, Judith A and Ahola-Olli, Ari V and Barnes, Catriona L K and Bertram, Lars and Joshua C. Bis and Katherine E Burdick and Christoforou, Andrea and DeRosse, Pamela and Djurovic, Srdjan and Espeseth, Thomas and Giakoumaki, Stella and Giddaluru, Sudheer and Gustavson, Daniel E and Caroline Hayward and Edith Hofer and Ikram, M Arfan and Karlsson, Robert and Knowles, Emma and Lahti, Jari and Leber, Markus and Li, Shuo and Mather, Karen A and Melle, Ingrid and Morris, Derek and Christopher J Oldmeadow and Palviainen, Teemu and Payton, Antony and Pazoki, Raha and Katja E Petrovic and Chandra A Reynolds and Sargurupremraj, Muralidharan and Scholz, Markus and Smith, Jennifer A and Smith, Albert V and Terzikhan, Natalie and Thalamuthu, Anbupalam and Trompet, Stella and Sven J van der Lee and Erin B Ware and Windham, B Gwen and Margaret J Wright and Yang, Jingyun and Yu, Jin and Ames, David and Amin, Najaf and Amouyel, Philippe and Andreassen, Ole A and Armstrong, Nicola J and Assareh, Amelia A and John R. Attia and Attix, Deborah and Avramopoulos, Dimitrios and David A Bennett and B{\"o}hmer, Anne C and Patricia A. Boyle and Brodaty, Henry and Campbell, Harry and Tyrone D. Cannon and Elizabeth T. Cirulli and Congdon, Eliza and Conley, Emily Drabant and Corley, Janie and Cox, Simon R and Dale, Anders M and Dehghan, Abbas and Danielle M. Dick and Dickinson, Dwight and Johan G Eriksson and Evangelou, Evangelos and Jessica Faul and Ford, Ian and Nelson A. Freimer and Gao, He and Giegling, Ina and Gillespie, Nathan A and Gordon, Scott D and Gottesman, Rebecca F and Michael E Griswold and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Tamara B Harris and Hartmann, Annette M and Hatzimanolis, Alex and Gerardo Heiss and Holliday, Elizabeth G and Joshi, Peter K and K{\"a}h{\"o}nen, Mika and Sharon L R Kardia and Ida Karlsson and Kleineidam, Luca and David S Knopman and Kochan, Nicole A and Konte, Bettina and Kwok, John B and Stephanie Le Hellard and Lee, Teresa and Lehtim{\"a}ki, Terho and Li, Shu-Chen and Lill, Christina M and Liu, Tian and Koini, Marisa and London, Edythe and Longstreth, Will T and Lopez, Oscar L and Loukola, Anu and Luck, Tobias and Astri J Lundervold and Lundquist, Anders and Lyytik{\"a}inen, Leo-Pekka and Nicholas G Martin and Grant W Montgomery and Murray, Alison D and Anna C Need and Noordam, Raymond and Nyberg, Lars and William E R Ollier and Papenberg, Goran and Pattie, Alison and Polasek, Ozren and Russell A Poldrack and Psaty, Bruce M and Reppermund, Simone and Steffi G Riedel-Heller and Rose, Richard J and Rotter, Jerome I and Roussos, Panos and Rovio, Suvi P and Saba, Yasaman and Fred W Sabb and Sachdev, Perminder S and Satizabal, Claudia L and Schmid, Matthias and Rodney J Scott and Matthew A Scult and Simino, Jeannette and Slagboom, P Eline and Smyrnis, Nikolaos and Soumar{\'e}, A{\"\i}cha and Nikos C Stefanis and Stott, David J and Richard E Straub and Sundet, Kjetil and Taylor, Adele M and Kent D Taylor and Tzoulaki, Ioanna and Tzourio, Christophe and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Vitart, Veronique and Aristotle N Voineskos and Kaprio, Jaakko and Wagner, Michael and Wagner, Holger and Weinhold, Leonie and Wen, K Hoyan and Elisabeth Widen and Yang, Qiong and Zhao, Wei and Hieab H Adams and Dan E Arking and Robert M Bilder and Bitsios, Panos and Boerwinkle, Eric and Chiba-Falek, Ornit and Corvin, Aiden and Philip L de Jager and Debette, St{\'e}phanie and Donohoe, Gary and Elliott, Paul and Fitzpatrick, Annette L and Gill, Michael and David C. Glahn and H{\"a}gg, Sara and Narelle K Hansell and Ahmad R Hariri and Ikram, M Kamran and Jukema, J Wouter and Vuoksimaa, Eero and Matthew C Keller and Kremen, William S and Lenore J Launer and Lindenberger, Ulman and Aarno Palotie and Nancy L Pedersen and Pendleton, Neil and David J Porteous and Katri R{\"a}ikk{\"o}nen and Olli T Raitakari and Ramirez, Alfredo and Reinvang, Ivar and Rudan, Igor and Schmidt, Reinhold and Schmidt, Helena and Peter W Schofield and Peter R Schofield and John M Starr and Vidar M Steen and Trollor, Julian N and Turner, Steven T and Cornelia M van Duijn and Villringer, Arno and Daniel R Weinberger and David R Weir and James F Wilson and Anil K. Malhotra and McIntosh, Andrew M and Gale, Catharine R and Seshadri, Sudha and Thomas H Mosley and Bressler, Jan and Lencz, Todd and Ian J Deary} } @article {9730, title = {Time Trends in the Prevalence of Neurocognitive Disorders and Cognitive Impairment in the United States: The Effects of Disease Severity and Improved Ascertainment}, journal = {Journal of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Disease}, volume = {64}, year = {2018}, pages = {137-148}, abstract = {Background: Trends in the prevalence of cognitive impairment (CI) based on cognitive assessment instruments are often inconsistent with those of neurocognitive disorders (ND) based on Medicare claims records. Objective: We hypothesized that improved ascertainment and resulting decrease in disease severity at the time of diagnosis are responsible for this phenomenon. Methods: Using Medicare data linked to the Health and Retirement Study (1992{\textendash}2012), we performed a joint analysis of trends in CI and ND to test our hypothesis. Results: We identified two major contributors to the divergent directions in CI and ND trends: reductions in disease severity explained more than 60\% of the differences between CI and ND prevalence over the study period; the remaining 40\% was explained by a decrease in the fraction of undiagnosed individuals. Discussion: Improvements in the diagnoses of ND diseases were a major contributor to reported trends in ND and CI. Recent forecasts of CI and ND trends in the U.S. may be overly pessimistic.}, keywords = {CIND, Cognitive Ability, Dementia, Medicare linkage, Medicare/Medicaid/Health Insurance}, issn = {13872877}, doi = {10.3233/JAD-180060}, url = {http://www.medra.org/servlet/aliasResolver?alias=iospress\&doi=10.3233/JAD-180060}, author = {Akushevich, Igor and Arseniy P Yashkin and Kravchenko, Julia and Svetlana Ukraintseva and Stallard, Eric and Anatoliy Yashin} } @article {9818, title = {Unsupervised Machine Learning to Identify High Likelihood of Dementia in Population-Based Surveys: Development and Validation Study.}, journal = {Journal of Medical Internet Research}, volume = {20}, year = {2018}, month = {07/2018}, pages = {e10493}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Dementia is increasing in prevalence worldwide, yet frequently remains undiagnosed, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Population-based surveys represent an underinvestigated source to identify individuals at risk of dementia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim is to identify participants with high likelihood of dementia in population-based surveys without the need of the clinical diagnosis of dementia in a subsample.

METHODS: Unsupervised machine learning classification (hierarchical clustering on principal components) was developed in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; 2002-2003, N=18,165 individuals) and validated in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE; 2010-2012, N=58,202 individuals).

RESULTS: Unsupervised machine learning classification identified three clusters in HRS: cluster 1 (n=12,231) without any functional or motor limitations, cluster 2 (N=4841) with walking/climbing limitations, and cluster 3 (N=1093) with both functional and walking/climbing limitations. Comparison of cluster 3 with previously published predicted probabilities of dementia in HRS showed that it identified high likelihood of dementia (probability of dementia >0.95; area under the curve [AUC]=0.91). Removing either cognitive or both cognitive and behavioral measures did not impede accurate classification (AUC=0.91 and AUC=0.90, respectively). Three clusters with similar profiles were identified in SHARE (cluster 1: n=40,223; cluster 2: n=15,644; cluster 3: n=2335). Survival rate of participants from cluster 3 reached 39.2\% (n=665 deceased) in HRS and 62.2\% (n=811 deceased) in SHARE after a 3.9-year follow-up. Surviving participants from cluster 3 in both cohorts worsened their functional and mobility performance over the same period.

CONCLUSIONS: Unsupervised machine learning identifies high likelihood of dementia in population-based surveys, even without cognitive and behavioral measures and without the need of clinical diagnosis of dementia in a subsample of the population. This method could be used to tackle the global challenge of dementia.

}, keywords = {Cognitive Ability, Dementia, Machine learning}, issn = {1438-8871}, doi = {10.2196/10493}, author = {Cleret de Langavant, Laurent and Bayen, Eleonore and Kristine Yaffe} } @mastersthesis {10300, title = {Volunteering Helps Unemployed Older Workers{\textquoteright} Mental Health: How, Why, and Does It Work for All?}, volume = {PhD}, year = {2018}, note = {Copyright - Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works; Last updated - 2018-08-28}, pages = {93}, school = {Boston College}, type = {phd}, abstract = {Despite the fact that older workers (50+) are much overrepresented among the long-term unemployed and often suffer from multiple mental health problems, the social work literature has rarely tackled this issue. In my dissertation, guided by Jahoda{\textquoteright}s Latent Deprivation Theory and the productive aging framework, I examined the positive coping strategies of unemployed older workers. I set out to understand whether engaging in formal volunteering in an organization would buffer the negative impact of unemployment on older workers{\textquoteright} mental health. I also fill out the gap in the literature regarding the mechanism of the positive effect of volunteering on mental health by examining two latent benefits from working as mediators: purpose in life and perceived social status. I used fixed effects modeling for the moderation analysis. I analyzed six waves (12 years) of longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). I used structural equation modeling and analyzed two waves of HRS for the mediation analysis. I used full information maximum likelihood method to handle missing values. I found that there was a significant moderation between engaging in formal volunteering and unemployment status on older workers{\textquoteright} depressive symptoms. Unemployed older workers who engaged in volunteering fared better than those unemployed workers who did not volunteer. Consistent with previous studies using the HRS, I also found that those unemployed older workers who volunteered over 200 hours/year did not benefit from volunteering compared to those volunteered under 100 hours/year. Mediation analysis results showed that perceived social status and purpose in life mediate the protective effect of volunteering. Both the moderation and mediation results varied by race and ethnicity. Results from this dissertation have important implications for future intervention development. For example, interventions targeting the unemployed older workers may incorporate formal volunteering as one element for participants to gain social contact, purpose in life, and enhance perceived social status. Interventions can also create an environment that mirrors an office to enhance these latent benefits (mediators) in order to improve mental health.}, keywords = {0452:Social work, health, Helps, Mental, Older, Social Sciences, Social work, Unemployed, Volunteering, Work, Workers}, isbn = {9780438245907}, url = {https://dlib.bc.edu/islandora/object/bc-ir:108094}, author = {Jie Yang} } @inbook {9396, title = {Ageing in North America: Canada and the United States}, booktitle = {Oxford Textbook of Geriatric Medicine}, year = {2017}, pages = {19-26}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, organization = {Oxford University Press}, edition = {3rd}, chapter = {3}, address = {Cary, NC}, keywords = {Aging, Cross-National}, isbn = {978-0198701590}, author = {Eileen M. Crimmins and Hiram Beltr{\'a}n-S{\'a}nchez and Lauren L Brown and Yon, Yongjie and Michel, Jean-Pierre and Beattie, B. Lynn and Martin, Finbarr C. and Jeremy D Walston} } @article {12135, title = {An Analysis of Two Genome-wide Association Meta-analyses Identifies a New Locus for Broad Depression Phenotype.}, journal = {Biological Psychiatry}, volume = {82}, year = {2017}, pages = {322-329}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: The genetics of depression has been explored in genome-wide association studies that focused on either major depressive disorder or depressive symptoms with mostly negative findings. A broad depression phenotype including both phenotypes has not been tested previously using a genome-wide association approach. We aimed to identify genetic polymorphisms significantly associated with a broad phenotype from depressive symptoms to major depressive disorder.

METHODS: We analyzed two prior studies of 70,017 participants of European ancestry from general and clinical populations in the discovery stage. We performed a replication meta-analysis of 28,328 participants. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based heritability and genetic correlations were calculated using linkage disequilibrium score regression. Discovery and replication analyses were performed using a p-value-based meta-analysis. Lifetime major depressive disorder and depressive symptom scores were used as the outcome measures.

RESULTS: The SNP-based heritability of major depressive disorder was 0.21 (SE = 0.02), the SNP-based heritability of depressive symptoms was 0.04 (SE = 0.01), and their genetic correlation was 1.001 (SE = 0.2). We found one genome-wide significant locus related to the broad depression phenotype (rs9825823, chromosome 3: 61,082,153, p = 8.2 {\texttimes} 10) located in an intron of the FHIT gene. We replicated this SNP in independent samples (p = .02) and the overall meta-analysis of the discovery and replication cohorts (1.0 {\texttimes} 10).

CONCLUSIONS: This large study identified a new locus for depression. Our results support a continuum between depressive symptoms and major depressive disorder. A phenotypically more inclusive approach may help to achieve the large sample sizes needed to detect susceptibility loci for depression.

}, keywords = {Acid Anhydride Hydrolases, depression, Depressive Disorder, Genetic Loci, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Neoplasm Proteins, Phenotype, Whites}, issn = {1873-2402}, doi = {10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.11.013}, author = {Nese Direk and Williams, Stephanie and Smith, Jennifer A and Ripke, Stephan and Air, Tracy and Amare, Azmeraw T and Amin, Najaf and Baune, Bernhard T and David A Bennett and Blackwood, Douglas H R and Dorret I Boomsma and Breen, Gerome and Buttensch{\o}n, Henriette N and Byrne, Enda M and B{\o}rglum, Anders D and Castelao, Enrique and Cichon, Sven and Clarke, Toni-Kim and Marilyn C Cornelis and Dannlowski, Udo and Philip L de Jager and Demirkan, Ayse and Domenici, Enrico and Cornelia M van Duijn and Dunn, Erin C and Johan G Eriksson and T{\~o}nu Esko and Jessica Faul and Luigi Ferrucci and Myriam Fornage and Eco J. C. de Geus and Gill, Michael and Gordon, Scott D and Hans-J{\"o}rgen Grabe and van Grootheest, Gerard and Hamilton, Steven P and Catharina A Hartman and Andrew C Heath and Karin Hek and Hofman, Albert and Homuth, Georg and Horn, Carsten and Jouke-Jan Hottenga and Sharon L R Kardia and Kloiber, Stefan and Karestan C Koenen and Kutalik, Zolt{\'a}n and Ladwig, Karl-Heinz and Lahti, Jari and Douglas F Levinson and Lewis, Cathryn M and Lewis, Glyn and Li, Qingqin S and David J Llewellyn and Lucae, Susanne and Kathryn L Lunetta and MacIntyre, Donald J and Pamela A F Madden and Nicholas G Martin and McIntosh, Andrew M and Andres Metspalu and Milaneschi, Yuri and Grant W Montgomery and Mors, Ole and Thomas H Mosley and Joanne M Murabito and M{\"u}ller-Myhsok, Bertram and Markus M N{\"o}then and Nyholt, Dale R and O{\textquoteright}Donovan, Michael C and Brenda W J H Penninx and Pergadia, Michele L and Perlis, Roy and Potash, James B and Preisig, Martin and Shaun M Purcell and Quiroz, Jorge A and Katri R{\"a}ikk{\"o}nen and Rice, John P and Rietschel, Marcella and Rivera, Margarita and Schulze, Thomas G and Shi, Jianxin and Shyn, Stanley and Sinnamon, Grant C and Johannes H Smit and Smoller, Jordan W and Snieder, Harold and Toshiko Tanaka and Tansey, Katherine E and Teumer, Alexander and Uher, Rudolf and Umbricht, Daniel and Van der Auwera, Sandra and Erin B Ware and David R Weir and Weissman, Myrna M and Gonneke Willemsen and Yang, Jingyun and Zhao, Wei and Henning Tiemeier and Patrick F. Sullivan} } @article {6522, title = {Body weight status and telomere length in U.S. middle-aged and older adults.}, journal = {Obes Res Clin Pract}, volume = {11}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 Jan-Feb}, pages = {51-62}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: Telomere length has been proposed as a biomarker of biological aging. This study examined the relationship between body weight status and telomere length in U.S. middle-aged and older adults.

METHODS: Nationally representative data (N=2749) came from the Health and Retirement Study. Linear regressions were performed to examine the relationship between baseline body weight status reported in 1992 and telomere length measured in 2008 in the overall sample and by sex and racial/ethnic groups, adjusted for individual characteristics.

RESULTS: Baseline overweight (25kg/m<=body mass index [BMI]<30kg/m) and obesity (BMI>=30kg/m) status positively predicted telomere length 17 years later. Compared with their normal weight counterparts, telomere length ratio was on average 0.062 (95\% confidence interval=0.016, 0.109) and 0.125 (0.048, 0.202) larger among overweight and obese adults, respectively. In comparison to women and racial/ethnic minorities, the estimated positive associations between overweight and obesity status and telomere length were more salient among men and non-Hispanic whites, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The positive association between body weight status and telomere length found in this study was opposite to what existing biological model predicts, and could partially relate to the nonlinear relationship between body weight status and telomere length across age cohorts, and/or the lack of reliability of BMI as an indicator for adiposity in the older population. Large-scale longitudinal studies with baseline telomere length measures are warranted to replicate this study finding and explore the potential heterogeneous relationship between body weight status and telomere length.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aging, Body Mass Index, Body Weight, ethnicity, Female, Humans, Linear Models, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Overweight, Racial Groups, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Telomere, Telomere Shortening, United States, White People}, issn = {1871-403X}, doi = {10.1016/j.orcp.2016.01.003}, author = {An, Ruopeng and Yan, Hai} } @article {9172, title = {The complex genetics of gait speed: genome-wide meta-analysis approach.}, journal = {Aging (Albany NY)}, volume = {9}, year = {2017}, pages = {209-246}, abstract = {Emerging evidence suggests that the basis for variation in late-life mobility is attributable, in part, to genetic factors, which may become increasingly important with age. Our objective was to systematically assess the contribution of genetic variation to gait speed in older individuals. We conducted a meta-analysis of gait speed GWASs in 31,478 older adults from 17 cohorts of the CHARGE consortium, and validated our results in 2,588 older adults from 4 independent studies. We followed our initial discoveries with network and eQTL analysis of candidate signals in tissues. The meta-analysis resulted in a list of 536 suggestive genome wide significant SNPs in or near 69 genes. Further interrogation with Pathway Analysis placed gait speed as a polygenic complex trait in five major networks. Subsequent eQTL analysis revealed several SNPs significantly associated with the expression of PRSS16, WDSUB1 and PTPRT, which in addition to the meta-analysis and pathway suggested that genetic effects on gait speed may occur through synaptic function and neuronal development pathways. No genome-wide significant signals for gait speed were identified from this moderately large sample of older adults, suggesting that more refined physical function phenotypes will be needed to identify the genetic basis of gait speed in aging.}, keywords = {Genetics, GWAS}, issn = {1945-4589}, doi = {10.18632/aging.101151}, author = {Ben-Avraham, Dan and Karasik, David and Joe Verghese and Kathryn L Lunetta and John D Eicher and Vered, Rotem and Deelen, Joris and Alice M. Arnold and Aron S Buchman and Toshiko Tanaka and Jessica Faul and Nethander, Maria and Myriam Fornage and Hieab H Adams and Amy M Matteini and Michele L Callisaya and Albert Vernon Smith and Lei Yu and Philip L de Jager and Denis A Evans and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Hofman, Albert and Pattie, Alison and Corley, Janie and Lenore J Launer and David S Knopman and Parimi, Neeta and Stephen T Turner and Bandinelli, Stefania and Beekman, Marian and Gutman, Danielle and Sharvit, Lital and Simon P Mooijaart and David C Liewald and Jeanine J Houwing-Duistermaat and Ohlsson, Claes and Moed, Matthijs and Vincent J Verlinden and Mellstr{\"o}m, Dan and Jos N van der Geest and Karlsson, Magnus and Dena G Hernandez and McWhirter, Rebekah and Yongmei Liu and Thomson, Russell and Tranah, Gregory J and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and David R Weir and Wei Zhao and John M Starr and Mohammed Arfan Ikram and David A Bennett and Steven R Cummings and Ian J Deary and Tamara B Harris and Sharon L R Kardia and Thomas H Mosley and Velandai K Srikanth and Beverly G Windham and Anne B Newman and Jeremy D Walston and Gail Davies and Daniel S Evans and Eline P Slagboom and Luigi Ferrucci and Douglas P Kiel and Joanne M Murabito and Atzmon, Gil} } @article {9261, title = {Crowdsourced health data: Comparability to a US national survey, 2013{\textendash}2015}, journal = {American Journal of Public Health}, volume = {107}, year = {2017}, month = {Jan-08-2017}, pages = {1283-1289}, abstract = {To determine the generalizability of crowdsourced, electronic health data from self-selected individuals using a national survey as a reference. Using the world{\textquoteright}s largest crowdsourcing platform in 2015, we collected data on characteristics known to influence cardiovascular disease risk and identified comparable data from the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. We used age-stratified logistic regression models to identify differences among groups. Crowdsourced respondents were younger, more likely to be non-Hispanicand White, and had higher educational attainment.Those aged 40 to 59 years were similar to US adults in the rates of smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Those aged 18 to 39 years were less similar, whereas those aged 60 to 75 years were underrepresented among crowdsourced respondents. Crowdsourced health data might be most generalizable to adults aged 40 to 59 years, but studies of younger or older populations, racial and ethnic minorities, or those with lower educational attainment should approach crowdsourced data with caution. Policymakers, the national Precision Medicine Initiative, and others planning to use crowdsourced data should take explicit steps to define and address anticipated underrepresentation by important population subgroups.}, keywords = {Survey Methodology}, issn = {0090-0036}, doi = {10.2105/AJPH.2017.303824}, url = {http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2017.303824}, author = {Yank, Veronica and Agarwal, Sanjhavi and Loftus, Pooja and Steven Asch and David Rehkopf} } @article {12136, title = {Discovery and fine-mapping of adiposity loci using high density imputation of genome-wide association studies in individuals of African ancestry: African Ancestry Anthropometry Genetics Consortium.}, journal = {PLoS Genetics}, volume = {13}, year = {2017}, pages = {e1006719}, abstract = {

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified >300 loci associated with measures of adiposity including body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (adjusted for BMI, WHRadjBMI), but few have been identified through screening of the African ancestry genomes. We performed large scale meta-analyses and replications in up to 52,895 individuals for BMI and up to 23,095 individuals for WHRadjBMI from the African Ancestry Anthropometry Genetics Consortium (AAAGC) using 1000 Genomes phase 1 imputed GWAS to improve coverage of both common and low frequency variants in the low linkage disequilibrium African ancestry genomes. In the sex-combined analyses, we identified one novel locus (TCF7L2/HABP2) for WHRadjBMI and eight previously established loci at P < 5{\texttimes}10-8: seven for BMI, and one for WHRadjBMI in African ancestry individuals. An additional novel locus (SPRYD7/DLEU2) was identified for WHRadjBMI when combined with European GWAS. In the sex-stratified analyses, we identified three novel loci for BMI (INTS10/LPL and MLC1 in men, IRX4/IRX2 in women) and four for WHRadjBMI (SSX2IP, CASC8, PDE3B and ZDHHC1/HSD11B2 in women) in individuals of African ancestry or both African and European ancestry. For four of the novel variants, the minor allele frequency was low (<5\%). In the trans-ethnic fine mapping of 47 BMI loci and 27 WHRadjBMI loci that were locus-wide significant (P < 0.05 adjusted for effective number of variants per locus) from the African ancestry sex-combined and sex-stratified analyses, 26 BMI loci and 17 WHRadjBMI loci contained <= 20 variants in the credible sets that jointly account for 99\% posterior probability of driving the associations. The lead variants in 13 of these loci had a high probability of being causal. As compared to our previous HapMap imputed GWAS for BMI and WHRadjBMI including up to 71,412 and 27,350 African ancestry individuals, respectively, our results suggest that 1000 Genomes imputation showed modest improvement in identifying GWAS loci including low frequency variants. Trans-ethnic meta-analyses further improved fine mapping of putative causal variants in loci shared between the African and European ancestry populations.

}, keywords = {Adiposity, Anthropometry, Blacks, Body Mass Index, Chromosome Mapping, Female, Gene Frequency, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Linkage Disequilibrium, Male, Obesity, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Serine Endopeptidases, Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein, Waist-Hip Ratio, Whites}, issn = {1553-7404}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pgen.1006719}, author = {Ng, Maggie C Y and Graff, Mariaelisa and Lu, Yingchang and Justice, Anne E and Mudgal, Poorva and Liu, Ching-Ti and Young, Kristin and Yanek, Lisa R and Feitosa, Mary F and Wojczynski, Mary K and Rand, Kristin and Brody, Jennifer A and Brian E Cade and Dimitrov, Latchezar and Duan, Qing and Guo, Xiuqing and Leslie A Lange and Michael A Nalls and Okut, Hayrettin and Tajuddin, Salman M and Bamidele O Tayo and Vedantam, Sailaja and Bradfield, Jonathan P and Chen, Guanjie and Chen, Wei-Min and Chesi, Alessandra and Irvin, Marguerite R and Padhukasahasram, Badri and Smith, Jennifer A and Zheng, Wei and Matthew A. Allison and Ambrosone, Christine B and Bandera, Elisa V and Traci M Bartz and Berndt, Sonja I and Bernstein, Leslie and Blot, William J and Erwin P Bottinger and John Carpten and Chanock, Stephen J and Chen, Yii-Der Ida and Conti, David V and Cooper, Richard S and Myriam Fornage and Freedman, Barry I and Garcia, Melissa and Phyllis J Goodman and Hsu, Yu-Han H and Hu, Jennifer and Huff, Chad D and Ingles, Sue A and John, Esther M and Rick A Kittles and Eric A Klein and Li, Jin and McKnight, Barbara and Nayak, Uma and Nemesure, Barbara and Ogunniyi, Adesola and Olshan, Andrew and Press, Michael F and Rohde, Rebecca and Rybicki, Benjamin A and Babatunde Salako and Sanderson, Maureen and Shao, Yaming and David S Siscovick and Stanford, Janet L and Stevens, Victoria L and Stram, Alex and Strom, Sara S and Vaidya, Dhananjay and Witte, John S and Yao, Jie and Zhu, Xiaofeng and Ziegler, Regina G and Alan B Zonderman and Adeyemo, Adebowale and Ambs, Stefan and Cushman, Mary and Jessica Faul and Hakonarson, Hakon and Levin, Albert M and Nathanson, Katherine L and Erin B Ware and David R Weir and Zhao, Wei and Zhi, Degui and Donna K Arnett and Grant, Struan F A and Sharon L R Kardia and Oloapde, Olufunmilayo I and Rao, D C and Charles N Rotimi and Sale, Michele M and L Keoki Williams and Zemel, Babette S and Becker, Diane M and Ingrid B Borecki and Michele K Evans and Tamara B Harris and Hirschhorn, Joel N and Li, Yun and Patel, Sanjay R and Psaty, Bruce M and Rotter, Jerome I and Wilson, James G and Bowden, Donald W and Cupples, L Adrienne and Christopher A Haiman and Ruth J F Loos and Kari E North} } @article {9398, title = {Economic Burden of Informal Caregiving Associated With History of Stroke and Falls Among Older Adults in the U.S.}, journal = {American Journal of Preventive Medicine}, volume = {53}, year = {2017}, pages = {S197-S204}, abstract = {Introduction Older adults are at high risk for stroke and falls, both of which require a large amount of informal caregiving. However, the economic burden of informal caregiving associated with stroke and fall history is not well known. Methods Using the 2010 Health and Retirement Study, data on non-institutionalized adults aged >=65 years (N=10,129) in 2015{\textendash}2017 were analyzed. Two-part models were used to estimate informal caregiving hours. Based on estimates from the models using a replacement cost approach, the authors derived informal caregiving hours and costs associated with falls in the past 2 years for stroke and non-stroke persons. Results Both the prevalence of falls overall and of falls with injuries were higher among people with stroke than those without (49.5\% vs 35.1\% for falls and 16.0\% vs 10.3\% for injurious falls, p<0.01). Stroke survivors needed more informal caregiving hours than their non-stroke counterparts, and the number of informal caregiving hours was positively associated with non-injurious falls and even more so with injurious falls. The national burden of informal caregiving (2015 U.S. dollars) associated with injurious falls amounted to $2.9 billion (95\% CI=$1.1 billion, $4.7 billion) for stroke survivors (about 0.5 million people), and $6.5 billion (95\% CI=$4.3 billion, $8.7 billion) for those who never had a stroke (about 3.6 million people). Conclusions In U.S. older adults, informal caregiving hours and costs associated with falls are substantial, especially for stroke survivors. Preventing falls and fall-related injuries, especially among stroke survivors, therefore has potential for reducing the burden of informal caregiving.}, keywords = {Caregiving, Economics, Falls, Health Shocks, Stroke}, issn = {07493797}, doi = {10.1016/j.amepre.2017.07.020}, url = {http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0749379717304270http://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0749379717304270?httpAccept=text/xmlhttp://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:S0749379717304270?httpAccept=text/plain}, author = {Heesoo Joo and Wang, Guijing and Yee, Sue Lin and Zhang, Ping and Sleet, David} } @article {8966, title = {Functional limitations and health care resource utilization for individuals with cognitive impairment without dementia: Findings from a United States population-based survey.}, journal = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s \& Dementia}, volume = {6}, year = {2017}, month = {2017}, pages = {65-74}, abstract = {

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about functional limitations and health care resource utilization of people with cognitive impairment with no dementia (CIND).

METHODS: Respondents with stable or progressive cognitive impairment (CI) after the first (index) indication of CIND in 2000-2010 were identified from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Respondents never exhibiting CI were identified as potential controls. Propensity score-based optimal matching was used to adjust for differences in demographics and history of stroke. Differences between cohorts were assessed accounting for HRS survey design.

RESULTS: After matching, CIND respondents had more functional limitations (difficulty with >=1 activities of daily living: 24\% vs. 15\%; >=1 instrumental activities of daily living: 20\% vs. 11\%) and hospital stays (37\% vs. 27\%) than respondents with no CI (all P~<~.001). Seventy five percent of CIND respondents developed dementia in the observable follow-up (median time: \~{}6~years).

DISCUSSION: Even before dementia onset, CI is associated with increased likelihood of functional limitations and greater health care resource use.

}, keywords = {CIND, Cognitive Ability, Functional limitations, Older Adults}, doi = {10.1016/j.dadm.2016.11.005}, author = {J. Scott Andrews and Desai, Urvi and Noam Y Kirson and Caroline J. Enloe and Ristovska, Ljubica and King, Sarah and Howard G. Birnbaum and Adam S. Fleisher and Ye, Wenyu and Kahle-Wrobleski, Kristin} } @article {9429, title = {Gene-by-Psychosocial Factor Interactions Influence Diastolic Blood Pressure in European and African Ancestry Populations: Meta-Analysis of Four Cohort Studies.}, journal = {Int J Environ Res Public Health}, volume = {14}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Inter-individual variability in blood pressure (BP) is influenced by both genetic and non-genetic factors including socioeconomic and psychosocial stressors. A deeper understanding of the gene-by-socioeconomic/psychosocial factor interactions on BP may help to identify individuals that are genetically susceptible to high BP in specific social contexts. In this study, we used a genomic region-based method for longitudinal analysis, Longitudinal Gene-Environment-Wide Interaction Studies (LGEWIS), to evaluate the effects of interactions between known socioeconomic/psychosocial and genetic risk factors on systolic and diastolic BP in four large epidemiologic cohorts of European and/or African ancestry. After correction for multiple testing, two interactions were significantly associated with diastolic BP. In European ancestry participants, outward/trait anger score had a significant interaction with the C10orf107 genomic region (p = 0.0019). In African ancestry participants, depressive symptom score had a significant interaction with the HFE genomic region (p = 0.0048). This study provides a foundation for using genomic region-based longitudinal analysis to identify subgroups of the population that may be at greater risk of elevated BP due to the combined influence of genetic and socioeconomic/psychosocial risk factors.}, keywords = {Blood pressure, Genetics, GWAS, Meta-analyses, Psychosocial, Socioeconomic factors}, issn = {1660-4601}, doi = {10.3390/ijerph14121596}, author = {Wei Zhao and Yasutake, Kalyn and August, Carmella and Scott M Ratliff and Jessica Faul and Boerwinkle, Eric and Chakravarti, Aravinda and Ana V. Diez-Roux and Gao, Yan and Michael E Griswold and Gerardo Heiss and Sharon L R Kardia and Alanna C Morrison and Musani, Solomon K and Mwasongwe, Stanford and Kari E North and Rose, Kathryn M and Sims, Mario and Yan V Sun and David R Weir and Belinda L Needham} } @article {12131, title = {Genome-wide meta-analysis associates HLA-DQA1/DRB1 and LPA and lifestyle factors with human longevity.}, journal = {Nature Communications}, volume = {8}, year = {2017}, pages = {910}, abstract = {

Genomic analysis of longevity offers the potential to illuminate the biology of human aging. Here, using genome-wide association meta-analysis of 606,059 parents{\textquoteright} survival, we discover two regions associated with longevity (HLA-DQA1/DRB1 and LPA). We also validate previous suggestions that APOE, CHRNA3/5, CDKN2A/B, SH2B3 and FOXO3A influence longevity. Next we show that giving up smoking, educational attainment, openness to new experience and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels are most positively genetically correlated with lifespan while susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CAD), cigarettes smoked per day, lung cancer, insulin resistance and body fat are most negatively correlated. We suggest that the effect of education on lifespan is principally mediated through smoking while the effect of obesity appears to act via CAD. Using instrumental variables, we suggest that an increase of one body mass index unit reduces lifespan by 7 months while 1 year of education adds 11 months to expected lifespan.Variability in human longevity is genetically influenced. Using genetic data of parental lifespan, the authors identify associations at HLA-DQA/DRB1 and LPA and find that genetic variants that increase educational attainment have a positive effect on lifespan whereas increasing BMI negatively affects lifespan.

}, keywords = {Alleles, Body Mass Index, Coronary Disease, Education, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genome-Wide Association Study, HLA-DQ alpha-Chains, HLA-DRB1 Chains, Humans, Insulin Resistance, Life Style, Lipoprotein(a), Lipoproteins, HDL, Longevity, Lung Neoplasms, Obesity, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Smoking, Socioeconomic factors}, issn = {2041-1723}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-017-00934-5}, author = {Joshi, Peter K and Nicola Pirastu and Kentistou, Katherine A and Fischer, Krista and Edith Hofer and Schraut, Katharina E and Clark, David W and Nutile, Teresa and Barnes, Catriona L K and Paul Rhj Timmers and Shen, Xia and Gandin, Ilaria and McDaid, Aaron F and Hansen, Thomas Folkmann and Gordon, Scott D and Giulianini, Franco and Boutin, Thibaud S and Abdellaoui, Abdel and Zhao, Wei and Medina-Gomez, Carolina and Traci M Bartz and Trompet, Stella and Leslie A Lange and Raffield, Laura and van der Spek, Ashley and Galesloot, Tessel E and Proitsi, Petroula and Yanek, Lisa R and Bielak, Lawrence F and Payton, Antony and Murgia, Federico and Concas, Maria Pina and Biino, Ginevra and Tajuddin, Salman M and Sepp{\"a}l{\"a}, Ilkka and Amin, Najaf and Boerwinkle, Eric and B{\o}rglum, Anders D and Campbell, Archie and Ellen W Demerath and Demuth, Ilja and Jessica Faul and Ford, Ian and Gialluisi, Alessandro and G{\"o}gele, Martin and Graff, Mariaelisa and Aroon Hingorani and Jouke-Jan Hottenga and Hougaard, David M and Hurme, Mikko A and Ikram, M Arfan and Jylh{\"a}, Marja and Kuh, Diana and Ligthart, Lannie and Lill, Christina M and Lindenberger, Ulman and Lumley, Thomas and M{\"a}gi, Reedik and Marques-Vidal, Pedro and Sarah E Medland and Lili Milani and Nagy, Reka and William E R Ollier and Peyser, Patricia A and Pramstaller, Peter P and Ridker, Paul M and Fernando Rivadeneira and Ruggiero, Daniela and Saba, Yasaman and Schmidt, Reinhold and Schmidt, Helena and Slagboom, P Eline and Smith, Blair H and Smith, Jennifer A and Sotoodehnia, Nona and Steinhagen-Thiessen, Elisabeth and van Rooij, Frank J A and Verbeek, Andr{\'e} L and Vermeulen, Sita H and Vollenweider, Peter and Wang, Yunpeng and Werge, Thomas and Whitfield, John B and Alan B Zonderman and Lehtim{\"a}ki, Terho and Michele K Evans and Pirastu, Mario and Fuchsberger, Christian and Bertram, Lars and Pendleton, Neil and Sharon L R Kardia and Ciullo, Marina and Becker, Diane M and Wong, Andrew and Psaty, Bruce M and Cornelia M van Duijn and Wilson, James G and Jukema, J Wouter and Lambertus A Kiemeney and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Franceschini, Nora and Kari E North and David R Weir and Andres Metspalu and Dorret I Boomsma and Caroline Hayward and Daniel I Chasman and Nicholas G Martin and Sattar, Naveed and Campbell, Harry and T{\~o}nu Esko and Kutalik, Zolt{\'a}n and James F Wilson} } @article {9262, title = {Genotype{\textendash}covariate interaction effects and the heritability of adult body mass index}, journal = {Nature Genetics}, volume = {49}, year = {2017}, pages = {1174-1181}, abstract = {Obesity is a worldwide epidemie, with major health and economic costs. Here we estimate heritability for body mass index (BMI) in 172,000 sibling pairs and 150,832 unrelated individuals and explore the contribution of genotype-covariate interaction effects at common SNP loci. We find evidence for genotype-age interaction (likelihood ratio test (LRT) = 73.58, degrees of freedom (df) = 1, P = 4.83 x 10-18), which contributed 8.1 \% (1.4\% s.e.) to BMI variation. Across eight self-reported lifestyle factors, including diet and exercise, we find genotype-environment interaction only for smoking behavior (LRT = 19.70, P = 5.03 x 10-5 and LRT = 30.80, P = 1.42 x 10-8), which contributed 4.0\% (0.8\% s.e.) to BMI variation. Bayesian association analysis suggests that BMI is highly polygenic, with 75\% of the SNP heritability attributable to loci that each explain <0.01 \% of the phenotypic variance. Our findings imply that substantially larger sample sizes across ages and lifestyles are required to understand the full genetic architecture of BMI.}, keywords = {BMI, Genetics, GWAS}, issn = {1061-4036}, doi = {10.1038/ng.3912}, author = {Matthew R Robinson and English, Geoffrey and Moser, Gerhard and Lloyd-Jones, Luke R. and Triplett, Marcus A. and Zhihong Zhu and Ilja M Nolte and Jana V. van Vliet-Ostaptchouk and Snieder, Harold and T{\~o}nu Esko and Lili Milani and M{\"a}gi, Reedik and Andres Metspalu and Patrik K E Magnusson and Nancy L Pedersen and Ingelsson, Erik and Johannesson, Magnus and Yang, Jian and Cesarini, David and Peter M Visscher} } @article {9206, title = {The impact of multimorbidity on grip strength in adults age 50 and older: Data from the Health and Retirement Survey (HRS)}, journal = {Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics}, volume = {72}, year = {2017}, pages = {164-168}, abstract = {Background: Multimorbidity, the presence of two or more chronic diseases, is a public health concern. The measurement of grip strength has been proposed as a measure of overall body strength and is reliable and easy to measure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the number of chronic diseases and common co-occurring chronic diseases with grip strength. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted of 5877 respondents (2744 = male, 3103 = female) from the 2008 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) who completed grip strength measurements (kg). Results: As the number of chronic diseases increased, an incremental decrease in grip strength occurred and became more pronounced with >=3 chronic diseases present (b = 3.1, 95\% CI = 2.3{\textendash}3.9, p < 0.001). No statistically significant relationship was identified between specific chronic diseases (except for stroke) and grip strength. Conclusion: Multimorbidity has a statistically significant negative relationship on grip strength. Grip strength should be considered as a physical performance measure to incorporate into the care of patients with multimorbidity.}, keywords = {Comorbidity, Grip strength, Health Conditions and Status}, issn = {01674943}, doi = {10.1016/j.archger.2017.05.011}, author = {Amy M Yorke and Amy B. Curtis and Shoemaker, Michael and Vangsnes, Eric} } @article {9617, title = {Marriage-related Policies in an Estimated Life-cycle Model of Households{\textquoteright} Labor Supply and Savings for Two Cohorts}, number = {WP 2017-371}, year = {2017}, pages = {1-79}, institution = {Michigan Retirement Research Center}, address = {Ann Arbor, MI}, abstract = {In the United States, both taxes and old age Social Security benefits explicitly depend on one{\textquoteright}s marital status. We study the effects of eliminating these marriage-related provisions on the labor supply and savings of two different cohorts. To do so, we estimate a rich life-cycle model of couples and singles using the method of simulated moments (MSM) on the 1945 and 1955 birth-year cohorts. Our model matches well the life-cycle profiles of labor market participation, hours, and savings for married and single people and generates plausible elasticities of labor supply. We find that these marriage-related provisions reduce the participation of married women over their life cycle, the participation of married men after age 55, and the savings of couples. These effects are large for both the 1945 and 1955 cohorts, even though to start with the latter had much higher labor market participation of married women.}, keywords = {Labor force participation, Marriage, Models, Social Security}, url = {http://mrrc.isr.umich.edu/wp371/}, author = {Borella, Margherita and Mariacristina De Nardi and Yang, Fang} } @article {9083, title = {Neuroprotective diets are associated with better cognitive function: The Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {Journal of the American Geriatrics Society}, volume = {65}, year = {2017}, pages = {1857-1862}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and the Mediterranean-DASH diet Intervention for Neurodegeneration Delay (MIND diet) and cognition in a nationally representative population of older U.S. adults.

DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study.

SETTING: Health and Retirement Study.

PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling older adults (N~=~5,907; mean age 67.8~{\textpm}~10.8).

MEASUREMENTS: Adherence to dietary patterns was determined from food frequency questionnaires using criteria determined a priori to generate diet scores for the MedDiet (range 0-55) and MIND diet (range 0-15). Cognitive performance was measured using a composite test score of global cognitive function (range 0-27). Linear regression was used to compare cognitive performance according to tertiles of dietary pattern. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between dietary patterns and clinically significant cognitive impairment. Models were adjusted for age, sex, race, educational attainment, and other health and lifestyle covariates.

RESULTS: Participants with mid (odds ratio (OR)~=~0.85, 95\% confidence interval (CI)~=~0.71-1.02, P~=~.08) and high (OR 0.65, 95\% CI~=~0.52-0.81, P~<~.001) MedDiet scores were less likely to have poor cognitive performance than those with low scores in fully adjusted models. Results for the MIND diet were similar. Higher scores in each dietary pattern were independently associated with significantly better cognitive function (P~<~.001) in a dose-response manner (P trend ~<~.001).

CONCLUSION: In a large nationally representative population of older adults, greater adherence to the MedDiet and MIND diet was independently associated with better cognitive function and lower risk of cognitive impairment. Clinical trials are required to elucidate the role of dietary patterns in cognitive aging.

}, keywords = {Cognitive Ability, Eating habits}, issn = {1532-5415}, doi = {10.1111/jgs.14922}, author = {Claire T McEvoy and Heidi M Guyer and Kenneth M. Langa and Kristine Yaffe} } @article {12138, title = {New Blood Pressure-Associated Loci Identified in Meta-Analyses of 475 000 Individuals.}, journal = {Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics}, volume = {10}, year = {2017}, pages = {e001778}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Genome-wide association studies have recently identified >400 loci that harbor DNA sequence variants that influence blood pressure (BP). Our earlier studies identified and validated 56 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) associated with BP from meta-analyses of exome chip genotype data. An additional 100 variants yielded suggestive evidence of association.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Here, we augment the sample with 140 886 European individuals from the UK Biobank, in whom 77 of the 100 suggestive SNVs were available for association analysis with systolic BP or diastolic BP or pulse pressure. We performed 2 meta-analyses, one in individuals of European, South Asian, African, and Hispanic descent (pan-ancestry, ≈475 000), and the other in the subset of individuals of European descent (≈423 000). Twenty-one SNVs were genome-wide significant (<5{\texttimes}10) for BP, of which 4 are new BP loci: rs9678851 (missense, ), rs7437940 (), rs13303 (missense, ), and rs1055144 (). In addition, we identified a potentially independent novel BP-associated SNV, rs3416322 (missense, ) at a known locus, uncorrelated with the previously reported SNVs. Two SNVs are associated with expression levels of nearby genes, and SNVs at 3 loci are associated with other traits. One SNV with a minor allele frequency <0.01, (rs3025380 at ) was genome-wide significant.

CONCLUSIONS: We report 4 novel loci associated with BP regulation, and 1 independent variant at an established BP locus. This analysis highlights several candidate genes with variation that alter protein function or gene expression for potential follow-up.

}, keywords = {Antiporters, Blood pressure, Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal, Databases, Factual, Genetic Loci, Genome-Wide Association Study, Genotype, Humans, Microfilament Proteins, Phenotype, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing}, issn = {1942-3268}, doi = {10.1161/CIRCGENETICS.117.001778}, author = {Kraja, Aldi T and Cook, James P and Warren, Helen R and Surendran, Praveen and Liu, Chunyu and Evangelou, Evangelos and Alisa Manning and Grarup, Niels and Drenos, Fotios and Sim, Xueling and Smith, Albert Vernon and Amin, Najaf and Alexandra I Blakemore and Bork-Jensen, Jette and Brandslund, Ivan and Farmaki, Aliki-Eleni and Fava, Cristiano and Ferreira, Teresa and Herzig, Karl-Heinz and Giri, Ayush and Giulianini, Franco and Grove, Megan L and Guo, Xiuqing and Sarah E Harris and Have, Christian T and Havulinna, Aki S and Zhang, He and J{\o}rgensen, Marit E and K{\"a}r{\"a}j{\"a}m{\"a}ki, AnneMari and Charles Kooperberg and Linneberg, Allan and Little, Louis and Liu, Yongmei and Bonnycastle, Lori L and Lu, Yingchang and M{\"a}gi, Reedik and Mahajan, Anubha and Malerba, Giovanni and Riccardo E Marioni and Mei, Hao and Menni, Cristina and Alanna C Morrison and Padmanabhan, Sandosh and Walter R Palmas and Poveda, Alaitz and Rauramaa, Rainer and Nigel W Rayner and Riaz, Muhammad and Rice, Ken and Melissa Richard and Smith, Jennifer A and Southam, Lorraine and Stan{\v c}{\'a}kov{\'a}, Alena and Kathleen E Stirrups and Tragante, Vinicius and Tuomi, Tiinamaija and Tzoulaki, Ioanna and Varga, Tibor V and Weiss, Stefan and Yiorkas, Andrianos M and Young, Robin and Zhang, Weihua and Barnes, Michael R and Cabrera, Claudia P and Gao, He and Boehnke, Michael and Boerwinkle, Eric and Chambers, John C and Connell, John M and Cramer Christensen and de Boer, Rudolf A and Ian J Deary and George Dedoussis and Deloukas, Panos and Dominiczak, Anna F and D{\"o}rr, Marcus and Joehanes, Roby and Edwards, Todd L and T{\~o}nu Esko and Myriam Fornage and Franceschini, Nora and Franks, Paul W and Gambaro, Giovanni and Leif C Groop and Hallmans, G{\"o}ran and Hansen, Torben and Caroline Hayward and Heikki, Oksa and Ingelsson, Erik and Tuomilehto, Jaakko and J{\"a}rvelin, Marjo-Riitta and Sharon L R Kardia and Karpe, Fredrik and Kooner, Jaspal S and Lakka, Timo A and Langenberg, Claudia and Lars Lind and Ruth J F Loos and Laakso, Markku and McCarthy, Mark I and Melander, Olle and Mohlke, Karen L and Morris, Andrew P and Palmer, Colin N A and Pedersen, Oluf and Polasek, Ozren and Neil Poulter and Province, Michael A and Psaty, Bruce M and Ridker, Paul M and Rotter, Jerome I and Rudan, Igor and Veikko Salomaa and Nilesh J Samani and Peter Sever and Skaaby, Tea and Stafford, Jeanette M and John M Starr and van der Harst, Pim and van der Meer, Peter and Cornelia M van Duijn and Vergnaud, Anne-Claire and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Wareham, Nicholas J and Wilson, James G and Willer, Cristen J and Daniel Witte and Zeggini, Eleftheria and Saleheen, Danish and Adam S Butterworth and Danesh, John and Asselbergs, Folkert W and Wain, Louise V and Georg B Ehret and Daniel I Chasman and Caulfield, Mark J and Elliott, Paul and Lindgren, Cecilia M and Levy, Daniel and Newton-Cheh, Christopher and Munroe, Patricia B and Howson, Joanna M M} } @article {8886, title = {Rare and low-frequency coding variants alter human adult height.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {542}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 Feb 09}, pages = {186-190}, abstract = {

Height is a highly heritable, classic polygenic trait with approximately 700 common associated variants identified through genome-wide association studies so far. Here, we report 83 height-associated coding variants with lower minor-allele frequencies (in the range of 0.1-4.8\%) and effects of up to 2 centimetres per allele (such as those in IHH, STC2, AR and CRISPLD2), greater than ten times the average effect of common variants. In functional follow-up studies, rare height-increasing alleles of STC2 (giving an increase of 1-2 centimetres per allele) compromised proteolytic inhibition of PAPP-A and increased cleavage of IGFBP-4 in vitro, resulting in higher bioavailability of insulin-like growth factors. These 83 height-associated variants overlap genes that are mutated in monogenic growth disorders and highlight new biological candidates (such as ADAMTS3, IL11RA and NOX4) and pathways (such as proteoglycan and glycosaminoglycan synthesis) involved in growth. Our results demonstrate that sufficiently large sample sizes can uncover rare and low-frequency variants of moderate-to-large effect associated with polygenic human phenotypes, and that these variants implicate relevant genes and pathways.

}, issn = {1476-4687}, doi = {10.1038/nature21039}, author = {Marouli, Eirini and Graff, Mariaelisa and Medina-Gomez, Carolina and Ken Sin Lo and Andrew R Wood and Kjaer, Troels R and Fine, Rebecca S and Lu, Yingchang and Schurmann, Claudia and Highland, Heather M and R{\"u}eger, Sina and Thorleifsson, Gudmar and Justice, Anne E and Lamparter, David and Kathleen E Stirrups and Turcot, Val{\'e}rie and Young, Kristin L and Thomas W Winkler and T{\~o}nu Esko and Karaderi, Tugce and Locke, Adam E and Masca, Nicholas G D and Ng, Maggie C Y and Mudgal, Poorva and Rivas, Manuel A and Vedantam, Sailaja and Mahajan, Anubha and Guo, Xiuqing and Gon{\c c}alo R Abecasis and Aben, Katja K and Adair, Linda S and Alam, Dewan S and Albrecht, Eva and Allin, Kristine H and Matthew A. Allison and Amouyel, Philippe and Appel, Emil V and Arveiler, Dominique and Asselbergs, Folkert W and Auer, Paul L and Balkau, Beverley and Banas, Bernhard and Bang, Lia E and Benn, Marianne and Bergmann, Sven and Bielak, Lawrence F and Bl{\"u}her, Matthias and Boeing, Heiner and Boerwinkle, Eric and B{\"o}ger, Carsten A and Bonnycastle, Lori L and Bork-Jensen, Jette and Bots, Michiel L and Erwin P Bottinger and Bowden, Donald W and Brandslund, Ivan and Breen, Gerome and Brilliant, Murray H and Broer, Linda and Burt, Amber A and Adam S Butterworth and Carey, David J and Caulfield, Mark J and Chambers, John C and Daniel I Chasman and Yii-Der I Chen and Chowdhury, Rajiv and Cramer Christensen and Chu, Audrey Y and Cocca, Massimiliano and Collins, Francis S and Cook, James P and Corley, Janie and Jordi Corominas Galbany and Cox, Amanda J and Cuellar-Partida, Gabriel and Danesh, John and Gail Davies and de Bakker, Paul I W and de Borst, Gert J and de Denus, Simon and de Groot, Mark C H and de Mutsert, Ren{\'e}e and Ian J Deary and George Dedoussis and Ellen W Demerath and Anneke I den Hollander and Joe G Dennis and Di Angelantonio, Emanuele and Drenos, Fotios and Du, Mengmeng and Dunning, Alison M and Easton, Douglas F and Ebeling, Tapani and Edwards, Todd L and Ellinor, Patrick T and Elliott, Paul and Evangelou, Evangelos and Farmaki, Aliki-Eleni and Jessica Faul and Feitosa, Mary F and Feng, Shuang and Ferrannini, Ele and Marco M Ferrario and Ferri{\`e}res, Jean and Florez, Jose C and Ford, Ian and Myriam Fornage and Franks, Paul W and Frikke-Schmidt, Ruth and Galesloot, Tessel E and Gan, Wei and Gandin, Ilaria and Paolo P. Gasparini and Giedraitis, Vilmantas and Giri, Ayush and Giorgia G Girotto and Gordon, Scott D and Gordon-Larsen, Penny and Gorski, Mathias and Grarup, Niels and Grove, Megan L and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Gustafsson, Stefan and Hansen, Torben and Kathleen Mullan Harris and Tamara B Harris and Andrew T Hattersley and Caroline Hayward and He, Liang and Iris M Heid and Heikkil{\"a}, Kauko and Helgeland, {\O}yvind and Hernesniemi, Jussi and Hewitt, Alex W and Lynne J Hocking and Hollensted, Mette and Oddgeir L Holmen and Hovingh, G Kees and Howson, Joanna M M and Hoyng, Carel B and Huang, Paul L and Hveem, Kristian and Mohammed Arfan Ikram and Ingelsson, Erik and Jackson, Anne U and Jansson, Jan-H{\r a}kan and Jarvik, Gail P and Jensen, Gorm B and Jhun, Min A and Jia, Yucheng and Jiang, Xuejuan and Johansson, Stefan and J{\o}rgensen, Marit E and J{\o}rgensen, Torben and Jousilahti, Pekka and Jukema, J Wouter and Kahali, Bratati and Kahn, Ren{\'e} S and K{\"a}h{\"o}nen, Mika and Kamstrup, Pia R and Kanoni, Stavroula and Kaprio, Jaakko and Karaleftheri, Maria and Sharon L R Kardia and Karpe, Fredrik and Kee, Frank and Keeman, Renske and Lambertus A Kiemeney and Kitajima, Hidetoshi and Kluivers, Kirsten B and Kocher, Thomas and Komulainen, Pirjo and Kontto, Jukka and Kooner, Jaspal S and Charles Kooperberg and Kovacs, Peter and Kriebel, Jennifer and Kuivaniemi, Helena and K{\"u}ry, S{\'e}bastien and Kuusisto, Johanna and La Bianca, Martina and Laakso, Markku and Lakka, Timo A and Lange, Ethan M and Leslie A Lange and Langefeld, Carl D and Langenberg, Claudia and Eric B Larson and Lee, I-Te and Lehtim{\"a}ki, Terho and Lewis, Cora E and Li, Huaixing and Li, Jin and Li-Gao, Ruifang and Lin, Honghuang and Lin, Li-An and Lin, Xu and Lars Lind and Lindstr{\"o}m, Jaana and Linneberg, Allan and Liu, Yeheng and Yongmei Liu and Lophatananon, Artitaya and Luan, Jian{\textquoteright}an and Lubitz, Steven A and Lyytik{\"a}inen, Leo-Pekka and Mackey, David A and Pamela A F Madden and Alisa Manning and M{\"a}nnist{\"o}, Satu and Marenne, Ga{\"e}lle and Marten, Jonathan and Nicholas G Martin and Mazul, Angela L and Meidtner, Karina and Andres Metspalu and Mitchell, Paul and Mohlke, Karen L and Dennis O Mook-Kanamori and Morgan, Anna and Morris, Andrew D and Morris, Andrew P and M{\"u}ller-Nurasyid, Martina and Munroe, Patricia B and Michael A Nalls and Nauck, Matthias and Nelson, Christopher P and Neville, Matt and Sune Fallgaard Nielsen and Nikus, Kjell and Nj{\o}lstad, P{\r a}l R and B{\o}rge G Nordestgaard and Ntalla, Ioanna and Jeff O{\textquoteright}Connell and Oksa, Heikki and Loes M Olde Loohuis and Ophoff, Roel A and Owen, Katharine R and Packard, Chris J and Padmanabhan, Sandosh and Palmer, Colin N A and Pasterkamp, Gerard and Patel, Aniruddh P and Pattie, Alison and Pedersen, Oluf and Peissig, Peggy L and Peloso, Gina M and Pennell, Craig E and Markus Perola and Perry, James A and Perry, John R B and Person, Thomas N and Pirie, Ailith and Polasek, Ozren and Posthuma, Danielle and Olli T Raitakari and Rasheed, Asif and Rauramaa, Rainer and Reilly, Dermot F and Reiner, Alex P and Renstrom, Frida and Ridker, Paul M and Rioux, John D and Neil R Robertson and Robino, Antonietta and Rolandsson, Olov and Rudan, Igor and Ruth, Katherine S and Saleheen, Danish and Veikko Salomaa and Nilesh J Samani and Sandow, Kevin and Sapkota, Yadav and Sattar, Naveed and Schmidt, Marjanka K and Schreiner, Pamela J and Schulze, Matthias B and Scott, Robert A and Segura-Lepe, Marcelo P and Svati H Shah and Sim, Xueling and Sivapalaratnam, Suthesh and Small, Kerrin S and Albert Vernon Smith and Jennifer A Smith and Southam, Lorraine and Timothy Spector and Elizabeth K Speliotes and John M Starr and Steinthorsdottir, Valgerdur and Heather M Stringham and Stumvoll, Michael and Surendran, Praveen and {\textquoteright}t Hart, Leen M and Tansey, Katherine E and Tardif, Jean-Claude and Kent D Taylor and Teumer, Alexander and Thompson, Deborah J and Thorsteinsdottir, Unnur and Thuesen, Betina H and T{\"o}njes, Anke and Tromp, Gerard and Trompet, Stella and Tsafantakis, Emmanouil and Tuomilehto, Jaakko and Tybjaerg-Hansen, Anne and Tyrer, Jonathan P and Uher, Rudolf and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Ulivi, Sheila and van der Laan, Sander W and Van Der Leij, Andries R and Cornelia M van Duijn and van Schoor, Natasja M and van Setten, Jessica and Varbo, Anette and Varga, Tibor V and Varma, Rohit and Digna R Velez Edwards and Vermeulen, Sita H and Vestergaard, Henrik and Vitart, Veronique and Vogt, Thomas F and Vozzi, Diego and Walker, Mark and Wang, Feijie and Wang, Carol A and Wang, Shuai and Wang, Yiqin and Wareham, Nicholas J and Warren, Helen R and Wessel, Jennifer and Willems, Sara M and Wilson, James G and Daniel Witte and Woods, Michael O and Wu, Ying and Yaghootkar, Hanieh and Yao, Jie and Yao, Pang and Laura M Yerges-Armstrong and Young, Robin and Zeggini, Eleftheria and Zhan, Xiaowei and Zhang, Weihua and Jing Hua Zhao and Wei Zhao and Wei Zhao and Zheng, He and Zhou, Wei and Rotter, Jerome I and Boehnke, Michael and Kathiresan, Sekar and McCarthy, Mark I and Willer, Cristen J and Stefansson, Kari and Ingrid B Borecki and Liu, Dajiang J and Kari E North and Heard-Costa, Nancy L and Pers, Tune H and Lindgren, Cecilia M and Oxvig, Claus and Kutalik, Zolt{\'a}n and Fernando Rivadeneira and Ruth J F Loos and Timothy M Frayling and Joel N Hirschhron and Deloukas, Panos and Lettre, Guillaume} } @article {8816, title = {Receipt of Caregiving and Fall Risk in US Community-dwelling Older Adults.}, journal = {Med Care}, volume = {55}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 04}, pages = {371-378}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Falls and fall-related injuries (FRI) are common and costly occurrences among older adults living in the community, with increased risk for those with physical and cognitive limitations. Caregivers provide support for older adults with physical functioning limitations, which are associated with fall risk.

DESIGN: Using the 2004-2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, we examined whether receipt of low (0-13 weekly hours) and high levels (>=14 weekly hours) of informal care or any formal care is associated with lower risk of falls and FRIs among community-dwelling older adults. We additionally tested whether serious physical functioning (>=3 activities of daily living) or cognitive limitations moderated this relationship.

RESULTS: Caregiving receipt categories were jointly significant in predicting noninjurious falls (P=0.03) but not FRIs (P=0.30). High levels of informal care category (P=0.001) and formal care (P<0.001) had stronger associations with reduced fall risk relative to low levels of informal care. Among individuals with >=3 activities of daily living, fall risks were reduced by 21\% for those receiving high levels of informal care; additionally, FRIs were reduced by 42\% and 58\% for those receiving high levels of informal care and any formal care. High levels of informal care receipt were also associated with a 54\% FRI risk reduction among the cognitively impaired.

CONCLUSIONS: Fall risk reductions among older adults occurred predominantly among those with significant physical and cognitive limitations. Accordingly, policy efforts involving fall prevention should target populations with increased physical functioning and cognitive limitations. They should also reduce financial barriers to informal and formal caregiving.

}, keywords = {Accidental Falls, Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Caregivers, Female, Geriatric Assessment, Humans, Independent Living, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, United States}, issn = {1537-1948}, doi = {10.1097/MLR.0000000000000677}, url = {http://content.wkhealth.com/linkback/openurl?sid=WKPTLP:landingpage\&an=00005650-900000000-98801}, author = {Geoffrey J Hoffman and Hays, Ron D and Steven P Wallace and Martin F Shapiro and Yakusheva, Olga and Susan L Ettner} } @article {12120, title = {Single-trait and multi-trait genome-wide association analyses identify novel loci for blood pressure in African-ancestry populations.}, journal = {PLoS Genetics}, volume = {13}, year = {2017}, pages = {e1006728}, abstract = {

Hypertension is a leading cause of global disease, mortality, and disability. While individuals of African descent suffer a disproportionate burden of hypertension and its complications, they have been underrepresented in genetic studies. To identify novel susceptibility loci for blood pressure and hypertension in people of African ancestry, we performed both single and multiple-trait genome-wide association analyses. We analyzed 21 genome-wide association studies comprised of 31,968 individuals of African ancestry, and validated our results with additional 54,395 individuals from multi-ethnic studies. These analyses identified nine loci with eleven independent variants which reached genome-wide significance (P < 1.25{\texttimes}10-8) for either systolic and diastolic blood pressure, hypertension, or for combined traits. Single-trait analyses identified two loci (TARID/TCF21 and LLPH/TMBIM4) and multiple-trait analyses identified one novel locus (FRMD3) for blood pressure. At these three loci, as well as at GRP20/CDH17, associated variants had alleles common only in African-ancestry populations. Functional annotation showed enrichment for genes expressed in immune and kidney cells, as well as in heart and vascular cells/tissues. Experiments driven by these findings and using angiotensin-II induced hypertension in mice showed altered kidney mRNA expression of six genes, suggesting their potential role in hypertension. Our study provides new evidence for genes related to hypertension susceptibility, and the need to study African-ancestry populations in order to identify biologic factors contributing to hypertension.

}, keywords = {African Americans, Animals, Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors, Blood pressure, Cadherins, Case-Control Studies, Female, Genetic Loci, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Hypertension, Male, Membrane Proteins, Mice, Multifactorial Inheritance, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide}, issn = {1553-7404}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pgen.1006728}, author = {Liang, Jingjing and Le, Thu H and Digna R Velez Edwards and Bamidele O Tayo and Gaulton, Kyle J and Smith, Jennifer A and Lu, Yingchang and Jensen, Richard A and Chen, Guanjie and Yanek, Lisa R and Schwander, Karen and Tajuddin, Salman M and Sofer, Tamar and Kim, Wonji and Kayima, James and McKenzie, Colin A and Fox, Ervin and Michael A Nalls and Young, J Hunter and Yan V Sun and Lane, Jacqueline M and Cechova, Sylvia and Zhou, Jie and Tang, Hua and Myriam Fornage and Musani, Solomon K and Wang, Heming and Lee, Juyoung and Adeyemo, Adebowale and Dreisbach, Albert W and Forrester, Terrence and Chu, Pei-Lun and Anne Cappola and Michele K Evans and Alanna C Morrison and Martin, Lisa W and Kerri Wiggins and Hui, Qin and Zhao, Wei and Jackson, Rebecca D and Erin B Ware and Jessica Faul and Reiner, Alex P and Bray, Michael and Denny, Joshua C and Thomas H Mosley and Walter R Palmas and Guo, Xiuqing and George J Papanicolaou and Alan Penman and Polak, Joseph F and Kenneth Rice and Taylor, Ken D and Boerwinkle, Eric and Erwin P Bottinger and Liu, Kiang and Neil Risch and Hunt, Steven C and Charles Kooperberg and Alan B Zonderman and Laurie, Cathy C and Becker, Diane M and Cai, Jianwen and Ruth J F Loos and Psaty, Bruce M and David R Weir and Sharon L R Kardia and Donna K Arnett and Won, Sungho and Edwards, Todd L and Redline, Susan and Cooper, Richard S and Rao, D C and Rotter, Jerome I and Charles N Rotimi and Levy, Daniel and Chakravarti, Aravinda and Zhu, Xiaofeng and Franceschini, Nora} } @article {12133, title = {SOS2 and ACP1 Loci Identified through Large-Scale Exome Chip Analysis Regulate Kidney Development and Function.}, journal = {Journal of the American Society of Nephrology }, volume = {28}, year = {2017}, pages = {981-994}, abstract = {

Genome-wide association studies have identified >50 common variants associated with kidney function, but these variants do not fully explain the variation in eGFR. We performed a two-stage meta-analysis of associations between genotypes from the Illumina exome array and eGFR on the basis of serum creatinine (eGFRcrea) among participants of European ancestry from the CKDGen Consortium (: 111,666; : 48,343). In single-variant analyses, we identified single nucleotide polymorphisms at seven new loci associated with eGFRcrea (, , and ; <3.7{\texttimes}10), of which most were common and annotated as nonsynonymous variants. Gene-based analysis identified associations of functional rare variants in three genes with eGFRcrea, including a novel association with the SOS Ras/Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 2 gene, (=5.4{\texttimes}10 by sequence kernel association test). Experimental follow-up in zebrafish embryos revealed changes in glomerular gene expression and renal tubule morphology in the embryonic kidney of and -knockdowns. These developmental abnormalities associated with altered blood clearance rate and heightened prevalence of edema. This study expands the number of loci associated with kidney function and identifies novel genes with potential roles in kidney formation.

}, keywords = {Animals, Exome, Genetic Loci, Genome-Wide Association Study, Glomerular Filtration Rate, Humans, kidney, Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases, Proto-Oncogene Proteins, Son of Sevenless Proteins, Zebrafish}, issn = {1533-3450}, doi = {10.1681/ASN.2016020131}, author = {Li, Man and Li, Yong and Weeks, Olivia and Mijatovic, Vladan and Teumer, Alexander and Huffman, Jennifer E and Tromp, Gerard and Fuchsberger, Christian and Gorski, Mathias and Lyytik{\"a}inen, Leo-Pekka and Nutile, Teresa and Sedaghat, Sanaz and Sorice, Rossella and Tin, Adrienne and Yang, Qiong and Ahluwalia, Tarunveer S and Dan E Arking and Bihlmeyer, Nathan A and B{\"o}ger, Carsten A and Carroll, Robert J and Daniel I Chasman and Marilyn C Cornelis and Dehghan, Abbas and Jessica Faul and Feitosa, Mary F and Gambaro, Giovanni and Paolo P. Gasparini and Giulianini, Franco and Iris M Heid and Huang, Jinyan and Imboden, Medea and Jackson, Anne U and Janina Jeff and Jhun, Min A and Katz, Ronit and Kifley, Annette and Kilpel{\"a}inen, Tuomas O and Kumar, Ashish and Laakso, Markku and Li-Gao, Ruifang and Kurt Lohman and Lu, Yingchang and M{\"a}gi, Reedik and Malerba, Giovanni and Mihailov, Evelin and Mohlke, Karen L and Dennis O Mook-Kanamori and Robino, Antonietta and Ruderfer, Douglas and Salvi, Erika and Schick, Ursula M and Schulz, Christina-Alexandra and Smith, Albert V and Smith, Jennifer A and Traglia, Michela and Laura M Yerges-Armstrong and Zhao, Wei and Goodarzi, Mark O and Kraja, Aldi T and Liu, Chunyu and Wessel, Jennifer and Boerwinkle, Eric and Ingrid B Borecki and Bork-Jensen, Jette and Erwin P Bottinger and Braga, Daniele and Brandslund, Ivan and Brody, Jennifer A and Campbell, Archie and Carey, David J and Cramer Christensen and Coresh, Josef and Crook, Errol and Curhan, Gary C and Cusi, Daniele and de Boer, Ian H and de Vries, Aiko P J and Denny, Joshua C and Devuyst, Olivier and Dreisbach, Albert W and Endlich, Karlhans and T{\~o}nu Esko and Franco, Oscar H and Fulop, Tibor and Gerhard, Glenn S and Gl{\"u}mer, Charlotte and Gottesman, Omri and Grarup, Niels and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Hansen, Torben and Tamara B Harris and Caroline Hayward and Lynne J Hocking and Hofman, Albert and Hu, Frank B and Husemoen, Lise Lotte N and Jackson, Rebecca D and J{\o}rgensen, Torben and J{\o}rgensen, Marit E and K{\"a}h{\"o}nen, Mika and Sharon L R Kardia and K{\"o}nig, Wolfgang and Charles Kooperberg and Kriebel, Jennifer and Lenore J Launer and Lauritzen, Torsten and Lehtim{\"a}ki, Terho and Levy, Daniel and Linksted, Pamela and Linneberg, Allan and Liu, Yongmei and Ruth J F Loos and Lupo, Antonio and Meisinger, Christine and Melander, Olle and Andres Metspalu and Mitchell, Paul and Nauck, Matthias and N{\"u}rnberg, Peter and Orho-Melander, Marju and Parsa, Afshin and Pedersen, Oluf and Peters, Annette and Peters, Ulrike and Polasek, Ozren and David J Porteous and Nicole M Probst-Hensch and Psaty, Bruce M and Qi, Lu and Olli T Raitakari and Reiner, Alex P and Rettig, Rainer and Ridker, Paul M and Fernando Rivadeneira and Rossouw, Jacques E and Schmidt, Frank and David S Siscovick and Soranzo, Nicole and Strauch, Konstantin and Toniolo, Daniela and Stephen T Turner and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Ulivi, Sheila and Velayutham, Dinesh and V{\"o}lker, Uwe and V{\"o}lzke, Henry and Waldenberger, Melanie and Wang, Jie Jin and David R Weir and Daniel Witte and Kuivaniemi, Helena and Caroline S Fox and Franceschini, Nora and Goessling, Wolfram and K{\"o}ttgen, Anna and Chu, Audrey Y} } @article {8965, title = {Subjective and objective cognitive function among older adults with a history of traumatic brain injury: A population-based cohort study.}, journal = {PLoS Medicine}, volume = {14}, year = {2017}, month = {03/2017}, pages = {e1002246}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is extremely common across the lifespan and is an established risk factor for dementia. The cognitive profile of the large and growing population of older adults with prior TBI who do not have a diagnosis of dementia, however, has not been well described. Our aim was to describe the cognitive profile associated with prior TBI exposure among community-dwelling older adults without dementia-an understudied but potentially vulnerable population.

METHODS AND FINDINGS: In this population-based cohort study, we studied 984 community-dwelling older adults (age 51 y and older and their spouses) without dementia who had been randomly selected from respondents to the 2014 wave of the Health and Retirement Study to participate in a comprehensive TBI survey and who either reported no prior TBI (n = 737) or prior symptomatic TBI resulting in treatment in a hospital (n = 247). Mean time since first TBI was 38 {\textpm} 19 y. Outcomes assessed included measures of global cognitive function, verbal episodic memory, semantic fluency, and calculation as well as a measure of subjective memory ("How would you rate your memory at the present time?"). We compared outcomes between the two TBI groups using regression models adjusting for demographics, medical comorbidities, and depression. Sensitivity analyses were performed stratified by TBI severity (no TBI, TBI without loss of consciousness [LOC], and TBI with LOC). Respondents with TBI were younger (mean age 64 {\textpm} 10 y versus 68 {\textpm} 11 y), were less likely to be female, and had higher prevalence of medical comorbidities and depression than respondents without TBI. Respondents with TBI did not perform significantly differently from respondents without TBI on any measure of objective cognitive function in either raw or adjusted models (fully adjusted: global cognitive function score 15.4 versus 15.2, p = 0.68; verbal episodic memory score 4.4 versus 4.3, p = 0.79; semantic fluency score 15.7 versus 14.0, p = 0.21; calculation impairment 22\% versus 26\%, risk ratio [RR] [95\% CI] = 0.86 [0.67-1.11], p = 0.24). Sensitivity analyses stratified by TBI severity produced similar results. TBI was associated with significantly increased risk for subjective memory impairment in models adjusted for demographics and medical comorbidities (29\% versus 24\%; RR [95\% CI]: 1.26 [1.02-1.57], p = 0.036). After further adjustment for active depression, however, risk for subjective memory impairment was no longer significant (RR [95\% CI]: 1.18 [0.95-1.47], p = 0.13). Sensitivity analyses revealed that risk of subjective memory impairment was increased only among respondents with TBI with LOC and not among those with TBI without LOC. Furthermore, the risk of subjective memory impairment was significantly greater among those with TBI with LOC versus those without TBI even after adjustment for depression (RR [95\% CI]: partially adjusted, 1.38 [1.09-1.74], p = 0.008; fully adjusted, 1.28 [1.01-1.61], p = 0.039).

CONCLUSIONS: In this population-based study of community-dwelling older adults without dementia, those with prior TBI with LOC were more likely to report subjective memory impairment compared to those without TBI even after adjustment for demographics, medical comorbidities, and active depression. Lack of greater objective cognitive impairment among those with versus without TBI may be due to poor sensitivity of the cognitive battery or survival bias, or may suggest that post-TBI cognitive impairment primarily affects executive function and processing speed, which were not rigorously assessed in this study. Our findings show that among community-dwelling non-demented older adults, history of TBI is common but may not preferentially impact cognitive domains of episodic memory, attention, working memory, verbal semantic fluency, or calculation.

}, keywords = {Brain injury, Cognitive Ability, Older Adults}, issn = {1549-1676}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pmed.1002246}, author = {Raquel C Gardner and Kenneth M. Langa and Kristine Yaffe} } @article {8838, title = {The Aggregate Implications of Gender and Marriage}, number = {Working Paper No. 22817}, year = {2016}, month = {11/2016}, pages = {1-54}, institution = {National Bureau of Economic Research}, address = {Cambridge, MA}, abstract = {Wages and life expectancy, as well as labor market outcomes, savings, and consumption, differ by gender and marital status. In this paper we compare the aggregate implications of two dynamic structural models. The first model is a standard, quantitative, life-cycle economy, in which people are only heterogenous by age and realized earnings shocks, and is calibrated using data on men, as typically done. The second model is one in which people are also heterogeneous by gender, marital status, wages, and life expectancy, and is calibrated using data for married and single men and women. We show that the standard life-cycle economy misses important aspects of aggregate savings, labor supply, earnings, and consumption. In contrast, the model with richer heterogeneity by gender, marital status, wage, and life expectancy matches the observed data well. We also show that the effects of changing life expectancy and the gender wage gap depend on marital status and gender, and that it is essential to not only model couples, but also the labor supply response of both men and women in a couple.}, keywords = {Gender Differences, Marriage, Older Adults, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction, Women and Minorities}, doi = {10.3386/w22817}, url = {http://www.nber.org/papers/w22817.pdf}, author = {Borella, Margherita and Mariacristina De Nardi and Yang, Fang} } @article {8414, title = {Combat exposure, social relationships, and subjective well-being among middle-aged and older Veterans.}, journal = {Aging Ment Health}, volume = {20}, year = {2016}, month = {2016}, pages = {637-46}, publisher = {20}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: This study described the association of subjective well-being with combat exposure and social relationships among middle-aged and older Veteran men in the USA. The stress-buffering hypothesis, which predicts social relationships may moderate the association between combat exposure and subjective well-being, was also examined.

METHOD: Data from the 2008 Health and Retirement Study (N = 2961) were used to estimate logistic regression models, focusing on three measures of subjective well-being: depression, life satisfaction, and self-reported health.

RESULTS: In the fully adjusted models, there were no statistically significant relationships between combat exposure and the three indicators of subjective well-being. However, compared to Veterans who had lower scores on the social relationship index, Veterans who had higher scores were less likely to be depressed and less likely to report poor or fair health. Veterans who had higher scores on the social relationships index reported higher levels of life satisfaction than those Veterans who had lower scores. There was no evidence for a social relationships buffering effect.

CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that combat exposure did not have a long-term relationship with subjective well-being. Longitudinal research designs with more comprehensive indicators of combat exposure may help researchers better understand some of the underlying complexity of this relationship. Complementary research with samples of women Veterans, as well as samples of Hispanic, and non-Black, non-White Veterans, is also needed.

}, keywords = {Aged, Combat Disorders, depression, Health Status, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Middle Aged, Personal Satisfaction, United States, Veterans}, issn = {1364-6915}, doi = {10.1080/13607863.2015.1033679}, url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84928663859andpartnerID=40andmd5=1e37c22429f6fa6e7b41027ddedf9237}, author = {Mai See Yang and Jeffrey A Burr} } @article {8376, title = {The determinants of presenteeism: a comprehensive investigation of stress-related factors at work, health, and individual factors among the aging workforce.}, journal = {J Occup Health}, volume = {58}, year = {2016}, month = {2016}, pages = {25-35}, publisher = {58}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify the determinants of presenteeism, taking health and individual factors into account.

METHODS: A quantitative analysis applying structural equation modelling analysis was conducted on the basis of secondary data from the Health and Retirement Survey (2008 wave), which measured presenteeism and its determinants.

RESULTS: Stress-related factors at work (β =-0.35, p<0.001), individual factors (α =-0.27, p<0.001), and health (β =0.24, p<0.001) were significantly related to presenteeism. Individual factors were found to be directly correlated with stress-related factors at work (β =0.22, p<0.001). Significant indirect effects between stress-related factors at work and presenteeism (Sobel z=-6.61; p<0.001) and between individual factors and presenteeism (Sobel z=-4.42; p<0.001), which were mediated by health, were also found. Overall, the final model accounted for 37\% (R(2)=0.37) of the variance in presenteeism.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates some important and practical guidelines for employers to avoid the burdens of stress-related presenteeism among their employees. These findings could help select target factors in the design and implementation of effective presenteeism interventions in the aging working population.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Aging, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Occupational Diseases, Presenteeism, Stress, Psychological, United States, Workplace}, issn = {1348-9585}, doi = {10.1539/joh.15-0114-OA}, url = {https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/joh/58/1/58_15-0114-OA/_article}, author = {Tianan Yang and Zhu, Mingjing and Xiyao Xie} } @proceedings {8795, title = {Genetic approaches in studying work-family conflict and enrichment.}, journal = {Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology}, year = {2016}, edition = {Novel methods to advance work-family research}, address = {Anaheim, CA}, keywords = {Conflict, Genetics, Older Adults}, author = {Yu, P. P. and Shockley, K. M.} } @article {8879, title = {Genetic associations at 53 loci highlight cell types and biological pathways relevant for kidney function.}, journal = {Nat Commun}, volume = {7}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Jan 21}, pages = {10023}, abstract = {

Reduced glomerular filtration rate defines chronic kidney disease and is associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), combining data across 133,413 individuals with replication in up to 42,166 individuals. We identify 24 new and confirm 29 previously identified loci. Of these 53 loci, 19 associate with eGFR among individuals with diabetes. Using bioinformatics, we show that identified genes at eGFR loci are enriched for expression in kidney tissues and in pathways relevant for kidney development and transmembrane transporter activity, kidney structure, and regulation of glucose metabolism. Chromatin state mapping and DNase I hypersensitivity analyses across adult tissues demonstrate preferential mapping of associated variants to regulatory regions in kidney but not extra-renal tissues. These findings suggest that genetic determinants of eGFR are mediated largely through direct effects within the kidney and highlight important cell types and biological pathways.

}, keywords = {Chronic disease, Genome-Wide Association Study, Genotype, Humans}, issn = {2041-1723}, doi = {10.1038/ncomms10023}, author = {Pattaro, Cristian and Teumer, Alexander and Gorski, Mathias and Chu, Audrey Y and Li, Man and Mijatovic, Vladan and Garnaas, Maija and Tin, Adrienne and Sorice, Rossella and Yong Li and Taliun, Daniel and Olden, Matthias and Foster, Meredith and Qiong Yang and Chen, Ming-Huei and Pers, Tune H and Andrew D Johnson and Ko, Yi-An and Fuchsberger, Christian and Bamidele O Tayo and Michael A Nalls and Feitosa, Mary F and Isaacs, Aaron and Dehghan, Abbas and d{\textquoteright}Adamo, Pio and Adebawole Adeyemo and Dieffenbach, Aida Karina and Alan B Zonderman and Ilja M Nolte and van der Most, Peter J and Alan F Wright and Alan R Shuldiner and Alanna C Morrison and Hofman, Albert and Albert Vernon Smith and Dreisbach, Albert W and Franke, Andre and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Andres Metspalu and T{\"o}njes, Anke and Lupo, Antonio and Robino, Antonietta and Johansson, {\r A}sa and Demirkan, Ayse and Kollerits, Barbara and Freedman, Barry I and Ponte, Belen and Ben A Oostra and Paulweber, Bernhard and Kr{\"a}mer, Bernhard K and Mitchell, Braxton D and Buckley, Brendan M and Peralta, Carmen A and Caroline Hayward and Helmer, Catherine and Charles N Rotimi and Shaffer, Christian M and M{\"u}ller, Christian and Cinzia Felicita Sala and Cornelia M van Duijn and Saint-Pierre, Aude and Daniel Ackermann and Daniel Shriner and Ruggiero, Daniela and Toniolo, Daniela and Lu, Yingchang and Cusi, Daniele and Czamara, Darina and Ellinghaus, David and David S Siscovick and Ruderfer, Douglas and Gieger, Christian and Grallert, Harald and Rochtchina, Elena and Atkinson, Elizabeth J and Holliday, Elizabeth G and Boerwinkle, Eric and Salvi, Erika and Erwin P Bottinger and Murgia, Federico and Fernando Rivadeneira and Ernst, Florian and Kronenberg, Florian and Hu, Frank B and Navis, Gerjan J and Curhan, Gary C and Georg B Ehret and Homuth, Georg and Coassin, Stefan and Thun, Gian-Andri and Pistis, Giorgio and Gambaro, Giovanni and Malerba, Giovanni and Grant W Montgomery and Gu{\dh}ny Eir{\'\i}ksd{\'o}ttir and Jacobs, Gunnar and Guo Li and Wichmann, H-Erich and Campbell, Harry and Schmidt, Helena and Wallaschofski, Henri and V{\"o}lzke, Henry and Brenner, Hermann and Kroemer, Heyo K and Kramer, Holly and Lin, Honghuang and Irene Mateo Leach and Ford, Ian and Guessous, Idris and Rudan, Igor and Prokopenko, Inga and Ingrid B Borecki and Iris M Heid and Kolcic, Ivana and Persico, Ivana and Jukema, J Wouter and James F Wilson and Felix, Janine F and Divers, Jasmin and Lambert, Jean-Charles and Stafford, Jeanette M and Gaspoz, Jean-Michel and Jennifer A Smith and Jessica Faul and Wang, Jie Jin and Ding, Jingzhong and Joel N Hirschhron and John R. Attia and Whitfield, John B and Chalmers, John and Viikari, Jorma and Coresh, Josef and Denny, Joshua C and Karjalainen, Juha and Fernandes, Jyotika K and Endlich, Karlhans and Butterbach, Katja and Keene, Keith L and Kurt Lohman and Portas, Laura and Lenore J Launer and Lyytik{\"a}inen, Leo-Pekka and Yengo, Loic and Lude L Franke and Luigi Ferrucci and Rose, Lynda M and Kedenko, Lyudmyla and Rao, Madhumathi and Struchalin, Maksim and Kleber, Marcus E and Cavalieri, Margherita and Haun, Margot and Marilyn C Cornelis and Ciullo, Marina and Pirastu, Mario and de Andrade, Mariza and McEvoy, Mark A and Woodward, Mark and Adam, Martin and Cocca, Massimiliano and Nauck, Matthias and Imboden, Medea and Waldenberger, Melanie and Pruijm, Menno and Metzger, Marie and Stumvoll, Michael and Michele K Evans and Sale, Michele M and K{\"a}h{\"o}nen, Mika and Boban, Mladen and Bochud, Murielle and Rheinberger, Myriam and Verweij, Niek and Bouatia-Naji, Nabila and Nicholas G Martin and Nicholas D Hastie and Nicole M Probst-Hensch and Soranzo, Nicole and Devuyst, Olivier and Olli T Raitakari and Gottesman, Omri and Franco, Oscar H and Polasek, Ozren and Paolo P. Gasparini and Munroe, Patricia B and Ridker, Paul M and Mitchell, Paul and Muntner, Paul and Meisinger, Christa and Johannes H Smit and Kovacs, Peter and Wild, Philipp S and Froguel, Philippe and Rettig, Rainer and M{\"a}gi, Reedik and Biffar, Reiner and Schmidt, Reinhold and Middelberg, Rita P S and Carroll, Robert J and Brenda W J H Penninx and Rodney J Scott and Katz, Ronit and Sedaghat, Sanaz and Sarah Wild and Sharon L R Kardia and Ulivi, Sheila and Hwang, Shih-Jen and Enroth, Stefan and Kloiber, Stefan and Trompet, Stella and Stengel, Benedicte and Hancock, Stephen J and Stephen T Turner and Rosas, Sylvia E and Stracke, Sylvia and Tamara B Harris and Zeller, Tanja and Zemunik, Tatijana and Lehtim{\"a}ki, Terho and Illig, Thomas and Aspelund, Thor and Nikopensius, Tiit and T{\~o}nu Esko and Toshiko Tanaka and Gyllensten, Ulf and V{\"o}lker, Uwe and Emilsson, Valur and Vitart, Veronique and Aalto, Ville and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Chouraki, Vincent and Chen, Wei-Min and Igl, Wilmar and M{\"a}rz, Winfried and Koenig, Wolfgang and Lieb, Wolfgang and Ruth J F Loos and Yongmei Liu and Snieder, Harold and Pramstaller, Peter P and Parsa, Afshin and Jeff O{\textquoteright}Connell and Susztak, Katalin and Hamet, Pavel and Tremblay, Johanne and de Boer, Ian H and B{\"o}ger, Carsten A and Goessling, Wolfram and Daniel I Chasman and K{\"o}ttgen, Anna and Kao, W H Linda and Caroline S Fox} } @article {8618, title = {Genetic variants associated with subjective well-being, depressive symptoms, and neuroticism identified through genome-wide analyses.}, journal = {Nat Genet}, volume = {48}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 06}, pages = {624-33}, abstract = {

Very few genetic variants have been associated with depression and neuroticism, likely because of limitations on sample size in previous studies. Subjective well-being, a phenotype that is genetically correlated with both of these traits, has not yet been studied with genome-wide data. We conducted genome-wide association studies of three phenotypes: subjective well-being (n = 298,420), depressive symptoms (n = 161,460), and neuroticism (n = 170,911). We identify 3 variants associated with subjective well-being, 2 variants associated with depressive symptoms, and 11 variants associated with neuroticism, including 2 inversion polymorphisms. The two loci associated with depressive symptoms replicate in an independent depression sample. Joint analyses that exploit the high genetic correlations between the phenotypes (|ρ^| ≈ 0.8) strengthen the overall credibility of the findings and allow us to identify additional variants. Across our phenotypes, loci regulating expression in central nervous system and adrenal or pancreas tissues are strongly enriched for association.

}, keywords = {Anxiety Disorders, Bayes Theorem, depression, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Neuroticism, Phenotype, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide}, issn = {1546-1718}, doi = {10.1038/ng.3552}, author = {Okbay, Aysu and Baselmans, Bart M L and De Neve, Jan-Emmanuel and Turley, Patrick and Nivard, Michel G and Mark Alan Fontana and Meddens, S Fleur W and Richard Karlsson Linn{\'e}r and Cornelius A Rietveld and Derringer, Jaime and Gratten, Jacob and Lee, James J and Liu, Jimmy Z and de Vlaming, Ronald and Ahluwalia, Tarunveer S and Buchwald, Jadwiga and Cavadino, Alana and Frazier-Wood, Alexis C and Furlotte, Nicholas A and Garfield, Victoria and Geisel, Marie Henrike and Gonzalez, Juan R and Haitjema, Saskia and Karlsson, Robert and van der Laan, Sander W and Ladwig, Karl-Heinz and J. Lahti and Sven J van der Lee and Penelope A Lind and Tian Liu and Lindsay K Matteson and Mihailov, Evelin and Michael B Miller and Minica, Camelia C and Ilja M Nolte and Dennis O Mook-Kanamori and van der Most, Peter J and Christopher J Oldmeadow and Qian, Yong and Olli T Raitakari and Rawal, Rajesh and Realo, Anu and Rueedi, Rico and Schmidt, B{\"o}rge and Albert Vernon Smith and Stergiakouli, Evie and Toshiko Tanaka and Kent D Taylor and Wedenoja, Juho and J{\"u}rgen Wellmann and Westra, Harm-Jan and Willems, Sara M and Wei Zhao and Amin, Najaf and Bakshi, Andrew and Patricia A. Boyle and Cherney, Samantha and Cox, Simon R and Gail Davies and Davis, Oliver S P and Ding, Jun and Nese Direk and Eibich, Peter and Emeny, Rebecca T and Fatemifar, Ghazaleh and Jessica Faul and Luigi Ferrucci and Andreas J Forstner and Gieger, Christian and Gupta, Richa and Tamara B Harris and Harris, Juliette M and Holliday, Elizabeth G and Jouke-Jan Hottenga and Philip L de Jager and Marika A Kaakinen and Kajantie, Eero and Karhunen, Ville and Kolcic, Ivana and Kumari, Meena and Lenore J Launer and Lude L Franke and Li-Gao, Ruifang and Koini, Marisa and Loukola, Anu and Marques-Vidal, Pedro and Grant W Montgomery and Mosing, Miriam A and Paternoster, Lavinia and Pattie, Alison and Katja E Petrovic and Pulkki-Raback, Laura and Quaye, Lydia and Katri R{\"a}ikk{\"o}nen and Rudan, Igor and Rodney J Scott and Jennifer A Smith and Angelina R Sutin and Trzaskowski, Maciej and Anna A E Vinkhuyzen and Lei Yu and Zabaneh, Delilah and John R. Attia and David A Bennett and Klaus Berger and Bertram, Lars and Dorret I Boomsma and Snieder, Harold and Chang, Shun-Chiao and Francesco Cucca and Ian J Deary and Cornelia M van Duijn and Johan G Eriksson and B{\"u}ltmann, Ute and Eco J. C. de Geus and Groenen, Patrick J F and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Hansen, Torben and Catharina A Hartman and Haworth, Claire M A and Caroline Hayward and Andrew C Heath and Hinds, David A and Hypp{\"o}nen, Elina and Iacono, William G and J{\"a}rvelin, Marjo-Riitta and J{\"o}ckel, Karl-Heinz and Kaprio, Jaakko and Sharon L R Kardia and Keltikangas-J{\"a}rvinen, Liisa and Kraft, Peter and Laura D Kubzansky and Lehtim{\"a}ki, Terho and Patrik K E Magnusson and Nicholas G Martin and McGue, Matt and Andres Metspalu and Melinda C Mills and de Mutsert, Ren{\'e}e and Oldehinkel, Albertine J and Pasterkamp, Gerard and Nancy L Pedersen and Plomin, Robert and Polasek, Ozren and Power, Christine and Rich, Stephen S and Rosendaal, Frits R and Hester M. den Ruijter and Schlessinger, David and Schmidt, Helena and Svento, Rauli and Schmidt, Reinhold and Alizadeh, Behrooz Z and Thorkild I. A. S{\o}rensen and Timothy Spector and Andrew Steptoe and Antonio Terracciano and A. Roy Thurik and Nicholas J Timpson and Henning Tiemeier and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Vollenweider, Peter and Wagner, Gert G and David R Weir and Yang, Jian and Dalton C Conley and Hofman, Albert and Johannesson, Magnus and David I Laibson and Sarah E Medland and Meyer, Michelle N and Pickrell, Joseph K and T{\~o}nu Esko and Krueger, Robert F and Jonathan P. Beauchamp and Philipp D Koellinger and Daniel J. Benjamin and Bartels, Meike and Cesarini, David} } @article {8881, title = {Genome-wide analysis identifies 12 loci influencing human reproductive behavior.}, journal = {Nat Genet}, volume = {48}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Dec}, pages = {1462-1472}, abstract = {

The genetic architecture of human reproductive behavior-age at first birth (AFB) and number of children ever born (NEB)-has a strong relationship with fitness, human development, infertility and risk of neuropsychiatric disorders. However, very few genetic loci have been identified, and the underlying mechanisms of AFB and NEB are poorly understood. We report a large genome-wide association study of both sexes including 251,151 individuals for AFB and 343,072 individuals for NEB. We identified 12 independent loci that are significantly associated with AFB and/or NEB in a SNP-based genome-wide association study and 4 additional loci associated in a gene-based effort. These loci harbor genes that are likely to have a role, either directly or by affecting non-local gene expression, in human reproduction and infertility, thereby increasing understanding of these complex traits.

}, issn = {1546-1718}, doi = {10.1038/ng.3698}, author = {Nicola Barban and Jansen, Rick and de Vlaming, Ronald and Vaez, Ahmad and Mandemakers, Jornt J and Felix C Tropf and Shen, Xia and James F Wilson and Daniel I Chasman and Ilja M Nolte and Tragante, Vinicius and van der Laan, Sander W and Perry, John R B and Kong, Augustine and Ahluwalia, Tarunveer S and Albrecht, Eva and Laura M Yerges-Armstrong and Atzmon, Gil and Auro, Kirsi and Kristin L. Ayers and Bakshi, Andrew and Ben-Avraham, Danny and Klaus Berger and Bergman, Aviv and Bertram, Lars and Bielak, Lawrence F and Bjornsdottir, Gyda and Bonder, Marc Jan and Broer, Linda and Bui, Minh and Barbieri, Caterina and Cavadino, Alana and Chavarro, Jorge E and Turman, Constance and Maria Pina Concas and Cordell, Heather J and Gail Davies and Eibich, Peter and Eriksson, Nicholas and T{\~o}nu Esko and Eriksson, Joel and Falahi, Fahimeh and Felix, Janine F and Mark Alan Fontana and Lude L Franke and Gandin, Ilaria and Gaskins, Audrey J and Gieger, Christian and Gunderson, Erica P and Guo, Xiuqing and Caroline Hayward and He, Chunyan and Edith Hofer and Huang, Hongyan and Joshi, Peter K and Kanoni, Stavroula and Karlsson, Robert and Kiechl, Stefan and Kifley, Annette and Kluttig, Alexander and Kraft, Peter and Lagou, Vasiliki and Lecoeur, Cecile and Lahti, Jari and Li-Gao, Ruifang and Penelope A Lind and Tian Liu and Makalic, Enes and Mamasoula, Crysovalanto and Lindsay K Matteson and Mbarek, Hamdi and McArdle, Patrick F and McMahon, George and Meddens, S Fleur W and Mihailov, Evelin and Michael B Miller and Missmer, Stacey A and Monnereau, Claire and van der Most, Peter J and Myhre, Ronny and Michael A Nalls and Nutile, Teresa and Ioanna Panagiota Kalafati and Porcu, Eleonora and Prokopenko, Inga and Rajan, Kumar B and Rich-Edwards, Janet and Cornelius A Rietveld and Robino, Antonietta and Rose, Lynda M and Rueedi, Rico and Ryan, Kathleen A and Saba, Yasaman and Schmidt, Daniel and Jennifer A Smith and Stolk, Lisette and Streeten, Elizabeth and T{\"o}njes, Anke and Thorleifsson, Gudmar and Ulivi, Sheila and Wedenoja, Juho and J{\"u}rgen Wellmann and Willeit, Peter and Yao, Jie and Yengo, Loic and Jing Hua Zhao and Wei Zhao and Zhernakova, Daria V and Amin, Najaf and Andrews, Howard and Balkau, Beverley and Barzilai, Nir and Bergmann, Sven and Biino, Ginevra and Bisgaard, Hans and B{\o}nnelykke, Klaus and Dorret I Boomsma and Buring, Julie E and Campbell, Harry and Cappellani, Stefania and Ciullo, Marina and Cox, Simon R and Francesco Cucca and Toniolo, Daniela and Davey-Smith, George and Ian J Deary and George Dedoussis and Deloukas, Panos and Cornelia M van Duijn and Eco J. C. de Geus and Johan G Eriksson and Jessica Faul and Cinzia Felicita Sala and Froguel, Philippe and Paolo P. Gasparini and Giorgia G Girotto and Hans-J{\"o}rgen Grabe and Greiser, Karin Halina and Groenen, Patrick J F and de Haan, Hugoline G and Haerting, Johannes and Tamara B Harris and Andrew C Heath and Heikkil{\"a}, Kauko and Hofman, Albert and Homuth, Georg and Holliday, Elizabeth G and John L Hopper and Hypp{\"o}nen, Elina and Jacobsson, Bo and Vincent Jaddoe and Johannesson, Magnus and Jugessur, Astanand and K{\"a}h{\"o}nen, Mika and Kajantie, Eero and Sharon L R Kardia and Keavney, Bernard and Kolcic, Ivana and Koponen, P{\"a}ivikki and Kovacs, Peter and Kronenberg, Florian and Kutalik, Zolt{\'a}n and La Bianca, Martina and Lachance, Genevieve and Iacono, William G and Lai, Sandra and Lehtim{\"a}ki, Terho and David C Liewald and Lindgren, Cecilia M and Yongmei Liu and Luben, Robert and Lucht, Michael and Luoto, Riitta and Magnus, Per and Patrik K E Magnusson and Nicholas G Martin and McGue, Matt and McQuillan, Ruth and Sarah E Medland and Meisinger, Christa and Mellstr{\"o}m, Dan and Andres Metspalu and Traglia, Michela and Lili Milani and Mitchell, Paul and Grant W Montgomery and Dennis O Mook-Kanamori and de Mutsert, Ren{\'e}e and Nohr, Ellen A and Ohlsson, Claes and Olsen, J{\o}rn and Ong, Ken K and Paternoster, Lavinia and Pattie, Alison and Brenda W J H Penninx and Markus Perola and Peyser, Patricia A and Pirastu, Mario and Polasek, Ozren and Power, Chris and Kaprio, Jaakko and Raffel, Leslie J and Katri R{\"a}ikk{\"o}nen and Olli T Raitakari and Ridker, Paul M and Ring, Susan M and Roll, Kathryn and Rudan, Igor and Ruggiero, Daniela and Rujescu, Dan and Veikko Salomaa and Schlessinger, David and Schmidt, Helena and Schmidt, Reinhold and Schupf, Nicole and Johannes H Smit and Sorice, Rossella and Timothy Spector and John M Starr and St{\"o}ckl, Doris and Strauch, Konstantin and Stumvoll, Michael and Swertz, Morris A and Thorsteinsdottir, Unnur and A. Roy Thurik and Nicholas J Timpson and Tung, Joyce Y and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Vaccargiu, Simona and Viikari, Jorma and Vitart, Veronique and V{\"o}lzke, Henry and Vollenweider, Peter and Vuckovic, Dragana and Waage, Johannes and Wagner, Gert G and Wang, Jie Jin and Wareham, Nicholas J and David R Weir and Gonneke Willemsen and Willeit, Johann and Alan F Wright and Krina T Zondervan and Stefansson, Kari and Krueger, Robert F and Lee, James J and Daniel J. Benjamin and Cesarini, David and Philipp D Koellinger and den Hoed, Marcel and Snieder, Harold and Melinda C Mills} } @article {8883, title = {Genome-wide association study identifies 74 loci associated with educational attainment.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {533}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 05 26}, pages = {539-42}, abstract = {

Educational attainment is strongly influenced by social and other environmental factors, but genetic factors are estimated to account for at least 20\% of the variation across individuals. Here we report the results of a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for educational attainment that extends our earlier discovery sample of 101,069 individuals to 293,723 individuals, and a replication study in an independent sample of 111,349 individuals from the UK Biobank. We identify 74 genome-wide significant loci associated with the number of years of schooling completed. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with educational attainment are disproportionately found in genomic regions regulating gene expression in the fetal brain. Candidate genes are preferentially expressed in neural tissue, especially during the prenatal period, and enriched for biological pathways involved in neural development. Our findings demonstrate that, even for a behavioural phenotype that is mostly environmentally determined, a well-powered GWAS identifies replicable associated genetic variants that suggest biologically relevant pathways. Because educational attainment is measured in large numbers of individuals, it will continue to be useful as a proxy phenotype in efforts to characterize the genetic influences of related phenotypes, including cognition and neuropsychiatric diseases.

}, keywords = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, Bipolar Disorder, Cognitive Ability, Education, Fetus, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Molecular Sequence Annotation, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Schizophrenia, United Kingdom}, issn = {1476-4687}, doi = {10.1038/nature17671}, author = {Okbay, Aysu and Jonathan P. Beauchamp and Mark Alan Fontana and Lee, James J and Pers, Tune H and Cornelius A Rietveld and Turley, Patrick and Chen, Guo-Bo and Emilsson, Valur and Meddens, S Fleur W and Oskarsson, Sven and Pickrell, Joseph K and Thom, Kevin and Pascal N Timshel and de Vlaming, Ronald and Abdel Abdellaoui and Ahluwalia, Tarunveer S and Bacelis, Jonas and Baumbach, Clemens and Bjornsdottir, Gyda and Brandsma, Johannes H and Maria Pina Concas and Derringer, Jaime and Furlotte, Nicholas A and Galesloot, Tessel E and Giorgia G Girotto and Gupta, Richa and Hall, Leanne M and Sarah E Harris and Edith Hofer and Horikoshi, Momoko and Huffman, Jennifer E and Kaasik, Kadri and Ioanna Panagiota Kalafati and Karlsson, Robert and Kong, Augustine and Lahti, Jari and Sven J van der Lee and Christiaan de Leeuw and Penelope A Lind and Lindgren, Karl-Oskar and Tian Liu and Mangino, Massimo and Marten, Jonathan and Mihailov, Evelin and Michael B Miller and van der Most, Peter J and Christopher J Oldmeadow and Payton, Antony and Pervjakova, Natalia and Wouter J Peyrot and Qian, Yong and Olli T Raitakari and Rueedi, Rico and Salvi, Erika and Schmidt, B{\"o}rge and Schraut, Katharina E and Jianxin Shi and Albert Vernon Smith and Poot, Raymond A and St Pourcain, Beate and Teumer, Alexander and Thorleifsson, Gudmar and Verweij, Niek and Vuckovic, Dragana and J{\"u}rgen Wellmann and Westra, Harm-Jan and Yang, Jingyun and Wei Zhao and Zhihong Zhu and Alizadeh, Behrooz Z and Amin, Najaf and Bakshi, Andrew and Baumeister, Sebastian E and Biino, Ginevra and B{\o}nnelykke, Klaus and Patricia A. Boyle and Campbell, Harry and Cappuccio, Francesco P and Gail Davies and De Neve, Jan-Emmanuel and Deloukas, Panos and Demuth, Ilja and Ding, Jun and Eibich, Peter and Eisele, Lewin and Eklund, Niina and Jessica Faul and Feitosa, Mary F and Andreas J Forstner and Gandin, Ilaria and Gunnarsson, Bjarni and Halld{\'o}rsson, Bjarni V and Tamara B Harris and Andrew C Heath and Lynne J Hocking and Holliday, Elizabeth G and Homuth, Georg and Horan, Michael A and Jouke-Jan Hottenga and Philip L de Jager and Joshi, Peter K and Jugessur, Astanand and Marika A Kaakinen and K{\"a}h{\"o}nen, Mika and Kanoni, Stavroula and Keltigangas-J{\"a}rvinen, Liisa and Lambertus A Kiemeney and Kolcic, Ivana and Koskinen, Seppo and Kraja, Aldi T and Kroh, Martin and Kutalik, Zolt{\'a}n and Latvala, Antti and Lenore J Launer and Lebreton, Ma{\"e}l P and Douglas F Levinson and Paul Lichtenstein and Lichtner, Peter and David C Liewald and Loukola, Anu and Pamela A F Madden and M{\"a}gi, Reedik and M{\"a}ki-Opas, Tomi and Riccardo E Marioni and Marques-Vidal, Pedro and Meddens, Gerardus A and McMahon, George and Meisinger, Christa and Meitinger, Thomas and Milaneschi, Yusplitri and Lili Milani and Grant W Montgomery and Myhre, Ronny and Nelson, Christopher P and Nyholt, Dale R and William E R Ollier and Aarno Palotie and Paternoster, Lavinia and Nancy L Pedersen and Katja E Petrovic and David J Porteous and Katri R{\"a}ikk{\"o}nen and Ring, Susan M and Robino, Antonietta and Rostapshova, Olga and Rudan, Igor and Rustichini, Aldo and Veikko Salomaa and Sanders, Alan R and Sarin, Antti-Pekka and Schmidt, Helena and Rodney J Scott and Smith, Blair H and Jennifer A Smith and Staessen, Jan A and Steinhagen-Thiessen, Elisabeth and Strauch, Konstantin and Antonio Terracciano and Tobin, Martin D and Ulivi, Sheila and Vaccargiu, Simona and Quaye, Lydia and van Rooij, Frank J A and Venturini, Cristina and Anna A E Vinkhuyzen and V{\"o}lker, Uwe and V{\"o}lzke, Henry and Vonk, Judith M and Vozzi, Diego and Waage, Johannes and Erin B Ware and Gonneke Willemsen and John R. Attia and David A Bennett and Klaus Berger and Bertram, Lars and Bisgaard, Hans and Dorret I Boomsma and Ingrid B Borecki and B{\"u}ltmann, Ute and Chabris, Christopher F and Francesco Cucca and Cusi, Daniele and Ian J Deary and George Dedoussis and Cornelia M van Duijn and Johan G Eriksson and Franke, Barbara and Lude L Franke and Paolo P. Gasparini and Gejman, Pablo V and Gieger, Christian and Hans-J{\"o}rgen Grabe and Gratten, Jacob and Groenen, Patrick J F and Gudnason, Vilmundur and van der Harst, Pim and Caroline Hayward and Hinds, David A and Hoffmann, Wolfgang and Hypp{\"o}nen, Elina and Iacono, William G and Jacobsson, Bo and J{\"a}rvelin, Marjo-Riitta and J{\"o}ckel, Karl-Heinz and Kaprio, Jaakko and Sharon L R Kardia and Lehtim{\"a}ki, Terho and Lehrer, Steven F and Patrik K E Magnusson and Nicholas G Martin and McGue, Matt and Andres Metspalu and Pendleton, Neil and Brenda W J H Penninx and Markus Perola and Nicola Pirastu and Pirastu, Mario and Polasek, Ozren and Posthuma, Danielle and Power, Christine and Province, Michael A and Nilesh J Samani and Schlessinger, David and Schmidt, Reinhold and Thorkild I. A. S{\o}rensen and Timothy Spector and Stefansson, Kari and Thorsteinsdottir, Unnur and A. Roy Thurik and Nicholas J Timpson and Henning Tiemeier and Tung, Joyce Y and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Vitart, Veronique and Vollenweider, Peter and David R Weir and James F Wilson and Alan F Wright and Dalton C Conley and Krueger, Robert F and George Davey Smith and Hofman, Albert and David I Laibson and Sarah E Medland and Meyer, Michelle N and Yang, Jian and Johannesson, Magnus and Peter M Visscher and T{\~o}nu Esko and Philipp D Koellinger and Cesarini, David and Daniel J. Benjamin} } @article {8614, title = {GWAS analysis of handgrip and lower body strength in older adults in the CHARGE consortium.}, journal = {Aging Cell}, volume = {15}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 10}, pages = {792-800}, abstract = {

Decline in muscle strength with aging is an important predictor of health trajectory in the elderly. Several factors, including genetics, are proposed contributors to variability in muscle strength. To identify genetic contributors to muscle strength, a meta-analysis of genomewide association studies of handgrip was conducted. Grip strength was measured using a handheld dynamometer in 27~581 individuals of European descent over 65~years of age from 14 cohort studies. Genomewide association analysis was conducted on ~2.7 million imputed and genotyped variants (SNPs). Replication of the most significant findings was conducted using data from 6393 individuals from three cohorts. GWAS of lower body strength was also characterized in a subset of cohorts. Two genomewide significant (P-value< 5~{\texttimes}~10(-8) ) and 39 suggestive (P-value< 5~{\texttimes}~10(-5) ) associations were observed from meta-analysis of the discovery cohorts. After meta-analysis with replication cohorts, genomewide significant association was observed for rs752045 on chromosome 8 (β~=~0.47, SE~=~0.08, P-value~=~5.20~{\texttimes}~10(-10) ). This SNP is mapped to an intergenic region and is located within an accessible chromatin region (DNase hypersensitivity site) in skeletal muscle myotubes differentiated from the human skeletal muscle myoblasts cell line. This locus alters a binding motif of the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-β (CEBPB) that is implicated in muscle repair mechanisms. GWAS of lower body strength did not yield significant results. A common genetic variant in a chromosomal region that regulates myotube differentiation and muscle repair may contribute to variability in grip strength in the elderly. Further studies are needed to uncover the mechanisms that link this genetic variant with muscle strength.

}, keywords = {Adult, Aged, Chromatin Immunoprecipitation, Cohort Studies, Epigenesis, Genetic, Genome-Wide Association Study, Hand Strength, Humans, Molecular Sequence Annotation, Muscle Strength, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Quantitative Trait Loci, Reproducibility of Results}, issn = {1474-9726}, doi = {10.1111/acel.12468}, author = {Amy M Matteini and Toshiko Tanaka and Karasik, David and Atzmon, Gil and Chou, Wen-Chi and John D Eicher and Andrew D Johnson and Alice M. Arnold and Michele L Callisaya and Gail Davies and Daniel S Evans and Holtfreter, Birte and Kurt Lohman and Kathryn L Lunetta and Mangino, Massimo and Albert Vernon Smith and Jennifer A Smith and Teumer, Alexander and Lei Yu and Dan E Arking and Aron S Buchman and Chibinik, Lori B and Philip L de Jager and Jessica Faul and Melissa E Garcia and Gillham-Nasenya, Irina and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Hofman, Albert and Hsu, Yi-Hsiang and Ittermann, Till and Lahousse, Lies and David C Liewald and Yongmei Liu and Lopez, Lorna and Fernando Rivadeneira and Rotter, Jerome I and Siggeirsdottir, Kristin and John M Starr and Thomson, Russell and Tranah, Gregory J and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and V{\"o}lker, Uwe and V{\"o}lzke, Henry and David R Weir and Kristine Yaffe and Wei Zhao and Wei Vivian Zhuang and Zmuda, Joseph M and David A Bennett and Steven R Cummings and Ian J Deary and Luigi Ferrucci and Tamara B Harris and Sharon L R Kardia and Kocher, Thomas and Stephen B Kritchevsky and Psaty, Bruce M and Seshadri, Sudha and Timothy Spector and Velandai K Srikanth and Beverly G Windham and Zillikens, M Carola and Anne B Newman and Jeremy D Walston and Douglas P Kiel and Joanne M Murabito} } @article {8368, title = {Health and Mortality Delta: Assessing the Welfare Cost of Household Insurance Choice}, journal = {Journal of Finance}, volume = {71}, year = {2016}, note = {Times Cited: 0 0}, pages = {957-1010}, publisher = {71}, abstract = {We develop a pair of risk measures, health and mortality delta, for the universe of life and health insurance products. A life-cycle model of insurance choice simplifies to replicating the optimal health and mortality delta through a portfolio of insurance products. We estimate the model to explain the observed variation in health and mortality delta implied by the ownership of life insurance, annuities including private pensions, and long-term care insurance in the Health and Retirement Study. For the median household aged 51 to 57, the lifetime welfare cost of market incompleteness and suboptimal choice is 3.2 of total wealth.}, keywords = {Health Conditions and Status, Insurance, Net Worth and Assets, Pensions}, doi = {10.1111/jofi.12273}, author = {Koijen, Ralph S. J. and Van Nieuwerburgh, Stijn and Yogo, Motohiro} } @article {8495, title = {Life Course Pathways to Racial Disparities in Cognitive Impairment among Older Americans.}, journal = {J Health Soc Behav}, volume = {57}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 06}, pages = {184-99}, abstract = {

Blacks are especially hard hit by cognitive impairment at older ages compared to whites. Here, we take advantage of the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2010) to assess how this racial divide in cognitive impairment is associated with the racial stratification of life course exposures and resources over a 12-year period among 8,946 non-Hispanic whites and blacks ages 65 and older in 1998. We find that blacks suffer from a higher risk of moderate/severe cognitive impairment at baseline and during the follow-up. Blacks are also more likely to report childhood adversity and to have grown up in the segregated South, and these early-life adversities put blacks at a significantly higher risk of cognitive impairment. Adulthood socioeconomic status is strongly associated with the risk of cognitive impairment, net of childhood conditions. However, racial disparities in cognitive impairment, though substantially reduced, are not eliminated when controlling for these life course factors.

}, keywords = {African Continental Ancestry Group, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Cognitive Dysfunction, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Health Status Disparities, Humans, Male, Neuropsychological tests, Risk Factors, Severity of Illness Index, United States}, issn = {2150-6000}, doi = {10.1177/0022146516645925}, url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27247126}, author = {Zhang, Zhenmei and Mark D Hayward and Yu, Yan-Liang} } @article {6438, title = {Mapping the Two Levels of Digital Divide: Internet Access and Social Network Site Adoption among Older Adults in the USA}, journal = {Information, Communication and Society}, volume = {19}, year = {2016}, pages = {1445-1464}, chapter = {1445}, abstract = {Older adults have increasingly adopted Internet and social network sites (SNSs), but little communication scholarship has explored systematic differences in access within this population. Using a nationally representative sample of Americans over the age of 50 years from the 2012 Health and Retirement Study, we examine Internet access (N?=?18,851) and SNS adoption patterns (N?=?869) among this sample and explore how these patterns vary by age. Regarding Internet access, results suggest that while the gender divide has reversed in favor of women, older adults who are economically, socioculturally, or physically disadvantaged are less likely to have reliable Internet access. In addition, the view that the various divides in Internet access are less of a concern for those who are younger is only partially supported, as some access-related divides do not vary by age or even decrease with age. For SNS adoption, we found that access to technological resources (diversity of online activities) positively predicts SNS use. Moreover, SNS users are more likely to be younger, female, widowed, and homemakers, perhaps because these individuals are more motivated to use SNSs to complement or compensate for their existing social status. These findings reveal unique challenges and motivations in relation to Internet access and SNS adoption patterns across the later life span.}, keywords = {Demographics, Health Conditions and Status}, doi = {10.1080/1369118X.2015.1109695}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2015.1109695}, author = {Rebecca P. Yu and Nicole B. Ellison and Ryan J McCammon and Kenneth M. Langa} } @mastersthesis {8733, title = {Marital biography and chronic disease progression in mid- and late life}, volume = {Ph.D.}, year = {2016}, pages = {126}, school = {Michigan State University}, type = {Dissertation}, address = {East Lansing}, abstract = {In light of lengthening life expectancy with chronic disease and increasingly diverse marital experiences over the life course among older adults in the US, this dissertation investigates how marital biography is linked to chronic disease progression among older adults aged 50 years old and over in the US. I use three papers to address this overarching research question. The data are from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), 1994{\textendash}2012, a national panel sample representative of noninstitutionalized civilian adults aged at least 50 years old in the US. My first paper evaluates how current marital status and current marriage duration are associated with the development of functional limitations among older adults diagnosed with diabetes, using multilevel growth curve models. The findings show that remarried, cohabiting and divorced/separated older adults with diabetes report significantly more functional limitations at age 50 than their peers who stay in their first marriage. Although widowed older adults with diabetes report significantly fewer functional limitations than the first-time married at age 50, they show a faster decline in their functional health over time. The never-married show a similar functional health trajectory as the first-time married. The second paper assesses the link between marital quality and functional limitations among older adults diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Multilevel models are used to estimate the associations between marital quality and functional health and control for household-level clustering effects. My analyses show that while negative dimensions of marital quality are significantly associated with worse functional health subsequently in two years for both older men and women with cardiovascular disease, positive dimensions of marital quality are significantly linked to better functional health only for men. Additionally, improvements in positive marital quality over a four-year period are significantly associated with better functional health four years later. The third paper examines differential mortality risk by marital trajectories among older adults with cardiovascular disease, focusing on their lifetime exposure to marital losses with Cox regression models. The analyses show that among the remarried, only those who are one-time widowed exhibit a significantly higher mortality risk than the first-time married. Both the currently divorced/separated and widowed experience significant mortality disadvantage compared to their peers in their first marriage. Additionally, older cohabitors with cardiovascular disease also show a heightened mortality risk. The never-married, however, show comparable mortality risk to that of the first-time married. Overall, the findings from this dissertation point to the significance of marriage for maintaining physical functioning for older adults while they manage major chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, the benefits of marriage for chronic disease management are also contingent upon past marital experience and relationship quality. I expect the findings to have important implications for healthcare professionals working with chronic disease patients and public policies regarding chronic disease management.}, keywords = {Chronic disease, Divorce, Longevity, Marriage, Mortality, Older Adults}, isbn = {9781339966724}, url = {http://proxy.lib.umich.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1822210624?accountid=14667}, author = {Yu, Yan-Liang} } @article {8339, title = {Marital Quality and Health in Middle and Later Adulthood: Dyadic Associations}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences}, volume = {71}, year = {2016}, pages = {154-164}, publisher = {71}, abstract = {Objectives. We investigated associations between positive marital quality and health among married persons aged 50 or older and their spouses. Prior research using data from married individuals has yielded inconsistent findings regarding the association between positive marital quality and global health outcomes. The present study involved married couples to examine how spouses positive marital quality affect their own and each other s health, and whether these effects vary by age.Methods. Using data from 3 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (2006, 2008, 2010), we estimated a series of actor partner interdependence models using mixed linear models.Results. Analyses found that over the 4-year period (2006 2010) increases in positive marital quality of both spouses were independently associated with increases in their self-rated health in midlife and old age as well as with declines in disability in old age. Increases in positive marital quality were also linked with declines in functional limitations for middle-aged and older adults.Discussion. Being perceived as a supportive spouse, as well as perceiving one s partner as such, has significant health implications. Overall, positive marital quality of both spouses contributes to health protection for middle-aged and older spouses.}, keywords = {Adult children, Health Conditions and Status, Methodology}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbu222}, url = {http://psychsocgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/03/16/geronb.gbu222.abstract}, author = {Choi, Heejeong and Yorgason, Jeremy B. and Johnson, David R.} } @article {8585, title = {Marital quality, marital dissolution, and mortality risk during the later life course.}, journal = {Soc Sci Med}, volume = {165}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 09}, pages = {119-127}, abstract = {

This study examines the relationship between later-life marital quality, marital dissolution, and mortality using discrete-time event history models with data from nine waves (1992-2008) of the Health and Retirement Study (n~=~7388). Results show marital status is more important for men{\textquoteright}s mortality risk than women{\textquoteright}s, whereas marital quality is more important for women{\textquoteright}s survival than men{\textquoteright}s. Being widowed or divorced more than two years raises mortality risk for men, but later-life marital dissolution is not significantly associated with women{\textquoteright}s mortality risk, regardless of the type of dissolution or length of time since it occurred. Low-quality marital interaction is negatively related to women{\textquoteright}s odds of death, but none of the marital quality measures are significantly associated with mortality for men. Marital satisfaction moderates the relationship between widowhood and mortality for women, but the relationship between marital dissolution and mortality is similar for men regardless of marital quality prior to divorce/widowhood. Results suggest the importance of accounting for both marital status and marital quality when examining older individuals{\textquoteright} mortality risk.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Humans, Male, Marital Status, Marriage, Middle Aged, Mortality, Retirement, Sex Factors}, issn = {1873-5347}, doi = {10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.07.025}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953616303860}, author = {Jennifer R. Bulanda and J Scott Brown and Takashi Yamashita} } @article {8885, title = {Meta-analysis identifies common and rare variants influencing blood pressure and overlapping with metabolic trait loci.}, journal = {Nat Genet}, volume = {48}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Oct}, pages = {1162-70}, abstract = {

Meta-analyses of association results for blood pressure using exome-centric single-variant and gene-based tests identified 31 new loci in a discovery stage among 146,562 individuals, with follow-up and meta-analysis in 180,726 additional individuals (total n = 327,288). These blood pressure-associated loci are enriched for known variants for cardiometabolic traits. Associations were also observed for the aggregation of rare and low-frequency missense variants in three genes, NPR1, DBH, and PTPMT1. In addition, blood pressure associations at 39 previously reported loci were confirmed. The identified variants implicate biological pathways related to cardiometabolic traits, vascular function, and development. Several new variants are inferred to have roles in transcription or as hubs in protein-protein interaction networks. Genetic risk scores constructed from the identified variants were strongly associated with coronary disease and myocardial infarction. This large collection of blood pressure-associated loci suggests new therapeutic strategies for hypertension, emphasizing a link with cardiometabolic risk.

}, issn = {1546-1718}, doi = {10.1038/ng.3660}, author = {Liu, Chunyu and Kraja, Aldi T and Jennifer A Smith and Brody, Jennifer A and Franceschini, Nora and Joshua C. Bis and Kenneth Rice and Alanna C Morrison and Lu, Yingchang and Weiss, Stefan and Guo, Xiuqing and Walter R Palmas and Martin, Lisa W and Yii-Der I Chen and Surendran, Praveen and Drenos, Fotios and Cook, James P and Auer, Paul L and Chu, Audrey Y and Giri, Ayush and Wei Zhao and Jakobsdottir, Johanna and Lin, Li-An and Stafford, Jeanette M and Amin, Najaf and Mei, Hao and Yao, Jie and Voorman, Arend and Larson, Martin G and Grove, Megan L and Albert Vernon Smith and Hwang, Shih-Jen and Chen, Han and Huan, Tianxiao and Kosova, Gulum and Stitziel, Nathan O and Kathiresan, Sekar and Nilesh J Samani and Schunkert, Heribert and Deloukas, Panos and Li, Man and Fuchsberger, Christian and Pattaro, Cristian and Gorski, Mathias and Charles Kooperberg and George J Papanicolaou and Rossouw, Jacques E and Jessica Faul and Sharon L R Kardia and Bouchard, Claude and Raffel, Leslie J and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Franco, Oscar H and Ramachandran S Vasan and O{\textquoteright}Donnell, Christopher J and Kent D Taylor and Liu, Kiang and Erwin P Bottinger and Gottesman, Omri and Daw, E Warwick and Giulianini, Franco and Ganesh, Santhi and Salfati, Elias and Tamara B Harris and Lenore J Launer and D{\"o}rr, Marcus and Felix, Stephan B and Rettig, Rainer and V{\"o}lzke, Henry and Eric S Kim and Lee, Wen-Jane and Lee, I-Te and Sheu, Wayne H-H and Tsosie, Krystal S and Digna R Velez Edwards and Yongmei Liu and Correa, Adolfo and David R Weir and V{\"o}lker, Uwe and Ridker, Paul M and Boerwinkle, Eric and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Reiner, Alexander P and Cornelia M van Duijn and Ingrid B Borecki and Edwards, Todd L and Chakravarti, Aravinda and Rotter, Jerome I and Psaty, Bruce M and Ruth J F Loos and Myriam Fornage and Georg B Ehret and Newton-Cheh, Christopher and Levy, Daniel and Daniel I Chasman} } @article {8876, title = {Personality Polygenes, Positive Affect, and Life Satisfaction.}, journal = {Twin Res Hum Genet}, volume = {19}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Oct}, pages = {407-17}, abstract = {

Approximately half of the variation in wellbeing measures overlaps with variation in personality traits. Studies of non-human primate pedigrees and human twins suggest that this is due to common genetic influences. We tested whether personality polygenic scores for the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) domains and for item response theory (IRT) derived extraversion and neuroticism scores predict variance in wellbeing measures. Polygenic scores were based on published genome-wide association (GWA) results in over 17,000 individuals for the NEO-FFI and in over 63,000 for the IRT extraversion and neuroticism traits. The NEO-FFI polygenic scores were used to predict life satisfaction in 7 cohorts, positive affect in 12 cohorts, and general wellbeing in 1 cohort (maximal N = 46,508). Meta-analysis of these results showed no significant association between NEO-FFI personality polygenic scores and the wellbeing measures. IRT extraversion and neuroticism polygenic scores were used to predict life satisfaction and positive affect in almost 37,000 individuals from UK Biobank. Significant positive associations (effect sizes <0.05\%) were observed between the extraversion polygenic score and wellbeing measures, and a negative association was observed between the polygenic neuroticism score and life satisfaction. Furthermore, using GWA data, genetic correlations of -0.49 and -0.55 were estimated between neuroticism with life satisfaction and positive affect, respectively. The moderate genetic correlation between neuroticism and wellbeing is in line with twin research showing that genetic influences on wellbeing are also shared with other independent personality domains.

}, keywords = {Genetics, Happiness, Polygenic Prediction, SSGAC, Well-being}, issn = {1832-4274}, doi = {10.1017/thg.2016.65}, author = {Weiss, Alexander and Baselmans, Bart M L and Edith Hofer and Yang, Jingyun and Okbay, Aysu and Penelope A Lind and Michael B Miller and Ilja M Nolte and Wei Zhao and Hagenaars, Saskia P and Jouke-Jan Hottenga and Lindsay K Matteson and Snieder, Harold and Jessica Faul and Catharina A Hartman and Patricia A. Boyle and Henning Tiemeier and Mosing, Miriam A and Pattie, Alison and Gail Davies and David C Liewald and Schmidt, Reinhold and Philip L de Jager and Andrew C Heath and Markus Jokela and John M Starr and Oldehinkel, Albertine J and Johannesson, Magnus and Cesarini, David and Hofman, Albert and Sarah E Harris and Jennifer A Smith and Keltikangas-J{\"a}rvinen, Liisa and Pulkki-Raback, Laura and Schmidt, Helena and Jacqui Smith and Iacono, William G and McGue, Matt and David A Bennett and Nancy L Pedersen and Patrik K E Magnusson and Ian J Deary and Nicholas G Martin and Dorret I Boomsma and Bartels, Meike and Luciano, Michelle} } @article {8822, title = {Pleiotropic Associations of Allelic Variants in a 2q22 Region with Risks of Major Human Diseases and Mortality.}, journal = {PLoS Genet}, volume = {12}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Nov}, pages = {e1006314}, abstract = {

Gaining insights into genetic predisposition to age-related diseases and lifespan is a challenging task complicated by the elusive role of evolution in these phenotypes. To gain more insights, we combined methods of genome-wide and candidate-gene studies. Genome-wide scan in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study (N = 9,573) was used to pre-select promising loci. Candidate-gene methods were used to comprehensively analyze associations of novel uncommon variants in Caucasians (minor allele frequency~2.5\%) located in band 2q22.3 with risks of coronary heart disease (CHD), heart failure (HF), stroke, diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases (ND), and mortality in the ARIC study, the Framingham Heart Study (N = 4,434), and the Health and Retirement Study (N = 9,676). We leveraged the analyses of pleiotropy, age-related heterogeneity, and causal inferences. Meta-analysis of the results from these comprehensive analyses shows that the minor allele increases risks of death by about 50\% (p = 4.6{\texttimes}10-9), CHD by 35\% (p = 8.9{\texttimes}10-6), HF by 55\% (p = 9.7{\texttimes}10-5), stroke by 25\% (p = 4.0{\texttimes}10-2), and ND by 100\% (p = 1.3{\texttimes}10-3). This allele also significantly influences each of two diseases, diabetes and cancer, in antagonistic fashion in different populations. Combined significance of the pleiotropic effects was p = 6.6{\texttimes}10-21. Causal mediation analyses show that endophenotypes explained only small fractions of these effects. This locus harbors an evolutionary conserved gene-desert region with non-coding intergenic sequences likely involved in regulation of protein-coding flanking genes ZEB2 and ACVR2A. This region is intensively studied for mutations causing severe developmental/genetic disorders. Our analyses indicate a promising target region for interventions aimed to reduce risks of many major human diseases and mortality.

}, keywords = {Activin Receptors, Type II, Atherosclerosis, Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2, Coronary Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Female, Genetic Association Studies, Genetic Diseases, Inborn, Genetic Pleiotropy, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genome-Wide Association Study, Heart Failure, Homeodomain Proteins, Humans, Male, Repressor Proteins, Risk Factors, Stroke, Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 2}, issn = {1553-7404}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pgen.1006314}, url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/27832070/}, author = {Alexander M Kulminski and He, Liang and Culminskaya, Irina and Loika, Yury and Kernogitski, Yelena and Konstantin G Arbeev and Loiko, Elena and Liubov S Arbeeva and Bagley, Olivia and Duan, Matt and Arseniy P Yashkin and Fang, Fang and Kovtun, Mikhail and Svetlana Ukraintseva and Wu, Deqing and Anatoliy Yashin}, editor = {Barsh, Gregory S.} } @article {8534, title = {Somatic, positive and negative domains of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale: a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies.}, journal = {Psychol Med}, volume = {46}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 06}, pages = {1613-23}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is moderately heritable, however genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for MDD, as well as for related continuous outcomes, have not shown consistent results. Attempts to elucidate the genetic basis of MDD may be hindered by heterogeneity in diagnosis. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale provides a widely used tool for measuring depressive symptoms clustered in four different domains which can be combined together into a total score but also can be analysed as separate symptom domains.

METHOD: We performed a meta-analysis of GWAS of the CES-D symptom clusters. We recruited 12 cohorts with the 20- or 10-item CES-D scale (32 528 persons).

RESULTS: One single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs713224, located near the brain-expressed melatonin receptor (MTNR1A) gene, was associated with the somatic complaints domain of depression symptoms, with borderline genome-wide significance (p discovery = 3.82 {\texttimes} 10-8). The SNP was analysed in an additional five cohorts comprising the replication sample (6813 persons). However, the association was not consistent among the replication sample (p discovery+replication = 1.10 {\texttimes} 10-6) with evidence of heterogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite the effort to harmonize the phenotypes across cohorts and participants, our study is still underpowered to detect consistent association for depression, even by means of symptom classification. On the contrary, the SNP-based heritability and co-heritability estimation results suggest that a very minor part of the variation could be captured by GWAS, explaining the reason of sparse findings.

}, keywords = {depression, Depressive Disorder, Major, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Receptor, Melatonin, MT1, Somatoform Disorders}, issn = {1469-8978}, doi = {10.1017/S0033291715002081}, url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26997408}, author = {Demirkan, A and J. Lahti and Nese Direk and Viktorin, A. and Kathryn L Lunetta and Antonio Terracciano and Michael A Nalls and Toshiko Tanaka and Karin Hek and Myriam Fornage and J{\"u}rgen Wellmann and Marilyn C Cornelis and Ollila, H. M. and Lei Yu and Luke C Pilling and Isaacs, A and Aarno Palotie and Wei Vivian Zhuang and Alan B Zonderman and Jessica Faul and Angelina R Sutin and Osorio Meirelles and Mulas, A and Hofman, A and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Fernando Rivadeneira and Markus Perola and Wei Zhao and Veikko Salomaa and Kristine Yaffe and Luik, A I and Yongmei Liu and Ding, J and Paul Lichtenstein and Land{\'e}n, M and Elisabeth Widen and David R Weir and David J Llewellyn and Murray, A and Sharon L R Kardia and Johan G Eriksson and Karestan C Koenen and Patrik K E Magnusson and Luigi Ferrucci and Thomas H Mosley and Francesco Cucca and Ben A Oostra and David A Bennett and Paunio, T. and Klaus Berger and Tamara B Harris and Nancy L Pedersen and Joanne M Murabito and Henning Tiemeier and Cornelia M van Duijn and Katri R{\"a}ikk{\"o}nen} } @article {8268, title = {Adherence to diabetes guidelines for screening, physical activity and medication and onset of complications and death.}, journal = {J Diabetes Complications}, volume = {29}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Nov-Dec}, pages = {1228-33}, publisher = {29}, abstract = {

AIMS: Analyze relationships between adherence to guidelines for diabetes care - regular screening; physical activity; and medication - and diabetes complications and mortality.

METHODS: Outcomes were onset of congestive heart failure (CHF), stroke, renal failure, moderate complications of lower extremities, lower-limb amputation, proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and mortality during follow-up. Participants were persons aged 65+ in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) 2003 Diabetes Study and had Medicare claims in follow-up period (2004-8).

RESULTS: Adherence to screening recommendations decreased risks of developing CHF (odds ratio (OR)=0.83; 95\% confidence interval (CI): 0.72-0.96), stroke (OR=0.80; 95\% CI: 0.68-0.94); renal failure (OR=0. 82; 95\% CI: 0.71-0.95); and death (OR=0.86; 95\% CI: 0.74-0.99). Adherence to physical activity recommendation reduced risks of stroke (OR=0.64; 95\% CI: 0.45-0.90), renal failure (OR=0.71; 95\% CI: 0.52-0.97), moderate lower-extremity complications (OR=0.71; 95\% CI: 0.51-0.99), having a lower limb amputation (OR=0.31, 95\% CI: 0.11-0.85), and death (OR=0.56, 95\% CI: 0.41-0.77). Medication adherence was associated with lower risks of PDR (OR=0.35, 95\% CI: 0.13-0.93).

CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to screening, physical activity and medication guidelines was associated with lower risks of diabetes complications and death. Relative importance of adherence differed among outcome measures.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Combined Modality Therapy, Diabetes Complications, Diabetes Mellitus, Early Diagnosis, Female, Health Promotion, Health Surveys, Humans, Hypoglycemic Agents, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Mass Screening, Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, Medication Adherence, Motor Activity, Patient Compliance, Practice Guidelines as Topic, Risk, United States}, issn = {1873-460X}, doi = {10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2015.07.005}, author = {Chen, Yiqun and Frank A Sloan and Arseniy P Yashkin} } @article {8195, title = {Anchoring vignettes in the Health and Retirement Study: how do medical professionals and disability recipients characterize the severity of work limitations?}, journal = {PLoS One}, volume = {10}, year = {2015}, month = {2015}, pages = {e0126218}, publisher = {10}, abstract = {

PURPOSE: Recent studies report systematic differences in how individuals categorize the severity of identical health and work limitation vignettes. We investigate how health professionals and disability recipients characterize the severity of work limitations and whether their reporting patterns are robust to demographic, education, and health characteristics. We use the results to illustrate the potential impact of reporting heterogeneity on the distribution of work disability estimated from self-reported categorical health and disability data.

METHOD: Nationally representative data on anchoring disability vignettes from the 2004 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) are used to investigate how respondents with an occupation background in health and Social Security disability beneficiaries categorize work limitation vignettes. Using pain, cardiovascular health, and depression vignettes, we estimate generalized ordered probit models (N = 2,660 individuals or 39,681 person-vignette observations) that allow the severity thresholds to vary by respondent characteristics.

RESULTS: We find that health professionals (excluding nurses) and disability recipients tend to classify identical work limitations as more severe compared to non-health professional non-disabled respondents. For disability recipients, the differences are most pronounced and particularly visible in the tails of the work limitations distribution. For health professionals, we observe smaller differences, affecting primarily the classification of mildly and moderately severe work limitations. The patterns for health professionals (excluding nurses) are robust to demographics, education, and health conditions. The greater likelihood of viewing the vignette person as more severely work limited observed among disability recipients is mostly explained by the fact that these respondents also tend to be in poorer health which itself predicts a more inclusive scale.

CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of reporting scales from health professionals and disabled individuals can benefit researchers in a broad range of applications in health and disability research. They may be useful as reference scales to evaluate disability survey data. Such knowledge may be beneficial when studying disability programs. Given the increasing availability of anchoring vignette data in surveys, this is a promising area for future evaluation research.

}, keywords = {Aged, Cardiovascular Diseases, depression, Disabled Persons, Female, Health Personnel, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, pain, Retirement, Self Report}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0126218}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1371 2Fjournal.pone.0126218}, author = {Frank Heiland and Yin, Na} } @article {8912, title = {Assessing Quality of Answers to a Global Subjective Well-being Question Through Response Times.}, journal = {Survey Research Methods}, volume = {9}, year = {2015}, month = {2015}, pages = {101-109}, abstract = {

Many large-scale surveys measure subjective well-being (SWB) through a single survey item. This paper takes advantages of response time data to explore the relation between time taken to answer a single SWB item and the reliability and validity of answers to this SWB item. We found that reliability and validity of answers to the SWB item are low for fast respondents aged 70 and above and slow respondents between the age of 50 and 70. The findings indicate that longer time spent answering the single SWB item is associated with data of lower quality for respondents aged between 50 and 70, but data of higher quality for respondents aged 70 and above. This paper speaks to the importance of capitalizing response times that are readily available from computerized interviews to evaluate answers provided by respondents and calls for survey researchers{\textquoteright} attention to differences in time taken to answer a survey question across respondent subgroups.

}, keywords = {Meta-analyses, Survey Methodology}, author = {Yan, Ting and Lindsay H Ryan and Sandra E Becker and Jacqui Smith} } @article {9063, title = {Comparison of self-reported and Medicare claims-identified acute myocardial infarction.}, journal = {Circulation}, volume = {131}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Apr 28}, pages = {1477-85; discussion 1485}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is often studied through patient self-report and administrative data. However, these 2 sources provide different information, and few studies have compared them.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We compared data from a longitudinal, nationally representative survey of older Americans with matched Medicare claims. Self-reported heart attack in the previous 2 years was compared with claims-identified acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute coronary syndrome. Among the 3.1\% of respondents with self-reported heart attack, 32.8\% had claims-identified AMI, 16.5\% had non-AMI acute coronary syndrome, and 25.8\% had other cardiac claims; 17.3\% had no inpatient visits in the previous 2.5 years. Claims-identified AMIs were found in 1.4\% of respondents; of these, 67.8\% reported a heart attack. Self-reports were less likely among respondents >75 years of age (62.7\% versus 74.6\%; P=0.006), with less than high school education (61.6\% versus 71.4\%; P=0.015), with at least 1 limitation in activities of daily living (59.6\% versus 74.7\%; P=0.001), or below the 25th percentile of a word recall memory test (60.7\% versus 71.3\%; P=0.019). Both self-reported and claims-identified cardiac events were associated with increased mortality; the highest mortality was observed among those with claims-identified AMI who did not self-report (odds ratio, 2.8; 95\% confidence interval, 1.5-5.1) and among those with self-reported heart attack and claims-identified AMI (odds ratio, 2.5; 95\% confidence interval, 1.7-3.6) or non-AMI acute coronary syndrome (odds ratio, 2.7; 95\% confidence interval, 1.8-4.1).

CONCLUSIONS: There is considerable disagreement between self-reported and claims-identified events. Although self-reported heart attack may be inaccurate, it indicates increased risk of death, regardless of whether the self-report is confirmed by Medicare claims.

}, keywords = {Heart disease, Medicare linkage, Medicare/Medicaid/Health Insurance, Self-reported health}, issn = {1524-4539}, doi = {10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.114.013829}, author = {Laura Yasaitis and Lisa F Berkman and Chandra, Amitabh} } @article {12129, title = {Contribution of common non-synonymous variants in PCSK1 to body mass index variation and risk of obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis with evidence from up to 331 175 individuals.}, journal = {Human Molecular Genetics}, volume = {24}, year = {2015}, pages = {3582-3594}, abstract = {

Polymorphisms rs6232 and rs6234/rs6235 in PCSK1 have been associated with extreme obesity [e.g. body mass index (BMI) >= 40 kg/m(2)], but their contribution to common obesity (BMI >= 30 kg/m(2)) and BMI variation in a multi-ethnic context is unclear. To fill this gap, we collected phenotypic and genetic data in up to 331 175 individuals from diverse ethnic groups. This process involved a systematic review of the literature in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and the NIH GWAS catalog complemented by data extraction from pre-existing GWAS or custom-arrays in consortia and single studies. We employed recently developed global meta-analytic random-effects methods to calculate summary odds ratios (OR) and 95\% confidence intervals (CIs) or beta estimates and standard errors (SE) for the obesity status and BMI analyses, respectively. Significant associations were found with binary obesity status for rs6232 (OR = 1.15, 95\% CI 1.06-1.24, P = 6.08 {\texttimes} 10(-6)) and rs6234/rs6235 (OR = 1.07, 95\% CI 1.04-1.10, P = 3.00 {\texttimes} 10(-7)). Similarly, significant associations were found with continuous BMI for rs6232 (β = 0.03, 95\% CI 0.00-0.07; P = 0.047) and rs6234/rs6235 (β = 0.02, 95\% CI 0.00-0.03; P = 5.57 {\texttimes} 10(-4)). Ethnicity, age and study ascertainment significantly modulated the association of PCSK1 polymorphisms with obesity. In summary, we demonstrate evidence that common gene variation in PCSK1 contributes to BMI variation and susceptibility to common obesity in the largest known meta-analysis published to date in genetic epidemiology.

}, keywords = {Alleles, Body Mass Index, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genetic Variation, Humans, Obesity, Odds Ratio, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Proprotein Convertase 1}, issn = {1460-2083}, doi = {10.1093/hmg/ddv097}, author = {Nead, Kevin T and Li, Aihua and Wehner, Mackenzie R and Neupane, Binod and Gustafsson, Stefan and Adam S Butterworth and Engert, James C and Davis, A Darlene and Hegele, Robert A and Miller, Ruby and den Hoed, Marcel and Khaw, Kay-Tee and Kilpel{\"a}inen, Tuomas O and Wareham, Nick and Edwards, Todd L and Hallmans, G{\"o}ran and Varga, Tibor V and Sharon L R Kardia and Smith, Jennifer A and Zhao, Wei and Jessica Faul and David R Weir and Mi, Jie and Xi, Bo and Quinteros, Samuel Canizales and Cooper, Cyrus and Sayer, Avan Aihie and Jameson, Karen and Gr{\o}ntved, Anders and Myriam Fornage and Stephen Sidney and Hanis, Craig L and Highland, Heather M and H{\"a}ring, Hans-Ulrich and Heni, Martin and Lasky-Su, Jessica and Weiss, Scott T and Gerhard, Glenn S and Still, Christopher and Melka, Melkaey M and Pausova, Zdenka and Paus, Tom{\'a}{\v s} and Grant, Struan F A and Hakonarson, Hakon and Price, R Arlen and Wang, Kai and Scherag, Andre and Hebebrand, Johannes and Hinney, Anke and Franks, Paul W and Timothy M Frayling and McCarthy, Mark I and Hirschhorn, Joel N and Ruth J F Loos and Ingelsson, Erik and Gerstein, Hertzel C and Yusuf, Salim and Beyene, Joseph and Anand, Sonia S and Meyre, David} } @article {8884, title = {Directional dominance on stature and cognition in~diverse human populations.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {523}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Jul 23}, pages = {459-62}, abstract = {

Homozygosity has long been associated with rare, often devastating, Mendelian disorders, and Darwin was one of the first to recognize that inbreeding reduces evolutionary fitness. However, the effect of the more distant parental relatedness that is common in modern human populations is less well understood. Genomic data now allow us to investigate the effects of homozygosity on traits of public health importance by observing contiguous homozygous segments (runs of homozygosity), which are inferred to be homozygous along their complete length. Given the low levels of genome-wide homozygosity prevalent in most human populations, information is required on very large numbers of people to provide sufficient power. Here we use runs of homozygosity to study 16 health-related quantitative traits in 354,224 individuals from 102 cohorts, and find statistically significant associations between summed runs~of homozygosity and four complex traits: height, forced expiratory lung volume in one second, general cognitive ability and educational attainment (P < 1 {\texttimes} 10(-300), 2.1 {\texttimes} 10(-6), 2.5 {\texttimes} 10(-10) and 1.8 {\texttimes} 10(-10), respectively). In each case, increased homozygosity was associated with decreased trait value, equivalent to the offspring of first cousins being 1.2 cm shorter and having 10 months{\textquoteright} less education. Similar effect sizes were found across four continental groups and populations with different degrees of genome-wide homozygosity, providing evidence that homozygosity, rather than confounding, directly contributes to phenotypic variance. Contrary to earlier reports in substantially smaller samples, no evidence was seen of an influence of genome-wide homozygosity on blood pressure and low density lipoprotein cholesterol, or ten other cardio-metabolic traits. Since directional dominance is predicted for traits under directional evolutionary selection, this study provides evidence that increased stature and cognitive function have been positively selected in human evolution, whereas many important risk factors for late-onset complex diseases may not have been.

}, keywords = {Biological Evolution, Blood pressure, Body Height, Cholesterol, Cognitive Ability, Cohort Studies, Education, Female, Forced Expiratory Volume, Genome, Homozygote, Humans, Lung Volume Measurements, Male, Phenotype}, issn = {1476-4687}, doi = {10.1038/nature14618}, author = {Joshi, Peter K and T{\~o}nu Esko and Mattsson, Hannele and Eklund, Niina and Gandin, Ilaria and Nutile, Teresa and Jackson, Anne U and Schurmann, Claudia and Albert Vernon Smith and Zhang, Weihua and Okada, Yukinori and Stan{\v c}{\'a}kov{\'a}, Alena and Jessica Faul and Wei Zhao and Traci M Bartz and Maria Pina Concas and Franceschini, Nora and Enroth, Stefan and Vitart, Veronique and Trompet, Stella and Guo, Xiuqing and Daniel I Chasman and Jeff O{\textquoteright}Connell and Corre, Tanguy and Nongmaithem, Suraj S and Chen, Yuning and Mangino, Massimo and Ruggiero, Daniela and Traglia, Michela and Farmaki, Aliki-Eleni and Kacprowski, Tim and Bjonnes, Andrew and van der Spek, Ashley and Wu, Ying and Giri, Anil K and Yanek, Lisa R and Wang, Lihua and Edith Hofer and Cornelius A Rietveld and McLeod, Olga and Marilyn C Cornelis and Pattaro, Cristian and Verweij, Niek and Baumbach, Clemens and Abdel Abdellaoui and Warren, Helen R and Vuckovic, Dragana and Mei, Hao and Bouchard, Claude and Perry, John R B and Cappellani, Stefania and Saira S Mirza and Benton, Miles C and Broeckel, Ulrich and Sarah E Medland and Penelope A Lind and Malerba, Giovanni and Alexander W Drong and Yengo, Loic and Bielak, Lawrence F and Zhi, Degui and van der Most, Peter J and Daniel Shriner and M{\"a}gi, Reedik and Hemani, Gibran and Karaderi, Tugce and Wang, Zhaoming and Tian Liu and Demuth, Ilja and Jing Hua Zhao and Meng, Weihua and Lataniotis, Lazaros and van der Laan, Sander W and Bradfield, Jonathan P and Andrew R Wood and Bonnefond, Amelie and Ahluwalia, Tarunveer S and Hall, Leanne M and Salvi, Erika and Yazar, Seyhan and Carstensen, Lisbeth and de Haan, Hugoline G and Abney, Mark and Afzal, Uzma and Matthew A. Allison and Amin, Najaf and Asselbergs, Folkert W and Bakker, Stephan J L and Barr, R Graham and Baumeister, Sebastian E and Daniel J. Benjamin and Bergmann, Sven and Boerwinkle, Eric and Erwin P Bottinger and Campbell, Archie and Chakravarti, Aravinda and Chan, Yingleong and Chanock, Stephen J and Chen, Constance and Yii-Der I Chen and Collins, Francis S and Connell, John and Correa, Adolfo and Cupples, L Adrienne and Gail Davies and D{\"o}rr, Marcus and Georg B Ehret and Ellis, Stephen B and Feenstra, Bjarke and Feitosa, Mary F and Ford, Ian and Caroline S Fox and Timothy M Frayling and Friedrich, Nele and Geller, Frank and Scotland, Generation and Gillham-Nasenya, Irina and Gottesman, Omri and Graff, Misa and Grodstein, Francine and Gu, Charles and Haley, Chris and Hammond, Christopher J and Sarah E Harris and Tamara B Harris and Nicholas D Hastie and Heard-Costa, Nancy L and Heikkil{\"a}, Kauko and Lynne J Hocking and Homuth, Georg and Jouke-Jan Hottenga and Huang, Jinyan and Huffman, Jennifer E and Hysi, Pirro G and Mohammed Arfan Ikram and Ingelsson, Erik and Joensuu, Anni and Johansson, {\r A}sa and Jousilahti, Pekka and Jukema, J Wouter and K{\"a}h{\"o}nen, Mika and Kamatani, Yoichiro and Kanoni, Stavroula and Kerr, Shona M and Khan, Nazir M and Philipp D Koellinger and Koistinen, Heikki A and Kooner, Manraj K and Kubo, Michiaki and Kuusisto, Johanna and Lahti, Jari and Lenore J Launer and Lea, Rodney A and Lehne, Benjamin and Lehtim{\"a}ki, Terho and David C Liewald and Lars Lind and Loh, Marie and Lokki, Marja-Liisa and London, Stephanie J and Loomis, Stephanie J and Loukola, Anu and Lu, Yingchang and Lumley, Thomas and Lundqvist, Annamari and M{\"a}nnist{\"o}, Satu and Marques-Vidal, Pedro and Masciullo, Corrado and Matchan, Angela and Mathias, Rasika A and Matsuda, Koichi and Meigs, James B and Meisinger, Christa and Meitinger, Thomas and Menni, Cristina and Mentch, Frank D and Mihailov, Evelin and Lili Milani and Montasser, May E and Grant W Montgomery and Alanna C Morrison and Myers, Richard H and Nadukuru, Rajiv and Navarro, Pau and Nelis, Mari and Nieminen, Markku S and Ilja M Nolte and O{\textquoteright}Connor, George T and Ogunniyi, Adesola and Padmanabhan, Sandosh and Walter R Palmas and Pankow, James S and Patarcic, Inga and Pavani, Francesca and Peyser, Patricia A and Pietilainen, Kirsi and Neil Poulter and Prokopenko, Inga and Ralhan, Sarju and Redmond, Paul and Rich, Stephen S and Rissanen, Harri and Robino, Antonietta and Rose, Lynda M and Rose, Richard and Cinzia Felicita Sala and Babatunde Salako and Veikko Salomaa and Sarin, Antti-Pekka and Saxena, Richa and Schmidt, Helena and Scott, Laura J and Scott, William R and Sennblad, Bengt and Seshadri, Sudha and Peter Sever and Shrestha, Smeeta and Smith, Blair H and Jennifer A Smith and Soranzo, Nicole and Sotoodehnia, Nona and Southam, Lorraine and Stanton, Alice V and Stathopoulou, Maria G and Strauch, Konstantin and Strawbridge, Rona J and Suderman, Matthew J and Tandon, Nikhil and Tang, Sian-Tsun and Kent D Taylor and Bamidele O Tayo and T{\"o}glhofer, Anna Maria and Tomaszewski, Maciej and T{\v s}ernikova, Natalia and Tuomilehto, Jaakko and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Vaidya, Dhananjay and van Hylckama Vlieg, Astrid and van Setten, Jessica and Vasankari, Tuula and Vedantam, Sailaja and Vlachopoulou, Efthymia and Vozzi, Diego and Vuoksimaa, Eero and Waldenberger, Melanie and Erin B Ware and Wentworth-Shields, William and Whitfield, John B and Sarah Wild and Gonneke Willemsen and Yajnik, Chittaranjan S and Yao, Jie and Zaza, Gianluigi and Zhu, Xiaofeng and Salem, Rany M and Melbye, Mads and Bisgaard, Hans and Nilesh J Samani and Cusi, Daniele and Mackey, David A and Cooper, Richard S and Froguel, Philippe and Pasterkamp, Gerard and Grant, Struan F A and Hakonarson, Hakon and Luigi Ferrucci and Scott, Robert A and Morris, Andrew D and Palmer, Colin N A and George Dedoussis and Deloukas, Panos and Bertram, Lars and Lindenberger, Ulman and Berndt, Sonja I and Lindgren, Cecilia M and Nicholas J Timpson and T{\"o}njes, Anke and Munroe, Patricia B and Thorkild I. A. S{\o}rensen and Charles N Rotimi and Donna K Arnett and Oldehinkel, Albertine J and Sharon L R Kardia and Balkau, Beverley and Gambaro, Giovanni and Morris, Andrew P and Johan G Eriksson and Margaret J Wright and Nicholas G Martin and Hunt, Steven C and John M Starr and Ian J Deary and Griffiths, Lyn R and Henning Tiemeier and Nicola Pirastu and Kaprio, Jaakko and Wareham, Nicholas J and P{\'e}russe, Louis and Wilson, James G and Giorgia G Girotto and Caulfield, Mark J and Olli T Raitakari and Dorret I Boomsma and Gieger, Christian and van der Harst, Pim and Hicks, Andrew A and Kraft, Peter and Sinisalo, Juha and Knekt, Paul and Johannesson, Magnus and Patrik K E Magnusson and Hamsten, Anders and Schmidt, Reinhold and Ingrid B Borecki and Vartiainen, Erkki and Becker, Diane M and Bharadwaj, Dwaipayan and Mohlke, Karen L and Boehnke, Michael and Cornelia M van Duijn and Sanghera, Dharambir K and Teumer, Alexander and Zeggini, Eleftheria and Andres Metspalu and Paolo P. Gasparini and Ulivi, Sheila and Ober, Carole and Toniolo, Daniela and Rudan, Igor and David J Porteous and Ciullo, Marina and Timothy Spector and Caroline Hayward and Dupuis, Jos{\'e}e and Ruth J F Loos and Alan F Wright and Chandak, Giriraj R and Vollenweider, Peter and Alan R Shuldiner and Ridker, Paul M and Rotter, Jerome I and Sattar, Naveed and Gyllensten, Ulf and Kari E North and Pirastu, Mario and Psaty, Bruce M and David R Weir and Laakso, Markku and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Takahashi, Atsushi and Chambers, John C and Kooner, Jaspal S and David P Strachan and Campbell, Harry and Joel N Hirschhron and Markus Perola and Polasek, Ozren and James F Wilson} } @article {8352, title = {Effects of Co-Worker and Supervisor Support on Job Stress and Presenteeism in an Aging Workforce: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach.}, journal = {Int J Environ Res Public Health}, volume = {13}, year = {2015}, note = {Times Cited: 0 0}, month = {2015 Dec 23}, pages = {ijerph13010072}, publisher = {13}, abstract = {

We examined the effects of co-worker and supervisor support on job stress and presenteeism in an aging workforce. Structural equation modelling was used to evaluate data from the 2010 wave of the Health and Retirement Survey in the United States (n = 1649). The level of presenteeism was low and the level of job stress was moderate among aging US workers. SEM revealed that co-worker support and supervisor support were strongly correlated (β = 0.67; p < 0.001). Job stress had a significant direct positive effect on presenteeism (β = 0.30; p < 0.001). Co-worker support had a significant direct negative effect on job stress (β = -0.10; p < 0.001) and presenteeism (β = -0.11; p < 0.001). Supervisor support had a significant direct negative effect on job stress (β = -0.40; p < 0.001) but not presenteeism. The findings suggest that presenteeism is reduced by increased respect and concern for employee stress at the workplace, by necessary support at work from colleagues and employers, and by the presence of comfortable interpersonal relationships among colleagues and between employers and employees.

}, keywords = {Aged, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Statistical, Occupational Health, Population Dynamics, Presenteeism, Social Support, Stress, Psychological, United States}, issn = {1660-4601}, doi = {10.3390/ijerph13010072}, author = {Tianan Yang and Shen, Yu-Ming and Zhu, Mingjing and Liu, Yuanling and Deng, Jianwei and Chen, Qian and See, Lai-Chu} } @mastersthesis {6171, title = {Essays on applied economics}, volume = {3716126}, year = {2015}, note = {Copyright - Copyright ProQuest, UMI Dissertations Publishing 2015 Last updated - 2015-08-26 First page - n/a}, month = {2015}, pages = {93}, school = {The University of Wisconsin - Madison}, type = {Ph.D.}, address = {Madison, WI}, abstract = {The first chapter uses a dynamic programming model and restricted data from Health and Retirement Survey to analyze the joint determination of labor supply, consumption and the decision to apply for Social Security (SS) benefits of single males beyond normal retirement age in the U.S., currently 66. Undertaking a counterfactual analysis, I find that the year 2000 SS amendment abolishing the "earnings test" for the age group 66 - 69 explains one-fourth of the recent increase in the elderly labor force participation rate (LFPR). I further find via counterfactual analyses that the labor supply decision is sensitive to changes in SS benefit and payroll tax amounts on the extensive margin, but the effects on the intensive margin are not substantial. I also estimate labor supply elasticities for the elderly and find that the elasticities are around unit elasticity. The second chapter augments the Additively Non-ignorable (AN) model of Hirano et. al. (2001) so that it is suitable for data collection efforts that have a short panel component. Our modification yields a convenient semi-parametric bias correction framework for handling selective non-response that can emerge when multiple visits to the same unit are planned. In such surveys, selective non-response can be due to attrition, when initial response followed by nonresponse (the commonly studied case), as well as a phenomenon we term "reverse attrition", when initial nonresponse is followed by response. We apply our methodology to data from the Household Labor Force Survey (HLFS) in Turkey, which shares a key design feature (namely a rotating sample frame) of popular surveys. Our empirical results show that attrition/reverse attrition in HLFS is a statistically and substantially important concern.}, keywords = {Methodology, Other, Public Policy}, url = {http://proxy.lib.umich.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1702158843?accountid=14667http://mgetit.lib.umich.edu/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004\&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8\&rfr_id=info:sid/Dissertations+\%26+Theses+\%40+CIC+Institutions\&rft_val_fmt=info:of}, author = {Yavuzoglu, Berk} } @article {8326, title = {FASTKD2 is associated with memory and hippocampal structure in older adults.}, journal = {Mol Psychiatry}, volume = {20}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Oct}, pages = {1197-204}, publisher = {20}, abstract = {

Memory impairment is the cardinal early feature of Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease, a highly prevalent disorder whose causes remain only partially understood. To identify novel genetic predictors, we used an integrative genomics approach to perform the largest study to date of human memory (n=14 781). Using a genome-wide screen, we discovered a novel association of a polymorphism in the pro-apoptotic gene FASTKD2 (fas-activated serine/threonine kinase domains 2; rs7594645-G) with better memory performance and replicated this finding in independent samples. Consistent with a neuroprotective effect, rs7594645-G carriers exhibited increased hippocampal volume and gray matter density and decreased cerebrospinal fluid levels of apoptotic mediators. The MTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) gene and pathways related to endocytosis, cholinergic neurotransmission, epidermal growth factor receptor signaling and immune regulation, among others, also displayed association with memory. These findings nominate FASTKD2 as a target for modulating neurodegeneration and suggest potential mechanisms for therapies to combat memory loss in normal cognitive aging and dementia.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer disease, Female, Genetic Association Studies, Genome-Wide Association Study, Hippocampus, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Memory, Memory Disorders, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases, Structure-Activity Relationship}, issn = {1476-5578}, doi = {10.1038/mp.2014.142}, author = {Vijay K Ramanan and Nho, Kwangsik and Shen, Li and Shannon L Risacher and Brenna C McDonald and Martin R Farlow and Tatiana Foroud and Gao, Sujuan and Soininen, Hilkka and Kloszewska, Iwona and Mecocci, Patrizia and Tsolaki, Magda and Vellas, Bruno and Lovestone, Simon and Aisen, Paul S. and Ronald C Petersen and Jack, Clifford R. and Shaw, Leslie M. and Trojanowski, John Q. and Weiner, Michael W. and Green, Robert C. and Arthur W. Toga and Philip L de Jager and Lei Yu and David A Bennett and Andrew J Saykin} } @article {8882, title = {Genetic studies of body mass index yield new insights for obesity biology.}, journal = {Nature}, volume = {518}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Feb 12}, pages = {197-206}, abstract = {

Obesity is heritable and predisposes to many diseases. To understand the genetic basis of obesity better, here we conduct a genome-wide association study and Metabochip meta-analysis of body mass index (BMI), a measure commonly used to define obesity and assess adiposity, in up to 339,224 individuals. This analysis identifies 97 BMI-associated loci (P~<~5~{\texttimes}~10(-8)), 56 of which are novel. Five loci demonstrate clear evidence of several independent association signals, and many loci have significant effects on other metabolic phenotypes. The 97 loci account for \~{}2.7\% of BMI variation, and genome-wide estimates suggest that common variation accounts for >20\% of BMI variation. Pathway analyses provide strong support for a role of the central nervous system in obesity susceptibility and implicate new genes and pathways, including those related to synaptic function, glutamate signalling, insulin secretion/action, energy metabolism, lipid biology and adipogenesis.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, BMI, Continental Population Groups, Energy Metabolism, Europe, Female, Genome-Wide Association Study, Glutamic Acid, Humans, Insulin, Male, Obesity, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Quantitative Trait Loci, Synapses}, issn = {1476-4687}, doi = {10.1038/nature14177}, author = {Locke, Adam E and Kahali, Bratati and Berndt, Sonja I and Justice, Anne E and Pers, Tune H and Day, Felix R and Powell, Corey and Vedantam, Sailaja and Buchkovich, Martin L and Yang, Jian and Croteau-Chonka, Damien C and T{\~o}nu Esko and Fall, Tove and Ferreira, Teresa and Gustafsson, Stefan and Kutalik, Zolt{\'a}n and Luan, Jian{\textquoteright}an and M{\"a}gi, Reedik and Randall, Joshua C and Thomas W Winkler and Andrew R Wood and Workalemahu, Tsegaselassie and Jessica Faul and Jennifer A Smith and Jing Hua Zhao and Wei Zhao and Chen, Jin and Rudolf Ferhmann and Hedman, {\r A}sa K and Karjalainen, Juha and Schmidt, Ellen M and Absher, Devin and Amin, Najaf and Anderson, Denise and Beekman, Marian and Bolton, Jennifer L and Bragg-Gresham, Jennifer L and Buyske, Steven and Demirkan, Ayse and Deng, Guohong and Georg B Ehret and Feenstra, Bjarke and Feitosa, Mary F and Fischer, Krista and Goel, Anuj and Gong, Jian and Jackson, Anne U and Kanoni, Stavroula and Kleber, Marcus E and Kristiansson, Kati and Lim, Unhee and Lotay, Vaneet and Mangino, Massimo and Irene Mateo Leach and Medina-Gomez, Carolina and Sarah E Medland and Michael A Nalls and Palmer, Cameron D and Pasko, Dorota and Pechlivanis, Sonali and Peters, Marjolein J and Prokopenko, Inga and Shungin, Dmitry and Stan{\v c}{\'a}kov{\'a}, Alena and Strawbridge, Rona J and Yun Ju Sung and Toshiko Tanaka and Teumer, Alexander and Trompet, Stella and van der Laan, Sander W and van Setten, Jessica and Jana V. van Vliet-Ostaptchouk and Wang, Zhaoming and Yengo, Loic and Zhang, Weihua and Isaacs, Aaron and Albrecht, Eva and {\"A}rnl{\"o}v, Johan and Arscott, Gillian M and Attwood, Antony P and Bandinelli, Stefania and Barrett, Amy and Bas, Isabelita N and Bellis, Claire and Bennett, Amanda J and Berne, Christian and Blagieva, Roza and Bl{\"u}her, Matthias and B{\"o}hringer, Stefan and Bonnycastle, Lori L and B{\"o}ttcher, Yvonne and Boyd, Heather A and Bruinenberg, Marcel and Caspersen, Ida H and Yii-Der I Chen and Robert Clark and Daw, E Warwick and de Craen, Anton J M and Delgado, Graciela and Dimitriou, Maria and Doney, Alex S F and Eklund, Niina and Estrada, Karol and Eury, Elodie and Folkersen, Lasse and Fraser, Ross M and Melissa E Garcia and Geller, Frank and Giedraitis, Vilmantas and Gigante, Bruna and Alan S Go and Golay, Alain and Goodall, Alison H and Gordon, Scott D and Gorski, Mathias and Hans-J{\"o}rgen Grabe and Grallert, Harald and Grammer, Tanja B and Gr{\"a}{\ss}ler, J{\"u}rgen and Gr{\"o}nberg, Henrik and Groves, Christopher J and Gusto, Ga{\"e}lle and Jeffrey Haessler and Hall, Per and Haller, Toomas and Hallmans, G{\"o}ran and Catharina A Hartman and Hassinen, Maija and Caroline Hayward and Heard-Costa, Nancy L and Helmer, Quinta and Hengstenberg, Christian and Oddgeir L Holmen and Jouke-Jan Hottenga and James, Alan L and Janina Jeff and Johansson, {\r A}sa and Jolley, Jennifer and Juliusdottir, Thorhildur and Kinnunen, Leena and Koenig, Wolfgang and Koskenvuo, Markku and Kratzer, Wolfgang and Laitinen, Jaana and Lamina, Claudia and Leander, Karin and Lee, Nanette R and Lichtner, Peter and Lars Lind and Lindstr{\"o}m, Jaana and Ken Sin Lo and Lobbens, St{\'e}phane and Lorbeer, Roberto and Lu, Yingchang and Mach, Fran{\c c}ois and Patrik K E Magnusson and Mahajan, Anubha and McArdle, Wendy L and McLachlan, Stela and Menni, Cristina and Merger, Sigrun and Mihailov, Evelin and Lili Milani and Moayyeri, Alireza and Monda, Keri L and Morken, Mario A and Mulas, Antonella and M{\"u}ller, Gabriele and M{\"u}ller-Nurasyid, Martina and Musk, Arthur W and Nagaraja, Ramaiah and Markus M N{\"o}then and Ilja M Nolte and Pilz, Stefan and Nigel W Rayner and Renstrom, Frida and Rettig, Rainer and Ried, Janina S and Ripke, Stephan and Neil R Robertson and Rose, Lynda M and Sanna, Serena and Scharnagl, Hubert and Scholtens, Salome and Schumacher, Fredrick R and Scott, William R and Seufferlein, Thomas and Jianxin Shi and Albert Vernon Smith and Smolonska, Joanna and Stanton, Alice V and Steinthorsdottir, Valgerdur and Kathleen E Stirrups and Heather M Stringham and Sundstr{\"o}m, Johan and Swertz, Morris A and Swift, Amy J and Syv{\"a}nen, Ann-Christine and Tan, Sian-Tsung and Bamidele O Tayo and Thorand, Barbara and Thorleifsson, Gudmar and Tyrer, Jonathan P and Uh, Hae-Won and Vandenput, Liesbeth and Verhulst, Frank C and Vermeulen, Sita H and Verweij, Niek and Vonk, Judith M and Lindsay L Waite and Warren, Helen R and Dawn M Waterworth and Michael N Weedon and Wilkens, Lynne R and Willenborg, Christina and Wilsgaard, Tom and Wojczynski, Mary K and Wong, Andrew and Alan F Wright and Zhang, Qunyuan and Brennan, Eoin P and Murim Choi and Dastani, Zari and Alexander W Drong and Eriksson, Per and Franco-Cereceda, Anders and G{\r a}din, Jesper R and Gharavi, Ali G and Goddard, Michael E and Handsaker, Robert E and Huang, Jinyan and Karpe, Fredrik and Kathiresan, Sekar and Keildson, Sarah and Kiryluk, Krzysztof and Kubo, Michiaki and Lee, Jong-Young and Liang, Liming and Lifton, Richard P and Ma, Baoshan and McCarroll, Steven A and McKnight, Amy J and Min, Josine L and Moffatt, Miriam F and Grant W Montgomery and Joanne M Murabito and Nicholson, George and Nyholt, Dale R and Okada, Yukinori and Perry, John R B and Dorajoo, Rajkumar and Reinmaa, Eva and Salem, Rany M and Sandholm, Niina and Scott, Robert A and Stolk, Lisette and Takahashi, Atsushi and Tanaka, Toshihiro and Ferdinand M van {\textquoteright}t Hooft and Anna A E Vinkhuyzen and Westra, Harm-Jan and Wei Zhang and Krina T Zondervan and Andrew C Heath and Arveiler, Dominique and Bakker, Stephan J L and Beilby, John and Bergman, Richard N and Blangero, John and Bovet, Pascal and Campbell, Harry and Caulfield, Mark J and Cesana, Giancarlo and Chakravarti, Aravinda and Daniel I Chasman and Chines, Peter S and Collins, Francis S and Crawford, Dana C and Cupples, L Adrienne and Cusi, Daniele and Danesh, John and de Faire, Ulf and Hester M den Ruijter and Dominiczak, Anna F and Erbel, Raimund and Erdmann, Jeanette and Johan G Eriksson and Farrall, Martin and Felix, Stephan B and Ferrannini, Ele and Ferri{\`e}res, Jean and Ford, Ian and Forouhi, Nita G and Forrester, Terrence and Franco, Oscar H and Gansevoort, Ron T and Gejman, Pablo V and Gieger, Christian and Gottesman, Omri and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Gyllensten, Ulf and Hall, Alistair S and Tamara B Harris and Andrew T Hattersley and Hicks, Andrew A and Hindorff, Lucia A and Aroon Hingorani and Hofman, Albert and Homuth, Georg and Hovingh, G Kees and Humphries, Steve E and Hunt, Steven C and Hypp{\"o}nen, Elina and Illig, Thomas and Jacobs, Kevin B and J{\"a}rvelin, Marjo-Riitta and J{\"o}ckel, Karl-Heinz and Johansen, Berit and Jousilahti, Pekka and Jukema, J Wouter and Jula, Antti M and Kaprio, Jaakko and Kastelein, John J P and Keinanen-Kiukaanniemi, Sirkka M and Lambertus A Kiemeney and Knekt, Paul and Kooner, Jaspal S and Charles Kooperberg and Kovacs, Peter and Kraja, Aldi T and Kumari, Meena and Kuusisto, Johanna and Lakka, Timo A and Langenberg, Claudia and Loic Le Marchand and Lehtim{\"a}ki, Terho and Lyssenko, Valeriya and M{\"a}nnist{\"o}, Satu and Marette, Andr{\'e} and Matise, Tara C and McKenzie, Colin A and McKnight, Barbara and Moll, Frans L and Morris, Andrew D and Morris, Andrew P and Murray, Jeffrey C and Nelis, Mari and Ohlsson, Claes and Oldehinkel, Albertine J and Ong, Ken K and Pamela A F Madden and Pasterkamp, Gerard and Peden, John F and Peters, Annette and Postma, Dirkje S and Pramstaller, Peter P and Price, Jackie F and Qi, Lu and Olli T Raitakari and Rankinen, Tuomo and Rao, D C and Rice, Treva K and Ridker, Paul M and Rioux, John D and Ritchie, Marylyn D and Rudan, Igor and Veikko Salomaa and Nilesh J Samani and Saramies, Jouko and Sarzynski, Mark A and Schunkert, Heribert and Schwarz, Peter E H and Peter Sever and Alan R Shuldiner and Sinisalo, Juha and Stolk, Ronald P and Strauch, Konstantin and T{\"o}njes, Anke and Tr{\'e}gou{\"e}t, David-Alexandre and Tremblay, Angelo and Tremoli, Elena and Virtamo, Jarmo and Vohl, Marie-Claude and V{\"o}lker, Uwe and Waeber, G{\'e}rard and Gonneke Willemsen and Witteman, Jacqueline C and Zillikens, M Carola and Adair, Linda S and Amouyel, Philippe and Asselbergs, Folkert W and Assimes, Themistocles L and Bochud, Murielle and Boehm, Bernhard O and Boerwinkle, Eric and Bornstein, Stefan R and Erwin P Bottinger and Bouchard, Claude and Cauchi, St{\'e}phane and Chambers, John C and Chanock, Stephen J and Cooper, Richard S and de Bakker, Paul I W and George Dedoussis and Luigi Ferrucci and Franks, Paul W and Froguel, Philippe and Leif C Groop and Christopher A Haiman and Hamsten, Anders and Hui, Jennie and Hunter, David J and Hveem, Kristian and Kaplan, Robert C and Mika Kivim{\"a}ki and Kuh, Diana and Laakso, Markku and Yongmei Liu and Nicholas G Martin and M{\"a}rz, Winfried and Melbye, Mads and Andres Metspalu and Moebus, Susanne and Munroe, Patricia B and Nj{\o}lstad, Inger and Ben A Oostra and Palmer, Colin N A and Nancy L Pedersen and Markus Perola and P{\'e}russe, Louis and Peters, Ulrike and Power, Chris and Quertermous, Thomas and Rauramaa, Rainer and Fernando Rivadeneira and Saaristo, Timo E and Saleheen, Danish and Sattar, Naveed and Eric E Schadt and Schlessinger, David and Eline P Slagboom and Snieder, Harold and Timothy Spector and Thorsteinsdottir, Unnur and Stumvoll, Michael and Tuomilehto, Jaakko and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Uusitupa, Matti and van der Harst, Pim and Walker, Mark and Wallaschofski, Henri and Wareham, Nicholas J and Watkins, Hugh and David R Weir and Wichmann, H-Erich and James F Wilson and Zanen, Pieter and Ingrid B Borecki and Deloukas, Panos and Caroline S Fox and Iris M Heid and Jeff O{\textquoteright}Connell and David P Strachan and Stefansson, Kari and Cornelia M van Duijn and Gon{\c c}alo R Abecasis and Lude L Franke and Timothy M Frayling and McCarthy, Mark I and Peter M Visscher and Scherag, Andre and Willer, Cristen J and Boehnke, Michael and Mohlke, Karen L and Lindgren, Cecilia M and Beckmann, Jacques S and Barroso, In{\^e}s and Kari E North and Ingelsson, Erik and Joel N Hirschhron and Ruth J F Loos and Elizabeth K Speliotes} } @article {8146, title = {Grip Strength Values Stratified by Age, Gender, and Chronic Disease Status in Adults Aged 50 Years and Older}, journal = {Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy}, volume = {38}, year = {2015}, note = {Times Cited: 1 0 1}, pages = {115-121}, publisher = {38}, abstract = {Background and Purpose: Grip strength is a measure of overall muscle strength and has been found to be a predictor of disability and mortality. Almost 3 in 4 adults aged 65 years and older have multiple chronic conditions, known as multimorbidity. Normative data for grip strength have commonly been reported on healthy convenience samples that may not accurately represent the population of interest. Grip strength values of US adults, utilizing a nationally representative data set based on the number of chronic diseases, would be beneficial to health care providers who serve adults with multimorbidity. The purpose of this study was to describe grip strength values of adults in the United States, based on gender, age, and the number of chronic diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data collected from adults aged 50 years or older (n = 5877) from the Health and Retirement Study survey administered in 2008. Grip strength values (in kilograms) were determined and stratified on the basis of the number of self-reported chronic diseases (0, 1, 2, = 3) and stratified by age (decades) and gender. Results: Consistent with previously published values, males demonstrated higher mean hand grip strength than females and grip strength values decreased with age. Adults with multimorbidity demonstrated decreased grip strength as compared with those without chronic conditions (males/females with 0 chronic diseases right grip strength GRAPHICS = 44.2/26.8 kg as compared with males/females with 3 or more chronic disease right grip strength GRAPHICS = 36.1/21.7 kg). Conclusions: The grip strength values presented can serve as a standard of comparison for the large proportion of adults who have multimorbidity. Clinicians should consider grip strength as a component of a comprehensive physical assessment to identify decreased grip strength and recommend increased physical activity as an appropriate intervention.}, keywords = {Disabilities, Health Conditions and Status, Healthcare, Other}, doi = {10.1519/jpt.0000000000000037}, author = {Amy M Yorke and Amy B. Curtis and Shoemaker, Michael and Vangsnes, Eric} } @article {8606, title = {GWAS of longevity in CHARGE consortium confirms APOE and FOXO3 candidacy.}, journal = {J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci}, volume = {70}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Jan}, pages = {110-8}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: The genetic contribution to longevity in humans has been estimated to range from 15\% to 25\%. Only two genes, APOE and FOXO3, have shown association with longevity in multiple independent studies.

METHODS: We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies including 6,036 longevity cases, age >=90 years, and 3,757 controls that died between ages 55 and 80 years. We additionally attempted to replicate earlier identified single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associations with longevity.

RESULTS: In our meta-analysis, we found suggestive evidence for the association of SNPs near CADM2 (odds ratio [OR] = 0.81; p value = 9.66 {\texttimes} 10(-7)) and GRIK2 (odds ratio = 1.24; p value = 5.09 {\texttimes} 10(-8)) with longevity. When attempting to replicate findings earlier identified in genome-wide association studies, only the APOE locus consistently replicated. In an additional look-up of the candidate gene FOXO3, we found that an earlier identified variant shows a highly significant association with longevity when including published data with our meta-analysis (odds ratio = 1.17; p value = 1.85{\texttimes}10(-10)).

CONCLUSIONS: We did not identify new genome-wide significant associations with longevity and did not replicate earlier findings except for APOE and FOXO3. Our inability to find new associations with survival to ages >=90 years because longevity represents multiple complex traits with heterogeneous genetic underpinnings, or alternatively, that longevity may be regulated by rare variants that are not captured by standard genome-wide genotyping and imputation of common variants.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Apolipoproteins E, Cell Adhesion Molecules, Cohort Studies, Female, Forkhead Box Protein O3, Forkhead Transcription Factors, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Longevity, Male, Middle Aged, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Receptors, Kainic Acid}, issn = {1758-535X}, doi = {10.1093/gerona/glu166}, url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4296168/}, author = {Broer, Linda and Aron S Buchman and Deelen, Joris and Daniel S Evans and Jessica Faul and Kathryn L Lunetta and Sebastiani, Paola and Jennifer A Smith and Albert Vernon Smith and Toshiko Tanaka and Lei Yu and Alice M. Arnold and Aspelund, Thor and Emelia J Benjamin and Philip L de Jager and Gu{\dh}ny Eir{\'\i}ksd{\'o}ttir and Melissa E Garcia and Hofman, Albert and Kaplan, Robert C and Sharon L R Kardia and Douglas P Kiel and Ben A Oostra and Orwoll, Eric S and Parimi, Neeta and Psaty, Bruce M and Fernando Rivadeneira and Rotter, Jerome I and Seshadri, Sudha and Andrew B Singleton and Henning Tiemeier and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Wei Zhao and Bandinelli, Stefania and David A Bennett and Luigi Ferrucci and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Tamara B Harris and Karasik, David and Lenore J Launer and Thomas T Perls and Eline P Slagboom and Tranah, Gregory J and David R Weir and Anne B Newman and Cornelia M van Duijn and Joanne M Murabito} } @article {8889, title = {Large-scale genomic analyses link reproductive aging to hypothalamic signaling, breast cancer susceptibility and BRCA1-mediated DNA repair.}, journal = {Nat Genet}, volume = {47}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Nov}, pages = {1294-303}, abstract = {

Menopause timing has a substantial impact on infertility and risk of disease, including breast cancer, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We report a dual strategy in \~{}70,000 women to identify common and low-frequency protein-coding variation associated with age at natural menopause (ANM). We identified 44 regions with common variants, including two regions harboring additional rare missense alleles of large effect. We found enrichment of signals in or near genes involved in delayed puberty, highlighting the first molecular links between the onset and end of reproductive lifespan. Pathway analyses identified major association with DNA damage response (DDR) genes, including the first common coding variant in BRCA1 associated with any complex trait. Mendelian randomization analyses supported a causal effect of later ANM on breast cancer risk (\~{}6\% increase in risk per year; P = 3 {\texttimes} 10(-14)), likely mediated by prolonged sex hormone exposure rather than DDR mechanisms.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aging, BRCA1 Protein, Breast Neoplasms, DNA Repair, Female, Genome, Genome-Wide Association Study, Genotype, Humans, Hypothalamus, Menopause, Middle Aged, Models, Genetic, Older Adults, Phenotype, Reproduction, Signal Transduction}, issn = {1546-1718}, doi = {10.1038/ng.3412}, author = {Day, Felix R and Ruth, Katherine S and Thompson, Deborah J and Kathryn L Lunetta and Pervjakova, Natalia and Daniel I Chasman and Stolk, Lisette and Finucane, Hilary K and Sulem, Patrick and Bulik-Sullivan, Brendan and T{\~o}nu Esko and Andrew D Johnson and Elks, Cathy E and Franceschini, Nora and He, Chunyan and Altmaier, Elisabeth and Brody, Jennifer A and Lude L Franke and Huffman, Jennifer E and Keller, Margaux F and McArdle, Patrick F and Nutile, Teresa and Porcu, Eleonora and Robino, Antonietta and Rose, Lynda M and Schick, Ursula M and Jennifer A Smith and Teumer, Alexander and Traglia, Michela and Vuckovic, Dragana and Yao, Jie and Wei Zhao and Albrecht, Eva and Amin, Najaf and Corre, Tanguy and Jouke-Jan Hottenga and Mangino, Massimo and Albert Vernon Smith and Toshiko Tanaka and Gon{\c c}alo R Abecasis and Andrulis, Irene L and Anton-Culver, Hoda and Antoniou, Antonis C and Arndt, Volker and Alice M. Arnold and Barbieri, Caterina and Beckmann, Matthias W and Beeghly-Fadiel, Alicia and Benitez, Javier and Bernstein, Leslie and Bielinski, Suzette J and Blomqvist, Carl and Boerwinkle, Eric and Bogdanova, Natalia V and Bojesen, Stig E and Manjeet K. Bolla and Borresen-Dale, Anne-Lise and Boutin, Thibaud S and Brauch, Hiltrud and Brenner, Hermann and Br{\"u}ning, Thomas and Burwinkel, Barbara and Campbell, Archie and Campbell, Harry and Chanock, Stephen J and Chapman, J Ross and Yii-Der I Chen and Chenevix-Trench, Georgia and Couch, Fergus J and Coviello, Andrea D and Cox, Angela and Czene, Kamila and Darabi, Hatef and De Vivo, Immaculata and Ellen W Demerath and Joe G Dennis and Devilee, Peter and D{\"o}rk, Thilo and Dos-Santos-Silva, Isabel and Dunning, Alison M and John D Eicher and Fasching, Peter A and Jessica Faul and Figueroa, Jonine and Flesch-Janys, Dieter and Gandin, Ilaria and Melissa E Garcia and Garc{\'\i}a-Closas, Montserrat and Giles, Graham G and Giorgia G Girotto and Goldberg, Mark S and Gonz{\'a}lez-Neira, Anna and Goodarzi, Mark O and Grove, Megan L and Gudbjartsson, Daniel F and Gu{\'e}nel, Pascal and Guo, Xiuqing and Christopher A Haiman and Hall, Per and Hamann, Ute and Henderson, Brian E and Lynne J Hocking and Hofman, Albert and Homuth, Georg and Hooning, Maartje J and John L Hopper and Hu, Frank B and Huang, Jinyan and Humphreys, Keith and Hunter, David J and Jakubowska, Anna and Jones, Samuel E and Kabisch, Maria and Karasik, David and Knight, Julia A and Kolcic, Ivana and Charles Kooperberg and Kosma, Veli-Matti and Kriebel, Jennifer and Kristensen, Vessela and Lambrechts, Diether and Langenberg, Claudia and Li, Jingmei and Li, Xin and Lindstr{\"o}m, Sara and Yongmei Liu and Luan, Jian{\textquoteright}an and Lubinski, Jan and M{\"a}gi, Reedik and Mannermaa, Arto and Manz, Judith and Margolin, Sara and Marten, Jonathan and Nicholas G Martin and Masciullo, Corrado and Meindl, Alfons and Michailidou, Kyriaki and Mihailov, Evelin and Lili Milani and Milne, Roger L and M{\"u}ller-Nurasyid, Martina and Michael A Nalls and Neale, Benjamin M and Nevanlinna, Heli and Neven, Patrick and Anne B Newman and B{\o}rge G Nordestgaard and Olson, Janet E and Padmanabhan, Sandosh and Peterlongo, Paolo and Peters, Ulrike and Petersmann, Astrid and Peto, Julian and Pharoah, Paul D P and Nicola Pirastu and Pirie, Ailith and Pistis, Giorgio and Polasek, Ozren and David J Porteous and Psaty, Bruce M and Pylk{\"a}s, Katri and Radice, Paolo and Raffel, Leslie J and Fernando Rivadeneira and Rudan, Igor and Rudolph, Anja and Ruggiero, Daniela and Cinzia Felicita Sala and Sanna, Serena and Sawyer, Elinor J and Schlessinger, David and Schmidt, Marjanka K and Schmidt, Frank and Schmutzler, Rita K and Schoemaker, Minouk J and Scott, Robert A and Seynaeve, Caroline M and Simard, Jacques and Sorice, Rossella and Southey, Melissa C and St{\"o}ckl, Doris and Strauch, Konstantin and Swerdlow, Anthony and Kent D Taylor and Thorsteinsdottir, Unnur and Toland, Amanda E and Tomlinson, Ian and Truong, Th{\'e}r{\`e}se and Tryggvadottir, Laufey and Stephen T Turner and Vozzi, Diego and Wang, Qin and Wellons, Melissa and Gonneke Willemsen and James F Wilson and Winqvist, Robert and Wolffenbuttel, Bruce B H R and Alan F Wright and Yannoukakos, Drakoulis and Zemunik, Tatijana and Wei Zhang and Zygmunt, Marek and Bergmann, Sven and Dorret I Boomsma and Buring, Julie E and Luigi Ferrucci and Grant W Montgomery and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Timothy Spector and Cornelia M van Duijn and Alizadeh, Behrooz Z and Ciullo, Marina and Crisponi, Laura and Easton, Douglas F and Paolo P. Gasparini and Gieger, Christian and Tamara B Harris and Caroline Hayward and Sharon L R Kardia and Kraft, Peter and McKnight, Barbara and Andres Metspalu and Alanna C Morrison and Reiner, Alex P and Ridker, Paul M and Rotter, Jerome I and Toniolo, Daniela and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Ulivi, Sheila and V{\"o}lzke, Henry and Wareham, Nicholas J and David R Weir and Laura M Yerges-Armstrong and Price, Alkes L and Stefansson, Kari and Visser, Jenny A and Ong, Ken K and Chang-Claude, Jenny and Joanne M Murabito and Perry, John R B and Murray, Anna} } @article {8274, title = {Portfolio choice and risk attitudes: a household bargaining approach}, journal = {Review of Economics of the Household}, volume = {13}, year = {2015}, pages = {219-241}, publisher = {13}, abstract = {The goal of this study is to understand how the households decide on portfolio asset allocation when the husband and wife have different risk preferences. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study for 1992 2006, we show that the share of risky assets in portfolios of two-person households increases with the risk tolerance of the spouse who has more bargaining power. The risk tolerance of the spouse who has less bargaining power does not seem to affect the share of household wealth allocated to risky assets. These results are consistent with a cooperative bargaining framework where the investment in risky assets depends on the bargaining power of the more risk tolerant spouse.}, keywords = {Adult children, Net Worth and Assets, Other, Risk Taking}, doi = {10.1007/s11150-013-9207-8}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11150-013-9207-8}, author = {Tansel Yilmazer and Lich, Stephen} } @article {8157, title = {Race/Ethnic Differentials in the Health Consequences of Caring for Grandchildren for Grandparents.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {70}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Sep}, pages = {793-803}, publisher = {70}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: The phenomenon of grandparents caring for grandchildren is disproportionately observed among different racial/ethnic groups in the United States. This study examines the influence of childcare provision on older adults{\textquoteright} health trajectories in the United States with a particular focus on racial/ethnic differentials.

METHOD: Analyzing nationally representative, longitudinal data on grandparents over the age of 50 from the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2010), we conduct growth curve analysis to examine the effect of living arrangements and caregiving intensity on older adults{\textquoteright} health trajectories, measured by changing Frailty Index (FI) in race/ethnic subsamples. We use propensity score weighting to address the issue of potential nonrandom selection of grandparents into grandchild care.

RESULTS: We find that some amount of caring for grandchildren is associated with a reduction of frailty for older adults, whereas coresidence with grandchildren results in health deterioration. For non-Hispanic black grandparents, living in a skipped generation household appears to be particularly detrimental to health. We also find that Hispanic grandparents fare better than non-Hispanic black grandparents despite a similar level of caregiving and rate of coresidence. Finally, financial and social resources assist in buffering some of the negative effects of coresidence on health (though this effect also differs by race/ethnicity).

DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that the health consequences of grandchild care are mixed across different racial/ethnic groups and are further shaped by individual characteristics as well as perhaps cultural context.

}, keywords = {Aged, Black People, Female, Frail Elderly, Health Status, Health Status Disparities, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Intergenerational Relations, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Parenting, Residence Characteristics, Socioeconomic factors, United States}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbu160}, url = {http://psychsocgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/12/06/geronb.gbu160.abstract}, author = {Chen, Feinian and Christine A Mair and Bao, Luoman and Yang Claire Yang} } @article {8213, title = {The relationships that matter: social network site use and social wellbeing among older adults in the United States of America}, journal = {Ageing and Society}, year = {2015}, note = {Export Date: 9 September 2015 Article in Press}, abstract = {An increasing number of middle-aged and older Americans are using social network sites (SNSs), but little research has addressed how SNS use is associated with social wellbeing outcomes in this population. Using a nationally representative sample of 1,620 Americans older than 50 from the 2012 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), we examine the relationship between older adults SNS use and social wellbeing associated with non-kin and kin relations and explore how these associations vary by age. Results of ordinary least-squares regression analyses suggest that SNS use is positively associated with non-kin-related social wellbeing outcomes, including perceived support from friends ( = 0.13; p 0.001; N = 460) and feelings of connectedness ( = 0.10; p 0.001; N = 463). Regression models employing interaction terms of age and SNS use further reveal that SNS use contributes to feelings of connectedness to a greater extent as people age ( = 0.10; p 0.001; N = 463). Of all kin-related social wellbeing outcomes, SNS use only predicts increased perceived support from children ( = 0.08; p 0.05; N = 410), and age negatively shapes this relationship ( = 0.14; p 0.001; N = 410). As older people engage with an increasingly smaller and narrower network with a greater proportion of kin contacts, our results suggest that SNS use may help older adults access differential social benefits throughout later life. Copyright Cambridge University Press 2015 This is a work of the U.S. Government and is not subject to copyright protection in the United States.}, keywords = {Adult children, Health Conditions and Status}, doi = {10.1017/S0144686X15000677}, url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84934325062andpartnerID=40andmd5=4576f4f7c6bbe43a40f9370e613cde7a}, author = {R. P. Yu and Ryan J McCammon and Nicole B. Ellison and Kenneth M. Langa} } @article {8168, title = {Sicker and Poorer: The Consequences of Being Uninsured for People With Disability During the Medicare Waiting Period}, journal = {Health Services Research and Managerial Epidemiology}, volume = {2}, year = {2015}, publisher = {2}, abstract = {Purpose: Disabled individuals younger than 65 years are entitled to Medicare coverage through the Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) program, but only if they have completed a 2-year waiting period. This is the first study that uses longitudinal panel data, the Health and Retirement Study, and examines whether and to what extent the health and economic status are affected among disability beneficiaries who are uninsured during the Medicare waiting period.Methods: In a quasiexperiment research design, using a difference-in-difference (diff-in-diff) estimator, we compare changes in health and economic outcomes pre-/postentering the DI program for disability beneficiaries with alternative public health insurance and those without.Results: The adjusted diff-in-diff estimates suggest that disability beneficiaries who are uninsured during the waiting period, compared to those who are insured, are 13.6 percentage point more likely to report poor health, 6.3 percentage point less likely to be in excellent health, declare more difficulties in activities of daily living, and 30 higher medical expenditures from out of pocket.Conclusions: The findings highlight punitive health and economic effects of the Medicare waiting period for uninsured disability beneficiaries. We also discuss the implications of the findings for the Affordable Care Act reform.}, keywords = {Disabilities, Healthcare, Medicare/Medicaid/Health Insurance, Methodology}, doi = {10.1177/2333392815571583}, url = {http://hme.sagepub.com/content/2/2333392815571583.abstract}, author = {Yin, Na} } @article {7996, title = {Development and validation of a brief dementia screening indicator for primary care.}, journal = {Alzheimers Dement}, volume = {10}, year = {2014}, note = {Export Date: 21 April 2014 Source: Scopus Article in Press}, month = {2014 Nov}, pages = {656-665.e1}, publisher = {10}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Detection of "any cognitive impairment" is mandated as part of the Medicare annual wellness visit, but screening all patients may result in excessive false positives.

METHODS: We developed and validated a brief Dementia Screening Indicator using data from four large, ongoing cohort studies (the Cardiovascular Health Study [CHS]; the Framingham Heart Study [FHS]; the Health and Retirement Study [HRS]; the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging [SALSA]) to help clinicians identify a subgroup of high-risk patients to target for cognitive screening.

RESULTS: The final Dementia Screening Indicator included age (1 point/year; ages, 65-79 years), less than 12~years of education (9 points), stroke (6 points), diabetes mellitus (3 points), body mass index less than 18.5~kg/m(2) (8 points), requiring assistance with money or medications (10 points), and~depressive symptoms (6 points). Accuracy was good across the cohorts (Harrell{\textquoteright}s C statistic: CHS, 0.68; FHS, 0.77; HRS, 0.76; SALSA, 0.78).

CONCLUSIONS: The Dementia Screening Indicator is a simple tool that may be useful in primary care settings to identify high-risk patients to target for cognitive screening.

}, keywords = {Aged, Cohort Studies, Dementia, Female, Humans, Male, Mass Screening, Predictive Value of Tests, Primary Health Care, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk Assessment}, issn = {1552-5279}, doi = {10.1016/j.jalz.2013.11.006}, url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84893186546andpartnerID=40andmd5=3b617dce24578e022db389d90ad9ddd1}, author = {Deborah E Barnes and Alexa S. Beiser and Anne Lee and Kenneth M. Langa and Alain Koyama and Sarah R Preis and John Neuhaus and Ryan J McCammon and Kristine Yaffe and Seshadri, Sudha and Mary Haan and David R Weir} } @article {8105, title = {Dysphoria and anhedonia as risk factors for disability or death in older persons: implications for the assessment of geriatric depression.}, journal = {Am J Geriatr Psychiatry}, volume = {22}, year = {2014}, note = {Times Cited: 0}, month = {2014 Jun}, pages = {606-13}, publisher = {22}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: Either dysphoria (sadness) or anhedonia (loss of interest in usually pleasurable activities) is required for a diagnosis of major depression. Although major depression is a known risk factor for disability in older persons, few studies have examined the relationship between the two core symptoms of major depression and disability or mortality. Our objective was to examine the relationship between these two core symptoms and time to disability or death.

METHODS: In a longitudinal cohort study, we used the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study to examine this relationship in 11,353 persons older than 62 years (mean: 73 years) followed for up to 13 years. Dysphoria and anhedonia were assessed with the Short Form Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Our outcome measure was time to either death or increased disability, defined as the new need for help in a basic activity of daily living. We adjusted for a validated disability risk index and other confounders.

RESULTS: Compared with subjects without either dysphoria or anhedonia, the risk for disability or death was not elevated in elders with dysphoria without anhedonia (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.11; 95\% confidence interval [CI]: 0.91-1.36). The risk was elevated in those with anhedonia without dysphoria (HR: 1.30; 95\% CI: 1.06-1.60) and those with both anhedonia and dysphoria (HR: 1.28; 95\% CI: 1.13-1.46).

CONCLUSION: Our results highlight the need for clinicians to learn whether patients have lost interest in usually pleasurable activities, even if they deny sadness.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anhedonia, depression, Disabled Persons, Female, Humans, Interview, Psychological, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Mortality, Risk Factors}, issn = {1545-7214}, doi = {10.1016/j.jagp.2012.12.001}, author = {Kenneth E Covinsky and Irena Cenzer and Kristine Yaffe and Sarah O{\textquoteright}Brien and Dan G. Blazer} } @article {8117, title = {Gaps in Receipt of Regular Eye Examinations among Medicare Beneficiaries Diagnosed with Diabetes or Chronic Eye Diseases}, journal = {Ophthalmology}, volume = {121}, year = {2014}, note = {Times Cited: 0 0}, pages = {2452-2460}, publisher = {121}, abstract = {Objective: To examine a wide range of factors associated with regular eye examination receipt among elderly individuals diagnosed with glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, or diabetes mellitus (DM). Design: Retrospective analysis of Medicare claims linked to survey data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Participants: The sample consisted of 2151 Medicare beneficiaries who responded to the HRS. Methods: Medicare beneficiaries with = 1 of the 3 study diagnoses were identified by diagnosis codes and merged with survey information. The same individuals were followed for 5 years divided into four 15-month periods. Predictors of the number of periods with an eye examination evaluated were beneficiary demographic characteristics, income, health, cognitive and physical function, health behaviors, subjective beliefs about longevity, the length of the individual{\textquoteright}s financial planning horizon, supplemental health insurance coverage, eye disease diagnoses, and low vision/blindness at baseline. We performed logit analysis of the number of 15-month periods in which beneficiaries received an eye examination. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure was the number of 15-month periods with an eye examination. Results: One third of beneficiaries with the study{\textquoteright}s chronic diseases saw an eye care provider in all 4 followup periods despite having Medicare. One quarter only obtained an eye examination at most during 1 of the four 15-month follow-up periods. Among the 3 groups of patients studied, utilization was particularly low for persons with diagnosed DM and no eye complications. Age, marriage, education, and a higher score on the Charlson index were associated with more periods with an eye examination. Male gender, being limited in instrumental activities of daily living at baseline, distance to the nearest ophthalmologist, and low cognitive function were associated with a reduction in frequency of eye examinations. Conclusions: Rates of eye examinations for elderly persons with DM or frequently occurring eye diseases, especially for DM, remain far below recommended levels in a nationally representative sample of persons with health insurance coverage. Several factors, including limited physical and cognitive function and greater distance to an ophthalmologist, but not health insurance coverage, account for variation in regular use.}, keywords = {Health Conditions and Status, Healthcare, Insurance, Medicare/Medicaid/Health Insurance}, doi = {10.1016/j.ophtha.2014.07.020}, author = {Frank A Sloan and Arseniy P Yashkin and Chen, Yiqun} } @article {8604, title = {Genetic diversity is a predictor of mortality in humans.}, journal = {BMC Genet}, volume = {15}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Dec 29}, pages = {159}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: It has been well-established, both by population genetics theory and direct observation in many organisms, that increased genetic diversity provides a survival advantage. However, given the limitations of both sample size and genome-wide metrics, this hypothesis has not been comprehensively tested in human populations. Moreover, the presence of numerous segregating small effect alleles that influence traits that directly impact health directly raises the question as to whether global measures of genomic variation are themselves associated with human health and disease.

RESULTS: We performed a meta-analysis of 17 cohorts followed prospectively, with a combined sample size of 46,716 individuals, including a total of 15,234 deaths. We find a significant association between increased heterozygosity and survival (P = 0.03). We estimate that within a single population, every standard deviation of heterozygosity an individual has over the mean decreases that person{\textquoteright}s risk of death by 1.57\%.

CONCLUSIONS: This effect was consistent between European and African ancestry cohorts, men and women, and major causes of death (cancer and cardiovascular disease), demonstrating the broad positive impact of genomic diversity on human survival.

}, keywords = {Genome-Wide Association Study, Heterozygote, Humans, Mortality, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Proportional Hazards Models}, issn = {1471-2156}, doi = {10.1186/s12863-014-0159-7}, url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4301661/}, author = {Bihlmeyer, Nathan A and Brody, Jennifer A and Albert Vernon Smith and Kathryn L Lunetta and Michael A Nalls and Jennifer A Smith and Toshiko Tanaka and Gail Davies and Lei Yu and Saira S Mirza and Teumer, Alexander and Coresh, Josef and Pankow, James S and Franceschini, Nora and Scaria, Anish and Oshima, Junko and Psaty, Bruce M and Gudnason, Vilmundur and Gu{\dh}ny Eir{\'\i}ksd{\'o}ttir and Tamara B Harris and Li, Hanyue and Karasik, David and Douglas P Kiel and Melissa E Garcia and Yongmei Liu and Jessica Faul and Sharon L R Kardia and Wei Zhao and Luigi Ferrucci and Allerhand, Michael and David C Liewald and Redmond, Paul and John M Starr and Philip L de Jager and Nese Direk and Mohammed Arfan Ikram and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Homuth, Georg and Lorbeer, Roberto and Hans-J{\"o}rgen Grabe and Lenore J Launer and Joanne M Murabito and Andrew B Singleton and David R Weir and Bandinelli, Stefania and Ian J Deary and David A Bennett and Henning Tiemeier and Kocher, Thomas and Lumley, Thomas and Dan E Arking} } @mastersthesis {6174, title = {A holistic approach to understanding retirement preparedness}, volume = {3639324}, year = {2014}, note = {Copyright - Copyright ProQuest, UMI Dissertations Publishing 2014 Last updated - 2014-11-24 First page - n/a}, month = {2014}, pages = {258}, school = {Kansas State University}, type = {Ph.D.}, address = {Manhattan, KS}, abstract = {There has been increased interest in understanding the significant disparity in U.S. households{\textquoteright} retirement preparedness due to concern about the stability of Social Security benefits, the shift from defined benefit plans to defined contribution plans, and the decreased rate of saving. This dissertation explores a model that can be utilized to understand and enhance retirement preparedness by individuals, educators, practitioners, and policy makers. Retirement preparedness was measured in two different ways--using the income replacement rate and the capital accumulation ratio--for two separate empirical models. The general conceptualization of the framework is based on the retirement planning work of Hershey (2004). This study utilized the 2008 Rand version (Version L) of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and 2006, 2008, and 2010 psychosocial and lifestyle questionnaire. The Rand HRS data file is a user-friendly version of the HRS data and contains cleaned data. The two hierarchical regressions were used to analyze the association between retirement preparedness and the theoretical concepts of cultural influence, environmental influence, task components, and psychological influence. Entering the conceptual components as four separate blocks allows for observation of changes in R 2 based on the addition of the conceptual components. This research investigates the following research questions: (a) How strongly are cultural influences associated with retirement preparedness?, (b) How strongly are environmental influences associated with retirement preparedness?, (c) How strongly are task components associated with retirement preparedness?, and (d) How strongly are psychological influences associated with retirement preparedness? Current retirement planning practices are often based on structural profiles such as financial resources, financial needs, and goals. The holistic approach used for this dissertation is based on the awareness of the influence of psychological and personal factors on financial decision making. The results showed that the variables positively associated with the retirement income replacement rate were self-perception of aging, homeownership, stock ownership, household pension ownership, IRA/Keogh ownership, and business ownership. Pre-retirement income log had a highly negative association with the retirement income replacement ratio. Big Five personality and perceived mastery were not significant. However, when asset ownership (excluding homeownership) was not controlled, conscientiousness and low emotional stability became significant and showed a positive association for conscientiousness and a negative association for low emotional stability. Self-perception of aging was a significant psychological variable in both models. The significant variables from the second model measured by the capital accumulation ratio were asset ownerships including homeownership, stock ownership, IRA ownership, real estate ownership, and business ownership. None of the psychological variables were significant, except for agreeableness, which was related negatively to the capital accumulation ratio when the asset ownerships (excluding home ownership) were not controlled. Other significant variables, when asset ownership was not controlled, were home ownership, pre-retirement income log, being non-White.}, keywords = {Adult children, Health Conditions and Status, Healthcare, Methodology, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction, Social Security}, url = {http://proxy.lib.umich.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1621575221?accountid=14667http://mgetit.lib.umich.edu/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004\&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8\&rfr_id=info:sid/ProQuest+Dissertations+\%26+Theses+A\%26I\&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:}, author = {Yook, Miyoung} } @article {8109, title = {Item response theory for measurement validity}, journal = {Shanghai Archives of Psychiatry}, volume = {26}, year = {2014}, note = {Export Date: 6 August 2014}, pages = {171-177}, publisher = {26}, abstract = {Summary: Item response theory (IRT) is an important method of assessing the validity of measurement scales that is underutilized in the field of psychiatry. IRT describes the relationship between a latent trait (e.g., the construct that the scale proposes to assess), the properties of the items in the scale, and respondents{\textquoteright} answers to the individual items. This paper introduces the basic premise, assumptions, and methods of IRT. To help explain these concepts we generate a hypothetical scale using three items from a modified, binary (yes/no) response version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale that was administered to 19, 399 respondents. We first conducted a factor analysis to confirm the unidimensionality of the three items and then proceeded with Mplus software to construct the 2-Parameter Logic (2-PL) IRT model of the data, a method which allows for estimates of both item discrimination and item difficulty. The utility of this information both for clinical purposes and for scale construction purposes is discussed. Copyright 2014 by Editorial Department of the Shanghai Archives of Psychiatry.}, keywords = {Health Conditions and Status, Methodology}, doi = {10.3969/j.issn.1002-0829.2014.03.010}, url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84904168760andpartnerID=40andmd5=0d61baede66c3f2ba9dbc676ec6738e3}, author = {Frances Margaret Yang and Solon T. Kao} } @inbook {5262, title = {Older Adults as Consumers: An Examination of Differences by Birth Cohort}, booktitle = {The interdisciplinary science of consumption}, year = {2014}, pages = {292-298}, publisher = {The MIT Press}, organization = {The MIT Press}, abstract = {The U.S. and much of the developed world are currently undergoing a demographic transition marked by fundamental changes in the age structure of the population. These changes pose a number of challenges for society such as understanding the consumption patterns of middle aged and older people. In this chapter, the authors use data from the Health and Retirement Study to explore consumption patterns among five cohorts of adults age 50 and older. They found that older, compared to younger, birth cohorts of older adults reported less spending on food, transportation, trips and vacations, and durable goods; they spent more on donations and gifts; all cohorts reported similar levels of spending on health-related expenses. Results also identified a critical middle age group (i.e. ages 70 to 80), in which the greatest differences in consumption patterns were evident. Such findings may be useful for industry and organizations allowing them to be responsive and competitive by helping them target goods and products that meet the changing needs of an aging society}, keywords = {Demographics, Methodology}, isbn = {9780262325387}, doi = {10.7551/mitpress/9780262027670.003.0015}, author = {Fin, Debra N. and Yoon, Carolyn and Hartsell, Debra L. and Toni C Antonucci and Noah J Webster and McCullough, Wayne R.} } @article {7986, title = {Unsecured Consumer Debt and Mental Health Outcomes in Middle-Aged and Older Americans}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences}, volume = {69}, year = {2014}, pages = {461-469}, publisher = {69}, abstract = {Objectives. Unsecured consumer debt may affect well-being negatively. We evaluated the association between unsecured debt and two distinct outcomes: depressive symptomatology and psychological well-being.Method. Data were obtained from the 2006 Health and Retirement Study. There were 5,817 adults aged 51 who responded to a core survey and psychosocial leave-behind questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the revised 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Psychological well-being was evaluated in a leave-behind questionnaire that had 3 dimensions: self-acceptance, personal growth, and purpose in life.Results. Thirty percent of the respondents had unsecured debt. The magnitude or amount of unsecured debt and the occurrence of unsecured debt were significant predictors of depressive symptoms and lower psychological well-being. Perceived control over personal financial circumstances was a significant predictor of higher psychological well-being.Discussion. In middle-aged and older Americans, unsecured debt has negative effects on mental health because of the associated depressive symptoms and decreased psychological well-being. The deleterious effects of unsecured debt on mental health are largely accounted for by perceived control over personal financial circumstances. Interventions enhancing older adults control over personal financial circumstances may protect against the psychological decrements experienced by those grappling with unsecured debt.}, keywords = {Health Conditions and Status, Other}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbu020}, url = {http://psychsocgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/content/69/3/461.abstract}, author = {Karen A. Zurlo and Yoon, Wonah and Hyungsoo Kim} } @article {8034, title = {Why do older people change their ratings of childhood health?}, journal = {Demography}, volume = {51}, year = {2014}, note = {Times Cited: 0 0}, month = {2014 Dec}, pages = {1999-2023}, publisher = {51}, abstract = {

A growing number of studies in life course epidemiology and biodemography make use of a retrospective question tapping self-rated childhood health to assess overall physical health status. Analyzing repeated measures of self-rated childhood health from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), this study examines several possible explanations for why respondents might change their ratings of childhood health. Results reveal that nearly one-half of the sample revised their rating of childhood health during the 10-year observation period. Whites and relatively advantaged older adults-those with more socioeconomic resources and better memory-were less likely to revise their rating of childhood health, while those who experienced multiple childhood health problems were more likely to revise their childhood health rating, either positively or negatively. Changes in current self-rated health and several incident physical health problems were also related to the revision of one{\textquoteright}s rating of childhood health, while the development of psychological disorders was associated with more negative revised ratings. We then illustrate the impact that these changes may have on an adult outcomes: namely, depressive symptoms. Whereas adult ratings of childhood health are likely to change over time, we recommend their use only if adjusting for factors associated with these changes, such as memory, psychological disorder, adult self-rated health, and socioeconomic resources.

}, keywords = {Adaptation, Psychological, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Female, Health Status, Humans, Male, Memory, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Self Report, Sex Factors, Socioeconomic factors}, issn = {0070-3370}, doi = {10.1007/s13524-014-0344-3}, author = {Vuolo, Mike and Kenneth F Ferraro and Patricia M Morton and Ting-Ying Yang} } @article {7850, title = {Borrowing to cope with adverse health events: liquidity constraints, insurance coverage, and unsecured debt}, journal = {Health Economics}, volume = {22}, year = {2013}, note = {Times Cited: 0}, pages = {1177-98}, publisher = {22}, abstract = {This article uses data from the Health and Retirement Study for 1998-2010 to investigate whether households respond to the financial stress caused by health problems by increasing their unsecured debt. Results show both the probability of having unsecured debt and the amount of debt increase after an adverse health event among households with low financial assets, who are uninsured, or who have less generous health insurance. The effect of health problems on borrowing is caused by both medical expenditures and disruptions to the income stream. Unsecured debt seems to remain on some households{\textquoteright} balance sheets for an extended period.}, keywords = {Medicare/Medicaid/Health Insurance, Net Worth and Assets, Public Policy}, doi = {10.1002/hec.2877}, author = {Patryk D. Babiarz and Widdows, Richard and Tansel Yilmazer} } @article {7875, title = {Coresidence and Geographic Proximity of Mothers and Adult Children in Stepfamilies}, journal = {Journal of Marriage and Family}, volume = {75}, year = {2013}, note = {Times Cited: 0}, pages = {1164-1180}, publisher = {75}, abstract = {Children who live with or near a parent provide more care and receive more help from parents than geographically distant children. Stepfamily ties may be weaker than ties between biological kin, but little is known about the geographic proximity of step- versus biological kin. The authors used data from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 13,239 mothers and 45,675 biological and stepchildren) to show that stepchildren and stepmothers are less likely to live together, less likely to live nearby, and less likely to move closer than biological children and mothers. When mothers have only stepchildren, they are less likely to have a coresident child or a child nearby than mothers with both step- and biological children. Coresidence and geographic proximity are lower in stepfamilies formed after divorce than after widowhood. The findings are consistent with a legacy of conflict and strain and the likely competing needs of biological and stepmothers.}, keywords = {Adult children, Demographics, Other}, author = {Judith A Seltzer and Jenjira J Yahirun and Suzanne M. Bianchi} } @article {8931, title = {Depression, antidepressant medications, and risk of Clostridium difficile infection.}, journal = {BMC Medicine}, volume = {11}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 May 07}, pages = {121}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: An ancillary finding in previous research has suggested that the use of antidepressant medications increases the risk of developing Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Our objective was to evaluate whether depression or the use of anti-depressants altered the risk of developing CDI, using two distinct datasets and study designs.

METHODS: In Study 1, we conducted a longitudinal investigation of a nationally representative sample of older Americans (n = 16,781), linking data from biennial interviews to physician and emergency department visits, stays in hospital and skilled nursing facilities, home health visits, and other outpatient visits. In Study 2, we completed a clinical investigation of hospitalized adults who were tested for C. difficile (n = 4047), with cases testing positive and controls testing negative. Antidepressant medication use prior to testing was ascertained.

RESULTS: The population-based rate of CDI in older Americans was 282.9/100,000 person-years (95\% confidence interval (CI)) 226.3 to 339.5) for individuals with depression and 197.1/100,000 person-years for those without depression (95\% CI 168.0 to 226.1). The odds of CDI were 36\% greater in persons with major depression (95\% CI 1.06 to 1.74), 35\% greater in individuals with depressive disorders (95\% CI 1.05 to 1.73), 54\% greater in those who were widowed (95\% CI 1.21 to 1.95), and 25\% lower in adults who did not live alone (95\% CI 0.62 to 0.92). Self-reports of feeling sad or having emotional, nervous or psychiatric problems at baseline were also associated with the later development of CDI. Use of certain antidepressant medications during hospitalization was associated with altered risk of CDI.

CONCLUSIONS: Adults with depression and who take specific anti-depressants seem to be more likely to develop CDI. Older adults who are widowed or who live alone are also at greater risk of CDI.

}, keywords = {Antidepressants, Clostridium, Depressive symptoms, Infection, Older Adults}, issn = {1741-7015}, doi = {10.1186/1741-7015-11-121}, author = {Mary A M Rogers and M. Todd Greene and Vincent B Young and Sanjay Saint and Kenneth M. Langa and John Y Kao and David M. Aronoff} } @article {7874, title = {Differences in diabetes mellitus onset for older Black, White, and Mexican Americans}, journal = {Ethnicity and disease}, volume = {23}, year = {2013}, note = {Times Cited: 0}, pages = {310-5}, publisher = {23}, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Our research examines the differences in estimated odds of developing diabetes mellitus for White, Black, and Mexican Americans age 51 and over for a period of 11 years. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Longitudinal data came from 14,783 respondents of the Health and Retirement Study (1995-2006) who reported being diabetes-free at the first time period. Discrete-time survival models were used to analyze ethnic variations in the probability of developing diabetes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Estimated odds of developing diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: The odds of newly diagnosed diabetes increased between 1995 and 2006, with 11 cumulative incidence for all study participants. The probability of incident diabetes among Black Americans was .01 during the period of 1995/96-1998, which increased to .03 during 1998-2000 and remained at .03 throughout subsequent periods, with cumulative incidence over the 11 years at 12 . In contrast, for Mexican Americans the probability more than doubled from .02 in 1995/ 96-1998 to .05 in 2004-2006, with cumulative incidence at 19 . White Americans had 11 cumulative incidence during the 11 year period. CONCLUSIONS: Relative to White Americans, Mexican Americans had significantly elevated odds of developing diabetes throughout the 11-year period of observation even after controlling for differences in demographic, socioeconomic, and time-varying health characteristics.}, keywords = {Health Conditions and Status, Methodology, Women and Minorities}, author = {A. R. Quinones and Jersey Liang and Wen Ye} } @article {8608, title = {Genome-wide association analysis of blood-pressure traits in African-ancestry individuals reveals common associated genes in African and non-African populations.}, journal = {Am J Hum Genet}, volume = {93}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 Sep 05}, pages = {545-54}, abstract = {

High blood pressure (BP) is more prevalent and contributes to more severe manifestations of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in African Americans than in any other United States ethnic group. Several small African-ancestry (AA) BP genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have been published, but their findings have failed to replicate to date. We report on a large AA BP GWAS meta-analysis that includes 29,378 individuals from 19 discovery cohorts and subsequent replication in additional samples of AA (n = 10,386), European ancestry (EA) (n = 69,395), and East Asian ancestry (n = 19,601). Five loci (EVX1-HOXA, ULK4, RSPO3, PLEKHG1, and SOX6) reached genome-wide significance (p < 1.0~{\texttimes} 10(-8)) for either systolic or diastolic BP in a transethnic meta-analysis after correction for multiple testing. Three of these BP loci (EVX1-HOXA, RSPO3, and PLEKHG1) lack previous associations with BP. We also identified one independent signal in a known BP locus (SOX6) and provide evidence for fine mapping in four additional validated BP loci. We also demonstrate that validated EA BP GWAS loci, considered jointly, show significant effects in AA samples. Consequently, these findings suggest that BP loci might have universal effects across studied populations, demonstrating that multiethnic samples are an essential component in identifying, fine mapping, and understanding their trait variability.

}, keywords = {Africa, African Continental Ancestry Group, Blood pressure, Cohort Studies, Databases, Genetic, Genetic Loci, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Quantitative Trait, Heritable, Reproducibility of Results}, issn = {1537-6605}, doi = {10.1016/j.ajhg.2013.07.010}, author = {Franceschini, Nora and Fox, Ervin and Zhang, Zhaogong and Edwards, Todd L and Michael A Nalls and Yun Ju Sung and Bamidele O Tayo and Yan V Sun and Gottesman, Omri and Adebawole Adeyemo and Andrew D Johnson and Young, J Hunter and Kenneth Rice and Duan, Qing and Chen, Fang and Yun Li and Tang, Hua and Myriam Fornage and Keene, Keith L and Andrews, Jeanette S and Jennifer A Smith and Jessica Faul and Guangfa, Zhang and Guo, Wei and Liu, Yu and Murray, Sarah S and Musani, Solomon K and Srinivasan, Sathanur and Digna R Velez Edwards and Wang, Heming and Becker, Lewis C and Bovet, Pascal and Bochud, Murielle and Broeckel, Ulrich and Burnier, Michel and Carty, Cara and Daniel I Chasman and Georg B Ehret and Chen, Wei-Min and Chen, Guanjie and Wei Chen and Ding, Jingzhong and Dreisbach, Albert W and Michele K Evans and Guo, Xiuqing and Melissa E Garcia and Jensen, Rich and Keller, Margaux F and Lettre, Guillaume and Lotay, Vaneet and Martin, Lisa W and Moore, Jason H and Alanna C Morrison and Thomas H Mosley and Ogunniyi, Adesola and Walter R Palmas and George J Papanicolaou and Alan Penman and Polak, Joseph F and Ridker, Paul M and Babatunde Salako and Andrew B Singleton and Daniel Shriner and Kent D Taylor and Ramachandran S Vasan and Kerri Wiggins and Williams, Scott M and Yanek, Lisa R and Wei Zhao and Alan B Zonderman and Becker, Diane M and Berenson, Gerald and Boerwinkle, Eric and Erwin P Bottinger and Cushman, Mary and Charles B Eaton and Nyberg, Fredrik and Gerardo Heiss and Joel N Hirschhron and Howard, Virginia J and Karczewsk, Konrad J and Lanktree, Matthew B and Liu, Kiang and Yongmei Liu and Ruth J F Loos and Margolis, Karen and Snyder, Michael and Psaty, Bruce M and Schork, Nicholas J and David R Weir and Charles N Rotimi and Sale, Michele M and Tamara B Harris and Sharon L R Kardia and Hunt, Steven C and Donna K Arnett and Redline, Susan and Cooper, Richard S and Neil Risch and Rao, D C and Rotter, Jerome I and Chakravarti, Aravinda and Reiner, Alex P and Levy, Daniel and Keating, Brendan J and Zhu, Xiaofeng} } @mastersthesis {6176, title = {Grip strength, multimorbidity, and disability}, volume = {3579432}, year = {2013}, note = {Copyright - Copyright ProQuest, UMI Dissertations Publishing 2013 Last updated - 2014-04-08 First page - n/a}, month = {2013}, pages = {95}, school = {Western Michigan University}, type = {Ph.D.}, address = {Kalamazoo, MI}, abstract = {The presence of two or more chronic health conditions, also known as multimorbidity, is one of the most prevalent health disorders experienced by adults. Adults with multimorbidity and functional limitations represent clinical and financial challenges to the current health care system. The purpose of this three-paper dissertation is to examine the relationship between grip strength, multimorbidity, and the prediction of disability in adults. Data from the 2008 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative, longitudinal study completed on Americans age 50 years and over, are used for the dissertation. The objective of the first paper is to investigate the relationship between grip strength (measured in kilograms, kg) and chronic disease status. The results of this study indicate that when controlling for age and gender, as the number of chronic diseases increased, grip strength decreases. The findings are statistically significant. Grip strength normative values are computed for the second paper. Grip strength norms are stratified by gender (male, female), age (by decades), and chronic disease status (0, 1, 2, >3). The average grip strength for males ranges from 28.10 kg (80 years and older with three or more chronic diseases) to 46.81 kg (50-59 years with zero chronic diseases). Average right grip strength for females ranges from 16.76 kg (80 years and older with two chronic diseases) to 27.48 kg (50-59 years with zero chronic diseases). The third paper investigates a grip strength cutoff value that can be used to predict upper extremity (UE) or lower extremity (LE) disability in adults with and without multimorbidity. Receiver Operating Characteristic curves are calculated for sample, stratified by gender and chronic disease status. In summary, males without multimorbidity and a grip strength of<41kg and males with multimorbidity and a grip strength of <37 kg are anticipated to develop UE and LE disability. In females without multimorbidity and a grip strength of <25 kg and females with multimorbidity and a grip strength of <23 kg are anticipated to develop UE and LE disability.}, keywords = {Health Conditions and Status, Healthcare, Other}, url = {http://search.proquest.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/docview/1508268705?accountid=14667http://mgetit.lib.umich.edu/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004\&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8\&rfr_id=info:sid/ProQuest+Dissertations+\%26+Theses+Full+Text\&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:disse}, author = {Amy M Yorke} } @article {8620, title = {GWAS of 126,559 individuals identifies genetic variants associated with educational attainment.}, journal = {Science}, volume = {340}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 Jun 21}, pages = {1467-71}, abstract = {

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) of educational attainment was conducted in a discovery sample of 101,069 individuals and a replication sample of 25,490. Three independent single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are genome-wide significant (rs9320913, rs11584700, rs4851266), and all three replicate. Estimated effects sizes are small (coefficient of determination R(2) ≈ 0.02\%), approximately 1 month of schooling per allele. A linear polygenic score from all measured SNPs accounts for ≈2\% of the variance in both educational attainment and cognitive function. Genes in the region of the loci have previously been associated with health, cognitive, and central nervous system phenotypes, and bioinformatics analyses suggest the involvement of the anterior caudate nucleus. These findings provide promising candidate SNPs for follow-up work, and our effect size estimates can anchor power analyses in social-science genetics.

}, keywords = {Cognition, Educational Status, Endophenotypes, Female, Genetic Loci, Genome-Wide Association Study, Humans, Male, Multifactorial Inheritance, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide}, issn = {1095-9203}, doi = {10.1126/science.1235488}, author = {Cornelius A Rietveld and Sarah E Medland and Derringer, Jaime and Yang, Jian and T{\~o}nu Esko and Martin, Nicolas W and Westra, Harm-Jan and Shakhbazov, Konstantin and Abdel Abdellaoui and Agrawal, Arpana and Albrecht, Eva and Alizadeh, Behrooz Z and Amin, Najaf and Barnard, John and Baumeister, Sebastian E and Benke, Kelly S and Bielak, Lawrence F and Boatman, Jeffrey A and Patricia A. Boyle and Gail Davies and Christiaan de Leeuw and Eklund, Niina and Daniel S Evans and Rudolf Ferhmann and Fischer, Krista and Gieger, Christian and Gjessing, H{\r a}kon K and H{\"a}gg, Sara and Harris, Jennifer R and Caroline Hayward and Holzapfel, Christina and Carla A Ibrahim-Verbaas and Ingelsson, Erik and Jacobsson, Bo and Joshi, Peter K and Jugessur, Astanand and Marika A Kaakinen and Kanoni, Stavroula and Karjalainen, Juha and Kolcic, Ivana and Kristiansson, Kati and Kutalik, Zolt{\'a}n and J. Lahti and Lee, Sang H and Lin, Peng and Penelope A Lind and Yongmei Liu and Kurt Lohman and Loitfelder, Marisa and McMahon, George and Vidal, Pedro Marques and Osorio Meirelles and Lili Milani and Myhre, Ronny and Nuotio, Marja-Liisa and Christopher J Oldmeadow and Katja E Petrovic and Wouter J Peyrot and Polasek, Ozren and Quaye, Lydia and Reinmaa, Eva and Rice, John P and Rizzi, Thais S and Schmidt, Helena and Schmidt, Reinhold and Albert Vernon Smith and Jennifer A Smith and Toshiko Tanaka and Antonio Terracciano and van der Loos, Matthijs J H M and Vitart, Veronique and V{\"o}lzke, Henry and J{\"u}rgen Wellmann and Lei Yu and Wei Zhao and Allik, J{\"u}ri and John R. Attia and Bandinelli, Stefania and Bastardot, Fran{\c c}ois and Jonathan P. Beauchamp and David A Bennett and Klaus Berger and Laura Bierut and Dorret I Boomsma and B{\"u}ltmann, Ute and Campbell, Harry and Chabris, Christopher F and Cherkas, Lynn and Chung, Mina K and Francesco Cucca and de Andrade, Mariza and Philip L de Jager and De Neve, Jan-Emmanuel and Ian J Deary and George Dedoussis and Deloukas, Panos and Dimitriou, Maria and Gu{\dh}ny Eir{\'\i}ksd{\'o}ttir and Elderson, Martin F and Johan G Eriksson and Jessica Faul and Luigi Ferrucci and Melissa E Garcia and Gr{\"o}nberg, Henrik and Gu{\dh}nason, Vilmundur and Hall, Per and Harris, Juliette M and Tamara B Harris and Nicholas D Hastie and Andrew C Heath and Dena G Hernandez and Hoffmann, Wolfgang and Hofman, Adriaan and Holle, Rolf and Holliday, Elizabeth G and Jouke-Jan Hottenga and Iacono, William G and Illig, Thomas and J{\"a}rvelin, Marjo-Riitta and K{\"a}h{\"o}nen, Mika and Kaprio, Jaakko and Kirkpatrick, Robert M and Kowgier, Matthew and Latvala, Antti and Lenore J Launer and Lawlor, Debbie A and Lehtim{\"a}ki, Terho and Li, Jingmei and Paul Lichtenstein and Lichtner, Peter and David C Liewald and Pamela A F Madden and Patrik K E Magnusson and M{\"a}kinen, Tomi E and Masala, Marco and McGue, Matt and Andres Metspalu and Mielck, Andreas and Michael B Miller and Grant W Montgomery and Mukherjee, Sutapa and Nyholt, Dale R and Ben A Oostra and Palmer, Lyle J and Aarno Palotie and Brenda W J H Penninx and Markus Perola and Peyser, Patricia A and Preisig, Martin and Katri R{\"a}ikk{\"o}nen and Olli T Raitakari and Realo, Anu and Ring, Susan M and Ripatti, Samuli and Fernando Rivadeneira and Rudan, Igor and Rustichini, Aldo and Veikko Salomaa and Sarin, Antti-Pekka and Schlessinger, David and Rodney J Scott and Snieder, Harold and St Pourcain, Beate and John M Starr and Sul, Jae Hoon and Surakka, Ida and Svento, Rauli and Teumer, Alexander and Henning Tiemeier and van Rooij, Frank J A and Van Wagoner, David R and Vartiainen, Erkki and Viikari, Jorma and Vollenweider, Peter and Vonk, Judith M and Waeber, G{\'e}rard and David R Weir and Wichmann, H-Erich and Elisabeth Widen and Gonneke Willemsen and James F Wilson and Alan F Wright and Dalton C Conley and Davey-Smith, George and Lude L Franke and Groenen, Patrick J F and Hofman, Albert and Johannesson, Magnus and Sharon L R Kardia and Krueger, Robert F and David I Laibson and Nicholas G Martin and Meyer, Michelle N and Posthuma, Danielle and A. Roy Thurik and Nicholas J Timpson and Andr{\'e} G Uitterlinden and Cornelia M van Duijn and Peter M Visscher and Daniel J. Benjamin and Cesarini, David and Philipp D Koellinger} } @article {7964, title = {Impact of social integration on metabolic functions: evidence from a nationally representative longitudinal study of US older adults}, journal = {Bmc Public Health}, volume = {13}, year = {2013}, note = {Times Cited: 0}, publisher = {13}, abstract = {Background: Metabolic functions may operate as important biophysiological mechanisms through which social relationships affect health. It is unclear how social embeddedness or the lack thereof is related to risk of metabolic dysregulation. To fill this gap we tested the effects of social integration on metabolic functions over time in a nationally representative sample of older adults in the United States and examined population heterogeneity in the effects. Methods: Using longitudinal data from 4,323 adults aged over 50 years in the Health and Retirement Study and latent growth curve models, we estimated the trajectories of social integration spanning five waves, 1998-2006, in relation to biomarkers of energy metabolism in 2006. We assessed social integration using a summary index of the number of social ties across five domains. We examined six biomarkers, including total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glycosylated hemoglobin, waist circumference, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and the summary index of the overall burden of metabolic dysregulation. Results: High social integration predicted significantly lower risks of both individual and overall metabolic dysregulation. Specifically, adjusting for age, sex, race, and body mass index, having four to five social ties reduced the risks of abdominal obesity by 61 (odds ratio OR 95 confidence interval Cl = 0.39 0.23, 0.67 , p = .007), hypertension by 41 (OR 95 Cl = 0.59 0.42, 0.84 , p = .021), and the overall metabolic dysregulation by 46 (OR 95 Cl = 0.54 0.40, 0.72 , p .001). The OR for the overall burden remained significant when adjusting for social, behavioral, and illness factors. In addition, stably high social integration had more potent metabolic impacts over time than changes therein. Such effects were consistent across subpopulations and more salient for the younger old (those under age 65), males, whites, and the socioeconomically disadvantaged. Conclusions: This study addressed important challenges in previous research linking social integration to metabolic health by clarifying the nature and direction of the relationship as it applies to different objectively measured markers and population subgroups. It suggests additional psychosocial and biological pathways to consider in future research on the contributions of social deficits to disease etiology and old-age mortality.}, keywords = {Demographics, Health Conditions and Status, Other}, doi = {10.1186/1471-2458-13-1210}, author = {Yang Claire Yang and Li, Ting and Ji, Yinchun} } @mastersthesis {6178, title = {Labor Supply Preferences around Retirement for US Households}, year = {2013}, school = {Tilburg University}, address = {Tilburg, Netherlands}, abstract = {We analyze labor supply preferences around retirement for US households coming from the Health and Retirement Study. A collective structural life cycle model of joint retirement of couples is specified and estimated. Respondents were given hypothetical retirement scenarios describing age(s) of retirement of both spouses and replacement rate(s). Preferences and the intrahousehold bargaining process are identified by using stated preference data. Parameters of the utility functions vary with observed and unobserved characteristics. Our results support the collective model rather than the unitary model.}, keywords = {Adult children, Employment and Labor Force, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction}, author = {Yu, Zhiyu} } @article {8929, title = {New insights into the dementia epidemic.}, journal = {New England Journal of Medicine}, volume = {369}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 Dec 12}, pages = {2275-7}, keywords = {Aging, Cognitive Ability, Dementia, Health Conditions and Status, Older Adults}, issn = {1533-4406}, doi = {10.1056/NEJMp1311405}, author = {Eric B Larson and Kristine Yaffe and Kenneth M. Langa} } @article {7788, title = {Pain as a risk factor for disability or death.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {61}, year = {2013}, note = {Date revised - 2013-05-01 Last updated - 2013-05-31 DOI - 0b2ff290-e53b-4073-a3d7csamfg102v; 17944301; 0002-8614; 1532-5415 SubjectsTermNotLitGenreText - Demography; Mortality; Mobility; Risk factors; Disabilities; Survival; Pain}, month = {2013 Apr}, pages = {583-9}, publisher = {61}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether pain predicts future activity of daily living (ADL) disability or death in individuals aged 60 and older.

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

SETTING: The 1998 to 2008 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative study of older community-living individuals.

PARTICIPANTS: Twelve thousand six hundred thirty-one participants in the 1998 HRS aged 60 and older who did not need help in any ADL.

MEASUREMENTS: Participants reporting that they had moderate or severe pain most of the time were defined as having significant pain. The primary outcome was time to development of ADL disability or death over 10~yrs, assessed at five successive 2-year intervals. ADL disability was defined as needing help performing any ADL: bathing, dressing, transferring, toileting, eating, or walking across a room. A discrete hazards survival model was used to examine the relationship between pain and incident disability over each 2-year interval using only participants who started the interval with no ADL disability. Several potential confounders were adjusted for at the start of each interval: demographic factors, seven chronic health conditions, and functional limitations (ADL difficulty and difficulty with five measures of mobility).

RESULTS: At baseline, 2,283 (18\%) participants had significant pain. Participants with pain were more likely (all P~<~.001) to be female (65\% vs 54\%), have ADL difficulty (e.g., transferring 12\% vs 2\%, toileting 11\% vs 2\%), have difficulty walking several blocks (60\% vs 21\%), and have difficulty climbing one flight of stairs (40\% vs 12\%). Over 10~years, participants with pain were more likely to develop ADL disability or death (58\% vs 43\%, unadjusted hazard ratio (HR)~=~1.67, 95\% confidence interval~(CI)~=~1.57-1.79), although after adjustment for confounders, participants with pain were not at greater risk for ADL disability or death (HR~=~0.98, 95\% CI~=~0.91-1.07). Adjustment for functional status almost entirely explained the difference between the unadjusted and adjusted results.

CONCLUSION: Although there are strong cross-sectional relationships between pain and functional limitations, individuals with pain are not at higher risk of subsequent disability or death after accounting for functional limitations. Like many geriatric syndromes, pain and disability may represent interrelated phenomena that occur simultaneously and require unified treatment paradigms.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cohort Studies, Disabled Persons, Female, Geriatric Assessment, Health Status, Humans, Life Style, Male, Middle Aged, pain, Prevalence, Prognosis, Prospective Studies, Severity of Illness Index, Sex Distribution, Sex Factors, United States}, issn = {1532-5415}, doi = {10.1111/jgs.12172}, url = {http://search.proquest.com.proxy.lib.umich.edu/docview/1356928876?accountid=14667}, author = {James S Andrews and Irena Cenzer and Yelin, Edward and Kenneth E Covinsky} } @article {7793, title = {Precautionary Savings Against Health Risks: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study}, journal = {Research on Aging}, volume = {36}, year = {2013}, pages = {180-206}, publisher = {36}, abstract = {The precautionary savings model predicts that households accumulate wealth to self-insure against unexpected declines in future income and unforeseen expenditures. The goals of this study are twofold. First, we investigate whether the near-elderly who face higher health risks save more. Second, we examine the factors that contribute to health risks that the near-elderly face. We use data from the Health and Retirement Study to construct two measures of health risks. Our results do not support the hypothesis that household savings increase with the health risks that they face. Individuals who confront higher health risks in the future are those who are already in fair or poor health status or those who have a health condition such as diabetes or lung disease. Lower earnings and high medical expenditures caused by current poor health status prevent households from accumulating savings for future health adversities.}, keywords = {Consumption and Savings, Health Conditions and Status, Healthcare, Net Worth and Assets}, doi = {10.1177/0164027512473487}, url = {http://roa.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/01/22/0164027512473487}, author = {Tansel Yilmazer and Scharff, R. L.} } @article {7933, title = {The Use and Effects of Incentives in Surveys}, journal = {The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science}, volume = {645}, year = {2013}, pages = {112-141}, publisher = {645}, abstract = {This article is intended to supplement rather than replace earlier reviews of research on survey incentives, especially those by Singer (2002); Singer and Kulka (2002); and Cantor, O Hare, and O Connor (2008). It is based on a systematic review of articles appearing since 2002 in major journals, supplemented by searches of the Proceedings of the American Statistical Association s Section on Survey Methodology for unpublished papers. The article begins by drawing on responses to open-ended questions about why people are willing to participate in a hypothetical survey. It then lays out the theoretical justification for using monetary incentives and the conditions under which they are hypothesized to be particularly effective. Finally, it summarizes research on how incentives affect response rates in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies and, to the extent information is available, how they affect response quality, nonresponse error, and cost-effectiveness. A special section on incentives in Web surveys is included.}, keywords = {incentives, Methodology, Nonresponse, nonresponse bias, response rates}, doi = {h10.1177/0002716212458082}, author = {Singer, Eleanor and Ye, Cong} } @mastersthesis {6169, title = {Determinants of the retirement assets and the amount in stock within retirement assets: Evidence from the Survey of Consumer Finances and the Health and Retirement Study}, volume = {Ph.D.}, year = {2012}, school = {Purdue University}, address = {West Lafayette, IN}, abstract = {The purpose of this research was to investigate the determinants of the retirement assets held in Individual Retirement Accounts, Keogh accounts, and current and future pensions. A second purpose was to investigate the determinants of the amount in stock within those retirement assets. Building upon the theory of human capital, the theory of planned behavior, and the bargaining power model, this study proposed that human capital, attitudes related to finances, and the relative bargaining power of the spouse would influence an individual{\textquoteright}s retirement assets and the amount in stocks within the retirement assets. Using data from the Survey of Consumer Finances, Study 1 explored the relationship between the three proposed domains and the amount in retirement assets and the amount in stock within the retirement assets. In Study 2, the relationship between the proposed domains was examined using similar variables but with a relatively older sample (e.g., the Health and Retirement Study). The results of both studies supported the theory of human capital and the theory of health capital. Those who had higher education and those who had better health were more likely to have more in retirement assets, and they have more in the amount of stock within retirement assets. Those who saved regularly and were more likely to take risk when saving and investing had more retirement assets and they have more in the amount of stock within retirement assets. The results on the influence of the spouse on retirement assets and the amount in stock within retirement assets showed some support for the bargaining power model. The retirement assets and the amount in stocks within retirement assets were influenced by the spouse. Age, education, working status of the spouse, and who was the more financial knowledgeable person among the two would influence the retirement assets and the amount in stock within retirement assets of the household head. The results of the study supported the existing literature on human capital and health capital. There was some support for the bargaining power model. The results suggest that educators and financial advisors should encourage couples to discuss their plans about saving for retirement with each other and their advisors. However, many people will be single during some or all of their retirement so individual plans for retirement savings should also be carefully developed. This is an important role for educators and financial advisors. However, older adults with fewer resources (e.g. education, employer-sponsored pension plans) will continue to need the support of Social Security.}, keywords = {Health Conditions and Status, Methodology, Net Worth and Assets, Other, Pensions, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction}, author = {Ting-Ying Yang and Feinberg, Richard A.} } @mastersthesis {6142, title = {Disability Insurance in General Equilibrium}, volume = {Ph.D.}, year = {2012}, school = {University of Virginia}, address = {Charlottesville, VA}, abstract = {The Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) Program, which provides income protection to qualified workers who suffer from disabilities, is now facing rapid growth in the number of recipients. The DI program also discourages exit by workers whose health improves by penalizing work heavily. In the first chapter, I build a dynamic general equilibrium model to provide a quantitative analysis of the welfare effects of the DI program and the impact of DI policy reforms on the program{\textquoteright}s financial health and on worker behavior and welfare. A recently proposed policy to provide two extra years of partial benefits for DI beneficiaries returning to work would reduce the size of the DI beneficiary population, lowering total DI payments and the tax rate and raising welfare of a healthy newborn by 0.33\%. Increasing the Social Security Normal Retirement Age from 65 to 67 raises the number of DI recipients by 8.9\%. Policy changes strengthening the strictness of disability criteria increase social welfare mainly due to the reduction in the tax rate. Lastly, simulation results for the case of eliminating the DI program shows a large welfare gain in the new steady state, implying that the distortionary effects of taxation outweigh the gains from providing insurance. The second chapter takes into consideration that people can also obtain financial protection from public and private health insurance programs to have medical costs covered when they suffer health problems. I build a dynamic general equilibrium model to quantitatively analyze the impact of policy reforms on the DI program and on workers{\textquoteright} behavior and welfare when Medicare, Medicaid, and employer-sponsored health insurance programs interact with the DI program. A policy change strengthening the strictness of the DI admission process increases social welfare mainly due to the reduction in the tax rate and the increase in the wage level. Expanding Medicaid eligibility, which is a provision in the Affordable Care Act, reduces the number of DI recipients by 4.0\% and increases general equilibrium welfare by 0.1\%. However, the welfare effects differ by education.}, keywords = {Disabilities, Event History/Life Cycle, Methodology, Other, Public Policy, Social Security}, author = {Wang, Ruwei} } @article {7690, title = {Elevated depressive symptoms and incident stroke in Hispanic, African-American, and White older Americans.}, journal = {J Behav Med}, volume = {35}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Apr}, pages = {211-20}, publisher = {35}, abstract = {

Although depressive symptoms have been linked to stroke, most research has been in relatively ethnically homogeneous, predominantly white, samples. Using the United States based Health and Retirement Study, we compared the relationships between elevated depressive symptoms and incident first stroke for Hispanic, black, or white/other participants (N~=~18,648) and estimated the corresponding Population Attributable Fractions. The prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms was higher in blacks (27\%) and Hispanics (33\%) than whites/others (18\%). Elevated depressive symptoms prospectively predicted stroke risk in the whites/other group (HR~=~1.53; 95\% CI: 1.36-1.73) and among blacks (HR~=~1.31; 95\% CI: 1.05-1.65). The HR was similar but only marginally statistically significant among Hispanics (HR~=~1.33; 95\% CI: 0.92-1.91). The Population Attributable Fraction, indicating the percent of first strokes that would be prevented if the incident stroke rate in those with elevated depressive symptoms was the same as the rate for those without depressive symptoms, was 8.3\% for whites/others, 7.8\% for blacks, and 10.3\% for Hispanics.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Black or African American, depression, Female, Health Surveys, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Incidence, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Predictive Value of Tests, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Stroke, United States, White People}, issn = {1573-3521}, doi = {10.1007/s10865-011-9356-2}, author = {M. Maria Glymour and Jessica J. Yen and Anna Kosheleva and J Robin Moon and Benjamin D Capistrant and Kristen K Patton} } @article {7765, title = {Health Shocks, Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses and Consumer Debt Among Middle-Aged and Older Americans}, journal = {The Journal of Consumer Affairs}, volume = {46}, year = {2012}, pages = {357-380}, publisher = {46}, abstract = {We examine two important issues related to health and financial burden in middle-aged and older Americans: (1) whether or not new health events affect a consumer{\textquoteright}s unsecured debt, and (2) to what extent the associated out-of-pocket medical expenses (OOP) contribute to unsecured debt. We use six biennial waves (1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008) from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). We estimated fixed effects models and conducted mediation analyses. We find that new health events affect the accumulation of unsecured debt. Our estimates suggest that new health events increase unsecured debt by 6.3 ( 230) to 9.3 ( 339); approximately 20 of the increase in unsecured consumer debt comes from OOP when experiencing new health events. New severe health events increase debt for the 50-64 age group, but do not increase it for the 65 group. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT}, keywords = {Consumption and Savings, Demographics, Healthcare, Net Worth and Assets}, doi = {10.1111/j.1745-6606.2012.01236.x}, author = {Hyungsoo Kim and Yoon, Wonah and Karen A. Zurlo} } @article {7734, title = {Market Performance And The Timing Of Retirement}, journal = {Journal of Personal Finance}, volume = {11}, year = {2012}, pages = {10-48}, publisher = {11}, abstract = {This study is the first to utilize nine interview waves of the Health and Retirement Study and multilevel discrete-time survival analysis to investigate the effect of market returns on individual elective retirement decisions. Individuals who retire at a market peak have an increased risk of shortening the longevity of their retirement income. Unfortunately, market returns were found to have a significant positive effect on the probability of retirement. Researchers, employers, financial educators and financial practitioners should help pre-retirees overcome the stock market{\textquoteright}s influence on their decision-making to avoid the negative effect of market sequencing on their retirement wealth. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT}, keywords = {Consumption and Savings, Methodology, Net Worth and Assets, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction}, url = {https://ssrn.com/abstract=2740054}, author = {Yao, Rui and Park, Eric} } @article {7698, title = {Racial and ethnic differences in hypertension risk: new diagnoses after age 50.}, journal = {Ethn Dis}, volume = {22}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Spring}, pages = {175-80}, publisher = {22}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: Our study examines the differences in estimated risk of developing hypertension in Whites, Blacks, and Mexican-Americans aged > or = 50 for a period of 11 years.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Data came from 9,259 respondents who reported being hypertension-free at the baseline in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) with up to five time intervals (1998-2006). Discrete-time survival models were used to analyze ethnic variations in the probability of developing hypertension.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Estimated odds of developing hypertension.

RESULTS: The risk of newly diagnosed hypertension increased between 1995 and 2006 for HRS participants aged > or = 50. After adjusting for demographic and health status, the probability of incident hypertension among Black Americans was .10 during the period of 1995/96-1998, which increased steadily to .17 in 2004-2006, with cumulative incidence over the 11-year period at 51\%. In contrast, among White Americans the risk was .07 during 1995/96-1998 and .13 in 2004-2006, with cumulative incidence at 43\%. For Mexican-Americans, the probability also increased from .08 during 1995/ 96-1998 to .14 during 2004-2006, with cumulative incidence at 42\%.

CONCLUSIONS: Relative to White and Mexican-Americans, Black Americans had an elevated risk of incident hypertension throughout the 11-year period of observation. These variations persisted even when differences in health behaviors, socioeconomic status, demographic, and time-varying health characteristics were accounted for.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Black or African American, Cohort Studies, Female, Health Status Disparities, Humans, Hypertension, Incidence, Male, Mexican Americans, Middle Aged, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic factors, White People}, issn = {1049-510X}, author = {A. R. Quinones and Jersey Liang and Wen Ye} } @article {7781, title = {Risk factors of falls in community-dwelling older adults: logistic regression tree analysis.}, journal = {Gerontologist}, volume = {52}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Dec}, pages = {822-32}, publisher = {52}, abstract = {

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: A novel logistic regression tree-based method was applied to identify fall risk factors and possible interaction effects of those risk factors.

DESIGN AND METHODS: A nationally representative sample of American older adults aged 65 years and older (N = 9,592) in the Health and Retirement Study 2004 and 2006 modules was used. Logistic Tree with Unbiased Selection, a computer algorithm for tree-based modeling, recursively split the entire group in the data set into mutually exclusive subgroups and fit a logistic regression model in each subgroup to generate an easily interpreted tree diagram.

RESULTS: A subgroup of older adults with a fall history and either no activities of daily living (ADL) limitation and at least one instrumental activity of daily living or at least one ADL limitation was classified as at high risk of falling. Additionally, within each identified subgroup, the best predictor of falls varied over subgroups and was also evaluated.

IMPLICATIONS: Application of tree-based methods may provide useful information for intervention program design and resource allocation planning targeting subpopulations of older adults at risk of falls.

}, keywords = {Accidental Falls, Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Decision Trees, Female, Geriatric Assessment, Health Surveys, Humans, Logistic Models, Male, Predictive Value of Tests, Residence Characteristics, Risk Assessment, Socioeconomic factors, United States}, issn = {1758-5341}, doi = {10.1093/geront/gns043}, author = {Takashi Yamashita and Noe, Douglas A. and John A. Bailer} } @mastersthesis {6173, title = {Three essays on health care spending}, volume = {Ph.D.}, year = {2012}, school = {Rutgers The State University of New Jersey}, type = {Ph.D.}, address = {New Brunswick, NJ}, abstract = {This dissertation is composed of three essays that consider the determinants and persistence of health care spending and how policies that control increasing health care costs affect the distribution of health care spending in the U.S. In the first essay, I study the association between education and health care spending for a set of health conditions amenable to self-management. Empirical findings from estimated health expenditure models reveal strong inverse relationships between education and health care spending among elderly adults with hypertension and/or asthma. Additionally, I find that greater educational attainment is associated with a reduced likelihood of being in the top 5\% of health care spenders for elderly adults with hypertension and nonelderly adults with diabetes, and also with less severe conditions. The second essay assesses how the distribution of family out-of-pocket health care spending has been affected by changes in recent cost-sharing to understand the effectiveness of the risk protection function of private health insurance against high medical care expenses. The results suggest that families who rely more on health care because of one or more their member{\textquoteright}s existing health conditions are most affected by changes in cost sharing during the period 2001-2005 and the increased exposure to out-of-pocket spending occurrs primarily for families at higher percentiles of the out-of-pocket spending distribution, thus reducing the "return" to risk protection from holding private health insurance. The final essay examines the dynamics of out-of-pocket health care spending by looking at the persistence of such spending among Medicare beneficiaries. The findings suggest that having a certain chronic condition or a health shock clearly increases the probability of out-of-pocket health care spending persistence. Additionally, having an existing health insurance that supplements Medicare coverage or the acquisition of a new supplementary health insurance has a significant impact on the probability of persistence.}, keywords = {Demographics, Health Conditions and Status, Healthcare, Medicare/Medicaid/Health Insurance, Methodology, Other, Risk Taking}, doi = {10.7282/T3WM1C5J}, author = {Yoo, Minkyoung} } @article {5904, title = {Co-residence and Geographic Proximity of Mothers and Adult Children in Intact and Step Families}, year = {2011}, institution = {UCLA}, keywords = {Adult children, Demographics, Other}, author = {Judith A Seltzer and Suzanne M. Bianchi and Kathleen McGarry and Jenjira J Yahirun} } @article {7529, title = {Development and validation of a brief cognitive assessment tool: the sweet 16.}, journal = {Arch Intern Med}, volume = {171}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Mar 14}, pages = {432-7}, publisher = {171}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is often unrecognized among older adults. Meanwhile, current assessment instruments are underused, lack sensitivity, or may be restricted by copyright laws. To address these limitations, we created a new brief cognitive assessment tool: the Sweet 16.

METHODS: The Sweet 16 was developed in a cohort from a large post-acute hospitalization study (n=774) and compared with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Equipercentile equating identified Sweet 16 cut points that correlated with widely used MMSE cut points. Sweet 16 performance characteristics were independently validated in a cohort from the Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (n=709) using clinical consensus diagnosis, the modified Blessed Dementia Rating Scale, and the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE).

RESULTS: The Sweet 16 correlated highly with the MMSE (Spearman r, 0.94; P<.001). Validated against the IQCODE, the area under the curve was 0.84 for the Sweet 16 and 0.81 for the MMSE (P=.06). A Sweet 16 score of less than 14 (approximating an MMSE score <24) demonstrated a sensitivity of 80\% and a specificity of 70\%, whereas an MMSE score of less than 24 showed a sensitivity of 64\% and a specificity of 86\% against the IQCODE. When compared with clinical diagnosis, a Sweet 16 score of less than 14 showed a sensitivity of 99\% and a specificity of 72\% in contrast to an MMSE score with a sensitivity of 87\% and a specificity of 89\%. For education of 12 years or more, the area under the curve was 0.90 for the Sweet 16 and 0.84 for the MMSE (P=.03).

CONCLUSIONS: The Sweet 16 is simple, quick to administer, and will be available open access. The performance of the Sweet 16 is equivalent or superior to that of the MMSE.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cognition Disorders, Cohort Studies, Dementia, Female, Humans, Male, Neuropsychological tests, Surveys and Questionnaires}, issn = {1538-3679}, doi = {10.1001/archinternmed.2010.423}, author = {Tamara G Fong and Richard N Jones and James L Rudolph and Frances Margaret Yang and Tommet, Douglas and Habtemariam, Daniel and Edward R Marcantonio and Kenneth M. Langa and Sharon K Inouye} } @article {7645, title = {Is diabetes-specific health literacy associated with diabetes-related outcomes in older adults?}, journal = {J Diabetes}, volume = {3}, year = {2011}, note = {Yamashita, Takashi Kart, Cary S Australia Journal of diabetes J Diabetes. 2011 Jun;3(2):138-46. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-0407.2011.00112.x.}, month = {2011 Jun}, pages = {138-46}, publisher = {3}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: The present study examined the association between a measure of diabetes-specific health literacy and three different Type 2 diabetes outcome indicators in a national sample of older adults.

METHODS: Data were taken from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) 2003 Diabetes module and the HRS 2002 core wave. Analysis was performed on data from 1318 respondents aged 42-96 years [mean ({\textpm}SD) 67.96 {\textpm} 8.65 years] who submitted responses on all relevant independent variable measures along with an HbA1c test kit. The index of diabetes-specific health literacy was constructed from responses to 10 diabetes self-care regimen items (α = 0.927).

RESULTS: Using a multivariate regression strategy to analyze weighted data, the diabetes-specific health literacy index was significantly and positively associated with self-graded assessment of diabetes self-care (R2 = 0.231). However, diabetes-specific health literacy was not independently associated with the HbA1c level or the average number of days five recommended self-management behaviors were practiced each week.

CONCLUSIONS: No previous single study has focused on the relationship between diabetes-specific health literacy and multiple diabetes-related outcomes. The direct association of diabetes-specific health literacy with patients{\textquoteright} assessment of their self-care practice acumen is useful information for the design of effective patient intervention and/or communication strategies. Health literacy is a broad, multidimensional construct that bridges basic literacy skills and various health and illness contexts. Because it is so important to adults engaged in the self-management of chronic illness, indicators of disease-specific knowledge and/or understanding should be included in efforts to measure health literacy.

}, keywords = {Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Blood Glucose, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Glycated Hemoglobin, Health Literacy, Humans, Logistic Models, Middle Aged, Multivariate Analysis, Self Care, Socioeconomic factors, Surveys and Questionnaires, United States}, issn = {1753-0407}, doi = {10.1111/j.1753-0407.2011.00112.x}, author = {Takashi Yamashita and Cary S Kart} } @article {7597, title = {Do Market Returns Influence Risk Tolerance? Evidence from Panel Data}, journal = {Journal of Family and Economic Issues}, volume = {32}, year = {2011}, pages = {532-544}, publisher = {32}, abstract = {This study used the 1992-2006 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to investigate changes in risk tolerance levels over time in response to stock market returns. Findings indicate that risk tolerance tends to increase when market returns increase and decrease when market returns decrease. Individuals who change their risk tolerance in this manner are likely to invest in stocks when prices are high and sell when prices are low. Researchers, employers, financial educators and practitioners should help investors overcome the bias of overweighting recent news of market performance. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT}, keywords = {Consumption and Savings, Other, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction, Risk Taking}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-010-9223-2}, author = {Yao, R. and Angela L Curl} } @article {7629, title = {How does the trajectory of multimorbidity vary across Black, White, and Mexican Americans in middle and old age?}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {66}, year = {2011}, note = {Quinones, Ana R Liang, Jersey Bennett, Joan M Xu, Xiao Ye, Wen F31-AG029783/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States R01-AG015124/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States R01-AG028116/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States Comparative Study Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural United States The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2011 Nov;66(6):739-49. Epub 2011 Oct 3.}, month = {2011 Nov}, pages = {739-49}, publisher = {66}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: This research examines intra- and interpersonal differences in multiple chronic conditions reported by Americans aged 51 and older for a period up to 11 years. It focuses on how changes in multimorbidity vary across White, Black, and Mexican Americans.

METHODS: Data came from 17,517 respondents of the Health and Retirement Study (1995-2006) with up to 5 repeated observations. Hierarchical linear models were employed to analyze ethnic variations in temporal changes of reported comorbidities.

FINDINGS: Middle-aged and older Americans have on average nearly 2 chronic diseases at the baseline, which increased to almost 3 conditions in 11 years. White Americans differ from Black and Mexican Americans in terms of level and rate of change of multimorbidity. Mexican Americans demonstrate lower initial levels and slower accumulation of comorbidities relative to Whites. In contrast, Blacks showed an elevated level of multimorbidity throughout the 11-year period of observation, although their rate of change slowed relative to Whites.

DISCUSSION: These results suggest that health differences between Black Americans and other ethnic groups including White and Mexican Americans persist in the trajectory of multimorbidity even when population heterogeneity is adjusted. Further research is needed concerning the impact of health disadvantages and differential mortality that may have occurred before middle age as well as exploring the role of nativity, the nature of self-reported diseases, and heterogeneity underlying the average trajectory of multimorbidity for ethnic elders.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Black or African American, Chronic disease, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Behavior, Health Status Disparities, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Linear Models, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, United States, White People}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbr106}, author = {Ana R Qui{\~n}ones and Jersey Liang and Joan M. Bennett and Xiao Xu and Wen Ye} } @article {7607, title = {Intrinsic Rewards of Work, Future Time Perspective, the Economy in the Future and Retirement Planning}, journal = {The Journal of Consumer Affairs}, volume = {45}, year = {2011}, pages = {419-444}, publisher = {45}, abstract = {This study incorporated intrinsic rewards of work, future time perspective and perspective on the economy in the future to create a model for the psychological mechanism of planning for retirement. The data set included those who were not retired (N = 2,266) in the 1992 Health and Retirement Study. Confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modeling were used. The analyses were conducted separately on the different types of retirement plans. The results suggest that human resource professionals should (1) encourage employees who perceive high intrinsic rewards of work to plan for their retirement, and (2) remind employees that retirement might be closer than they anticipate. PUBLICATION ABSTRACT}, keywords = {Health Conditions and Status, Methodology, Other, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6606.2011.01211.x}, author = {Ting-Ying Yang and DeVaney, Sharon A.} } @article {7549, title = {Medical Expenditure Measures in the Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {Forum Health Econ Policy}, volume = {14}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Apr 01}, pages = {4}, publisher = {14}, abstract = {

This paper reviews out-of-pocket (OOP) medical expenditure measures collected in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Medical expenditures are an important cost of poor health. Medical expenditure measures are important for understanding retirement decisions, financial preparation for retirement, and predicting the consequences of health care reform, particularly Medicare reform. Despite the comprehensiveness of the HRS, there are always limitations to what can be learned from population interviews. To assess the quality of current HRS measures of OOP spending, we compare various measures of OOP spending across survey waves to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) and Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS), two surveys that expend considerable resources on measuring both OOP spending and total medical expenditures. Such comparisons make it possible to identify potential bias in the HRS data and to improve HRS measures of OOP. We find that the HRS produces good quality and useful data on OOP spending.

}, issn = {2194-6191}, doi = {10.2202/1558-9544.1267}, author = {Dana P Goldman and Julie M Zissimopoulos and Yang, Lu} } @article {7636, title = {Multiple trajectories of depressive symptoms in middle and late life: racial/ethnic variations.}, journal = {Psychol Aging}, volume = {26}, year = {2011}, note = {Liang, Jersey Xu, Xiao Quinones, Ana R Bennett, Joan M Ye, Wen 5P30AG024824/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States R01-AG015124/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States R01-AG028116/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States UL1RR024986/RR/NCRR NIH HHS/United States Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov{\textquoteright}t Research Support, U.S. Gov{\textquoteright}t, Non-P.H.S. United States Psychology and aging Psychol Aging. 2011 Dec;26(4):761-77. Epub 2011 Aug 29.}, month = {2011 Dec}, pages = {761-77}, publisher = {26}, abstract = {

This research aims to identify distinct courses of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older Americans and to ascertain how these courses vary by race/ethnicity. Data came from the 1995-2006 Health and Retirement Study which involved a national sample of 17,196 Americans over 50 years of age with up to six repeated observations. Depressive symptoms were measured by an abbreviated version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. Semiparametric group based mixture models (Proc Traj) were used for data analysis. Six major trajectories were identified: (a) minimal depressive symptoms (15.9\%), (b) low depressive symptoms (36.3\%), (c) moderate and stable depressive symptoms (29.2\%), (d) high but decreasing depressive symptoms (6.6\%), (e) moderate but increasing depressive symptoms (8.3\%), and (f) persistently high depressive symptoms (3.6\%). Adjustment of time-varying covariates (e.g., income and health conditions) resulted in a similar set of distinct trajectories. Relative to White Americans, Black and Hispanic Americans were significantly more likely to be in trajectories of more elevated depressive symptoms. In addition, they were more likely to experience increasing and decreasing depressive symptoms. Racial and ethnic variations in trajectory groups were partially mediated by SES, marital status, and health conditions, particularly when both interpersonal and intrapersonal differences in these variables were taken into account.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Black or African American, depression, disease progression, Female, Health Status Disparities, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Statistical, Socioeconomic factors, Time Factors, United States, White People}, issn = {1939-1498}, doi = {10.1037/a0023945}, author = {Jersey Liang and Xiao Xu and Ana R Qui{\~n}ones and Joan M. Bennett and Wen Ye} } @article {7662, title = {Net Worth Accumulation by Different Quintiles of Older Adults Approaching Retirement Age and 10 Years Later}, journal = {Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare}, volume = {38}, year = {2011}, pages = {9-30}, publisher = {38}, abstract = {The shift in responsibility for income security from the government to individuals makes the accumulation of net worth a vital issue. We investigated the rate of net worth accumulation for people aged 51 to 61 in 1991 (N=7,544) and 61 to 71 in 2001 (N=5,711) using the RAND Health and Retirement Study. We found that the rate of net worth accumulation by the fifth (top) quintile was extremely high in 1991, and the distribution of net worth became more skewed in favor of the wealthy in 2001. Older adults in the first and second quintiles are unable to face the challenge of the shift in responsibility for income security from the government to individuals. Adapted from the source document.}, keywords = {Demographics, Health Conditions and Status, Income, Net Worth and Assets, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction}, url = {https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol38/iss3/2}, author = {Martha N. Ozawa and Yeo, Yeong H.} } @mastersthesis {article, title = {Partial Benefits in the Social Security Disability Insurance Program: A Policy Alternative to Foster Work among People with Disability}, year = {2011}, abstract = {The current U.S. Social Security Disability Insurance program is an all-or-nothing system that has been criticized for creating strong work disincentives. In an empirically grounded and calibrated life-cycle model, I simulate behavioral responses to a partial disability benefit system, a policy alternative to the current program, which allows individuals to claim partial disability and combine earnings with disability benefits. The appeal of this policy hinges on the possibility of inducing applicants to selfselect themselves into a given disability level, while maintaining those with some work capacity in the labor force, and therefore keep them contributing through their labor taxes to the Social Security system, easing the budgetary pressures of the overall Social Security system. The current dichotomous definition of disability can result in relatively productive individuals dropping from the labor force to receive benefits in order to have access to a total income high enough to make ends meet. Instead, the new system will establish a culture of continuous attachment to the labor force in the wake of health limitations. The simulation results show that there will be significant increases in both DI applications and DI rolls under the partial DI system; however, most of the increases are due to increases in applications for partial benefits and awards to partial benefits. In fact, full DI benefits applications and full DI benefit rolls will drop substantially. The mean duration spent on DI program will decrease dramatically. Our budgetary and welfare calculations show that a partial DI system, under some conditions, could result in financial savings for the program as well as individuals{\textquoteright} welfare improvements.}, keywords = {Disability, Social Security Benefits}, url = {https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Na_Yin7/publication/241248671_Partial_Benefits_in_the_Social_Security_Disability_Insurance_Program_A_Policy_Alternative_to_Foster_Work_among_People_with_Disability/links/5ea91eae299bf18b95845d1d/Partial-Benefits-in-the}, author = {Yin, Na} } @article {7583, title = {Which Questions in the Health and Retirement Study are Used by Researchers? Evidence from Academic Journals, 2006-2009}, journal = {Forum for Health Economics and Policy}, volume = {14}, year = {2011}, pages = {Article 12}, publisher = {14}, abstract = {Since 2002, the average number of questions asked per respondent in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) has risen by 39 percent, from 413 to 581. Yet there is little or no understanding of which questions, or how many in total, should be included and more importantly, maintained in longitudinal surveys. In this paper, we propose a simple approach to assessing the value of survey questions: journal citation counts. A sample of journal articles and book chapters published in 2006-09 (N = 206) is used to document which questions, and categories of questions, were used most and least frequently. A disproportionate number of published articles used a relatively small number of questions regarding health, wealth, income, and employment. By contrast, several categories of questions were rarely used, and many specific questions were never used. This evidence-based approach to measuring the value of survey questions can have applications for other surveys beyond the HRS.}, keywords = {Methodology}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.2202/1558-9544.1269}, author = {Jackson, Tina and Balduf, Mabel and Laura Yasaitis and Jonathan S Skinner} } @article {7461, title = {Comparison study on functional outcomes and perceived quality of life between all-inclusive and fee-for-service continuing care retirement communities.}, journal = {J Am Med Dir Assoc}, volume = {11}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 May}, pages = {257-62}, publisher = {11}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between 2 types of continuing care retirement communities{\textquoteright} (CCRC) residents regarding physical function and perceived quality of life.

METHODS: Cross-sectional study (n=406). Eligibility criteria include age 65 years or older, residents of independent living units, and intact cognition (MMSE>or=24). All-inclusive CCRCs provide unlimited access to home health services and nursing home care as needed in return for the entry and monthly fee. Fee-for-service CCRCs offer home health and nursing home services at a full fee-for-service rate. Outcomes were functional status (ADLs and IADLs) and perceived quality of life. Multivariate regressions were used to examine the associations between residents of different types of CCRCs on selected outcomes while adjusting for covariates.

RESULTS: The all-inclusive CCRC sample was more likely to be married (53.8\% versus 33.4\%; P < .001), with more years of education (17.9 versus 14.4; P < .0001), and had few physician visits in the previous year in comparison to the FFS CCRC sample. Multivariate results indicate that the FFS group had worse ADL (beta=0.95; P=.0003), IADL (beta=0.57; P=.02) function than the all-inclusive group. There was no significant difference in perceived quality of life scores between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Residents of both CCRCs reported equally good quality of life scores. Residents of the all-inclusive CCRC seem to have had better ADL and IADL function than the FFS CCRC residents. Prepaid home health services and nursing home care in the all-inclusive CCRC may facilitate ADL and IADL functional independence.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cross-Sectional Studies, Fee-for-Service Plans, Female, Humans, Male, New York, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Quality of Life, Residential Facilities}, issn = {1538-9375}, doi = {10.1016/j.jamda.2009.09.004}, author = {Young, Yuchi} } @article {7468, title = {Depressive symptoms in middle age and the development of later-life functional limitations: the long-term effect of depressive symptoms.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {58}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Mar}, pages = {551-6}, publisher = {58}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether middle-aged persons with depressive symptoms are at higher risk for developing activity of daily living (ADL) and mobility limitations as they advance into older age than those without.

DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

SETTING: The Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative sample of people aged 50 to 61.

PARTICIPANTS: Seven thousand two hundred seven community living participants in the 1992 wave of the HRS.

MEASUREMENTS: Depressive symptoms were measured using the 11-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D 11), with scores of 9 or more (out of 33) classified as significant depressive symptoms. Difficulty with five ADLs and basic mobility tasks (walking several blocks or up one flight of stairs) was measured every 2 years through 2006. The primary outcome was persistent difficulty with ADLs or mobility, defined as difficulty in two consecutive waves.

RESULTS: Eight hundred eighty-seven (12\%) subjects scored 9 or higher on the CES-D 11 and were classified as having significant depressive symptoms. Over 12 years of follow-up, subjects with depressive symptoms were more likely to reach the primary outcome measure of persistent difficulty with mobility or difficulty with ADL function (45\% vs 23\%, Cox hazard ratio (HR)=2.33, 95\% confidence interval (CI)=2.06-2.63). After adjusting for age, sex, measures of socioeconomic status, comorbid conditions, high body mass index, smoking, exercise, difficulty jogging 1 mile, and difficulty climbing several flights of stairs, the risk was attenuated but still statistically significant (Cox HR=1.44, 95\% CI=1.25-1.66).

CONCLUSION: Depressive symptoms independently predict the development of persistent limitations in ADLs and mobility as middle-aged persons advance into later life. Middle-aged persons with depressive symptoms may be at greater risk for losing their functional independence as they age.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, depression, Female, Humans, Kaplan-Meier Estimate, Male, Middle Aged, Mobility Limitation, Proportional Hazards Models, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, United States}, issn = {1532-5415}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02723.x}, author = {Kenneth E Covinsky and Kristine Yaffe and Lindquist, Karla and Cherkasova, Elena and Yelin, Edward and Dan G. Blazer} } @article {7454, title = {Dynamics and heterogeneity in the process of human frailty and aging: evidence from the U.S. older adult population.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {65B}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Mar}, pages = {246-55}, publisher = {CCCB CCCP}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the dynamics and heterogeneity of the frailty index (FI) conceived as a systemic indicator of biological aging in the community-dwelling older adult population in the United States.

METHODS: We used panel data on multiple birth cohorts from the Health and Retirement Survey 1993-2006 and growth curve models to estimate age trajectories of the FI and their differences by sex, race, and socioeconomic status (SES) within cohorts.

RESULTS: The FI for cohorts born before 1942 exhibit quadratic increases with age and accelerated increases in the accumulation of health deficits. More recent cohorts exhibit higher average levels of and rates of increment in the FI than their predecessors do at the same ages. Females, non-Whites, and individuals with low education and income exhibit greater degrees of physiological deregulation than their male, White, and high-SES counterparts at any age. Patterns of sex, race, and SES differentials in rates of aging vary across cohorts.

DISCUSSION: Adjusting for social behavioral factors, the analysis provides evidence for physiological differences in the aging process among recent cohorts of older adults, points to the need for biological explanations of female excess in general system damage, and reveals the insufficiency of any single mechanism for depicting the racial and SES differences in the process of physiological deterioration.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Cohort Studies, Female, Frail Elderly, Humans, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, United States}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbp102}, author = {Yang, Yang and Lee, Linda C} } @article {7406, title = {Ethnicity and changing functional health in middle and late life: a person-centered approach.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {65}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Jul}, pages = {470-81}, publisher = {65}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: Following a person-centered approach, this research aims to depict distinct courses of disability and to ascertain how the probabilities of experiencing these trajectories vary across Black, Hispanic, and White middle-aged and older Americans.

METHODS: Data came from the 1995-2006 Health and Retirement Study, which involved a national sample of 18,486 Americans older than 50 years of age. Group-based semiparametric mixture models (Proc Traj) were used for data analysis.

RESULTS: Five trajectories were identified: (a) excellent functional health (61\%), (b) good functional health with small increasing disability (25\%), (c) accelerated increase in disability (7\%), (d) high but stable disability (4\%), and (e) persistent severe impairment (3\%). However, when time-varying covariates (e.g., martial status and health conditions) were controlled, only 3 trajectories emerged: (a) healthy functioning (53\%), moderate functional decrement (40\%), and (c) large functional decrement (8\%). Black and Hispanic Americans had significantly higher probabilities than White Americans in experiencing poor functional health trajectories, with Blacks at greater risks than Hispanics.

CONCLUSIONS: Parallel to the concepts of successful aging, usual aging, and pathological aging, there exist distinct courses of changing functional health over time. The mechanisms underlying changes in disability may vary between Black and Hispanic Americans.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Black or African American, Disabled Persons, disease progression, ethnicity, Female, Health Status, Health Status Disparities, Health Surveys, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Likelihood Functions, Male, Marital Status, Middle Aged, Time Factors, United States, White People}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbp114}, author = {Jersey Liang and Xiao Xu and Joan M. Bennett and Wen Ye and Ana R Qui{\~n}ones} } @article {7543, title = {Evolving self-rated health in middle and old age: how does it differ across Black, Hispanic, and White Americans?}, journal = {J Aging Health}, volume = {22}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Feb}, pages = {3-26}, publisher = {22}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: This research focuses on ethnic variations in the intraindividual changes in self-rated health.

METHOD: Data came from the Health and Retirement Study involving up to 6 repeated observations between 1995 and 2006 of a national sample of 18,486 Americans above 50 years of age. Hierarchical linear models were employed in depicting variations in self-rated health across White, Black, and Hispanic Americans.

RESULTS: Subjective health worsened over time albeit moderately. Relative to younger persons, older individuals rated their health poorer with a greater rate of deteriorating health. With reference to ethnic variations in the intercept and slope of perceived health, White Americans rated their health most positively, followed by Black Americans, with Hispanics rating their health least positively. This pattern held even when socioeconomic status, social networks, and prior health were adjusted.

DISCUSSION: Significant ethnic differences exist in the evolvement of self-rated health in middle and late life. Further inquiries may include analyzing ethnic heterogeneities from a person-centered perspective, health disparities across subgroups of Hispanics, effects of neighborhood attributes, and implications of left truncation.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Aging, Black or African American, Diagnostic Self Evaluation, Female, Health Status Disparities, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Linear Models, Male, Middle Aged, United States, White People}, issn = {1552-6887}, doi = {10.1177/0898264309348877}, url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2833212/}, author = {Jersey Liang and A. R. Quinones and Joan M. Bennett and Wen Ye and Xiao Xu and Benjamin A Shaw and Mary Beth Ofstedal} } @article {7477, title = {Functional declines, social support, and mental health in the elderly: does living in a state supportive of home and community-based services make a difference?}, journal = {Soc Sci Med}, volume = {70}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Apr}, pages = {1050-8}, publisher = {70}, abstract = {

This study examines how acute and chronic stresses associated with functional declines in seniors and their spouses are moderated by their informal and formal support contexts. In the United States, states vary greatly in their support for home and community-based services (HCBS) for seniors with disabilities. This state-to-state variation allowed us to examine mental health effects of living in a society supportive of HCBS for the oldest old, who are at high risk for low or declining functions in daily activities and cognitive abilities. Using a ten-year panel study of a nationally representative sample of the oldest old (>or=70 years old) covering the period 1993-2002, we conducted mixed-effects logistic regression analysis to incorporate time-varying characteristics of persons and states. As expected, low and declining functions in daily living and cognition constituted significant stressors among seniors and their spouse. Results demonstrated the important role of informal support available from non-spouse family/friends in lowering depression. Living in a state supportive of HCBS was associated with lower depression among seniors experiencing consistently low levels of function or recent functional declines, especially among those without informal support. Our findings were consistent with moderating or buffering models of formal support, suggesting that state HCBS support is effective mainly under conditions of high levels of stressors. Political will is needed to prepare US society to collectively support community-based long-term needs, given the difficulty of preparing ourselves fully for common, but often unexpected, functional declines in later life.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Cognition, Community Health Services, depression, Disabled Persons, Female, Home Care Services, Humans, Logistic Models, Male, Mental Health, Multilevel Analysis, Risk Factors, Social Support, Spouses, State Government, Stress, Psychological, United States}, issn = {1873-5347}, doi = {10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.12.005}, author = {Muramatsu, Naoko and yin, Hongjun and Hedeker, Donald} } @article {7458, title = {Physical health and depression: a dyadic study of chronic health conditions and depressive symptomatology in older adult couples.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {65}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Jul}, pages = {438-48}, abstract = {

This study examined the associations among chronic health conditions, sociodemographic factors, and depressive symptomatology in older married couples. Data from the 2004 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (n = 2,184 couples) were analyzed. Results indicated a reciprocal relationship in depressive symptoms between spouses. Additionally, post hoc analyses indicated that husbands{\textquoteright} stroke and high blood pressure were related to increased depressive symptomatology among wives. Beyond the reciprocal relationship, husbands were unaffected by wives{\textquoteright} health. These results suggest sex differences underlying psychological distress in the context of physical health among older adults and that older women with husbands who have high levels of depressive symptomatology, high blood pressure, or a history of stroke may be at particular risk of experiencing depressive symptoms.

}, keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Chi-Square Distribution, Chronic disease, Cohort Studies, depression, Female, Health Status, Humans, Hypertension, Least-Squares Analysis, Male, Marriage, Middle Aged, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Socioeconomic factors, Spouses, Stroke}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbq033}, author = {Brian J Ayotte and Frances Margaret Yang and Richard N Jones} } @inbook {5247, title = {Spending Patterns in the Older Population}, booktitle = {Aging Consumer: Perspectives from Psychology and Economics}, series = {Marketing and Consumer Psychology Series}, year = {2010}, pages = {25-49}, publisher = {Routledge}, organization = {Routledge}, chapter = {2}, address = {New York}, abstract = {This chapter deals with the concrete differences in consumption behavior across a person{\textquoteright}s life span. Although there is a prevasive belief that households reduce consumption at retirement, the interpretation that consumers adjust their spending after discovering they have fewer economic resources than they had anticipated prior to retirement is not wholly consistent with empirial evidence. The spending habits of older adults are determined by a variety of factors like age, marital status, and economic resources. Specifically, as the population ages, it will tend to spend less on transportation services, vacations, and food; and more on health care and charitable giving.}, keywords = {Consumption and Savings, Demographics, Health Conditions and Status, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction}, isbn = {978-1-84872-810-3}, author = {Michael D Hurd and Susann Rohwedder}, editor = {Drolet, A. and Schwarz, Norbert and Yoon, Carolyn} } @article {7408, title = {"Below average" self-assessed school performance and Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease in the Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study.}, journal = {Alzheimers Dement}, volume = {5}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Sep}, pages = {380-7}, publisher = {5}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: A low level of formal education is becoming accepted as a risk factor for Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s disease (AD). Although increasing attention has been paid to differences in educational quality, no previous studies addressed participants{\textquoteright} own characterizations of their overall performance in school. We examined whether self-assessed school performance is associated with AD beyond the effects of educational level alone.

METHODS: Participants were drawn from the population-representative Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS, 2000-2002). The ADAMS participants were asked about their performance in school. Possible response options included "above average," "average," or "below average." The ADAMS participants also underwent a full neuropsychological battery, and received a research diagnosis of possible or probable AD.

RESULTS: The 725 participants (mean age, 81.8 years; 59\% female; 16\% African-American) varied in self-assessed educational performance: 29\% reported "above average," 64\% reported "average," and 7\% reported "below average" school performance. Participants with a lower self-assessed school performance had higher proportions of AD: 11\% of participants with "above average" self-assessed performance had AD, as opposed to 12\% of participants with "average" performance and 26\% of participants with "below average" performance (P < 0.001). After controlling for subjects{\textquoteright} years in school, a literacy test score (Wide-Range Achievement Test), age, sex, race/ethnicity, apolipoprotein E-epsilon4 status, socioeconomic status, and self-reported comorbidities, respondents with "below average" self-assessed school performance were four times more likely to have AD compared with those of "average" performance (odds ratio, 4.0; 95\% confidence interval, 1.2-14). "Above average" and "average" self-assessed school performance did not increase or decrease the odds of having AD (odds ratio, 0.9; 95\% confidence interval, 0.5-1.7).

CONCLUSIONS: We suggest an association between "below average" self-assessed school performance and AD beyond the known association with formal education. Efforts to increase cognitive reserve through better school performance, in addition to increasing the number of years of formal education in early life, may be important in reducing vulnerability throughout the life course.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Alzheimer disease, Apolipoprotein E4, Cognition Disorders, Educational Status, Female, Geriatric Assessment, Humans, Male, Memory, Neuropsychological tests, Risk Factors}, issn = {1552-5279}, doi = {10.1016/j.jalz.2009.07.039}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURLand_udi=B7W6D-4X6VH7W-7and_user=99318and_coverDate=09 2F30 2F2009and_rdoc=1and_fmt=highand_orig=searchand_origin=searchand_sort=dand_docanchor=andview=cand_acct=C000007678and_version=1and_urlVersion=0and_}, author = {Kala M. Mehta and Anita L Stewart and Kenneth M. Langa and Kristine Yaffe and Sandra Y. Moody-Ayers and Brie A Williams and Kenneth E Covinsky} } @article {7303, title = {Caregiving behavior is associated with decreased mortality risk.}, journal = {Psychol Sci}, volume = {20}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Apr}, pages = {488-94}, publisher = {20}, abstract = {

Traditional investigations of caregiving link it to increased caregiver morbidity and mortality, but do not disentangle the effects of providing care from those of being continuously exposed to an ailing loved one with serious health problems. We explored this possible confound in a national, longitudinal survey of elderly married individuals (N= 3,376). Results showed that spending at least 14 hr per week providing care to a spouse predicted decreased mortality for the caregiver, independently of behavioral and cognitive limitations of the care recipient (spouse), and of other demographic and health variables. These findings suggest that it may be premature to conclude that health risks for caregivers are due to providing active help. Indeed, under some circumstances, caregivers may actually benefit from providing care.

}, keywords = {Altruism, Caregivers, Humans, Mortality}, issn = {1467-9280}, doi = {10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02323.x}, url = {http://pss.sagepub.com/content/20/4/4}, author = {Stephanie Brown and Dylan M Smith and Schulz, Richard and Mohammed U Kabeto and Peter A. Ubel and Poulin, Michael and Yi, Jaehee and Kim, Catherine and Kenneth M. Langa} } @mastersthesis {6172, title = {The Effect of Body Weight on Mortality: Different countries and age groups}, year = {2009}, month = {2009}, school = {University of Southern California}, address = {Los Angeles, California}, abstract = {The goals of this dissertation were to examine differences in Body mass index (BMI) distribution among Japanese older adults, American older adults, and the U.S. middle-aged; to investigate which factors predict being underweight, overweight or obese among Japanese older adults and American older adults and how weight is associated with chronic diseases and ADL functioning difficulties; to determine how BMI is associated with all-cause mortality in Japanese older adults and the U.S. middle-aged and older adults; to investigate how different levels of BMI are related to all cause mortality and mortality from specific-causes considering the role of biomarkers indicating physiological risk, nutrition, and health behaviors. I found that Japanese older adults (the Nihon University Japanese Longitudinal Study of Aging) have a lower weight distribution with less dispersion than both American middle-aged (the Health and Retirement Study) and older adults (the Longitudinal Study on Aging). Second, education and income did not have an effect on BMI for older men in both countries. However, as years of education increased, both American and Japanese older women are less likely to be overweight. Also, it is interesting that underweight men and women are more likely to have ADL difficulties in the U.S. Third, for total Japanese older adults, being underweight has greater risk of death than being normal weight. For total American older adults, being overweight was associated with a reduced likelihood of dying although most of the indicators of poor health and behaviors are related to being overweight or obese. For American middle-aged persons, overweight or obese people are less likely to die than normal weight. Last, I found that overweight people had significantly higher levels of risk in many biomarkers than normal weight people (the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Interview Survey). However, underweight people have significantly worse nutritional status and health behaviors than normal weight people. Underweight people who are 65 years and older have an increased hazard of death from all causes and an increased odds of death from cardiovascular disease than normal weight people.}, keywords = {Cross-National, Health Conditions and Status, Methodology}, author = {Yeom, Jihye} } @article {7358, title = {Pain, functional limitations, and aging.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {57}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Sep}, pages = {1556-61}, publisher = {57}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between functional limitations and pain across a spectrum of age, ranging from mid life to advanced old age.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

SETTING: The 2004 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative study of community-living persons aged 50 and older.

PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen thousand five hundred thirty-one participants in the 2004 HRS.

MEASUREMENTS: Participants who reported that they were often troubled by pain that was moderate or severe most of the time were defined as having significant pain. For each of four functional domains, subjects were classified according to their degree of functional limitation: mobility (able to jog 1 mile, able to walk several blocks, able to walk one block, unable to walk one block), stair climbing (able to climb several flights, able to climb one flight, not able to climb a flight), upper extremity tasks (able to do 3, 2, 1, or 0), and activity of daily living (ADL) function (able to do without difficulty, had difficulty but able to do without help, need help).

RESULTS: Twenty-four percent of participants had significant pain. Across all four domains, participants with pain had much higher rates of functional limitations than subjects without pain. Participants with pain were similar in terms of their degree of functional limitation to participants 2 to 3 decades older. For example, for mobility, of subjects aged 50 to 59 without pain, 37\% were able to jog 1 mile, 91\% were able to walk several blocks, and 96\% were able to walk one block without difficulty. In contrast, of subjects aged 50 to 59 with pain, 9\% were able to jog 1 mile, 50\% were able to walk several blocks, and 69\% were able to walk one block without difficulty. Subjects aged 50 to 59 with pain were similar in terms of mobility limitations to subjects aged 80 to 89 without pain, of whom 4\% were able to jog 1 mile, 55\% were able to walk several blocks, and 72\% were able to walk one block without difficulty. After adjustment for demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, comorbid conditions, depression, obesity, and health habits, across all four measures, participants with significant pain were at much higher risk for having functional limitations (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.85, 95\% confidence interval (CI)=2.20-3.69, for mobility; AOR=2.84, 95\% CI=2.48-3.26, for stair climbing; AOR=3.96, 95\% CI=3.43-4.58, for upper extremity tasks; and AOR=4.33; 95\% CI=3.71-5.06, for ADL function).

CONCLUSION: Subjects with pain develop the functional limitations classically associated with aging at much earlier ages.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Comorbidity, Cross-Sectional Studies, Disability Evaluation, Female, Geriatric Assessment, Health Behavior, Health Surveys, Humans, Life Style, Male, Middle Aged, Mobility Limitation, pain, Pain Measurement, Quality of Life, Risk Factors}, issn = {1532-5415}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2009.02388.x}, author = {Kenneth E Covinsky and Lindquist, Karla and Dorothy D Dunlop and Yelin, Edward} } @article {5742, title = {Portfolio Choice in Retirement: Health Risk and the Demand for Annuities, Housing and Risky Assets}, number = {WP$\#$2009-3}, year = {2009}, institution = {Center for Retirement Research at Boston College}, address = {Boston}, abstract = {This paper develops a consumption and portfolio-choice model of a retiree who allocates wealth among four assets: a riskless bond, a risky asset, a real annuity, and housing. Unlike previous studies that treat health expenditures as exogenous negative income shocks, this paper builds on the Grossman model to endogenize health expenditures as investments in health. I calibrate the model to explain the joint evolution of health status and the composition of wealth for retirees, aged 65 to 96, in the Health and Retirement Study. I use the calibrated model to assess the welfare gains of an actuarially fair annuity market. The welfare gain is less than 1 of wealth for the median-health retiree at age 65, and the welfare gain is about 10 of wealth for the healthiest.}, keywords = {Health Conditions and Status, Methodology, Net Worth and Assets}, url = {https://crr.bc.edu/working-papers/portfolio-choice-in-retirement-health-risk-and-the-demand-for-annuities-housing-and-risky-assets/}, author = {Yogo, Motohiro} } @article {7320, title = {Telephone interview for cognitive status: Creating a crosswalk with the Mini-Mental State Examination.}, journal = {Alzheimers Dement}, volume = {5}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Nov}, pages = {492-7}, publisher = {5}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Brief cognitive screening measures are valuable tools for both research and clinical applications. The most widely used instrument, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), is limited in that it must be administered face-to-face, cannot be used in participants with visual or motor impairments, and is protected by copyright. Screening instruments such as the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) were developed to provide a valid alternative, with comparable cut-point scores to rate global cognitive function.

METHODS: The MMSE, TICS-30, and TICS-40 scores from 746 community-dwelling elders who participated in the Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS) were analyzed with equipercentile equating, a statistical process of determining comparable scores based on percentile equivalents for different forms of an examination.

RESULTS: Scores from the MMSE and TICS-30 and TICS-40 corresponded well, and clinically relevant cut-point scores were determined. For example, an MMSE score of 23 is equivalent to 17 and 20 on the TICS-30 and TICS-40, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that TICS and MMSE scores can be linked directly. Clinically relevant and important MMSE cut points and the respective ADAMS TICS-30 and TICS-40 cut-point scores are included, to identify the degree of cognitive impairment among respondents with any type of cognitive disorder. These results will help in the widespread application of TICS in both research and clinical practice.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer disease, Cognition Disorders, Disability Evaluation, Female, Geriatric Assessment, Health Status, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Mass Screening, Models, Statistical, Neuropsychological tests, Predictive Value of Tests, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Remote Consultation, Reproducibility of Results, Sensitivity and Specificity}, issn = {1552-5279}, doi = {10.1016/j.jalz.2009.02.007}, author = {Tamara G Fong and Michael A Fearing and Richard N Jones and Peilin Shi and Edward R Marcantonio and James L Rudolph and Frances Margaret Yang and Dan K Kiely and Sharon K Inouye} } @mastersthesis {6177, title = {Body Weight and Survival: The US experience}, year = {2008}, month = {2008}, school = {The University of Wisconsin - Madison}, address = {Madison, Wisconsin}, abstract = {The expanding waistlines of the American population have stirred immense research and public interest in how secular changes in body weight affect population health. Big controversies and gaps remain in our understanding about excess weight and health. It remains unclear whether obesity-related excess mortality declines over age, and whether people should control and maintain weight for optimal survival. Despite overall health improvement, we do not know if the tide has lifted all boats, and people in all weight groups, fat or lean, are living longer. This dissertation analyzes the weight-mortality relationship in the US from three different perspectives. First, I use recalled weight at age 25 to classify weight status, and document for the US female population changes in the last thirty years in a variety of indicators of mortality differentials by age-25 weight. Second, I re-examine the age patterns of mortality differentials by weight concurrent with the baseline, using an age- and cohort-specific framework. Third, I apply the marginal structural model (MSM) to study the dynamic temporal process of weight, health conditions and mortality. The first two analyses use the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys and national mortality data, and the last analysis, the 1992-2006 Health and Retirement Study. In contrast with previous findings based on concurrent weight, mortality does not differ between the age-25 underweight and normal-weight, and is equally elevated for the age-25 overweight and obese women. Between 1976 and 2004, mortality differentials widened, and mortality reversals were observed for the overweight/obese. Overall life expectancy continued to rise because lean mortality rates declined at an unabated pace, and the majority of the population was still characterized as age-25 lean. Based on concurrent weight, the weight-mortality relationship is constant over age, but varies depending on the age of weight measurement. Excess mortality is larger for more recent cohorts. The MSM analysis suggests the diverse health implications of weight change trajectories that may not be captured by one single measure. The implications of this research are discussed.}, keywords = {Expectations, Health Conditions and Status}, author = {Yu, Yan} } @article {7205, title = {Effect of arthritis in middle age on older-age functioning.}, journal = {J Am Geriatr Soc}, volume = {56}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Jan}, pages = {23-8}, publisher = {56}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether symptomatic arthritis in middle age predicts the earlier onset of functional difficulties (difficulty with activities of daily living (ADLs) and walking) that are associated with loss of independence in older persons.

DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal study.

SETTING: The Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative sample of persons aged 50 to 62 at baseline who were followed for 10 years.

PARTICIPANTS: Seven thousand five hundred forty-three subjects with no difficulty in mobility or ADL function at baseline.

MEASUREMENTS: Arthritis was measured at baseline according to self-report. The primary outcome was time to persistent difficulty in one of five ADLs or mobility (walking several blocks or up a flight of stairs). Difficulty with ADLs or mobility was assessed according to subject interview every 2 years. Analyses were adjusted for other comorbid conditions, body mass index, exercise, and demographic characteristics.

RESULTS: Twenty-nine percent of subjects reported arthritis at baseline. Subjects with arthritis were more likely to develop persistent difficulty in mobility or ADL function over 10 years of follow-up (34\% vs 18\%, adjusted hazard ratio (HR)=1.63, 95\% confidence interval (CI)=1.43-1.86). When each component of the primary outcome was assessed separately, arthritis was also associated with persistent difficulty in mobility (30\% vs 16\%, adjusted HR=1.55, 95\% CI=1.41-1.71) and persistent difficulty in ADL function (13\% vs 5\%, adjusted HR=1.85, 95\% CI=1.58-2.16).

CONCLUSION: Middle-aged persons who report a history of arthritis are more likely to develop mobility and ADL difficulties as they enter old age. This finding highlights the need to develop interventions and treatments that take a life-course approach to preventing the disabling effect of arthritis.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Arthritis, Chronic disease, Confidence Intervals, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Mobility Limitation, Prognosis, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Severity of Illness Index, Surveys and Questionnaires, Time Factors, Walking}, issn = {1532-5415}, doi = {10.1111/j.1532-5415.2007.01511.x}, author = {Kenneth E Covinsky and Lindquist, Karla and Dorothy D Dunlop and Thomas M Gill and Yelin, Edward} } @inbook {5218, title = {First and Higher Order Transition Models with Covariate Dependence}, booktitle = {Progress in Applied Mathematical Modeling}, year = {2008}, note = {ProCite field 6 : Chapter 4 in ProCite field 8 : ed}, pages = {153-96}, publisher = {Nova Science Publishers}, organization = {Nova Science Publishers}, address = {USA}, abstract = {The covariate dependent Markov models can be employed in various fields of research for analyzing time series or repeated measures data. This paper highlights the covariate dependent Markov models for the first and higher orders. The first order covariate dependent Markov model developed by Muenz and Rubinstein (1985) is reviewed and then second and higher order models for binary sequence are developed along with their estimation and test procedures based on Islam and Chowdhury (2006). The models for more than two outcomes are also shown. A general procedure based on the Chapman-Kolmogorov equations is proposed here in order to take account of the transitions at unequal intervals. A simple test procedure is suggested here to determine the order of the underlying Markov models. The proposed methods are illustrated with the Health and Retirement Survey data from the USA on the mobility difficulty of the elderly population. The results indicate the utility of the transitional models for first or higher orders of underlying transitions with binary or multiple outcomes.}, keywords = {Demographics, Methodology}, url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258212212_First_and_Higher_Order_Transition_Models_with_Covariate_Dependence_Chapter_4_ed_F_Yang_Nova_Science_Publishers_Hauppage_NY_pp_153-196_2008}, author = {M. Ataharul Islam and Rafiqul I Chowdhury}, editor = {F. Yang} } @article {7252, title = {Gender differences in functional status in middle and older age: are there any age variations?}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {63}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Sep}, pages = {S282-92}, publisher = {63B}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: The present study examines gender differences in changes in functional status after age 50 and how such differences vary across different age groups.

METHODS: Data came from the Health and Retirement Study, involving up to six repeated observations of a national sample of Americans older than 50 years of age between 1995 and 2006. We employed hierarchical linear models with time-varying covariates in depicting temporal variations in functional status between men and women.

RESULTS: As a quadratic function, the worsening of functional status was more accelerated in terms of the intercept and rate of change among women and those in older age groups. In addition, gender differences in the level of functional impairment were more substantial in older persons than in younger individuals, although differences in the rate of change between men and women remained constant across age groups.

DISCUSSION: A life course perspective can lead to new insights regarding gender variations in health within the context of intrapersonal and interpersonal differences. Smaller gender differences in the level of functional impairment in the younger groups may reflect improvement of women{\textquoteright}s socioeconomic status, greater rate of increase in chronic diseases among men, and less debilitating effects of diseases.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Disabled Persons, Female, Health Status, Humans, Linear Models, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Sex Factors, United States}, issn = {1079-5014}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/63.5.s282}, author = {Jersey Liang and Joan M. Bennett and Benjamin A Shaw and Ana R Qui{\~n}ones and Wen Ye and Xiao Xu and Mary Beth Ofstedal} } @article {7217, title = {Impact of functional limitations and medical comorbidity on subsequent weight changes and increased depressive symptoms in older adults.}, journal = {J Aging Health}, volume = {20}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Jun}, pages = {367-84}, publisher = {20}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: The primary goal of this study was to determine the effect of the onset of major medical comorbidity and functional decline on subsequent weight change and increased depressive symptoms.

METHODS: The sample included a prospective cohort of 53 to 63 year olds (n = 10,150) enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study. Separate lagged covariate models for men and women were used to study the impact of functional decline and medical comorbidity on subsequent increases in depressive symptoms and weight change 2 years later.

RESULTS: Functional decline and medical comorbidity were individual predictors of subsequent weight changes but not increased depressive symptoms. Most specific incident medical comorbidities or subtypes of functional decline predicted weight changes in both directions.

DISCUSSION: The elevated risk of weight gain subsequent to functional decline or onset of medical comorbidities may require the receipt of preventive measures to reduce further weight-related complications.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Age Factors, Arthritis, Comorbidity, depression, Depressive Disorder, Diabetes Complications, Diabetes Mellitus, Disabled Persons, Female, Health Surveys, Heart Diseases, Humans, Hypertension, Lung Diseases, Male, Mental Disorders, Middle Aged, Neoplasms, Obesity, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Stroke, United States, Weight Gain}, issn = {0898-2643}, doi = {10.1177/0898264308315851}, author = {Valerie L Forman-Hoffman and Kelly K Richardson and Jon W. Yankey and Stephen L Hillis and Robert B Wallace and Frederic D Wolinsky} } @article {7263, title = {Measurement differences in depression: chronic health-related and sociodemographic effects in older Americans.}, journal = {Psychosom Med}, volume = {70}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Nov}, pages = {993-1004}, publisher = {70}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of five chronic health conditions (high blood pressure, heart conditions, stroke, diabetes, and lung diseases) and four sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, education, and race/ethnicity) on the endorsement patterns of depressive symptoms in a sample of community-dwelling older adults.

METHOD: Participants were adults aged >or=65 years from the 2004 Health and Retirement Study (n = 9448). Depressive symptoms were measured with a nine-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale. Measurement differences attributable to health and sociodemographic factors were assessed with a multidimensional model based on item response theory.

RESULTS: Evidence for unidimensionality was equivocal. We used a bifactor model to express symptom endorsement patterns as resulting from a general factor and three specific factors ("dysphoria," "psychosomatic," and "lack of positive affect"). Even after controlling for the effects of health on the psychosomatic factor, heart conditions, stroke, diabetes, and lung diseases had significant positive effects on the general factor. Significant effects due to gender and educational levels were observed on the "lack of positive affect" factor. Older adults self-identifying as Latinos had higher levels of general depression. On the symptom level, meaningful measurement noninvariance due to race/ethnic differences were found in the following five items: depressed, effort, energy, happy, and enjoy life.

CONCLUSIONS: The increased tendency to endorse depressive symptoms among persons with specific health conditions is, in part, explained by specific associations among symptoms belonging to the psychosomatic domain. Differences attributable to the effects of health conditions may reflect distinct phenomenological features of depression. The bifactor model serves as a vehicle for testing such hypotheses.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Chronic disease, Cohort Studies, Comorbidity, Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic, Culture, depression, Diabetes Mellitus, Educational Status, ethnicity, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Heart Diseases, Humans, Hypertension, Interviews as Topic, Lung Diseases, Male, Self-Assessment, Sex Factors, Stroke, United States}, issn = {1534-7796}, doi = {10.1097/PSY.0b013e31818ce4fa}, author = {Frances Margaret Yang and Richard N Jones} } @article {7241, title = {Place of death among older Americans: does state spending on home- and community-based services promote home death?}, journal = {Med Care}, volume = {46}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Aug}, pages = {829-38}, publisher = {46}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: The majority of Americans die in institutions although most prefer to die at home. States vary greatly in their proportion of home deaths. Although individuals{\textquoteright} circumstances largely determine where they die, health policies may affect the range of options available to them.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether states{\textquoteright} spending on home- and community-based services (HCBS) affects place of death, taking into consideration county health care resources and individuals{\textquoteright} family, sociodemographic, and health factors.

METHODS: Using exit interview data from respondents in the Health and Retirement Study born in 1923 or earlier who died between 1993 and 2002 (N = 3362), we conducted discrete-time survival analysis of the risk of end-of-life nursing home relocation to examine whether states{\textquoteright} HCBS spending would delay or prevent end-of-life nursing home admission. Then we ran logistic regression analysis to investigate the HCBS effects on place of death separately for those who relocated to a nursing home and those who remained in the community.

RESULTS: Living in a state with higher HCBS spending was associated with lower risk of end-of-life nursing home relocation, especially among people who had Medicaid. However, state HCBS support was not directly associated with place of death.

CONCLUSIONS: States{\textquoteright} generosity for HCBS increases the chance of dying at home via lowering the risk of end-of-life nursing home relocation. State-to-state variation in HCBS spending may partly explain variation in home deaths. Our findings add to the emerging encouraging evidence for continued efforts to enhance support for HCBS.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Community Health Services, Death, Humans, Logistic Models, Nursing homes, Residence Characteristics, Terminal Care}, issn = {1537-1948}, doi = {10.1097/MLR.0b013e3181791a79}, author = {Muramatsu, Naoko and Ruby L Hoyem and yin, Hongjun and Richard T. Campbell} } @article {7286, title = {Race/ethnic differences in cognitive decline: Results from the health and retirement study}, journal = {Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s and dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer{\textquoteright}s Association}, volume = {4}, year = {2008}, pages = {T194-T195}, publisher = {4}, abstract = {Background: As the minority population and dementia prevalence are rapidly growing, understanding cognitive decline in racially diverse elders is an increasingly important public health issue. Our goal was to evaluate whether cognitive decline occur at an accelerated rate for persons of non-White race/ethnicity (African American, Latino) compared to White older adults. Methods: Participants were from the US-representative Health and Retirement Study (HRS) 1998-2004. Cognitive assessment consisted of immediate and delayed free recall as well as serial 7s test, orientation, and naming for a total score of 35 points. Our primary outcomes were biennial cognitive change from 1998 to 2004 and cognitive decline defined as 5 point decline from 1998 to 2004. We calculated change in cognition, odds of cognitive decline, and evaluated mediators by race/ethnic group using mixed effects regression and logistic regression models. Results: The 5,552 HRS participants (mean age 72 6 years, 60 Female, 10 African Amercan, 6 Latino) had an average cognitive decline of 2.1 4.3 points over the 6 year study period. Overall, 33 of African Americans declined, 28 of Latinos declined and 26 of Whites declined. After controlling for age, gender, educational level in years, socioeconomic factors (total net worth and current income), self-reported medical comorbidity (self reported medical history of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and stroke), and baseline cognition, African Americans were more likely to decline compared to Whites (OR 2.2; 95 CI 1.7-2.7). Latino older adults were similar to Whites in odds of cognitive decline (OR Latino 1.3; 95 CI 0.9-1.7). Conclusions: African American adults aged 65 and above were more likely to experience cognitive decline compared to White older adults after accounting for demographics, socioeconomics, comorbidity, and their baseline cognitive function. There was no difference between Latino older adults and Whites in rates of cognitive decline. Future research to identify ways to reduce cognitive decline, particularly for racially-diverse groups, are needed.}, keywords = {Health Conditions and Status}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2008.05.540}, author = {Kala M. Mehta and Lisa L. Barnes and Roland J. Thorpe Jr. and Eliseo J Perez-Stable and Kenneth E Covinsky and Kristine Yaffe} } @article {7239, title = {Retirement and weight changes among men and women in the health and retirement study.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {63}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 May}, pages = {S146-53}, publisher = {63B}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: Older adults may experience weight changes upon retirement for a number of reasons, such as being less physically active; having less structured meal times; and consuming food in response to losing personal identity, the potential for social interactions, or the sense of accomplishment derived from working. The purpose of this study was to determine whether retirement was associated with either weight gain or weight loss.

METHODS: We used the 1994-2002 Health and Retirement Study to determine whether retirement between biennial interviews was associated with weight change, separately for men (n = 1,966) and women (n = 1,759). We defined weight change as a 5\% increase or decrease in body mass index between interviews.

RESULT: . We did not find a significant association between retirement and weight change among men. Women who retired were more likely to gain weight than women who continued to work at least 20 hr per week (odds ratio [OR] = 1.24, 95\% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04-1.48). We found a significant relationship between retirement and weight gain only for women who were normal weight upon retiring (OR = 1.30, 95\% CI = 1.01-1.69) and who retired from blue-collar jobs (OR = 1.58, 95\% CI = 1.13-2.21).

DISCUSSION: Public health interventions may be indicated for women, particularly those working in blue-collar occupations, in order to prevent weight gain upon retirement.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aging, Body Mass Index, Body Weight, Demography, depression, Female, Health Behavior, Health Status, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Retirement}, issn = {1079-5014}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/63.3.s146}, author = {Valerie L Forman-Hoffman and Kelly K Richardson and Jon W. Yankey and Stephen L Hillis and Robert B Wallace and Frederic D Wolinsky} } @article {7289, title = {Unhealthy lifestyles among older adults: exploring transitions in Mexico and the US.}, journal = {Eur J Ageing}, volume = {5}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Dec}, pages = {311-326}, publisher = {5}, abstract = {

Lifestyle risk factors are important precursors of old age disease and disability, and the population level impact of these factors likely differs across countries that vary in their economic growth and the attributes of the populations that adopt and abandon unhealthy lifestyles. This paper describes the stage of "lifestyle transition" among older adults in two countries with vastly different trajectories of socio-economic development. A series of hypotheses are proposed on the socioeconomic patterns of health risk factors that would be expected in the two countries, given their economic circumstances and the historical timing of policy interventions that were initiated to mitigate lifestyle risks in these populations. The paper compares the prevalence of smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, obesity, and lack of physical exercise, as well as the socioeconomic and demographic covariates of these risk factors, among adults aged 55 and older in Mexico and the United States. The findings indicate that smoking- and physical-activity-related transitions toward healthier lifestyles are well under way among older adults in the United States but not in Mexico, whereas a trend toward reduced levels of obesity has just begun in the United States but not in Mexico. There is no evidence of a transition in heavy alcohol drinking in either country among older adults.

}, issn = {1613-9372}, doi = {10.1007/s10433-008-0098-0}, author = {Rebeca Wong and Mary Beth Ofstedal and Yount, Kathryn and Emily M. Agree} } @article {7212, title = {Within-group differences in depression among older Hispanics living in the United States.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {63}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Jan}, pages = {P27-32}, publisher = {63B}, abstract = {

Using the Health and Retirement Study, we examine the prevalence of depression in different groups of Hispanic older adults. Respondents (n = 759) were aged 59 and older and identified themselves as Mexican American (56\%), Cuban American (13\%), Puerto Rican (8\%), other (8\%), or not specified (15\%). We used a modified version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale and the Composite International Diagnostic Interview to assess depressive symptoms and the presence of major depression. Relative to Puerto Ricans, each Hispanic group had significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms, except for Cuban Americans; and each Hispanic group had lower prevalence rates for major depression, except for other Hispanics, even after we adjusted for sociodemographic, cultural factors, socioeconomic, functional limitations, and chronic health conditions.

}, keywords = {Aged, Culture, Depressive Disorder, Major, Female, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Insurance, Health, Male, Middle Aged, Prevalence, Severity of Illness Index, Socioeconomic factors, United States}, issn = {1079-5014}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/63.1.p27}, author = {Frances Margaret Yang and Cazorla-Lancaster, Yamileth and Richard N Jones} } @mastersthesis {6170, title = {Medicare Supplemental Insurance Purchasing Decisions and Ownership}, volume = {Doctor of Philosophy}, year = {2007}, month = {2007}, school = {Case Western Reserve University}, address = {Cleveland, OH}, abstract = {The majority of Medicare beneficiaries rely on supplemental insurance to help fill the gaps in Medicare{\textquoteright}s benefit package and to protect themselves from large, unanticipated health care expenses. Medigap is the only supplemental insurance available to all beneficiaries in the private health insurance market. Although numerous studies have been conducted on Medigap ownership, few attempts have been made to explore the decision-making process for purchasing Medigap. This dissertation examined decision factors in the dynamics of private supplemental insurance purchases by Medicare beneficiaries. Simon{\textquoteright}s Bounded Rationality Theory was utilized to develop a conceptual framework for this study. This study is a secondary analysis, using longitudinal data from the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest-Old Survey (AHEAD). The sample consisted of 2,756 non-Hispanic Medicare beneficiaries who had Medicare coverage and were 70 and over at the 1993 baseline interview. This sample was followed at Wave II and Wave III in the 1995 and 1998 surveys. Multilevel modeling was used to examine the time-dependent relationship of the Medigap purchasing decision. The analysis revealed that for the oldest old, Medigap purchases were related to socio-demographic and economic factors, while limited by cognitive functioning and influenced by environmental factors. Beneficiaries with Medigap coverage are better educated, more likely to be white and financially advantaged, and more likely to have better cognitive functioning. However, the beneficiaries{\textquoteright} need for services---self-reported health status and chronic disease conditions---was not found to have impact on Medigap purchases. The findings of this study have implications for Medicare policies that are designed to enhance health care coverage while containing health care costs through market competition. These findings are also important for public agencies and other entities helping the disadvantaged elderly make informed enrollment decisions, and for furthering empirical knowledge and research methodology on the behavioral modeling with respect to health insurance purchases.}, keywords = {Medicare/Medicaid/Health Insurance}, author = {Yan Yang} } @article {7138, title = {Risk of nursing home admission among older americans: does states{\textquoteright} spending on home- and community-based services matter?}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {62}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 May}, pages = {S169-78}, publisher = {62B}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: States vary greatly in their support for home- and community-based services (HCBS) that are intended to help disabled seniors live in the community. This article examines how states{\textquoteright} generosity in providing HCBS affects the risk of nursing home admission among older Americans and how family availability moderates such effects.

METHODS: We conducted discrete time survival analysis of first long-term (90 or more days) nursing home admissions that occurred between 1995 and 2002, using Health and Retirement Study panel data from respondents born in 1923 or earlier.

RESULT: State HCBS effects were conditional on child availability among older Americans. Living in a state with higher HCBS expenditures was associated with lower risk of nursing home admission among childless seniors (p <.001). However, the association was not statistically significant among seniors with living children. Doubling state HCBS expenditures per person aged 65 or older would reduce the risk of nursing home admission among childless seniors by 35\%.

DISCUSSION: Results provided modest but important evidence supportive of increasing state investment in HCBS. Within-state allocation of HCBS resources, however, requires further research and careful consideration about fairness for individual seniors and their families as well as cost effectiveness.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Caregivers, Cohort Studies, Cost Savings, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Female, Financing, Government, Health Expenditures, Home Care Services, Homes for the Aged, Humans, Insurance Coverage, Long-term Care, Male, Medicaid, Medicare, Nursing homes, Patient Admission, Patient Readmission, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, State Health Plans, United States}, issn = {1079-5014}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/62.3.s169}, author = {Muramatsu, Naoko and yin, Hongjun and Richard T. Campbell and Ruby L Hoyem and Martha A. Jacob and Christopher Ross} } @article {7131, title = {Weight and depressive symptoms in older adults: direction of influence?}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {62}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Jan}, pages = {S43-51}, publisher = {62}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: . The purpose of this study was to clarify the direction of the relationship between changes in depressive symptoms and changes in weight in older adults. Methods. The sample included a prospective cohort of individuals aged 53-63 (n = 9,130) enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study. We used separate cross-lagged models for men and women in order to study the impact of weight change on subsequent increases in depressive symptoms 2 years later and vice versa.

RESULT: . Weight gain did not lead to increased depressive symptoms, and weight loss preceded increased depressive symptoms only in unadjusted models among men (odds ratio [OR] = 1.26, 95\% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04-1.53). Increased depressive symptoms were not predictive of subsequent weight loss, but they were predictive of subsequent weight gain in unadjusted models only (men: OR = 1.24, 95\% CI = 1.00-1.54; women: OR = 1.12, 95\% CI = 1.00-1.26). In adjusted models, baseline depressive symptoms predicted both weight loss and weight gain among both men and women. Increase in functional limitations and medical conditions were significant predictors of both weight loss and weight gain. Baseline functional limitations also predicted increased depressive symptoms. Discussion. Based on our findings, it is apparent that researchers need to examine the pathways between changes in weight and increases in depressive symptoms in the context of functional limitations and medical comorbidity.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Body Mass Index, Cohort Studies, Comorbidity, Depressive Disorder, Female, Health Status Indicators, Health Surveys, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Statistical, Odds Ratio, Prospective Studies, Sex Factors, Statistics as Topic, United States, Weight Gain, Weight Loss}, issn = {1079-5014}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/62.1.s43}, author = {Valerie L Forman-Hoffman and Jon W. Yankey and Stephen L Hillis and Robert B Wallace} } @article {7028, title = {Associations Between Obesity and Receipt of Screening Mammography, Papanicolaou Tests, and Influenza Vaccination: Results from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) Study}, journal = {American Journal of Public Health}, volume = {95}, year = {2005}, pages = {1623-30}, publisher = {95}, abstract = {Obese Americans, who receive more care for chronic diseases, may receive fewer preventive services. We evaluated the association between body mass index (BMI) and receipt of screening mammography and Papanicolaou tests among middle-aged women and the association between BMI and receipt of influenza vaccination among the elderly. We analyzed 2 datasets: the Health and Retirement Study (4439 women aged 50-61 years) and the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) Study (4045 women and 2154 men aged 70 years or more). When BMI was greater than 18.5 kg/m(2), we found an inverse dose-response relationship between BMI and receipt of screening mammography and Pap tests among White, but not Black, middle-aged women. We found a similar association between BMI and influenza vaccination among the elderly. Higher BMI was associated with less frequent receipt of preventive services among middle-aged White women and elderly White women and men. The Healthy People 2010 clinical preventive service goals remain elusive, especially for overweight and obese White persons.}, keywords = {Health Conditions and Status}, author = {Truls Ostbye and Donald H. Taylor Jr. and Yancy, William S. and Katrina M. Krause} } @article {5603, title = {Family Care, Nursing Home Transitions, and States{\textquoteright} Long-Term Care Policies}, year = {2004}, note = {RDA}, institution = {University of Illinois-Chicago}, keywords = {Healthcare}, author = {Muramatsu, Naoko and Richard T. Campbell and Ruby L Hoyem and Martha A. Jacob and Chris Ross and yin, Hongjun} } @article {6848, title = {Additive effects of cognitive function and depressive symptoms on mortality in elderly community-living adults.}, journal = {J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci}, volume = {58}, year = {2003}, month = {2003 May}, pages = {M461-7}, publisher = {58A}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Poor cognitive function and depressive symptoms are common in the elderly, frequently coexist, and are interrelated. Both risk factors are independently associated with mortality. Few studies have comprehensively described how the combination of poor cognitive function and depressive symptoms affect the risk for mortality. Our aim was to examine whether the combination of varying levels of cognitive function and depressive symptoms affect the risk of mortality in community-living elderly adults.

METHODS: We studied 6301 elderly adults (mean age, 77 years; 62\% women; 81\% white) enrolled in the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) study, a prospective study of community-living participants conducted from 1993 to 1995. Cognitive function and depressive symptoms were measured using two validated measures developed for the AHEAD study. On each measure, participants were divided into tertiles representing the best, middle, and worst scores, and then placed into one of nine mutually exclusive groups ranging from best functioning on both measures to worst functioning on both measures. Mortality rates were assessed in each of the nine groups. Cox proportional hazards models were used to control for potentially confounding characteristics such as demographics, education, income, smoking, alcohol consumption, comorbidity, and baseline functional impairment.

RESULTS: During 2 years of follow-up, 9\% (548) of the participants died. Together, cognitive function and depressive symptoms differentiated between elderly adults at markedly different risk for mortality, ranging from 3\% in those with the best function on both measures to 16\% in those with the worst function on both measures (p <.001). Furthermore, for each level of cognitive function, more depressive symptoms were associated with higher mortality rates, and for each level of depressive symptoms, worse cognitive function was associated with higher mortality rates. In participants with the best cognitive function, mortality rates were 3\%, 5\%, and 9\% in participants with low, middle, and high depressive symptoms, respectively (p <.001 for trend). The corresponding rates were 6\%, 7\%, and 12\% in participants with the middle level of cognitive function (p <.001 for trend), and 10\%, 13\%, and 16\% in participants with the worst level of cognitive function (p <.001 for trend). After adjustment for confounders, participants with the worst function on both measures remained at considerably higher risk for death than participants with the best function on both measures (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.1; 95\% confidence interval, 2.0-4.7).

CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive function and depressive symptoms can be used together to stratify elderly adults into groups that have significantly different rates of death. These two risk factors are associated with an increased risk in mortality in a progressive, additive manner.

}, keywords = {Aged, Cognition, depression, Female, Humans, Male, Mortality, Proportional Hazards Models, Risk Factors}, issn = {1079-5006}, doi = {10.1093/gerona/58.5.m461}, author = {Kala M. Mehta and Kristine Yaffe and Kenneth M. Langa and Laura Sands and Whooley, Mary and Kenneth E Covinsky} } @article {6851, title = {The Costs of Arthritis}, journal = {Arthritis and Rheumatism}, volume = {49}, year = {2003}, pages = {101-113}, publisher = {49}, abstract = {Arthritis and rheumatic conditions (i.e., arthritis) are responsible for major health care expenditures and disability burdens. The impact of arthritis is not restrained by national boundaries. It is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions and is a leading cause of disability in Australia (1), Canada (2,3), Europe (4), the United Kingdom (5), and the United States (6,7), affecting an estimated 3 million Australians, 6 million Canadians, 8 million in the UK, almost 43 million people in the US, and 103 million across Europe. With the aging of the baby boomers, these numbers and the associated disabilities will quickly escalate. By 2020 in the US alone, arthritis is projected to affect 60 million people, and the activities of 12 million people may be limited by arthritis (6). The growing magnitude of people affected by arthritis motivates the need to review what is known about its national costs to identify areas where current information is lacking. In addition, it is important to determine targets for public health efforts that will reduce the costs of and burden from arthritis. This knowledge will facilitate planning research agendas that support informed public policy decisions.}, keywords = {Health Conditions and Status, Healthcare}, doi = {10.1002/art.10913}, author = {Dorothy D Dunlop and Larry M Manheim and Yelin, Edward and Song, Jing and Rowland W Chang} } @mastersthesis {6179, title = {Empirical Investigation of Dissaving Near the End of Life}, year = {2003}, month = {2003}, school = {Columbia University}, abstract = {Chapter 1 estimates how much saving is solely precautionary by looking at how people behave when they are fairly certain they are going to die soon. Because uncertainties about life-events are almost negligible for these people, bequest is virtually the only motive they have for saving. I also investigate the effects of Medicaid. Data are taken from the Asset and Health Dynamics Survey (AHEAD). Chapter 2 tries to examine the effect of many economic, demographic, and health reasons on various housing decisions. The multinomial logit analysis using the Asset and Health Dynamics Survey (AHEAD) shows that the elderly do react to traditional economic incentives unlike in the previous studies. I also find that the Medicaid rule that house is exempt from asset limits has a significant effect on housing decisions. In Chapter 3, I describe the inheritance pattern of those who died with wills. The descriptive analysis shows that first, decedents left a bigger portion of their estates to their spouses than stipulated in the intestate succession statutes. Second, although equal estate distribution among children is a general rule, the wealthiest group has the strongest distributive preferences for it. The 1998 and 2000 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Exit data sets and the 1995 Asset and Health Dynamics among the Oldest Old Study (AHEAD) are used.}, keywords = {Adult children, Consumption and Savings}, url = {Database ID: DAI-A 64/04, p. 1346, Oct 2003}, author = {Yun, Heesuk} } @article {6864, title = {Personal Bias in Automobile Claims Settlement}, journal = {Journal of Risk and Insurance}, volume = {70}, year = {2003}, pages = {185}, publisher = {70}, abstract = {Despite the importance of claims handling practices to consumers and insurers, relatively little research has been done in this area. Our purpose here is to consider one aspect of automobile bodily injury liability claims management: the assignment of fault across parties as judged by the insured defendant{\textquoteright}s claims adjuster. Because legal fault assessment directly affects whether a defendant is held liable, and if so, for how much, this aspect of claims management is significant. We use accident data from the 1997 Insurance Research Council Closed Claim Survey to test for relationships between fault assessment and gender, age, and state comparative negligence rules. Controlling for actual fault, we find a greater assessment of fault against female, young, and elderly drivers. The results of the study are of interest to insurers seeking to provide better customer service, to consumer advocacy groups interested in claims settlement practices, and to insurance regulators.}, keywords = {Employment and Labor Force, Health Conditions and Status}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/1539-6975.00055}, author = {Doerpinghaus, Helen and Schmit, Joan and Jia-Hsing Yeh, Jason} } @article {6833, title = {Cognitive Impairment, Depressive Symptoms, and Functional Decline in Older People}, journal = {Journal of the American Geriatrics Society}, volume = {50}, year = {2002}, pages = {1045-1050}, publisher = {50}, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Although cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms are associated with functional decline, it is not understood how these risk factors act together to affect the risk of functional decline. The purpose of this study is to determine the relative contributions of cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms on decline in activity of daily living (ADL) function over 2 years in an older cohort. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: A U.S. national prospective cohort study of older people, Asset and Health Dynamics in the Oldest Old. PARTICIPANTS: Five thousand six hundred ninety-seven participants (mean age 77, 64 women, 86 white) followed from 1993 to 1995. MEASUREMENTS: Cognitive impairment and dpressive symptoms were defined as the poorest scores: 1.5 standard deviations below the mean on a cognitive scale or 1.5 standard deviations above the mean on validated depression scales. Risk of functional decline in participants with depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, and both, compared with neither risk factor, were calculated and stratified by baseline dependence. Analyses were adjusted for demographics and comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: In participants with no ADL dependence at baseline, cognitive impairment and depressive symptoms are risk factors for decline, but that, in participants with dependence in ADL at baseline, cognitive impairment, but not depressive symptoms, is a risk factor for additional decline.}, keywords = {Health Conditions and Status}, author = {Kala M. Mehta and Kristine Yaffe and Kenneth E Covinsky} } @article {6715, title = {The prevalence and impact of accommodations on the employment of persons 51-61 years of age with musculoskeletal conditions.}, journal = {Arthritis Care Res}, volume = {13}, year = {2000}, month = {2000 Jun}, pages = {168-76}, publisher = {13}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To provide estimates of the frequency with which persons 51 to 61 years of age with musculoskeletal conditions receive workplace accommodations from their employers and to determine if the receipt of such accommodations is associated with higher rates of employment two years later.

METHODS: The estimates derive from the Health and Retirement Survey, a national probability sample of 8,781 respondents who were interviewed both in 1992 and 1994 and who were between the ages of 51 and 61 years, of whom 5,495 reported one or more musculoskeletal conditions. We tabulated the frequency of accommodations provided in 1992 and then estimated the impact of accommodations and demographic and medical characteristics on 1994 employment status, using logistic regression.

RESULTS: In 1992, about 14.40 million persons aged 51-61 years reported a musculoskeletal condition. Of these, 1.32 million (9.2\%) reported a disability and were employed, the target population for accommodations. Overall, fewer than 1 in 5 persons with musculoskeletal conditions who had a disability and were employed indicated that they had received any form of accommodation on their current jobs. Although no form of accommodation was reported with great frequency, the most commonly used ones included getting someone to help do one{\textquoteright}s job (12.1\%), scheduling more breaks during the work day (9.5\%), changing the time that the work day started and stopped (6.3\%), having a shorter work day (5.6\%), getting special equipment (5.3\%), and changing the work tasks (5.3\%). Persons with one or more accommodations in 1992, however, were no more likely to be working in 1994 than those with none. Only one specific accommodation--getting someone to help do one{\textquoteright}s job--was associated with a higher rate of employment in 1994.

CONCLUSIONS: Receipt of employment accommodations occurred infrequently, and was not generally associated with an improvement in the employment rate of persons with musculoskeletal conditions and disabilities.

}, keywords = {Disabled Persons, Employment, Supported, Female, Health Status, Health Surveys, Humans, Logistic Models, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Morbidity, Musculoskeletal Diseases, Personnel Turnover, Program Evaluation, Surveys and Questionnaires, United States, Workload, Workplace}, issn = {0893-7524}, doi = {10.1002/1529-0131(200006)13:3<168::aid-anr6>3.0.co;2-r}, author = {Yelin, Edward and Sonneborn, Dean and Laura S. Trupin} } @article {6712, title = {The Significance of Socioeconomic Status in Explaining the Racial Gap in Chronic Health Conditions}, journal = {American Sociological Review}, volume = {65}, year = {2000}, pages = {910-930}, publisher = {65}, abstract = {Using Wave 1 (1992) and Wave 2 (1994) of the Health and Retirement Study the researchers try to detect the differences in life without health problems between different races so as to understand disparities in mortality rate and quality of life. Do Blacks have a higher risk of acquiring chronic health impairments of all types? How do differences in social conditions produce differences in the prevalence of fatal chronic diseases among races? The researchers notice that Blacks have a lower chance of surviving to middle age then do Whites. Blacks have a far greater level of morbidity in middle age, as well as, chances in having multiple fatal disease conditions. The author s give possible reasons for their findings, with much of it based on social status and life events.}, keywords = {Health Conditions and Status, Net Worth and Assets}, doi = {10.2307/2657519}, author = {Mark D Hayward and Eileen M. Crimmins and Toni Miles and Yang, Yu} } @book {8562, title = {Prospects for Social Security Reform}, series = {Pension Research Council Publications}, year = {1999}, publisher = {University of Pennsylvania Press}, organization = {University of Pennsylvania Press}, address = {Philadelphia}, keywords = {Older Adults, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction, Social Security}, isbn = {9780812234794}, url = {https://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/4266.html$\#$:~:text=Prospects\%20for\%20Social\%20Security\%20Reform\%20informs\%20the\%20debate\%20by\%20exploring,reform\%20might\%20affect\%20the\%20economy.}, author = {Olivia S. Mitchell and Myers, Robert and Young, Howard} } @article {6659, title = {The Transfer of Resources from Middle-Aged Children to Functionally Limited Elderly Parents: Providing Time, Giving Money, Sharing Space}, journal = {The Gerontologist}, volume = {39}, year = {1999}, pages = {648-657}, publisher = {39}, abstract = {This article investigates the interdependence among all three major modes of trasfer (giving time, money, and sharing space), given the parents{\textquoteright} specific needs for resources and the children{\textquoteright}s ability to provide them. While only reported in 17 of the households, the provision of caregiving time is the primary mode of resource transfer from children to their parents. When the other modes of transfers are added, money and space, the percentage of households transfering resources to their parents rose to 29 . It is significant to consider all modes of transfer in order to understand how families accomodate the needs of elderly/disabeled parents. These transfer modes appear to be dependent upon the needs and situations of the parents as well as the types of resources available to the household that is giving.}, keywords = {Adult children, Employment and Labor Force, Health Conditions and Status, Net Worth and Assets}, doi = {10.1093/geront/39.6.648}, author = {Boaz, Rachel F. and Hu, Jason and Ye, Yongjia} } @article {6666, title = {Transitions in employment, morbidity, and disability among persons ages 51-61 with musculoskeletal and non-musculoskeletal conditions in the US, 1992-1994.}, journal = {Arthritis Rheum}, volume = {42}, year = {1999}, month = {1999 Apr}, pages = {769-79}, publisher = {42}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To provide estimates of the prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions in a sample of persons ages 51-61 living in the community in the US in 1992, to indicate the incidence of such conditions between 1992 and 1994, and to describe the proportion of individuals with these conditions who developed or recovered from disability and who left and entered employment during this time.

METHODS: The estimates were derived from the Health and Retirement Survey, consisting of data on a national probability sample of 8,739 persons, ages 51-61, who were interviewed in the community in 1992 and reinterviewed in 1994.

RESULTS: In 1992, 62.4\% of persons (14.4 million) between the ages of 51 and 61 years reported at least 1 musculoskeletal condition; the rate increased to 70.5\% by 1994. More than 40\% of persons with musculoskeletal conditions reported disability, which was almost 90\% of all persons with disability in this age group. Persons with musculoskeletal conditions had lower employment rates, were less likely to enter employment, and were more likely to leave employment compared with persons without these conditions. High rates of disability account for much of these differences.

CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal conditions affected more than two-thirds of persons ages 51-61 and accounted for all but 10\% of those with disabilities. The prevention of disability among such persons should improve their employment prospects.

}, keywords = {Chronic disease, Disability Evaluation, Disabled Persons, Employment, Female, Humans, Incidence, Male, Middle Aged, Morbidity, Musculoskeletal Diseases, Prevalence, Retirement, United States}, issn = {0004-3591}, doi = {10.1002/1529-0131(199904)42:4<769::AID-ANR22>3.0.CO;2-M}, author = {Yelin, Edward and Laura S. Trupin and Sebesta, D.S.} } @mastersthesis {6175, title = {The Effect of Health Status on the Labor Supply of Older Married Couples}, year = {1998}, month = {1998}, school = {North Carolina State University}, abstract = {The purpose of this research is to examine whether spouses increase or decrease their hours of work when their partners have poor health. The theoretical effect of caregiving on hours of paid work would suggest that caregivers would have lower hours of work due to the potential decrease in the time available for work. But compared to most other types of caregivers, spousal caregivers may also increase hours of work or enter the labor market due to the need to maintain the family{\textquoteright}s finances. This study contributes to the body of research on this topic by using measures of health status that are defined separately from the labor supply decision and by estimating a model which allows for the joint labor supply decision making process of married couples. The data come from the first wave of the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative study of U.S. Households in which at least one member of the household is 51 to 61 years old in 1992. The estimated results show that every additional doctor visit by her husband increases the wife{\textquoteright}s hours of work by 6.5 Hours per year. The husband{\textquoteright}s annual hours of work increase by 3.4 Hours for each day his wife stays in bed due to poor health. In a model that allows for a nonlinear relationship between spouse{\textquoteright}s time for health production and his or her partner{\textquoteright}s labor supply, the husband{\textquoteright}s hours of work increase when his wife has up to 27 doctor visits per year, and then decrease when she has more than 27 doctor visits.}, keywords = {Employment and Labor Force, Healthcare, Medicare/Medicaid/Health Insurance}, url = {Database ID: DAI-A 59/08, p. 3139, Feb 1999.}, author = {York, Elizabeth Anne} } @article {6581, title = {The earnings, income, and assets of persons aged 51-61 with and without musculoskeletal conditions.}, journal = {J Rheumatol}, volume = {24}, year = {1997}, month = {1997 Oct}, pages = {2024-30}, publisher = {24}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To describe the personal and family earnings, income, and assets of persons with musculoskeletal conditions.

METHODS: This study uses the Health and Retirement Survey, a national, community based probability sample of persons 51-61 years of age and their spouses in 1992 to estimate earnings, income, and assets (by kind) in the years immediately prior to the normal age of retirement.

RESULTS: Fifty-nine percent of persons 51-61 years of age (13.76 million) report one or more musculoskeletal condition; of these 38\% (8.74 million) also report at least one comorbid condition and 21\% (5.02 million) report no such comorbidity. Persons with musculoskeletal conditions and comorbidity report 18\% lower family earnings, 15\% lower family income, and 35\% fewer assets than the average among all persons these ages. Persons with musculoskeletal conditions and no comorbidity have earnings, incomes, and assets closer to the average among their peers.

CONCLUSION: Persons with musculoskeletal conditions and comorbidity have lower earnings and incomes now and fewer assets with which to face the future than the remainder of their peers.

}, keywords = {Comorbidity, Data collection, Disabled Persons, Economics, Female, Health Services Research, Humans, Income, Male, Middle Aged, Musculoskeletal Diseases, Retirement}, issn = {0315-162X}, url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9330948}, author = {Yelin, Edward} } @inbook {5161, title = {The Impact of Demographics on Housing and Nonhousing Wealth in the United States}, booktitle = {The Economic Effects of Aging in the United States and Japan}, year = {1997}, note = {ProCite field 8 : eds.}, pages = {153-194}, publisher = {University of Chicago Press}, organization = {University of Chicago Press}, address = {Chicago, IL}, keywords = {Demographics, Housing, Net Worth and Assets}, author = {Daniel McFadden and Hoynes, Hilary}, editor = {Naohiro Yashiro and Michael D Hurd} } @article {6533, title = {Musculoskeletal Conditions and Employment}, journal = {Arthritis Care and Research}, volume = {8}, year = {1995}, pages = {311-7}, publisher = {8}, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence, incidence, and correlates of work disability among persons with musculoskeletal conditions. METHODS: Literature review and analysis of the Health and Retirement Survey, a national, probability sample of community-based adults ages 51-61. RESULTS: Clinical samples of persons with RA report work disability rates of 51 to 60 . Community-based studies of persons with a broad range of musculoskeletal conditions find work disability rates of 38 to 71 , depending on the mix of symptoms and particular sampling strategy. Persons with musculoskeletal conditions and comorbidity are particularly prone to work loss, with three-quarters leaving work prior to the normal age of retirement. In multivariate models, after adjusting for demographic and functional characteristics, persons with musculoskeletal conditions actually are more likely to work than those without. CONCLUSIONS: Persons with musculoskeletal conditions have high rates of work disability, but given their level of impairment, are more likely to work than persons without musculoskeletal conditions.}, keywords = {Demographics, Disabilities, Employment and Labor Force, Health Conditions and Status, Methodology}, doi = {10.1002/art.1790080417}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/art.1790080417}, author = {Yelin, Edward} }