@article {12070, title = {Examining Racial Disparities in Historical Change of Mental and Physical Health Across Midlife and Old Age in the US}, journal = {The Journals of Gerontology, Series B}, volume = {77}, year = {2022}, pages = {1978-1989}, abstract = {Objective: Examine whether racial disparities are narrowing or widening with historical time among US middle-aged and older adults, and test the extent to which educational attainment moderates racial disparities over historical time. Method: Multilevel models were applied to longitudinal data on middle-aged (ages 40-65) and older adults (ages 66 and older) from the Health and Retirement Study. Historical change was indexed as cohort or birth year. The outcomes of focus were depressive symptoms, episodic memory, health conditions, functional limitations, and self-rated health. Results: Results revealed a differential pattern of racial disparities in historical change between midlife and old age. Across midlife and old age, on average, Blacks and Hispanics reported poorer levels of mental and physical health, compared to Whites. In midlife, racial disparities narrowed with historical time; later-born cohorts of Hispanics but not Whites reported fewer depressive symptoms than their earlier-born peers. Likewise, historical improvements in health were stronger among Hispanics and Blacks than Whites. Conversely, in old age, later-born cohorts across race consistently showed historical improvements in each of the outcomes examined. Regarding educational attainment, we observed little consistent evidence that health-promoting effects of educational attainment would differ across race and cohort. Examining questions about heterogeneity, results revealed that in midlife and old age there was greater heterogeneity between race across each of the outcomes. Discussion: Our discussion elaborates on reasons behind the documented racial differences in historical changes among US middle-aged and older adults, and how the protective role of education is changing over time.}, keywords = {Adult Development and Aging, Cohort Effects, Mental and Physical Health, Multilevel Modeling, Racial Disparities}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbab232}, author = {Staben, Omar and Frank J Infurna and Margie E Lachman and Denis Gerstorf} } @article {11451, title = {Historical Change in Midlife Health, Well-Being, and Despair: Cross-Cultural and Socioeconomic Comparisons}, journal = {American Psychologist}, volume = {76}, year = {2021}, pages = {870-887}, abstract = {Recent empirical evidence has documented that US middle-aged adults today are reporting lower mental and physical health than same-aged peers several decades ago. Individuals who attained fewer years of education have been most vulnerable to these historical changes. One overarching question is whether this phenomenon is confined to the US or whether it is transpiring across other high-income and upper-middle-income nations. To examine this question, we use nationally representative longitudinal panel data from five nations across different continents and cultural backgrounds (US, Australia, Germany, South Korea, and Mexico). Results revealed historical improvements in physical health for people in their 40s and early 50s across all five nations. Conversely, the direction of historical change in mental health vastly differed across nations. Later-born cohorts of US middle-aged adults exhibit worsening mental health and cognition. Australian middle-aged adults also experienced worsening mental health with historical time. In contrast, historical improvements for mental health were observed in Germany, South Korea, and Mexico. For US middle-aged adults, the protective effect of education diminished in later-born cohorts. Consistent across the other nations, individuals with fewer years of education were most vulnerable to historical declines or benefitted the least from historical improvements. We discuss potential reasons underlying similarities and differences between the US and other nations in these historical trends and consider the role of education.}, keywords = {adult development, culture change, KLoSA, MHAS, socioeconomic differences}, doi = {10.1037/amp0000817}, author = {Frank J Infurna and Staben, Omar and Margie E Lachman and Denis Gerstorf} } @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 {8493, title = {Linked Lives: Dyadic Associations of Mastery Beliefs With Health (Behavior) and Health (Behavior) Change Among Older Partners.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {73}, year = {2018}, month = {2018 06 14}, pages = {787-798}, abstract = {

Objectives: Mastery beliefs are known to contribute to healthy aging. However, it is an open question whether individual mastery-health associations impact the health of close long-term partners.

Method: We applied actor-partner interdependence models to 4-wave, 6-year longitudinal dyadic data from married and cohabitating partners in the Health and Retirement Study (N = 1,981 partners; age at baseline: M = 67 years, SD = 8.93, range 50-94 years).

Results: Higher individual mastery beliefs were associated with better individual physical health and health behaviors. Higher mastery beliefs were associated with subsequent increases in light physical activity. Having a partner with higher levels of mastery was uniquely associated with fewer functional limitations, better self-rated health, and more physical activity. Actor {\texttimes} Partner interaction effects for functional limitations indicated multiplicative associations of actor and partner mastery with health. Of note, mastery-health associations for individuals and their partners were invariant across age, gender, education, employment status, perceived stress over one{\textquoteright}s own and partner{\textquoteright}s health, and cognition.

Discussion: Findings suggest that partner mastery beliefs matter for the health (behaviors) of older adults. We discuss possible mechanisms underlying partner interrelations in mastery and health, their age invariance, and consider implications arising from our results.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Dominance-Subordination, Female, Health Behavior, Health Status, Humans, Male, Marriage, Middle Aged, Models, Theoretical, Psychological Tests, Risk Reduction Behavior, Surveys and Questionnaires}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbw058}, url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27229003}, author = {Drewelies, Johanna and William J. Chopik and Christiane A Hoppmann and Jacqui Smith and Denis Gerstorf} } @article {9736, title = {Is subjective memory change in old age based on accurate monitoring of age-related memory change? Evidence from two longitudinal studies.}, journal = {Psychology and Aging}, volume = {33}, year = {2018}, pages = {273-287}, abstract = {Subjective memory change (SMC) in adulthood involves the perception that one{\textquoteright}s memory has declined from earlier levels of function. SMC has been conjectured to be more accurate than concurrent subjective memory because people use themselves as a standard of comparison. We used data from two longitudinal studies to contrast the accurate-monitoring-of-change hypothesis-actual memory change predicts SMC-against a constructed-judgment hypothesis that rated SMC is a function of rescaling concurrent memory beliefs without accessing actual memory change. It states that actual memory change has no predictive validity for SMC independent of concurrent memory beliefs. Data from both the Berlin Aging Study and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) showed that older adults{\textquoteright} current memory complaints strongly predicted current SMC, and that there was little relationship of longitudinally measured memory change to SMC, controlling on memory complaints. In the HRS there were reliable latent-growth-curve slope correlations of over .20 for change in episodic memory with both slopes of change in SMC and in memory complaints, yet little relationship of SMC slopes to episodic memory slopes, controlling on memory-complaint slopes. The results falsify the accurate-monitoring-of-change hypothesis regarding the origins of SMC in older adults.}, keywords = {Memory, Self Report, Subjective Expectations}, issn = {0882-7974}, doi = {10.1037/pag0000232}, url = {http://doi.apa.org/getdoi.cfm?doi=10.1037/pag0000232http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/pag/33/2/273.pdf}, author = {Hertzog, Christopher and H{\"u}l{\"u}r, Gizem and Denis Gerstorf and Ann Pearman} } @article {6462, title = {Associations Among Individuals{\textquoteright} Perceptions of Future Time, Individual Resources, and Subjective Well-Being in Old Age.}, journal = {J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci}, volume = {72}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 May 01}, pages = {388-399}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVES: Perceptions of future time are of key interest to aging research because of their implications for subjective well-being. Interestingly, perceptions about future time are only moderately associated with age when looking at the second half of life, pointing to a vast heterogeneity in future time perceptions among older adults. We examine associations between future time perceptions, age, and subjective well-being across two studies, including moderations by individual resources.

METHOD: Using data from the Berlin Aging Study (N = 516; Mage = 85 years), we link one operationalization (subjective nearness to death) and age to subjective well-being. Using Health and Retirement Study data (N = 2,596; Mage = 77 years), we examine associations of another future time perception indicator (subjective future life expectancy) and age with subjective well-being.

RESULTS: Consistent across studies, perceptions of limited time left were associated with poorer subjective well-being (lower life satisfaction and positive affect; more negative affect and depressive symptoms). Importantly, individual resources moderated future time perception-subjective well-being associations with those of better health exhibiting reduced future time perception-subjective well-being associations.

DISCUSSION: We discuss our findings in the context of the Model of Strength and Vulnerability Integration.

}, keywords = {Affect, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Attitude, depression, Female, Forecasting, Health Status, Humans, Male, Personal Satisfaction}, issn = {1758-5368}, doi = {10.1093/geronb/gbv063}, url = {http://psychsocgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/10/05/geronb.gbv063.abstract}, author = {Christiane A Hoppmann and Frank J Infurna and Ram, Nilam and Denis Gerstorf} } @article {8783, title = {Health sensitivity: Age differences in the within-person coupling of individuals{\textquoteright} physical health and well-being.}, journal = {Developmental Psychology}, volume = {52}, year = {2016}, month = {Jan-01-2016}, pages = {1944 - 1953}, abstract = {Well-being and physical health are central indicators of quality of life in old age. Research from a between-person difference perspective finds that people in better health than their peers also report higher well-being than their peers. However, we know very little about whether changes in one domain are accompanied by changes in the other domain, particularly at the within-person level. In the present study, we introduce the construct of health sensitivity, that is, how susceptible an individuals{\textquoteright} well-being is to changes in physical health. In doing so, we used 9-wave longitudinal data covering 17 years from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 21,689; 50{\textendash}109 year olds; 55\% women) and applied multilevel modeling to examine the covariation of central indicators of well-being (depressive affect) and health (functional limitations) simultaneously at both the between-person and within-person level. At the within-person level, we found evidence of health sensitivity{\textemdash}on occasions when a typical person experienced more functional limitations than usual, he or she also reported more depressive affect{\textemdash}and that health sensitivity decreased with age. Survival analysis revealed that health sensitivity was related to mortality hazards, controlling for mean levels of health and well-being. We discuss the theoretical importance of examining within-person associations between health and well-being and consider practical implications. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)}, keywords = {Age differences, Health Conditions and Status, Marriage, Mortality, Older Adults}, issn = {0012-1649}, doi = {10.1037/dev0000171}, url = {http://doi.apa.org/getdoi.cfm?doi=10.1037/dev0000171}, author = {Sch{\"o}llgen, Ina and Morack, Jennifer and Frank J Infurna and Ram, Nilam and Denis Gerstorf} } @article {8688, title = {Personality trait development at the end of life: Antecedents and correlates of mean-level trajectories.}, journal = {J Pers Soc Psychol}, volume = {111}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 09}, pages = {411-29}, abstract = {

Empirical evidence over the past 20 years has documented that key aspects of personality traits change during adulthood. However, it is essentially an open question whether and how traits change at the very end of life and what role health, cognitive performance, perceived control, and social factors play in those changes. To examine these questions, we applied growth models to 13-year longitudinal data obtained from now-deceased participants in the Berlin Aging Study (N = 463; age at baseline M = 85.9 years, SD = 8.4; 51\% men). Results revealed that neuroticism, on average, increases (about 0.3 SD in the last 10 years) and that this increase becomes even steeper at the end of life. In contrast, extraversion and openness decline rather steadily at the end of life (about -0.5 SD in the last 10 years). Additionally, poor health manifested as a risk factor for declines in extraversion and openness late in life but not neuroticism. Similar to earlier phases of life, better cognitive performance related to more openness. More loneliness was associated with higher neuroticism, whereas more social activity was associated with higher levels of extraversion and openness. Intriguing additional insights indicated that more personal control was associated with higher levels of extraversion and openness, whereas the feeling that one{\textquoteright}s life is controlled by others was associated with higher neuroticism but also with higher openness closer to death. We discuss potential pathways by which health, cognitive performance, control, and social inclusion resources and risk factors affect personality development late in life. (PsycINFO Database Record

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Anxiety Disorders, Berlin, Extraversion, Psychological, Female, Health Status, Human Development, Humans, Internal-External Control, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Neuroticism, Personality, Social Support}, issn = {1939-1315}, doi = {10.1037/pspp0000071}, author = {Wagner, Jenny and Ram, Nilam and Jacqui Smith and Denis Gerstorf} } @article {8194, title = {Correlates and Moderators of Change in Subjective Memory and Memory Performance: Findings from the Health and Retirement Study}, journal = {Gerontology}, volume = {61}, year = {2015}, note = {Times Cited: 1 0 1}, pages = {232-240}, publisher = {61}, abstract = {Aging researchers have long been interested in understanding individuals{\textquoteright} subjective perceptions of their own memory functioning. Previous research has shown that subjective memory ratings are partly based on memory performance but also reflect the influence of other factors, such as depressive symptoms. The aim of the present study was to examine (1) longitudinal associations between trajectories of subjective memory and memory performance, (2) variables that predict levels of and changes in subjective memory and memory performance, and (3) variables that moderate associations between these constructs. We applied a latent growth curve model to four occasions of data from 15,824 participants of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; mean age at baseline = 64.27 years, SD = 9.90; 58 women). Results revealed that latent changes in subjective memory were correlated with latent changes in memory performance (f = 0.49), indicating that participants who reported steeper declines of subjective memory indeed showed steeper declines of memory performance over time. Three major patterns of associations emerged with respect to predictors of subjective memory and subjective memory change. First, the level of memory performance showed stronger associations with age, gender, and education, whereas subjective memory was more strongly associated with subjective age and personality traits. For example, women performed better than men on the episodic memory test, but there were no gender differences in subjective memory. Also, older age was associated with steeper declines of memory performance but with less decline of subjective memory. Second, personality traits that predicted subjective memory intercepts did not predict subjective memory slopes. Third, the strength of associations between levels and slopes of subjective memory and memory performance varied as a function of gender, education, depressive symptoms, and personality traits. Conscientiousness moderated the relationship of the level of subjective memory to the level of memory performance, consistent with the hypothesis that persons high in conscientiousness more accurately monitor memory successes and failures. The results reinforce the importance of depressive symptoms as a predictor of subjective memory but also indicate that a broader perspective on the reasons why memory complaints have modest correlations with memory itself is needed. (C) 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel}, keywords = {Demographics, Expectations, Health Conditions and Status}, doi = {10.1159/000369010}, author = {Hueluer, Gizem and Hertzog, Christopher and Ann M. Pearman and Denis Gerstorf} } @article {8205, title = {Historical improvements in well-being do not hold in late life: Birth- and death-year cohorts in the United States and Germany.}, journal = {Dev Psychol}, volume = {51}, year = {2015}, note = {Times Cited: 0 0}, month = {2015 Jul}, pages = {998-1012}, publisher = {51}, abstract = {

One key objective of life span research is to examine how individual development is shaped by the historical time people live in. Secular trends favoring later-born cohorts on fluid cognitive abilities have been widely documented, but findings are mixed for well-being. It remains an open question whether secular increases in well-being seen in earlier phases of life also manifest in the last years of life. To examine this possibility, we made use of longitudinal data obtained from the mid-1980s until the late 2000s in 2 large national samples in the United States (Health and Retirement Study [HRS]) and Germany (German Socio-Economic Panel [SOEP]). We operationally defined historical time from 2 complementary perspectives: birth-year cohorts based on the years in which people were born (earlier: 1930s vs. later: 1940s) and death-year cohorts based on the years in which people died (earlier: 1990s vs. later: 2000s). To control for relevant covariates, we used case-matched groups based on age (at death) and education and covaried for gender, health, and number of observations. Results from both countries revealed that well-being in old age was indeed developing at higher levels among later-born cohorts. However, for later-deceased cohorts, no evidence for secular increases in well-being was found. To the contrary, later-dying SOEP participants reported lower levels of well-being at age 75 and 2 years prior to death and experienced steeper late-life declines. Our results suggest that secular increases in well-being observed in old age do not manifest in late life, where "manufactured" survival may be exacerbating age- and mortality-related declines.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aging, Cohort Effect, depression, Epidemiologic Research Design, Female, Germany, Health Status, Health Surveys, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Propensity Score, United States}, issn = {1939-0599}, doi = {10.1037/a0039349}, author = {H{\"u}l{\"u}r, Gizem and Ram, Nilam and Denis Gerstorf} } @article {8131, title = {Longitudinal Associations of Subjective Memory With Memory Performance and Depressive Symptoms: Between-Person and Within-Person Perspectives}, journal = {Psychology and Aging}, volume = {29}, year = {2014}, note = {Times Cited: 0 0}, pages = {814-827}, publisher = {29}, abstract = {Clinical diagnostic criteria for memory loss in adults typically assume that subjective memory ratings accurately reflect compromised memory functioning. Research has documented small positive between-person associations between subjective memory and memory performance in older adults. Less is known, however, about whether within-person fluctuations in subjective memory covary with within-person variance in memory performance and depressive symptoms. The present study applied multilevel models of change to 9 waves of data from 27,395 participants of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS; mean age at baseline = 63.78; SD = 10.30; 58 women) to examine whether subjective memory is associated with both between-person differences and within-person variability in memory performance and depressive symptoms and explored the moderating role of known correlates (age, gender, education, and functional limitations). Results revealed that across persons, level of subjective memory indeed covaried with level of memory performance and depressive symptoms, with small-to-moderate between-person standardized effect sizes (0.19 for memory performance and -0.21 for depressive symptoms). Within individuals, occasions when participants scored higher than usual on a test of episodic memory or reported fewer-than-average depressive symptoms generated above-average subjective memory. At the within-person level, subjective memory ratings became more sensitive to within-person alterations in memory performance over time and those suffering from functional limitations were more sensitive to within-person alterations in memory performance and depressive symptoms. We take our results to suggest that within-person changes in subjective memory in part reflect monitoring flux in one{\textquoteright}s own memory functioning, but are also influenced by flux in depressive symptoms.}, keywords = {Expectations, Health Conditions and Status, Methodology}, doi = {10.1037/a0037619}, author = {Hueluer, Gizem and Hertzog, Christopher and Ann M. Pearman and Ram, Nilam and Denis Gerstorf} } @article {8084, title = {Perceived control relates to better functional health and lower cardio-metabolic risk: The mediating role of physical activity}, journal = {Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association}, volume = {33}, year = {2014}, pages = {85-94}, publisher = {33}, abstract = {Objective: The objective of the current study was to examine empirically associations between perceived control and indicators of functional health (grip strength) and cardio-metabolic risk (hemoglobin A1C, High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol HDL-C , Systolic Blood Pressure SBP , Pulse Rate PR , and Waist Circumference WC ) and to explore the mediating role of physical activity. Method: Using cross-sectional data from the nation-wide Health and Retirement Study (N = 4,292; Mean age = 68, range 50-97; 59 women), we examined whether perceived control was predictive of the various health indicators over and above sociodemographic characteristics. We also used mediation models to test whether those direct associations were mediated by physical activity. Results: Findings indicated that perceiving more control related to better grip strength and lower cardio-metabolic risk. To illustrate, a 1 SD increase in control is associated with 2.5 fewer years of aging on grip strength, 10 fewer years of aging for hemoglobin A1C, 14.5 fewer years of aging for HDL-C, 3.7 fewer years of aging for pulse rate, and 5.75 fewer years of aging for waist circumference. We also found that physical activity mediated five of the six control-health associations. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate the importance of perceived control as predictor of functional and physiological health and the role of physical exercise as a behavioral mediator of these associations. Our results suggest that control may serve as a facilitator of positive health outcomes, including functional health, cardio-metabolic risk, and physical activity. Findings provide impetus for future research to elucidate mechanisms underlying the health implications of perceived control. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved).}, keywords = {Health Conditions and Status, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction, Risk Taking}, author = {Frank J Infurna and Denis Gerstorf} } @article {8054, title = {Positive and Negative Social Exchanges and Cognitive Aging in Young-Old Adults: Differential Associations Across Family, Friend, and Spouse Domains}, journal = {Psychology and Aging}, volume = {29}, year = {2014}, note = {Times Cited: 0}, pages = {28-43}, publisher = {29}, abstract = {We examined how positive and negative social exchanges with friends, family, and spouses were related to cognitive aging in episodic and working memory, and perceptual speed. To do so, we used a large sample of cognitively intact young-old participants from the PATH Through Life Study ( PATH; aged 60 to 64 years at baseline, n = 1,618) who were assessed on 3 occasions over 8 years. Additional replication analyses were conducted using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), which provided data on episodic memory. The main analysis of PATH Through Life showed that positive exchanges with friends and family were associated with less decline in perceptual speed, with these associations attenuated by adjustment for physical functioning and depressive symptoms. Negative exchanges with spouses were associated with poorer working memory performance. Positive exchanges with friends were associated with better initial episodic memory in both PATH and HRS. More frequent negative exchanges with friends and family were associated with better episodic memory in the PATH sample. However, these findings were not replicated in HRS. Our findings provide indirect support for the role of social exchange quality in contributing to cognitive enrichment. However, the inconsistent pattern of results across cognitive and social exchange domains points to possibilities of reverse causality, and may also indicate that social exchange quality plays a less important role for cognitive enrichment than other psychosocial characteristics.}, keywords = {End of life decisions, Event History/Life Cycle, Health Conditions and Status, Methodology, Other, Retirement Planning and Satisfaction}, author = {Tim D Windsor and Denis Gerstorf and Pearson, Elissa and Lindsay H Ryan and Kaarin J. Anstey} } @article {7896, title = {Cohorts based on decade of death: no evidence for secular trends favoring later cohorts in cognitive aging and terminal decline in the AHEAD study.}, journal = {Psychol Aging}, volume = {28}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 Mar}, pages = {115-27}, publisher = {28}, abstract = {

Studies of birth-year cohorts examined over the same age range often report secular trends favoring later-born cohorts, who are cognitively fitter and show less steep cognitive declines than earlier-born cohorts. However, there is initial evidence that those advantages of later-born cohorts do not carry into the last years of life, suggesting that pervasive mortality-related processes minimize differences that were apparent earlier in life. Elaborating this work from an alternative perspective on cohort differences, we compared rates of cognitive aging and terminal decline in episodic memory between cohorts based on the year participants had died, earlier (between 1993 and 1999) or later in historical time (between 2000 and 2010). Specifically, we compared trajectories of cognitive decline in 2 death-year cohorts of participants in the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old study that were matched on age at death and education and controlled for a variety of additional covariates. Results revealed little evidence of secular trends favoring later cohorts. To the contrary, the cohort that died in the 2000s showed a less favorable trajectory of age-related memory decline than the cohort that died in the 1990s. In examinations of change in relation to time to death, the cohort dying in the 2000s experienced even steeper terminal declines than the cohort dying in the 1990s. We suggest that secular increases in "manufacturing" survival may exacerbate age- and mortality-related cognitive declines among the oldest old.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Death, Epidemiologic Research Design, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Memory Disorders, Memory, Episodic, Time Factors, United States}, issn = {1939-1498}, doi = {10.1037/a0029965}, author = {H{\"u}l{\"u}r, Gizem and Frank J Infurna and Ram, Nilam and Denis Gerstorf} } @article {7908, title = {Linking Perceived Control, Physical Activity, and Biological Health to Memory Change}, journal = {Psychology and Aging}, volume = {28}, year = {2013}, note = {Times Cited: 0}, pages = {1147-1163}, publisher = {28}, abstract = {Perceived control plays an important role for remaining cognitively fit across adulthood and old age. However, much less is known about the role of perceived control over and above common correlates of cognition, and possible factors that underlie such control-cognition associations. Our study examined whether perceived control was predictive of individual differences in subsequent 4-year changes in episodic memory, and explored the mediating role of physical activity and indicators of physical fitness, cardiovascular, and metabolic health for control-memory associations. To do so, we used longitudinal data from the nationwide Health and Retirement Study (HRS; N = 4,177; ages 30 to 97 years; 59 women). Our results show that perceiving more control over one{\textquoteright}s life predicted less memory declines, and this protective effect was similar in midlife and old age. We additionally observed that higher levels and maintenance of physical activity over 2 years, better pulmonary function, lower systolic blood pressure (SPB), lower hemoglobin A(1c), and higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) also predicted less memory declines. Mediation analyses revealed that levels of, and 2-year changes in, physical activity, as well as levels of pulmonary function and hemoglobin A1c and HDL-C, each uniquely mediated control-memory change associations. Our findings illustrate that perceived control, physical activity, and indicators of physical fitness and cardiovascular and metabolic health moderate changes in memory, and add to the literature on antecedents of cognitive aging by conjointly targeting perceived control and some of its mediating factors. We discuss possible pathways underlying the role of control for memory change and consider future routes of inquiry to further our understanding of control-cognition associations in adulthood and old age.}, keywords = {Event History/Life Cycle, Health Conditions and Status, Healthcare, Other}, doi = {10.1037/a0033327}, author = {Frank J Infurna and Denis Gerstorf} } @article {7857, title = {The Nature and Correlates of Change in Depressive Symptoms With Cancer Diagnosis: Reaction and Adaptation}, journal = {Psychology and Aging}, volume = {28}, year = {2013}, note = {Times Cited: 0}, pages = {386-401}, publisher = {28}, abstract = {Major life events trigger change processes in mental health. We examined how depressive symptoms change in conjunction with cancer diagnosis during adulthood and old age, and whether sociodemographic variables, cognitive and health resources, and cancer-specific mortality risks moderate event-related reaction and adaptation. Specifically, we applied multiphase growth models to prospective longitudinal data from 2,848 participants (age at diagnosis: M = 69, SD = 9.91; 46 women) in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) who reported receiving a cancer diagnosis while enrolled in the study. On average, individuals experienced a significant increase in depressive symptoms within 2 years of cancer diagnosis, still-elevated levels 2 years postdiagnosis, and smaller increases in depressive symptoms postdiagnosis relative to the increases observed prediagnosis. Better memory and lower cancer-specific mortality risks were protective against increases in depressive symptoms within 2 years of diagnosis and were associated with reporting fewer depressive symptoms 2 years postdiagnosis. Findings suggest that diagnosis-related changes in depressive symptoms are typically characterized by a multiphase pattern, but tremendous between-person differences also emerged within each phase. Follow-up analyses comparing a matched group (N = 2,272) who did not experience cancer provided an additional layer of evidence supporting our inferences. Results indicate that, on average, people adapt and adjust to the challenges accompanying a cancer diagnosis, and illustrate the utility of using natural experiments such as major life events as a paradigm for studying developmental change processes.}, keywords = {Event History/Life Cycle, Expectations, Health Conditions and Status, Methodology}, doi = {10.1037/a0029775}, author = {Frank J Infurna and Denis Gerstorf and Ram, Nilam} } @article {7605, title = {Dynamic links between memory and functional limitations in old age: longitudinal evidence for age-based structural dynamics from the AHEAD study.}, journal = {Psychol Aging}, volume = {26}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Sep}, pages = {546-58}, publisher = {26}, abstract = {

This study examined competing substantive hypotheses about dynamic (i.e., time-ordered) links between memory and functional limitations in old age. We applied the Bivariate Dual Change Score Model to 13-year longitudinal data from the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old Study (AHEAD; N = 6,990; ages 70 - 95). Results revealed that better memory predicted shallower increases in functional limitations. Little evidence was found for the opposite direction that functional limitations predict ensuing changes in memory. Spline models indicated that dynamic associations between memory and functional limitations were substantively similar between participants aged 70-79 and those aged 80-95. Potential covariates (gender, education, health conditions, and depressive symptoms) did not account for these differential lead-lag associations. Applying a multivariate approach, our results suggest that late-life developments in two key components of successful aging are intrinsically interrelated. Our discussion focuses on possible mechanisms why cognitive functioning may serve as a source of age-related changes in health both among the young-old and the old-old.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Cognition, depression, Female, Health Status, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Memory, Memory Disorders, Memory, Episodic, Models, Statistical, Neuropsychological tests}, issn = {1939-1498}, doi = {10.1037/a0023023}, author = {Frank J Infurna and Denis Gerstorf and Lindsay H Ryan and Jacqui Smith} } @article {7672, title = {Spousal associations between functional limitation and depressive symptom trajectories: Longitudinal findings from the study of Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD).}, journal = {Health Psychol}, volume = {30}, year = {2011}, note = {Hoppmann, Christiane A Gerstorf, Denis Hibbert, Anita U01 AG009740-12/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States U01AG009740/AG/NIA NIH HHS/United States Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov{\textquoteright}t United States Nihms256806 Health Psychol. 2011 Mar;30(2):153-62.}, month = {2011 Mar}, pages = {153-62}, publisher = {30}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To examine spousal associations between functional limitation and depressive symptom trajectories in a national sample of older long-term married couples.

DESIGN: We used 14.5-year longitudinal data on functional limitations and depressive symptoms from 1,704 couples participating in the Study of Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Activities of daily living and a short version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale were used.

RESULTS: Between-person difference findings corroborate previous research by showing that levels and changes in functional limitations and depressive symptoms are closely interrelated among wives and husbands. Our results further demonstrate sizable associations in levels and changes in functional limitations and depressive symptoms between spouses. For example, functional limitation levels in one spouse were associated with depressive symptom levels in the other spouse. Spousal associations remained after controlling for individual (age, education, cognition) and spousal covariates (marriage duration, number of children) and did not differ between women and men.

CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the important role of marital relationships in shaping health trajectories in old age because they show that some of the well-documented between-person differences in functional limitations and depressive symptoms are in fact related to spouses.

}, keywords = {Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, depression, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Psychometrics, Spouses, United States}, issn = {1930-7810}, doi = {10.1037/a0022094}, author = {Christiane A Hoppmann and Denis Gerstorf and Anita Hibbert} } @article {7396, title = {Memory and depressive symptoms are dynamically linked among married couples: longitudinal evidence from the AHEAD study.}, journal = {Dev Psychol}, volume = {45}, year = {2009}, note = {PMID: 19899917}, month = {2009 Nov}, pages = {1595-610}, publisher = {45}, abstract = {

This study examined dyadic interrelations between episodic memory and depressive symptom trajectories of change in old and advanced old age. The authors applied dynamic models to 10-year incomplete longitudinal data of initially 1,599 married couples from the study of Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (M(age) = 75 years at Time 1). The authors found domain-specific lead-lag associations (time lags of 2 years) among wives and husbands as well as between spouses. For memory, better performance among husbands protected against subsequent memory decline among wives, with no evidence of a directed effect in the other direction. For depressive symptoms, wives{\textquoteright} scores predicted subsequent depression increase and memory decline among husbands. Possible individual covariates (age, education, functional limitations) and spousal covariates (length of marriage, number of children, and whether the couple remained intact over the study period) did not account for differential lead-lag associations. The findings of antecedent-consequent relations between wives and husbands are consistent with life-span notions that individual development both influences and is influenced by contextual factors such as close social relationships.

}, keywords = {Adaptation, Psychological, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Cognition, depression, Female, Health Status, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Marriage, Mental Recall, Models, Psychological, Quality of Life, Spouses}, issn = {1939-0599}, doi = {10.1037/a0016346}, author = {Denis Gerstorf and Christiane A Hoppmann and Kelly M Kadlec and John J McArdle} }