@article {6491, title = {Social Activities, Incident Cardiovascular Disease, and Mortality.}, journal = {J Aging Health}, volume = {29}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 Mar}, pages = {268-288}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relationships between social activities, incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), and non-CVD mortality among older adults in the United States.

METHOD: Data from the Health and Retirement Study (2006-2010) were employed. Two measures of social engagement, volunteering and informal helping, along with two measures of social participation, attendance at religious services and social group meetings, were included. Mediation models for health behaviors were estimated.

RESULTS: Multinomial logistic regression models demonstrated that volunteering provided the most consistent results in terms of a lower risk of incident CVD and mortality. Furthermore, volunteering at higher time commitments is related to lower CVD incidence and death; informally helping others at a modest time commitment is related to lower risk of death only. Health behaviors mediated the relationships. Social participation was not related to either CVD or mortality.

DISCUSSION: Social activity is a modifiable behavior that may be considered a potential health intervention.

}, keywords = {Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cardiovascular Diseases, Female, Humans, Incidence, Leisure activities, Logistic Models, Male, Middle Aged, Retirement, United States}, issn = {1552-6887}, doi = {10.1177/0898264316635565}, url = {http://jah.sagepub.com/content/early/2016/03/03/0898264316635565.abstract}, author = {Sae Hwang Han and Jane Tavares and Evans, Molly and Jane S Saczynski and Jeffrey A Burr} } @article {8287, title = {Antidepressant Use and Cognitive Decline: The Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {Am J Med}, volume = {128}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Jul}, pages = {739-46}, publisher = {128}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Depression is associated with cognitive impairment and dementia, but whether treatment for depression with antidepressants reduces the risk for cognitive decline is unclear. We assessed the association between antidepressant use and cognitive decline over 6 years.

METHODS: Participants were 3714 adults aged 50 years or more who were enrolled in the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study and had self-reported antidepressant use. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Cognitive function was assessed at 4 time points (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010) using a validated 27-point scale. Change in cognitive function over the 6-year follow-up period was examined using linear growth models, adjusted for demographics, depressive symptoms, comorbidities, functional limitations, and antidepressant anticholinergic activity load.

RESULTS: At baseline, cognitive function did not differ significantly between the 445 (12.1\%) participants taking antidepressants and those not taking antidepressants (mean, 14.9\%; 95\% confidence interval, 14.3-15.4 vs mean, 15.1\%; 95\% confidence interval, 14.9-15.3). During the 6-year follow up period, cognition declined in both users and nonusers of antidepressants, ranging from -1.4 change in mean score in those with high depressive symptoms and taking antidepressants to -0.5 change in mean score in those with high depressive symptoms and not taking antidepressants. In adjusted models, cognition declined in people taking antidepressants at the same rate as those not taking antidepressants. Results remained consistent across different levels of baseline cognitive function, age, and duration of antidepressant use (prolonged vs short-term).

CONCLUSIONS: Antidepressant use did not modify the course of 6-year cognitive change in this nationally representative sample.

}, keywords = {Age Distribution, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antidepressive Agents, Cognition, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depressive Disorder, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Geriatric Assessment, Humans, Incidence, Male, Middle Aged, Reference Values, Risk Assessment, Sex Distribution, Surveys and Questionnaires, United States}, issn = {1555-7162}, doi = {10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.01.007}, author = {Jane S Saczynski and Allison B Rosen and Ryan J McCammon and Zivin, Kara and Susan E. Andrade and Kenneth M. Langa and Sandeep Vijan and Paul A Pirraglia and Becky A. Briesacher} }