@article {9273, title = {The impact of changes in episodic memory surrounding retirement on subsequent risk of disability, cardiovascular disease, and mortality}, journal = {Work, Aging and Retirement}, volume = {4}, year = {2018}, pages = {10{\textendash}20}, abstract = {Retirement is a key hallmark of life for many in modern society. The Baby Boom generation has resulted in increasing numbers of retirees. Given this trend, it is important to identify key factors that promote better health and longevity in the years following retirement. We used data from 4,266 participants of the Health and Retirement Study who retired over the course of the study to examine whether levels of episodic memory at retirement and rates of change before and after retirement would be associated with disability, cardiovascular disease, and mortality risk following retirement, above and beyond socio-demographics and known risk factors. Individuals who exhibited higher levels of episodic memory at the time of retirement and relative stability in episodic memory prior to and following retirement had a decreased likelihood for disability, cardiovascular disease incidence, and mortality following retirement. The effects of disability remained when controlling for socio-demographics and known risk factors, whereas the effects of level and change prior to retirement on cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality were no longer significant with the inclusion of known risk factors. Better episodic memory was consistently associated with lower risk of disability, cardiovascular disease, and mortality following retirement. Less decline or stability in episodic memory during the time prior to retirement was also associated with lower risk of disability and cardiovascular disease, but not with mortality risk, during the period after retirement. Our discussion focuses on the importance of maintaining episodic memory and possible mechanisms through which it affects health following retirement.}, keywords = {Cardiovascular disease, Cognitive Ability, Disabilities, Memory, Mortality}, issn = {2054-4642}, doi = {10.1093/workar/wax020}, url = {http://academic.oup.com/workar/article/doi/10.1093/workar/wax020/4085175/The-Impact-of-Changes-in-Episodic-Memoryhttp://academic.oup.com/workar/article-pdf/doi/10.1093/workar/wax020/19539531/wax020.pdf}, author = {Frank J Infurna and Andel, Ross} } @article {8573, title = {Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), diabetes and trajectories of change in episodic memory performance.}, journal = {J Epidemiol Community Health}, volume = {71}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 02}, pages = {115-120}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: As the ageing population grows, it is important to identify strategies to moderate cognitive ageing.

OBJECTIVE: We examined glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and diabetes in relation to level and change in episodic memory in older adults with and without diabetes.

METHODS: Data from 4419 older adults with (n=950) and without (n=3469) diabetes participating in a nationally representative longitudinal panel study (the Health and Retirement Study) were examined. Average baseline age was 72.66 years and 58\% were women. HbA1c was measured in 2006 and episodic memory was measured using immediate and delayed list recall over 4 biennial waves between 2006 and 2012. Growth curve models were used to assess trajectories of episodic memory change.

RESULTS: In growth curve models adjusted for age, sex, education, race, depressive symptoms and waist circumference, higher HbA1c levels and having diabetes were associated with poorer baseline episodic memory (p=0.036 and <0.001, respectively) and greater episodic memory decline (p=0.006 and 0.004, respectively). The effect of HbA1c on episodic memory decline was smaller than the effect of age. The results were stronger for women than men and were not modified by age or race. When the main analyses were estimated for those with and without diabetes separately, HbA1c was significantly linked to change in episodic memory only among those with diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS: Higher HbA1c and diabetes were both associated with declines in episodic memory, with this relationship further exacerbated by having diabetes and elevated HbA1c. HbA1c appeared more important for episodic memory performance among women than men.

}, keywords = {Aged, cognitive aging, Demography, Diabetes Mellitus, Female, Glycated Hemoglobin A, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Memory, Episodic, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, United States}, issn = {1470-2738}, doi = {10.1136/jech-2016-207588}, author = {Pappas, Colleen and Andel, Ross and Frank J Infurna and Seetharaman, Shyam} } @article {9454, title = {Is Memory Decline Associated With Inflammatory Response?}, journal = {Journal of Aging and Health}, year = {2017}, pages = {898264317742809}, abstract = {

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether changes in memory over a 10-year period could predict a change in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.

METHOD: A mixed model analysis was first conducted to obtain the estimates for change in memory over the 10-year period using data from the Health and Retirement Study. Then a multivariate regression to determine whether a change in episodic memory could predict subsequent CRP levels was conducted. Furthermore, a general linear model was conducted to determine differences in CRP levels among different rates of change in episodic memory.

RESULTS: Greater declines in episodic memory were associated with higher levels of subsequent CRP (Estimate = -0.32, SE = 0.12, β = -.03, p = .008). The general linear model revealed that those with greater memory declines were more likely to have higher levels of CRP, F = 26.50, p < .001.

DISCUSSION: These results highlight the notion that memory decline and inflammation may be intertwined, and we discuss various avenues that warrant further investigation.

}, keywords = {Biomarkers, Cognitive Ability, Inflammation, Memory}, issn = {1552-6887}, doi = {10.1177/0898264317742809}, author = {Amber M Tetlow and Andel, Ross and Frank J Infurna} } @article {8320, title = {Job strain and trajectories of change in episodic memory before and after retirement: results from the Health and Retirement Study}, journal = {Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health}, volume = {69}, year = {2015}, note = {Times Cited: 0 0}, pages = {442-446}, publisher = {69}, abstract = {Background: We examined indicators of job strain in relation to level and change in episodic memory in the years leading up to as well as following retirement. Methods: Our analyses centre on 3779 individuals from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (baseline age 57.3 years) who reported gainful employment in an occupation for 10 years prior to retirement, and who were assessed for episodic memory performance over up to 20 years (median 8 waves over 16 years). We used ratings from the Occupational Information Network (O Net) to score occupations for job control and job demands, and to measure job strain (job demands/job control). Results: Controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, and cardiovascular disease, less job control and greater job strain were not significantly associated with change in episodic memory in the period leading up to retirement, but were associated with significantly poorer episodic memory at retirement and an accelerated rate of decline in episodic memory following retirement. The results did not vary for men and women or by self-employment status. Conclusions: Job strain expressed mainly as low job control is linked to poorer episodic memory at retirement and more decline after retirement. Job characteristics appear to have implications for cognitive ageing independent of relevant confounds.}, keywords = {Employment and Labor Force, Health Conditions and Status}, doi = {10.1136/jech-2014-204754}, author = {Andel, Ross and Frank J Infurna and Elizabeth A. Hahn Rickenbach and Crowe, Michael and Lisa A Marchiondo and Gwenith G Fisher} }