%0 Journal Article %J Social Science & Medicine %D 2020 %T Volunteering, polygenic risk for Alzheimer's disease, and cognitive functioning among older adults %A Sae Hwang Han %A J Scott Roberts %A Jan E Mutchler %A Jeffrey A Burr %K cognitive aging %K Cognitive decline %K Dementia %K Health intervention %K Prosocial Behavior %K social engagement %K Social integration %X Objective In the context of the public health burden posed by increases in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) prevalence around the globe and the related research efforts to identify modifiable risk factors for the disease, we sought to provide an empirical test of earlier claims that volunteering may be considered as a health intervention that could help to prevent or delay the onset of AD. Method Using nine waves of panel data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (n=9,697), we examined whether volunteering conferred cognitive health benefits in later life and whether volunteering served a gene-regulatory function to help alleviate cognitive decline associated with polygenic risk for AD. Multilevel models were used to estimate associations between volunteering, polygenic risk for AD, and cognitive functioning over time. Results We found robust within-person associations between volunteering (assessed as volunteer status and time commitment) and cognitive functioning over time, such that volunteering was associated with higher levels of cognitive functioning and slower cognitive decline. The findings also provided evidence that the within-person associations for volunteering and cognitive decline were more pronounced for older adults at higher genetic risk for developing AD. Conclusions Our findings are in line with a growing body of theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence suggesting that prosocial behaviors are directly associated with biological systems and may modify gene regulation to confer health benefits. The analytic approach taken in this study also provided a useful framework for investigating the effectiveness of other modifiable risk factors that vary over time in the context of cognitive decline related to genetic risk for AD. %B Social Science & Medicine %V 253 %G eng %U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32278238 %9 Journal %R 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.112970 %0 Journal Article %J American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias %D 2017 %T The influence of psychosocial and cognitive factors on perceived threat of Alzheimer’s Disease %A Jenny E Ostergren %A Steven G Heeringa %A Carlos F. Mendes de Leon %A Cathleen M. Connell %A J Scott Roberts %K Alzheimer's disease %K Perception %K Psychosocial %X This study explored psychosocial and cognitive predictors of perceived threat of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Respondents were 1641 adults (mean age: 64.4; 54% female; 82% white) who completed a module in the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative survey of adults aged ≥50. Findings show that perceived threat was significantly higher for those aged 50 to 64 (P < .001) and 65 to 74 (P < .05) than for those ≥75. Respondents with a family history of AD had significantly greater perceived threat (P < .001) than those with no experience. Stronger endorsement of the beliefs that stress (P < .01) or genetics (P < .01) are important AD risk factors was significantly associated with greater perceived threat, as was having more depressive symptoms (P < .01), poorer self-rated memory (P < .01), and lower cognitive function (P < .01). Personal experience moderated the relationship between perceived threat and 2 variables: age and self-rated memory. Understanding perceived AD threat may inform practice and policies centered on early and accurate diagnosis. %B American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias %V 32 %P 289-299 %G eng %U http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1533317517714552 %N 5 %! American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias® %R 10.1177/1533317517714552 %0 Journal Article %J Gerontologist %D 2017 %T Social connectedness, perceived isolation, and dementia: Does the social environment moderate the relationship between genetic risk and cognitive well-being? %A Judith L Poey %A Jeffrey A Burr %A J Scott Roberts %K Cognitive Ability %K Dementia %K Depressive symptoms %K Genetics %K Isolation %K Older Adults %K Social Support %X Purpose of the Study: This study examined whether the social environment moderates the relationship between the APOE e4 allele and cognitive functioning. Design and Methods: The Aging, Demographics, and Memory Study (ADAMS) data and multinomial logistic regression models were used to investigate these relationships for a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults aged 70 and older (n = 779). Results: Living alone (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 5.814; p = .000) and self-reported loneliness (RRR = 1.928, p = .049) were associated with a greater risk of cognitive difficulty. Living arrangements, perceived social support, and loneliness were found to moderate the relationship between the APOE e4 allele and cognitive function. Implications: The results support the need to consider the social context when examining cognitive well-being in later life. These findings also indicate a need for the development of policies and services that promote a rich social environment. %B Gerontologist %V 57 %P 1031-1040 %G eng %U https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article/2951236/Social %N 6 %R 10.1093/geront/gnw154 %0 Journal Article %J Alzheimers Dement %D 2014 %T Public beliefs and knowledge about risk and protective factors for Alzheimer's disease. %A J Scott Roberts %A Sara J McLaughlin %A Cathleen M. Connell %K Aged %K Alzheimer disease %K Female %K Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Protective factors %K United States %X

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess public beliefs and knowledge about risk and protective factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS: A brief survey module was added to the Health and Retirement Study, a longstanding national panel study of the U.S. population over the age of 50.

RESULTS: Respondents were 1641 adults (mean age=64.4 years, 53.6% female, 81.7% White). Most (60.1%) indicated interest in learning their AD risk, with 29.4% expressing active worry. Many failed to recognize that medications to prevent AD are not available (39.1%) or that having an affected first-degree relative is associated with increased disease risk (32%). Many respondents believed that various actions (e.g., mental activity, eating a healthy diet) would be effective in reducing AD risk.

CONCLUSION: Older and middle-aged adults are interested in their AD risk status and believe that steps can be taken to reduce disease risk. Tailored education efforts are needed to address potential misconceptions about risk and protective factors.

%B Alzheimers Dement %I 10 %V 10 %P S381-9 %8 2014 Oct %G eng %U http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84895853906andpartnerID=40andmd5=336a2df47951d1d5c021f44b8055d10e %N 5 Suppl %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24630852?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC4163539 %4 Attitudes and beliefs/Health education/Illness perceptions/National survey/Public understanding %$ 999999 %R 10.1016/j.jalz.2013.07.001 %0 Journal Article %J J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %D 2010 %T Successful aging in the United States: prevalence estimates from a national sample of older adults. %A Sara J McLaughlin %A Cathleen M. Connell %A Steven G Heeringa %A Lydia W Li %A J Scott Roberts %K Affect %K Aged %K Aging %K Female %K Health Status %K Humans %K Male %K Middle Aged %K Prevalence %K United States %X

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of successful aging in the United States, with the broad aim of contributing to the dialogue on Rowe and Kahn's concept of successful aging.

METHODS: Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, the prevalence of successful aging was calculated for adults aged 65 years and older at four time points: 1998, 2000, 2002, and 2004. Successful aging was operationalized in accordance with Rowe and Kahn's definition, which encompasses disease and disability, cognitive and physical functioning, social connections, and productive activities.

RESULTS: No greater than 11.9% of older adults were aging "successfully" in any year. The adjusted odds of successful aging were generally lower for those of advanced age, male gender, and lower socioeconomic status. Between 1998 and 2004, the odds of successful aging declined by 25%, after accounting for demographic changes in the older population.

DISCUSSION: Few older adults meet the criteria put forth in Rowe and Kahn's definition of successful aging, suggesting the need for modification if the concept is to be used for broad public health purposes. Disparities in successful aging were evident for socially defined subgroups, highlighting the importance of structural factors in enabling successful aging.

%B J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci %I 65B %V 65B %P 216-26 %8 2010 Mar %G eng %N 2 %1 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20008481?dopt=Abstract %2 PMC2981444 %4 Quality of Life/Aging/Public Health/Health Services/Socioeconomic Levels/United States/SF 36 Health Survey/Older Adults/Data Collection/ROWE, John W./KAHN, Robert L./Health disparities/Healthy aging/Prevalence/Successful aging %$ 22500 %R 10.1093/geronb/gbp101