Biopsychosocial Correlates of Subjective Cognitive Decline and Related Worry in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Subjective cognitive decline (SCD), a self-reported decline in cognition in otherwise cognitively healthy people, has been acknowledged as a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), a large national study with participants’ ages of 45–85 years at baseline, we sought to identify correlates of SCD and SCD-related worry. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In our primary analysis using a Poisson regression model, associations between biopsychosocial variables and SCD were identified (analytic sample: <i>n</i> = 21,920). In a second analysis using an ordinal regression model, associations between biopsychosocial variables and SCD-related worry were identified (analytic sample: <i>n</i> = 12,694). <b><i>Results:</i></b> Multiple risk and protective factors of cognitive decline were not associated with SCD within our sample (i.e., physical activity, hypertension, vision problems), as well as minority stress variables such as sexual orientation and race. Rather, psychosocial variables (i.e., depression, perceived social status, and personality traits) showed a more consistent association with SCD within the sample. Greater SCD-related worry, which is believed to increase the risk of future dementia, was associated with specific personality traits, depression, age, gender, and sexuality. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The results from this study confirm the association between multiple health variables and SCD but also emphasize the importance of considering psychological and social factors when conceptualizing SCD and its risk factors.

Neurocognitive health in LGBTQIA+ older adults: current state of research and recommendations

“…This strategy has enabled investigations of large samples with good statistical power. But SOGI variables are included in only a few large population-based studies (e.g., Health and Retirement Study, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, National Health Interview Survey) that have been repeatedly exploited (Flatt et al, 2018 ; Seelman, 2019 ; Brown and Patterson, 2020 ; Nelson and Andel, 2020 ; Hsieh et al, 2021 ; Liu et al, 2021 ; Stinchcombe and Hammond, 2021 , 2023 ; Fredriksen-Goldsen et al, 2022 ; Brown et al, 2023 ; Hopper et al, 2023 ; Stinchcombe et al, 2023 ). Possible overlaps between samples across these studies with consequences on biased estimations of SOGI-related effects on cognitive outcome measures cannot be ruled out.…”

“…A high degree of methodological heterogeneity characterizes the definition of SGM groups. While most studies used selfidentified sexual orientation (Seelman, 2019;Brown and Patterson, 2020;Nelson and Andel, 2020;Flatt et al, 2021;Hsieh et al, 2021;Saunders et al, 2021;Hammond, 2021, 2023;Fredriksen-Goldsen et al, 2022;Brown et al, 2023;Hopper et al, 2023;Yang et al, 2024), some focused on either sexual attraction (Manca and Venneri, .…”

“…A high degree of methodological heterogeneity characterizes the definition of SGM groups. While most studies used self-identified sexual orientation (Seelman, 2019 ; Brown and Patterson, 2020 ; Nelson and Andel, 2020 ; Flatt et al, 2021 ; Hsieh et al, 2021 ; Saunders et al, 2021 ; Stinchcombe and Hammond, 2021 , 2023 ; Fredriksen-Goldsen et al, 2022 ; Brown et al, 2023 ; Hopper et al, 2023 ; Stinchcombe et al, 2023 ; Yang et al, 2024 ), some focused on either sexual attraction (Manca and Venneri, 2023 ) or same-sex relationships (Perales-Puchalt et al, 2019 ; Manca and Venneri, 2020 ; Liu et al, 2021 ; Manca et al, 2022 ; Correro et al, 2023 ; Hanes and Clouston, 2023 ) due to lack of detailed SOGI data. Gender minorities have been identified by using either self-reported identity (Brady et al, 2023 ; Cicero et al, 2023 ; Saunders et al, 2023 ) or by selecting people with gender identity disorders who accessed gender-affirming care (Guo et al, 2022 ; Hughto et al, 2023 ; Jasuja et al, 2023 ).…”

The role of disability and depressive symptoms in the relation between objective cognitive performance and subjective cognitive decline

“…Similarly, we fitted a multiple regression model including within the same model objective memory performance, disability, and depressive symptoms as predictors of SMD. For each regression we fitted both an unadjusted and an adjusted (for age, sex, and educational level) model, as previous evidence showed that SCD and SMD might be associated with age, gender, and education ( 59 ).…”

Ageing 2023: Proceedings of 6th Gerontological Interdisciplinary Conference

“…Skúmané faktory sa môžu javiť ako samostatné línie (novovzniknuté neuropsychiatrické symptómy v kontraste k trvalým charakteristikám osobnosti), tieto premenné sa však môžu navzájom ovplyvňovať a ovplyvňovať aj vznik subjek-tívneho a objektívneho kognitívneho poklesu (Hopper et al, 2023). Uvedené symptómy sa môžu v rôznej miere podieľať na výskyte SCD alebo prispievať k vyhodnoteniu SCD ako rizikového vo vzťahu k budúcej progresii do MCI (Rabin, Smart & Amariglio, 2017).…”