Daily stress magnifies the association between cognitive decline and everyday memory problems: An integration of longitudinal and diary methods.

Abstract

We examined whether long-term fluid cognitive decline was associated with memory problems in everyday life, and whether stress plays a moderating role. We expected that the association between cognitive decline and everyday memory problems would be magnified in the context of self-reported and physiological stress. Data are from the Boston Longitudinal Study, a subsample of the Midlife in the United States study. Participants in the current study (n=112) completed a battery of tests measuring fluid cognitive functioning at Time 1 (T1) and 2 (T2) over ten years. At T2, participants completed weekly diaries of self-reported daily stressors and everyday memory problems for twelve consecutive weeks. Also at T2, participants provided four saliva samples over the course of one day to assess physiological stress using diurnal cortisol profiles [cortisol awakening response (CAR) and diurnal cortisol slope (DCS)]. Self-reported daily stressors and a less healthy DCS were associated with more everyday memory problems, and participants with greater cognitive decline reported more memory problems compared to those with less or no decline. Self-reported daily stressors and CAR moderated the relationship of cognitive decline and memory problems. As expected, more cognitive decline was associated with greater increases in memory problems on weeks when individuals reported more daily stressors and for individuals with a less healthy CAR. The current findings can inform interventions aimed to identify factors, such as daily stress, that contribute to daily functioning in the context of cognitive decline.

Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of everyday memory lapses in older adults

“…However, our findings suggest that self-report of frequency of everyday memory lapses are associated with both concomitant and longitudinal changes in objective memory performance when measured by daily diaries. Our findings are also consistent with other studies showing associations between daily diaries of everyday memory lapses and objective memory performance (e.g., Rickenbach et al, 2014). …”

“…Findings showing that self-reported complaints of memory problems are related to laboratory memory performance have been mixed, when measured both concurrently (e.g., Dux et al, 2008; Ossher et al, 2013; Whitbourne et al, 2008) and longitudinally (e.g., Parisi et al, 2011; Lane & Zelinski, 2003; Rickenbach, Almeida, Seeman, & Lachman, 2014; Zelinski, Gilewski, & Schaie, 1993). While longitudinal studies have documented declines in objectively measured memory with both normal and pathological aging, it is unclear whether changes in laboratory measured memory are associated with greater reported everyday memory lapses.…”

Behaviors and Strategies Supporting Everyday Memory in Older Adults

“…Adams-Price and Gonzales [36] found that “absent-mindedness” – involving distractions, disruptions from routines, or forgetting to implement a strategy one typically relies on – was frequently involved in older adults’ everyday memory problems (e.g., forgetting to take medications) [see also 37]. Other studies have found connections between memory complaints and self-reported stress, at a global level [27, 38] or within persons on a daily level [39, 40]. Apparently stressful, high-demand contexts may interfere with normal routines that support memory and increase the chances of everyday memory failures.…”

The cortisol awakening response and cognition across the adult lifespan

“…Most have focused upon middle aged and older adults (Almela, van der Meij, Hidalgo, Villada, & Salvador, 2012; Evans et al, 2011; Evans, Hucklebridge, Loveday, & Clow, 2012; Franz et al, 2011; Rickenbach, Almeida, Seeman, & Lachman, 2014) because higher cortisol, specifically higher diurnal cortisol output, has been linked to poorer cognition in this age group (Lupien et al, 2005). Long-term increases in diurnal cortisol output have been related to worse declarative memory (Li et al, 2006; Lupien et al, 1994, 1998; Seeman, McEwen, Singer, Albert, & Rowe, 1997) and executive functioning (Li et al, 2006), cognitive domains typically found to decline with age (Park et al, 2002; Rönnlund, Nyberg, Bäckman, & Nilsson, 2005; Schaie & Willis, 1996).…”