Family Ties and Aging in a Multiethnic Cohort

Abstract

Objective: Lack of social support is linked to lower cognitive function and cognitive decline. We investigated the effects of a specific type of social relationship, family ties, on cognitive trajectories in non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, and Hispanics. Methods: Using multiple-group latent growth curve models, we analyzed associations between the number of children/grandchildren/siblings/other relatives contacted within the past month at baseline and cognitive trajectories in 1420 older adults who were nondemented at baseline. Language, memory, and visuospatial abilities were assessed at baseline and at 18- and 24-month follow-ups for up to six visits. Inferential analyses assessed the differential effects of sex/gender and race/ethnicity for each family tie. Results: Independent of all covariates, contact with more relatives was associated with better initial memory ( b = .01) and language functioning ( b = .01) across race/ethnicity and sex/gender. Conclusion: The size of peripheral rather than immediate family networks may be more likely to affect cognitive function in older adults.

Associations between social network components and cognitive domains in older adults.

“…The number of family members other than children and spouse showed negative associations with executive function, visuoconstruction, and processing speed. This finding contrasts somewhat with some previous research showing positive relationships between the number of noncentral family members and cognitive outcomes (Ying et al, 2020). However, it should be noted that siblings were included in the “other family member” category in the present study but were excluded in the “other family member” category in the study by Ying et al (2020), which posited that contact with a greater number of peripheral family members may be mentally stimulating in a way similar to friendships.…”

“…Greater contact frequency with family (Béland et al, 2005) and children (Zahodne et al, 2019) may also have potentially beneficial effects. There is also support for positive relationships between the number of noncentral family members an individual contacts and cognitive outcomes (Ying et al, 2020).…”

Family and Community Support, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, and Cognitive Performance in Older Adults: Findings From the Health, Wellbeing and Aging Study Population-Based Cohort

“…In that regard, our finding demonstrated that the higher the participant’s satisfaction with their family partnership, empathy, support, affection and interaction, the better their cognitive performance. Contradicting other studies with the U.S. and Chinese population ( Sims et al, 2014 ; Ge et al, 2017 ; Li et al, 2019 ), our findings that high emotional support was associated with better cognitive performance is consistent with much evidence reporting protective effects of functional support on cognition ( Seeman et al, 2001 ; Windsor et al, 2014 ; Kelly et al, 2017 ; Ying et al, 2020 ; Costa-Cordella et al, 2021 ). Social interactions are cognitively and emotionally processed by the brain, socially supportive interactions may contribute to better cognitive aging through direct positive stimulatory effects on the brain ( Seeman et al, 2001 ).…”

“…Specifically, qualitative and biological elements that underpin the relationship between social network and cognition is quite limited. For example, family ties represent an essential network source among older adults ( Ying et al, 2020 ). A few studies investigated the impact of family support on cognitive performance with varied results ( Windsor et al, 2014 ; Ge et al, 2017 ; Ying et al, 2020 ).…”

“…For example, family ties represent an essential network source among older adults ( Ying et al, 2020 ). A few studies investigated the impact of family support on cognitive performance with varied results ( Windsor et al, 2014 ; Ge et al, 2017 ; Ying et al, 2020 ). Windsor et al (2014) showed that positive exchanges with family were associated with less decline in perceptual speed, with that association attenuated by adjustment for physical functioning and depressive symptoms ( Windsor et al, 2014 ).…”