Jillian K Lee, Leigh Johnson, James R Hall, James R Bateman, Michelle M Mielke
Higher baseline chronic stress was associated with greater decline in attention and language for women compared to men and greater decline in memory for Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Higher baseline social support was associated with less decline in attention; results did not differ by gender or race/ethnicity.
INTRODUCTION: Few studies have examined the longitudinal associations between chronic stress, social support, and cognitive decline or whether sociodemographic factors modify associations.
METHODS: We included 3873 older adults enrolled in the Health and Aging Brain Study-Health Disparities (HABS-HD). Longitudinal mixed-effects models were used to examine associations of baseline chronic stress and social support with changes in domain-specific cognitive z-scores (attention, memory, executive functioning, language). Interactions between baseline chronic stress or social support and gender or race/ethnicity in relation to cognitive decline were also assessed.
RESULTS: Higher baseline chronic stress was associated with greater decline in attention and language for women compared to men and greater decline in memory for Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Higher baseline social support was associated with less decline in attention; results did not differ by gender or race/ethnicity.
DISCUSSION: Sociodemographic factors warrant consideration when examining associations of chronic stress or social support with cognitive decline.