Gender specific factors contributing to cognitive resilience in APOE ɛ4 positive older adults in a population-based sample

Abstract

Although APOE ɛ4 has been identified as the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease, there are some APOE ɛ4 carriers who do not go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease or cognitive impairment. This study aims to investigate factors contributing to this “resilience” separately by gender. Data were drawn from APOE ɛ4 positive participants who were aged 60 + at baseline in the Personality and Total Health Through Life (PATH) Study (N = 341, Women = 46.3%). Participants were categorised into “resilient” and “non-resilient” groups using Latent Class Analysis based on their cognitive impairment status and cognitive trajectory across 12 years. Logistic regression was used to identify the risk and protective factors that contributed to resilience stratified by gender. For APOE ɛ4 carriers who have not had a stroke, predictors of resilience were increased frequency of mild physical activity and being employed at baseline for men, and increased number of mental activities engaged in at baseline for women. The results provide insights into a novel way of classifying resilience among APOE ɛ4 carriers and risk and protective factors contributing to resilience separately for men and women.

Long-term combined “new sports” and resistance exercise improves the physical and mental health of elderly people with stroke-associated hemiplegia

“…People affected by chronic stroke often exhibit poor self-esteem, and active participation in rehabilitation can improve self-esteem and QOL 52 . Additionally, self-e cacy plays a crucial role in the rehabilitation and recovery of elderly people affected by chronic stroke because higher levels of self-e cacy are linked to setting and achieving more ambitious self-goals 53 .…”

Editorial: The cognitive ageing collection

“…Resilience to cognitive decline and dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, may operate differently for men and women. In this Collection, Zheng et al 24 identified factors that were associated with resilience to cognitive decline in APOE ɛ4 carriers (the largest genetic risk factor for late-life dementia). These were increased mild physical activity and being employed for men, and increased mental engagement for women.…”