Multigenerational Households During Childhood and Trajectories of Cognitive Functioning Among U.S. Older Adults

Lee, Haena; Ryan, Lindsay H.; Ofstedal, Mary Beth; Smith, Jacqui

doi:10.1093/geronb/gbaa165

Cited by 20 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 49 publications

(68 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.71, indicating good reliability among the items. Following previous work ( 37 , 38 ), we imputed missing data for mother’s and father’s education as less than 8 years as respondents in the HRS missing data on parental education have economic and health variables similar to those whose parents had less than 8 years of education. Few respondents experienced four or more adversities, so we collapsed the index to range from zero to three or more.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We first fit model 1 predicting the long-term association between childhood lead exposure and trajectories of cognitive function. We then accounted for educational attainment in model 2 because education is prior to income and wealth attainment ( 38 ). Model 3 considered income and wealth.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Model 4 further adjusted for adult cardiovascular health conditions. Accounting for adult SES and health indicators in this sequential manner allowed us to investigate to what extent the association between childhood lead exposure and cognitive functioning observed in model 1 is mediated by the adult SES and health pathways ( 38 ). All models were controlled for covariates including age, sex, race/ethnicity, childhood SES, childhood health, and region of birth.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We used growth curve models to account for repeated observations of cognitive functioning per person (34,35); we focus on the relationship between lead exposure and both the intercept and slope of these growth curves. Following previous work (36)(37)(38), we used ordinary least squares and logistic regression models to assess the relationship of adult mediators with childhood lead exposure. A formal mediation test using the Karlson, Holm, and Breen (KHB) method was then used to decompose the relative importance of the direct and indirect pathways from childhood lead exposure to late-life cognition (39,40).…”

Section: Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mediation analyses were carried out in two steps. First, following previous work (36)(37)(38), we ran a series of models with adult SES and health outcomes as a function of childhood lead exposure, net of demographic, and childhood covariates. We chose to analyze adulthood SES and health outcomes at the baseline survey because results from growth curve models only identified level differences in cognitive performance by childhood lead exposure, not slope differences in the rate of cognitive change.…”

Section: Analytic Strategymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Childhood lead exposure is associated with lower cognitive functioning at older ages

Lee

Warren

et al. 2022

Sci. Adv.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Flint, Michigan water crisis renewed concern about lead toxicity in drinking water. While lead in drinking water has been shown to negatively affect cognition among children, much less is known about its long-term consequences for late-life cognition. Using a nationally representative sample of U.S. older adults linked to historical administrative data from 1940, we find that older adults who lived as children in cities with lead pipes and acidic or alkaline water—the conditions required for lead to leach into drinking water—had worse cognitive functioning but not steeper cognitive decline. About a quarter of the association between lead and late-life cognition was accounted for by educational attainment. Within the next 10 years, American children exposed to high levels of lead during the 1970s will enter older ages. Our evidence highlights the need for stronger actions to identify interventions to mitigate long-term damage among people at high risk.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Analytic Strategymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Childhood lead exposure is associated with lower cognitive functioning at older ages

Lee

Warren

et al. 2022

Sci. Adv.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Prospective Intervention Strategies Between Skeletal Muscle Health and Mitochondrial Changes During Aging

Zhang,

Liao,

Huang

et al. 2024

Advanced Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sarcopenia is a geriatric condition characterized by a decrease in skeletal muscle mass and function, significantly impacting both quality of life and overall health. Mitochondria are the main sites of energy production within the cell, and also produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which maintain mitochondrial homeostasis‐mitophagy (clearing damaged mitochondria); mitochondrial dynamics, which involve fusion and fission to regulate mitochondrial morphology; mitochondrial biogenesis, which ensures the functionality and homeostasis of mitochondria. Sarcopenia is linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, suggesting that muscle mitochondrial function therapy should be investigated. Extrinsic therapies are extensively examined to identify new treatments for muscular illnesses including sarcopenia. Changes in muscle physiology and lifestyle interventions, such as pharmacological treatments and exercise, can modulate mitochondrial activity in older adults. This PubMed review encompasses the most significant mitophagy and sarcopenia research from the past five years. Animal models, cellular models, and human samples are well covered. The review will inform the development of novel mitochondria‐targeted therapies aimed at combating age‐related muscle atrophy.

show abstract

Early learning difficulties, childhood stress, race, and risk of cognitive impairment among US adults over age 50: A cross‐sectional analysis

Nkwata,

Smith

2023

Health Science Reports

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background and AimsMost literature linking childhood factors to cognitive health outcomes has focused on educational attainment—defined as years of education attained. However, less has been studied about the other aspects of education, such as early learning problems, and stressful family environments. This study examined whether early learning problems and childhood stressors were associated with mid‐ and later life cognitive impairment among US adults, and if these associations varied by race.MethodsWe conducted a cross‐sectional analysis using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) along with respondents' early educational experiences from the 2015 to 2017 Life History Mail Survey (N = 9703). Early learning problems were defined as having any of the following: scholastic problems (reading, writing, mathematics), speaking/language issues, and sensorimotor issues‐ hearing, vision, speech, and motor‐coordination. Cognitive status was classified as three levels (normal, cognitively impaired not demented [CIND], and demented) using the HRS Langa−Weir algorithm. Multinomial logistic regression models using generalized logits, estimated relative risk ratios (RRRs), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) with adjustment for sociodemographic factors.ResultsHaving at least one early learning problem was associated with increased risk of later life cognitive impairment (RRR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.34−2.29 for dementia, RRR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.20−1.67 for CIND). Parental death before the age of 16 was associated with 17% higher risk of CIND in later life (RRR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.01−1.34). However, learning problem‐related differences in risk of cognitive impairment were dependent on race (learning problems × race, p = 0.0001). In the demented group, Blacks were 2.7 times more likely to be demented (RRR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.69−4.17) amongst older adults that experienced childhood learning problems.ConclusionsEarly life exposures predicted risk of cognitive impairment. Policies and interventions that enhance diagnosis of early learning problems and improve childhood social contexts are needed to promote healthy cognitive aging amongst Americans, regardless of race.

show abstract

Multigenerational Households During Childhood and Trajectories of Cognitive Functioning Among U.S. Older Adults

Cited by 20 publications

References 49 publications

Childhood lead exposure is associated with lower cognitive functioning at older ages

Childhood lead exposure is associated with lower cognitive functioning at older ages

Prospective Intervention Strategies Between Skeletal Muscle Health and Mitochondrial Changes During Aging

Early learning difficulties, childhood stress, race, and risk of cognitive impairment among US adults over age 50: A cross‐sectional analysis

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About