Executive functioning independently predicts self-rated health and improvement in self-rated health over time among community-dwelling older adults

Objectives: Self-rated health, as distinct from objective measures of health, is a clinically informative metric among older adults. The purpose of our study was to examine the cognitive and psychosocial factors associated with self-rated health. Methods: 624 participants over the age of 60 were assessed at baseline, and of these, 510 were contacted for a follow-up two years later. Measures of executive function and self-rated health were assessed at baseline, and self-rated health was assessed at follow-up. We employed multiple linear regression analyses to investigate the relationship between executive functioning and self-rated health, while controlling for demographic, psychosocial and biological variables. Results: Controlling for other relevant variables, executive functioning independently and solely predicted self-rated health, both at a cross-sectional level, and also over time. Loneliness was also found to cross-sectionally predict self-rated health, although this relationship was not present at a longitudinal level. Conclusion: Older adults' self-rated health may be related to their executive functioning and to their loneliness. Self-rated health appeared to improve over time, and the extent of this improvement was also related to executive functioning at baseline. Self-rated health may be a judgement made of one's functioning, especially executive functioning, which changes with age and therefore may be particularly salient in the reflections of older adults

Executive functioning independently predicts self-rated health and improvement in self-rated health over time among community-dwelling older adults

Objectives: Self-rated health, as distinct from objective measures of health, is a clinically informative metric among older adults. The purpose of our study was to examine the cognitive and psychosocial factors associated with self-rated health.Methods: 624 participants over the age of 60 were assessed at baseline, and of these, 510 were contacted for a follow-up two years later. Measures of executive function and self-rated health were assessed at baseline, and self-rated health was assessed at follow-up. We employed multiple linear regression analyses to investigate the relationship between executive functioning and self-rated health, while controlling for demographic, psychosocial and biological variables.Results: Controlling for other relevant variables, executive functioning independently and solely predicted self-rated health, both at a cross-sectional level, and also over time. Loneliness was also found to cross-sectionally predict self-rated health, although this relationship was not present at a longitudinal level.Conclusion: Older adults\u27 self-rated health may be related to their executive functioning and to their loneliness. Self-rated health appeared to improve over time, and the extent of this improvement was also related to executive functioning at baseline. Self-rated health may be a judgement made of one\u27s functioning, especially executive functioning, which changes with age and therefore may be particularly salient in the reflections of older adult

New Ways of Theorizing and Conducting Research in the Field of Loneliness and Social Isolation

Loneliness is nowadays considered to be one of the main problems in society. The negative experience of a discrepancy between the desired and the achieved personal network of relationships is common and affects both younger and older adults. This chapter first addresses well-established aspects and new developments in the main concepts of loneliness and social isolation, the measuring instruments and the prevalence of loneliness. The chapter continues by an overview of theoretical ideas regarding loneliness, focusing on individuallevel and societal predisposing characteristics as well as on genetic/evolutionary perspectives on the onset and co

Cognitive and neuroscientific perspectives of healthy ageing

With dementia incidence projected to escalate significantly within the next 25 years, the United Nations declared 2021–2030 the Decade of Healthy Ageing, emphasising cognition as a crucial element. As a leading discipline in cognition and ageing research, psychology is well-equipped to offer insights for translational research, clinical practice, and policy-making. In this comprehensive review, we discuss the current state of knowledge on age-related changes in cognition and psychological health. We discuss cognitive changes during ageing, including (a) heterogeneity in the rate, trajectory, and characteristics of decline experienced by older adults, (b) the role of cognitive reserve in age-related cognitive decline, and (c) the potential for cognitive training to slow this decline. We also examine ageing and cognition through multiple theoretical perspectives. We highlight critical unresolved issues, such as the disparate implications of subjective versus objective measures of cognitive decline and the insufficient evaluation of cognitive training programs. We suggest future research directions, and emphasise interdisciplinary collaboration to create a more comprehensive understanding of the factors that modulate cognitive ageing

A prospective examination of change in executive function and physical activity in older breast cancer survivors

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)Only one third of older breast cancer survivors (BCS) meet national physical activity (PA) guidelines. Theories of self-regulation and research with older adults suggest that executive function (EF) plays an important role in PA, yet the impact of lower EF on older survivors’ PA is unknown. My project addressed this gap using secondary data from the Thinking and Living with Cancer (TLC) cohort study, which examined cognitive function among older BCS pre-treatment, followed every 12 months, and contemporaneously assessed matched controls. My first aim was to test two hypotheses regarding EF change and PA and determine if these relationships differ between BCS and controls. My hypotheses were: 1) EF decline from baseline to 12 months will predict lower PA at 24 months, and 2) lower PA at 12 months will predict EF decline from 12 to 24 months. My second aim was to explore whether the effects of EF change on PA in BCS differed based on risk factors for accelerated cognitive decline (i.e., older age, more advanced cancer stage, comorbidity, and APOE ε4 genotype). The TLC study measured EF with neuropsychological tests and PA with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form. For aims 1 and 2, I used multiple regression with multiple imputation. Primary results showed no significant effect of EF change from baseline to 12 months on PA at 24 months (β=-0.01, p=0.88) and no significant group (BCS vs. controls) by EF interaction (β=-0.05, p=0.33). Separate models in BCS and controls showed similar findings. In the entire sample, PA at 12 months significantly predicted EF change from 12 to 24 months (β=0.17, p=0.01), but there was no significant group by PA interaction (β=-0.06, p=0.54). Separate analyses by group found a significant effect of PA for controls (β=0.07, p=0.02), but not for BCS (β=0.05, p=0.27). Regarding the second aim, there were no significant interactions between EF change and the proposed risk factors on PA. Findings were largely inconsistent with theory and prior research. Continued research in this area will inform future exercise interventions to improve physical and cognitive health for the growing population of older cancer survivors

Patients\u27 Perceptions of Quality of Life and Resource Availability After Critical Illness

Physical, psychological, and social debilities are common among survivors of critical illness. Survivors of critical illness require rehabilitative services during recovery in order to return to functional independence, but the structure and access of such services remains unclear. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the vital issues affecting quality of life from the perspective of critical illness survivors and to understand these patients\u27 experiences with rehabilitative services in the United States. The theoretical framework guiding this study was Weber\u27s rational choice theory, and a phenomenological study design was employed. The research questions focused on the survivors\u27 experiences with rehabilitative services following critical illness and post-intensive care unit quality of life. Participants were recruited using purposeful sampling. A researcher developed instrument was used to conduct 12 semistructured interviews in central North Carolina. Data from the interviews were coded for thematic analysis. The findings identified that aftercare lacked unity, was limited by disparate information, and overuses informal caregivers. In addition, survivors\u27 recovery depended on being prepared for post-intensive care unit life, access to recovery specific support structures, and the survivors\u27 ability to adapt to a new normalcy. Survivors experienced gratitude for being saved, which empowered them to embrace new life priorities. The implications for social change include improved understanding of urgently needed health care policies to provide essential therapies and services required to support intensive care unit survivors on their journey to recovery