Cognitive Impacts of Age Based Stereotype Threat in Older Adults

The present study examined the effects of age-based stereotype threat (ABST) exposure on cognitive performance in older adults. Forty-nine community volunteers age 65 and older were stratified by age and gender and then randomly assigned to either an ABST group or a Control group. The ABST group read a paragraph describing the expected negative effects of age on cognition and the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in older adults. Participants in the Control group read a neutral paragraph of similar length and difficulty. It was hypothesized that individuals in the ABST group would perform worse on neuropsychological testing than individuals in the Control group. Specifically, it was hypothesized that participants in the ABST group would score lower on combined neuropsychological measures of memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed which are commonly used to assess cognitive function in older adults in neuropsychological settings. Results suggest that no significant difference exists between participants in the ABST versus the control group on objective cognitive performance in any of the predicted domains. Implications of these findings as well as limitations and future research directions are discussed

BIOBEHAVIORAL PREDICTORS OF EXECUTIVE FUNCTION DECLINE IN MID- AND LATE LIFE ADULTS

Using data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Longitudinal Study of Health and Well-Being, this study examined high frequency heart rate variability as a longitudinal predictor of cognitive change in key executive function domains: inhibition, shifting, and updating. This study further explored the interactions between HF HRV and important health factors (inflammation, stress, sleep, and mood and anxiety) in predicting executive function decline. The results of this investigation demonstrated that while high frequency heart rate variability and inhibition decline were correlated, HF HRV was not a significant predictor of decline in any executive function. However, results did show an interaction effect between HF HRV and depression in predicting inhibition and shifting declines in mid-life adults. Further, main effects of sleep quality and anxiety on inhibition and shifting declines were identified. Implications of these findings as well as limitations and future research directions are discussed

The Longitudinal Effects of Sleep Quality on Executive Function

Poor sleep quality is common today. However, our understanding of how sleep quality affects cognition over time is limited. The current study thus investigates the relationship between sleep quality and executive function longitudinally. Data from Waves 2 and 3 of the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) research project, an ongoing longitudinal study on health and well-being in mid-life adults, was used. During Wave 2, 881 participants were administered the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and performed the Stop and Go Task (SGT), which measures executive function. Nine years later, during Wave 3, these 881 participants were again administered the SGT. Executive function decline was assessed as the change in task performance on SGT from Wave 2 to Wave 3. A main effect of global sleep quality on decline in executive function, when controlling for age, was supported (F(2,878)=10.868, p\u3c.001). Specifically, lower global sleep quality was significantly predictive of executive function decline over a nine-year period in middle-aged adults. These findings provide insight into how a potentially modifiable lifestyle factor — sleep quality — may predict longitudinal cognitive decline. Evidence-based interventions that seek to improve sleep quality are proposed as a potential factor for preserving cognitive function as we age

The role of citizen science in science perception, meaning, and environmental values: An evaluation of the Living Snow Project

Citizen science programs provide a means for outdoor enthusiasts to combine their recreational pursuits with engagement in science. This research evaluated the role of citizen science in peoples’ perceptions of science, meaningfulness of their outdoor experiences, and environmental attitudes, identity, and connection. The Living Snow Project (LSP), a community-enabled (citizen science) program, engages the outdoor recreation community in research characterizing alpine snow microbiomes through volunteer sample collections in alpine environments. Citizen scientists (N=41) volunteering with LSP participated in this study at two time points before and after the 2019 snow sampling season. At both time points, participants completed five well-established measures to assess environmental attitudes, values, identity, and connection to nature. In addition, we collected demographic and LSP participation information (Time 1), as well as their citizen science experience and perceptions of science (Time 2). The results indicated that citizen scientists (1) reported their recreational experiences were more meaningful as a result of their engagement in citizen science; (2) had more positive perceptions of science and interest in participating in science; and (3) displayed high levels of environmental concern, connectedness to nature, and pro-environmental values and identity as evidenced by near ceiling levels across the five measures