Cumulative stress exposure and cognitive function among older adults: The moderating role of a healthy lifestyle
Danielle D’Amico, Udi Alter, Alexandra J Fiocco- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Gerontology
- Clinical Psychology
- Social Psychology
Abstract
Objectives
Although chronic stress is a risk factor for poor age-related cognitive health, there is limited research that has examined how cumulative stress across the lifespan impacts cognitive aging. There may also be resilience factors that minimize the effects of cumulative stress on cognitive health. Engaging in a healthy lifestyle is protective against cognitive decline and may therefore interact with cumulative stress to buffer the stress-cognition relationship. The objective of the current study was to examine the moderating role of a healthy lifestyle, comprised of physical activity, social engagement, and sleep quality, in the relationship between cumulative stress exposure and baseline and change in cognitive performance (global cognition, episodic memory, executive function) over 9 years among 1297 older adults in the MIDUS cohort (Mage = 69.0±6.4, 57.8% female).
Method
Cumulative stress exposure and healthy lifestyle behaviours were indexed using self-reported questionnaires at baseline, and cognitive function was assessed using a battery of standardized neuropsychological tests at baseline and follow-up.
Results
Controlling for age, sex, education, race, marital status, employment status, hypertension, diabetes, and depression, higher cumulative stress exposure was associated with poorer baseline performance and slower decline over time in global cognition and executive function, but not episodic memory. A healthy lifestyle did not significantly moderate the relationship between cumulative stress and cognitive function. Exploratory analyses showed a significant cumulative stress-cognition relationship among females only.
Discussion
This study lends support for a lifespan model of cognitive aging and suggests that the cognitive health consequences of stress extend beyond immediate timescales.