Thomas Chan1,2, Jeanine M Parisi1, Kyle D Moored1,2, Michelle C Carlson1,2. 1. Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland. 2. Center on Aging and Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The early environment is thought to be a critical period in understanding the cognitive health disparities African Americans face today. Much is known about the positive role enriching environments have in mid- and late-life and the negative function adverse experiences have in childhood; however, little is known about the relationship between enriching childhood experiences and late-life cognition. The current study examines the link between a variety of enriching early-life activities and late-life cognitive functioning in a sample of sociodemographic at-risk older adults. METHOD: This study used data from African Americans from the Brain and Health Substudy of the Baltimore Experience Corps Trial (M = 67.2, SD = 5.9; N = 93). Participants completed a battery of neuropsychological assessments and a seven-item retrospective inventory of enriching activities before age 13. RESULTS: Findings revealed that a greater enriching early-life activity score was linked to favorable outcomes in educational attainment, processing speed, and executive functioning. DISCUSSION: Results provide promising evidence that enriching early environments are associated with late-life educational and cognitive outcomes. Findings support the cognitive reserve and engagement frameworks, and have implications to extend life-span prevention approaches when tackling age-related cognitive declines, diseases, and health disparities. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America 2018.
OBJECTIVES: The early environment is thought to be a critical period in understanding the cognitive health disparities African Americans face today. Much is known about the positive role enriching environments have in mid- and late-life and the negative function adverse experiences have in childhood; however, little is known about the relationship between enriching childhood experiences and late-life cognition. The current study examines the link between a variety of enriching early-life activities and late-life cognitive functioning in a sample of sociodemographic at-risk older adults. METHOD: This study used data from African Americans from the Brain and Health Substudy of the Baltimore Experience Corps Trial (M = 67.2, SD = 5.9; N = 93). Participants completed a battery of neuropsychological assessments and a seven-item retrospective inventory of enriching activities before age 13. RESULTS: Findings revealed that a greater enriching early-life activity score was linked to favorable outcomes in educational attainment, processing speed, and executive functioning. DISCUSSION: Results provide promising evidence that enriching early environments are associated with late-life educational and cognitive outcomes. Findings support the cognitive reserve and engagement frameworks, and have implications to extend life-span prevention approaches when tackling age-related cognitive declines, diseases, and health disparities. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America 2018.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cognitive reserve; Developmental assets; Health disparities; Life course; Minority research
Authors: Frances A Campbell; Elizabeth P Pungello; Margaret Burchinal; Kirsten Kainz; Yi Pan; Barbara H Wasik; Oscar A Barbarin; Joseph J Sparling; Craig T Ramey Journal: Dev Psychol Date: 2012-01-16
Authors: Robert S Wilson; Lisa L Barnes; Kristin R Krueger; George Hoganson; Julia L Bienias; David A Bennett Journal: J Int Neuropsychol Soc Date: 2005-07 Impact factor: 2.892
Authors: Linda P Fried; Michelle C Carlson; Sylvia McGill; Teresa Seeman; Qian-Li Xue; Kevin Frick; Erwin Tan; Elizabeth K Tanner; Jeremy Barron; Constantine Frangakis; Rachel Piferi; Iveris Martinez; Tara Gruenewald; Barbara K Martin; Laprisha Berry-Vaughn; John Stewart; Kay Dickersin; Paul R Willging; George W Rebok Journal: Contemp Clin Trials Date: 2013-05-13 Impact factor: 2.226
Authors: Kyle D Moored; Thomas Chan; Vijay R Varma; Yi-Fang Chuang; Jeanine M Parisi; Michelle C Carlson Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2020-09-14 Impact factor: 4.077
Authors: Laura B Zahodne; Neika Sharifian; Jennifer J Manly; Jennifer A Sumner; Michael Crowe; Virginia G Wadley; Virginia J Howard; Audrey R Murchland; Willa D Brenowitz; Jennifer Weuve Journal: Psychol Aging Date: 2019-09-30
Authors: Timothy P Morris; Meishan Ai; Laura Chaddock-Heyman; Edward McAuley; Charles H Hillman; Arthur F Kramer Journal: J Cogn Enhanc Date: 2021-03-17
Authors: Kyle D Moored; Karen Bandeen-Roche; Beth E Snitz; Steven T DeKosky; Jeff D Williamson; Annette L Fitzpatrick; Michelle C Carlson Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2022-05-05 Impact factor: 4.942
Authors: Thomas Chan; Amal A Wanigatunga; Antonio Terracciano; Michelle C Carlson; Karen Bandeen-Roche; Paul T Costa; Eleanor M Simonsick; Jennifer A Schrack Journal: Psychol Aging Date: 2021-09
Authors: Soomi Lee; Emily J Urban-Wojcik; Susan T Charles; David M Almeida Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2022-04-01 Impact factor: 4.942
Authors: Timothy P Morris; Laura Chaddock-Heyman; Meishan Ai; Sheeba Arnold Anteraper; Alfonso Nieto Castañon; Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli; Charles H Hillman; Edward McAuley; Arthur F Kramer Journal: Neurobiol Aging Date: 2021-04-20 Impact factor: 5.133