Browsing by Author "Boyle, Patricia A."
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Item Association of Amyloid-β Pathology with Decision Making and Scam Susceptibility(IOS Press, 2021) Kapasi, Alifiya; Yu, Lei; Stewart, Christopher; Schneider, Julie A.; Bennett, David A.; Boyle, Patricia A.; Neurology, School of MedicineBackground: Recent findings suggest that poor decision making and increased scam susceptibility are harbingers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia and may be among the earliest behavioral manifestations of pathologic cognitive aging. However, the degree to which poor decision making and scam susceptibility reflect accumulating Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology remains unclear. Objective: To investigate the associations of AD pathology with decision making and scam susceptibility in older adults without dementia. Methods: Data came from 198 deceased participants without clinical dementia (mean age at death = 90 years; 69%women) from two ongoing studies of aging. All underwent annual clinical evaluations, completed assessments of healthcare and financial decision making and scam susceptibility, and brain donation. Neuropathologic evaluations quantified pathologic hallmarks of AD, amyloid-β and tau-tangles, Lewy body pathology, and TDP-43 proteinopathy. Results: In linear regression models adjusted for demographics, amyloid-β pathology was associated with lower decision making (estimate = -0.35; SE = 0.16, p = 0.03), particularly healthcare decision making (estimate = -0.20; SE = 0.09, p = 0.03), as well as greater scam susceptibility (estimate = 0.12; SE = 0.04, p = 0.003); tau-tangle pathology was not related. Further, TDP-43 pathology was associated with greater scam susceptibility (estimate = 0.10; SE = 0.04; p = 0.02). Conclusion: Accumulating AD pathology, particularly amyloid-β, is associated with poor decision making and increased scam susceptibility among older persons without overt cognitive impairment. These findings provide compelling evidence that decision making and scam susceptibility are sensitive to the earliest pathological changes of AD.Item The Association of Late Life Cognitive Activity with Healthcare and Financial Decision Making in Community-Dwelling, Non-Demented Older Adults(Elsevier, 2021) Glover, Crystal M.; Yu, Lei; Stewart, Christopher C.; Wilson, Robert S.; Bennett, David A.; Boyle, Patricia A.; Neurology, School of MedicineObjective: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that late life cognitive activity is associated with decision-making in older adults and to examine whether this association varies by level of cognitive function. Design: This study employed a cross-sectional design. Setting: All data were collected in participants' community-based residences. Participants: Participants were 1,084 older adults (mean age = 81.05 years, standard deviation = 7.53) without dementia (median Mini-Mental State Examination score = 29, interquartile range = 27.86-30.00). Measurements: Participants completed assessments of late life cognitive activity, cognitive function, and decision-making. We used linear regression models to examine the associations of late life cognitive activity and cognitive function with decision-making. Results: In a regression model adjusted for age, gender, and education, more frequent late life cognitive activity was associated with better decision-making, as was higher cognitive function. Furthermore, in an additional model that included the interaction of late life cognitive activity and cognitive function, the interaction was significant, such that late life cognitive activity was most strongly associated with decision-making among participants with lower levels of cognitive function. Conclusion: Frequent engagement in late life cognitive activity may help maintain decision-making among older persons, particularly among those with lower levels of cognitive function.Item Association of TDP-43 Pathology With Domain-specific Literacy in Older Persons(Wolters Kluwer, 2019-10-01) Kapasi, Alifiya; Yu, Lei; Stewart, Christopher C.; Schneider, Julie A.; Bennett, David A.; Boyle, Patricia A.; Neurology, School of MedicineBackground Low health and financial literacy may be an early behavioral manifestation of cognitive impairment, dementia, and accumulating Alzheimer’s pathology. However, there are limited studies investigating the behavioral features associated with hyperphosphorylated transactive response DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43), a common age-related pathology, and even fewer studies investigating the neurobiological basis underlying low literacy in aging. Objective To test the hypothesis that TDP-43 pathology is associated with lower literacy. Methods Data came from 293 community-based older persons who were enrolled in two ongoing studies of aging. Participants completed literacy and cognitive assessments, consented to brain donation, and underwent detailed neuropathological evaluation for AD and TDP-43. Linear regression models assessed the association of TDP-43 with literacy after adjusting for demographics, and AD pathology. Post-hoc pairwise comparisons examined whether the level of literacy differed by TDP-43 stage. Results TDP-43 pathology was associated with lower literacy (estimate=−3.16; SE=0.86; p<0.001), above and beyond demographics and AD pathology, and this association persisted even after additionally adjusting for global cognition (estimate=−1.53; SE=0.74; p=0.038). Further, literacy was lower among persons with neocortical TDP-43 pathology compared to those without TDP-43 pathology. Conclusion TDP-43 pathology is associated with lower health and financial literacy in old age, above and beyond AD pathology.Item Associations of decision making abilities with blood pressure values in older adults(Wolters Kluwer, 2020-01-01) Lamar, Melissa; Wilson, Robert S.; Yu, Lei; Stewart, Christopher C.; Bennett, David A.; Boyle, Patricia A.; Neurology, School of MedicineObjectives: Decision making, key to successful aging, has implications for financial success, physical health, and well being. While poor decision making has been linked with increased risk of mortality, age-related cognitive decline, and dementia, less is known regarding its associations with chronic disease indicators. We investigated the associations of decision making with blood pressure (BP) values [i.e., SBP, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and pulse pressure (PP), separately] in a community-based cohort study of aging. Methods: Participants were 908 nondemented older adults (age ∼81 years; 75% women) from the Rush Memory and Aging Project. Decision making was measured using questions designed to simulate materials used in financial and healthcare settings in the real world and yielded a total score and domain-specific health and financial decision making scores. Two seated and one standing BP measurement were taken with all three contributing to average SBP, MAP that is, [SBP + (2 × DBP)]/3, and PP, that is, SBP − DBP. Participants were queried about hypertension status and antihypertension medications were visually inspected and coded. Participants also underwent medical history and cognitive assessments. Results: In separate multivariable linear regression models, total decision making scores were inversely associated with SBP, MAP, and PP after adjusting for age, sex, education, antihypertension medication use, diabetes, and cumulative cardiovascular disease burden (P values = 0.03). Decision making remained associated with these BP values after additional adjustment for global cognition. Conclusion: Poorer decision making is associated with higher BP values in nondemented older adults.Item Change in Decision-Making Analysis and Preferences in Old Age(Oxford University Press, 2023) Wilson, Robert S.; Yu, Lei; Stewart, Christopher C.; Bennett, David A.; Boyle, Patricia A.; Neurology, School of MedicineObjectives: To test the hypotheses that decision making ability declines in old age and that a higher level of cognitive reserve is associated with a reduced rate of decline. Methods: As part of an ongoing cohort study, 982 older adults without dementia at study enrollment completed measures of purpose in life and cognitive activity which were used as markers of cognitive reserve. At annual intervals thereafter, they completed 6 tests of decision making. Results: In a factor analysis of baseline decision making scores, 3 measures (financial/health literacy, financial/health decision making, scam susceptibility) loaded on an "analytic" factor and 3 (temporal discounting small stakes, temporal discounting large stakes, risk aversion) loaded on a "preferences" (for temporal discounting and avoiding risk) factor. During a mean of 4.7 years of follow-up (standard deviation = 2.9), analytic factor scores decreased (mean = 0.042-unit per year, standard error [SE] = 0.006, p < .001) and preferences factor scores increased (mean = 0.021-unit per year, SE = 0.006, p < .001), with a correlation of 0.13 (p < .001) between rates of change. Evidence of an association between cognitive reserve and decision making was mixed with purpose in life related to change in analytic decision making, whereas past (but not current) cognitive activity was related to change in decision making preferences. Discussion: Decision making analysis and preferences change over time in late life. Change over time in decision making components is relatively independent and differentially related to age and cognitive reserve.Item Childhood Socioeconomic Status Interacts with Cognitive Function to Impact Scam Susceptibility Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults(Taylor & Francis, 2023) Glover, Crystal M.; Yu, Lei; Stewart, Christopher C.; Wilson, Robert S.; Bennett, David A.; Lamar, Melissa; Boyle, Patricia A.; Neurology, School of MedicineObjectives: We examined whether childhood socioeconomic status (SES) is related to scam susceptibility in old age and tested the hypothesis that childhood SES interacts with cognitive function to impact scam susceptibility. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design. All data were collected in participants' community-based residences. Participants were 1071 older adults (mean age = 81.05 years, SD = 7.53) without dementia (median MMSE score = 28.29, IQR = 27.86-30.00). Participants completed assessments of childhood SES, cognitive function, and scam susceptibility. We used linear regression models to examine the associations of childhood SES and cognitive function with scam susceptibility. Results: In a regression model adjusted for age, gender, and education, poorer cognitive function was associated with higher scam susceptibility, but childhood SES was not. However, in an additional model that included the interaction of childhood SES and cognitive function, the interaction was significant, such that lower childhood SES was associated with higher scam susceptibility among participants with lower cognitive function. Conclusion: Lower childhood SES is associated with higher scam susceptibility among older adults with lower levels of cognitive function. Thus, older adults who experienced limited resources in childhood and have lower cognitive function may represent a specific group for interventions to increase scam awareness and prevent financial exploitation.Item Healthcare and Financial Decision Making and Incident Adverse Cognitive Outcomes among Older Adults(Wiley, 2019-08) Stewart, Christopher C.; Yu, Lei; Wilson, Robert S.; Bennett, David A.; Boyle, Patricia A.; Neurology, School of MedicineOBJECTIVES To determine if poorer healthcare and financial decision making forecasts adverse cognitive outcomes in old age. Specifically, we hypothesized that poorer decision making would be associated with an increased risk of incident Alzheimer's dementia, an increased risk of incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and a more rapid decline in cognition. DESIGN An ongoing prospective observational cohort study of aging (the Rush Memory and Aging Project). SETTING The greater Chicago area. PARTICIPANTS A total of 952 community‐based older adults without dementia at baseline. MEASUREMENTS Participants completed a measure of healthcare and financial decision making at baseline and underwent annual standardized evaluations to track clinical status and cognitive functions (global cognition, episodic memory, semantic memory, working memory, perceptual speed, and visuospatial ability). RESULTS During up to 9 years of follow‐up (M = 5.2 y; standard deviation = 2.7), 156 participants developed Alzheimer's dementia (16.4% of 952), 253 participants developed MCI (33.2% of 760), and each cognitive measure declined (all P s < .001). In Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, sex, and education, poorer decision making was associated with an increased risk of incident Alzheimer's dementia (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10‐1.24; P < .001) and incident MCI (HR = 1.16; 95% CI = 1.10‐1.22; P < .001). Further, in linear mixed‐effects models, poorer decision making among those who were initially free of cognitive impairment was associated with a more rapid decline in global cognition and four of five specific cognitive domains (all P s < .05). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that poorer healthcare and financial decision making heralds adverse cognitive outcomes in old age.Item Loneliness Interacts With Cognition in Relation to Healthcare and Financial Decision Making Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults(Oxford University Press, 2020-11-23) Stewart, Christopher C.; Yu, Lei; Glover, Crystal M.; Mottola, Gary; Bennett, David A.; Wilson, Robert S.; Boyle, Patricia A.; Neurology, School of MedicineBackground and objectives: Cognition is a known determinant of healthcare and financial decision making in old age. Social vulnerabilities also might play a role in such decisions; however, the evidence for this is less clear. Here, we examined the association of loneliness with decision making and tested the hypothesis that loneliness is associated with decision making via its interaction with global cognition. Research design and methods: Participants were 1,121 nondemented older adults from the Rush Memory and Aging Project. Healthcare and financial decision making was assessed via a performance-based measure; loneliness was assessed via the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale; and cognition was assessed via a 19-test neuropsychological battery. Results: In a regression model adjusted for age, sex, and education, global cognition was associated with decision making (B = 2.43, SE = 0.14, p < .001) but loneliness was not (B = -0.04, SE = 0.11, p = .72). However, in a model including the interaction of loneliness with global cognition, the interaction was significant (B = 0.44, SE = 0.20, p = .03), such that the detrimental effect of loneliness on decision making was stronger when cognition was low. In secondary analyses examining the interaction of loneliness with 5 specific cognitive domains, the interaction between loneliness and working memory with decision making was significant (B = 0.35, SE = 0.15, p = .02). Discussion and implications: Our results suggest that loneliness compromises healthcare and financial decision making among older adults with lower global cognition and, more specifically, lower working memory.Item Longitudinal cognitive performance of Alzheimer's disease neuropathological subtypes(Alzheimer’s Association, 2021-09-27) Uretsky, Madeline; Gibbons, Laura E.; Mukherjee, Shubhabrata; Trittschuh, Emily H.; Fardo, David W.; Boyle, Patricia A.; Keene, C. Dirk; Saykin, Andrew J.; Crane, Paul K.; Schneider, Julie A.; Mez, Jesse; Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of MedicineIntroduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathological subtypes (limbic predominant [lpAD], hippocampal sparing [HpSpAD], and typical [tAD]), defined by relative neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) burden in limbic and cortical regions, have not been studied in prospectively characterized epidemiological cohorts with robust cognitive assessments. Methods: Two hundred ninety-two participants with neuropathologically confirmed AD from the Religious Orders Study and Memory and Aging Project were categorized by neuropathological subtype based on previously specified diagnostic criteria using quantitative regional NFT counts. Rates of cognitive decline were compared across subtypes using linear mixed-effects models that included subtype, time, and a subtype-time interaction as predictors and four cognitive domain factor scores (memory, executive function, language, visuospatial) and a global score as outcomes. To assess if memory was relatively preserved in HpSpAD, non-memory factor scores were included as covariates in the mixed-effects model with memory as the outcome. Results: There were 57 (20%) with lpAD, 22 (8%) with HpSpAD and 213 (73%) with tAD. LpAD died significantly later than the participants with tAD (2.4 years, P = .01) and with HpSpAD (3.8 years, P = .03). Compared to tAD, HpSpAD, but not lpAD, performed significantly worse in all cognitive domains at the time of initial impairment and declined significantly faster in memory, language, and globally. HpSpAD did not have relatively preserved memory performance at any time point. Conclusion: The relative frequencies of AD neuropathological subtypes in an epidemiological sample were consistent with a previous report in a convenience sample. People with HpSpAD decline rapidly, but may not have a memory-sparing clinical syndrome. Cohort-specific differences in regional tau burden and comorbid neuropathology may explain the lack of clinicopathological correlation.Item Psychological Wellbeing Relates to Healthcare and Financial Decision Making in a Study of Predominantly White Older Adults(Sage, 2023) Glover, Crystal M.; Stewart, Christopher C.; Yu, Lei; Wilson, Robert S.; Lamar, Melissa; Bennett, David A.; Boyle, Patricia A.; Neurology, School of MedicineThe purpose of this study was to test the hypotheses that psychological well-being is associated with healthcare and financial decision making in older adults and that this association varies by the level of cognitive function. Participants were 1082 older adults (97% non-Latino White; 76% women; mean age = 81.04 years; SD = 7.53) without dementia (median MMSE score = 29.00, IQR = 27.86-30.00). In a regression model adjusted for age, gender, and years of education, higher levels of psychological well-being were associated with better decision making (estimate = 0.39, standard error [SE] = 0.11, p < .001), as was better cognitive function (estimate = 2.37, SE = 0.14, p < .0001). In an additional model, an interaction of psychological well-being and cognitive function was significant (estimate = -0.68, SE = 0.20, p < .001), such that higher levels of psychological well-being were most beneficial for decision making among participants with lower levels of cognitive function. Higher levels of psychological well-being may help sustain decision making among older persons, particularly those with lower levels of cognitive function.