Lifestyle Factors Related to Cognitive Aging
type: CreativeWork
description: Cognitive changes are a hallmark feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and lifestyle behaviors have been associated with a reduced risk of disease onset and slower rate of cognitive decline. Research examining the relationship of lifestyle factors (LFs) to brain health has typically focused on individual factors in isolation (more physical activity (PA) and reduced risk of AD); however, few studies have examined the combined effects of multiple LFs on cognition. The current study aimed to 1) determine which LFs best predict cognition cross-sectionally; 2) derive and compare different approaches to developing a Health Score (HS) to help predict cognition; and 3) discern if a healthy lifestyle was associated with slower rate of cognitive decline. This study included 467 older adults (Mage=83; No Cognitive Impairment=361, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI=94), Alzheimer's dementia (AD=12)) enrolled in a longitudinal (Myears=3.72) aging study with yearly evaluations, including neuropsychological testing, clinical evaluation, and detailed assessment of lifestyle behaviors: diet, PA, sleep, social activities, stress, depression, alcohol, smoking, body mass index (BMI), and APOE genotyping. Cognitive z-scores were derived for global cognition, verbal memory, processing speed, and working memory. HS based on a Scientific (i.e., data driven), Lifestyle/Health (i.e., only healthy lifestyle behaviors), Risk/Disease (i.e., only unhealthy behaviors), or Comprehensive (i.e., all healthy/unhealthy behaviors) approaches were calculated and categorized (Unfavorable, Minimally Favorable, Moderately Favorable, Favorable) based on quartiles. Rate of cognitive change was also calculated. Multiple linear regression analyses in the full sample revealed demographic and lifestyle (i.e., social activities, diet) factors consistently predicted cognition cross-sectionally. In the MCI/AD group, diet, PA and BMI were significant predictors with minimal demographic predictors. HS comparisons via Meng'…
abstract: Cognitive changes are a hallmark feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and lifestyle behaviors have been associated with a reduced risk of disease onset and slower rate of cognitive decline. Research examining the relationship of lifestyle factors (LFs) to brain health has typically focused on individual factors in isolation (more physical activity (PA) and reduced risk of AD); however, few studies have examined the combined effects of multiple LFs on cognition. The current study aimed to 1) determine which LFs best predict cognition cross-sectionally; 2) derive and compare different approaches to developing a Health Score (HS) to help predict cognition; and 3) discern if a healthy lifestyle was associated with slower rate of cognitive decline. This study included 467 older adults (Mage=83; No Cognitive Impairment=361, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI=94), Alzheimer's dementia (AD=12)) enrolled in a longitudinal (Myears=3.72) aging study with yearly evaluations, including neuropsychological testing, clinical evaluation, and detailed assessment of lifestyle behaviors: diet, PA, sleep, social activities, stress, depression, alcohol, smoking, body mass index (BMI), and APOE genotyping. Cognitive z-scores were derived for global cognition, verbal memory, processing speed, and working memory. HS based on a Scientific (i.e., data driven), Lifestyle/Health (i.e., only healthy lifestyle behaviors), Risk/Disease (i.e., only unhealthy behaviors), or Comprehensive (i.e., all healthy/unhealthy behaviors) approaches were calculated and categorized (Unfavorable, Minimally Favorable, Moderately Favorable, Favorable) based on quartiles. Rate of cognitive change was also calculated. Multiple linear regression analyses in the full sample revealed demographic and lifestyle (i.e., social activities, diet) factors consistently predicted cognition cross-sectionally. In the MCI/AD group, diet, PA and BMI were significant predictors with minimal demographic predictors. HS comparisons via Meng'…
author: Smith, Emily Elaine
language: en
keywords: Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Alzheimer Disease, Cognition, Life Style
date published: 2022-09-20T17:17:45Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T05:52:36Z
provider: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/2152.5/9977