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This study examined dyadic interrelations between episodic memory and depressive symptom trajectories of change in old and advanced old age. The authors applied dynamic models to 10-year incomplete longitudinal data of initially 1,599 married couples from the study of Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old ([M.sub.age] = 75 years at Time 1). The authors found domain-specific lead-lag associations (time lags of 2 years) among wives and husbands as well as between spouses. For memory, better performance among husbands protected against subsequent memory decline among wives, with no evidence of a directed effect in the other direction. For depressive symptoms, wives' scores predicted subsequent depression increase and memory decline among husbands. Possible individual covariates (age, education, functional limitations) and spousal covariates (length of marriage, number of children, and whether the couple remained intact over the study period) did not account for differential lead-lag associations. The findings of antecedent-consequent relations between wives and husbands are consistent with life-span notions that individual development both influences and is influenced by contextual factors such as close social relationships. Keywords: dyad, spouses, successful aging, dynamic modeling, growth curve modeling DOI: 10.1037/a0016346

Previous analyses have identified a genetic contribution to the correlation between declines with age in processing speed and higher cognitive abilities. The goal of the current analysis was to apply the biometric dual change score model to consider the possibility of temporal dynamics underlying the genetic covariance between aging trajectories for processing speed and cognitive abilities. Longitudinal twin data from the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging, including up to 5 measurement occasions covering a 16-year period, were available from 806 participants ranging in age from 50 to 88 years at the 1st measurement wave. Factors were generated to tap 4 cognitive domains: verbal ability, spatial ability, memory, and processing speed. Model-fitting indicated that genetic variance for processing speed was a leading indicator of variation in age changes for spatial and memory ability, providing additional support for processing speed theories of cognitive aging. Keywords: cognitive aging, longitudinal twin study, behavioral genetics, temporal dynamics, speed-cognition relationship

The authors applied linear dynamic models to longitudinal data to examine the dynamics of reading and cognition from 1st to 12th grade. They used longitudinal data (N = 445) from the Connecticut Longitudinal Study (S. E. Shaywitz, B. A. Shaywitz, J. M. Fletcher, & M. D. Escobar, 1990) to map the dynamic interrelations of various scales of the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children--Revised (i.e., Full, Performance, and Verbal) and specific markers of the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery--Revised reading cluster (i.e., Letter-Word 1D, Decoding, and Comprehension). The results of these analyses indicate that (a) there is a positive dynamic relation between reading and cognition across the selected age range; (b) this dynamic relation is symbiotic, with positive influences in both directions; (c) the influence from cognition to reading is stronger when considering the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children Performance--Revised Performance scale and weaker with the Verbal scale; (d) when examining the different Reading subtests, the influences from cognition are more apparent for LetterWord ID and Comprehension and are less perceptible for Decoding; and (e) the dynamics of reading and cognition appear to be of stronger magnitude during I st to 3rd grade, less strong during 4th to 8th grade, and weaker from 9th to 12th grade. Keywords: longitudinal data analysis, dynamic modeling, reading development, cognitive development

To separate age and cohort effects on decline in normal cognitive aging, we applied growth curve models to longitudinal data from the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging. Data from up to five measurement waves covering a 16-year period were available from 806 participants (age 50 to 88 at the first wave). We divided the sample into two cohorts by birth year: [900-1925 and 1926-1948. We generated components to tap four cognitive domains: verbal and spatial ability, memory, and speed. We tested cohort differences by using two growth models: quadratic and two linear slopes. Results indicated significant cohort differences in average performance at age 67.5 for all components except speed. When we compared linear slopes during the same age range (age 62-78), we found no cohort differences. Trajectories of change with age in these four domains were fundamentally the same in middle-old age for individuals born during the first half of the 20th century.

Objectives. The purpose of this study was (a) to investigate whether attrition due to death and nonresponse leads to bias in estimated growth-decline trajectories when only complete data are used in longitudinal research, and (b) to examine the extent of the bias and possible solutions. Methods. The study sample was a subset of the Longitudinal Study of Generations and included data from 208 G1-G2 parent-child dyads and 538 G2-G3 dyads over 30 years. We used a latent growth-decline curve model based on full information maximum likelihood estimation in order to compare parents' and adult children's reports on older respondents' health and intergenerational solidarity by parents' attrition status. Results. Results indicated that attrition due to mortality biased estimates of respondents' assessments of their functional health status over time, and parents' perceptions of the quality of the parent-child relationship deteriorated more rapidly among those who died by Time 7, but nonresponse did not seriously bias estimates of these measures. Using proxies, we found that functional impairment increased more rapidly when children reported about parents, especially in advanced old age. Discussion. These results support the use of full information in estimating growth curves where mortality is present but raise concerns when using child proxies to evaluate parental health or the quality of intergenerational relationships.

ABSTRACT This article explores new statistical methodologies for using longitudinal data in the early prediction of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Specifically, the authors examine some new techniques that allow the joint [...]

Vocabulary knowledge may not be a unidimensional construct, and the relations between vocabulary knowledge and age may depend on the aspect of vocabulary knowledge being assessed. In this study, we examined the factor structure of a vocabulary test given to a large nationally representative sample of individuals (N ~ 20,500). Results indicated that the vocabulary test is not unidimensional but bidimensional, with Basic Vocabulary and Advanced Vocabulary factors. An analysis of age differences indicates that basic vocabulary is highest around the age of 30, with a negative relation to age in late adulthood; in contrast, advanced vocabulary is unrelated to age between ages 35 and 70. Cohort effects may explain some of the differential age trend.

Though many cognitive abilities exhibit marked decline over the adult years, individual differences in rates of change have been observed. In the current study, biometrical latent growth models were used to examine sources of variability for ability level (intercept) and change (linear and quadratic effects) for verbal, fluid, memory, and perceptual speed abilities in the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging. Genetic influences were more important for ability level at age 65 and quadratic change than for linear slope at age 65. Expected variance components indicated decreasing genetic and increasing non-shared environmental variation over age. Exceptions included one verbal and two memory measures that showed increasing genetic and nonshared environmental variance. The present findings provide support for theories of the increasing influence of the environment with age on cognitive abilities.

This is an application of new longitudinal structural equation modeling techniques to time-dependent associations of memory and brain structure measurements. There were 225 participants aged 30-80 years at baseline who were measured again after a 7-year interval on both the lateral ventricular size and Wechsler memory score. Multiple regression analyses show nonlinear associations with age but no relationships among longitudinal changes. Mixed-effects latent growth curve analyses and analyses based on latent difference scores indicate that longitudinal changes in both variables are reasonably well described by an exponential or dual change model. Bivariate dynamic structural equation modeling analyses indicate age-lagged changes operate in a coupled-over-time fashion, with the brain measure (lateral ventricular size) as a leading indicator in time of memory (Wechsler memory score) declines.

This study examined the dynamics of cognitive abilities and academic achievement from childhood to early adulthood. Predictions about time-dependent 'coupling' relations between cognition and achievement based on R. B. Cattell's (1971, 1987) investment hypothesis were evaluated using linear dynamic models applied to longitudinal data (N = 672). Contrary to Cattell's hypothesis, a first set of findings indicated that fluid and crystallized abilities, as defined by the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery--Revised (WJ-R; R. W. Woodcock & M. B. Johnson. 1989-1990), were not dynamically coupled with each other over time. A second set of findings provided support for the original predictions and indicated that fluid ability was a leading indicator of changes in achievement measures (i.e., quantitative ability and general academic knowledge). The findings of this study suggest that the dynamics of cognitive abilities and academic achievement follow a more complex pattern than that specified by Cattell's investment hypothesis,

Byline: Frederick L. Smyth (1), John J. McArdle (2) Keywords: affirmative action; college selectivity; engineering; gender; mathematics; minorities; SAT; science Abstract: Using Bowen and Bok's data from 23 selective colleges, we fit multilevel logit models to test two hypotheses with implications for affirmative action and group differences in attainment of science, math, or engineering (SME) degrees. Hypothesis 1, that differences in precollege academic preparation will explain later SME graduation disparities, was fully supported with respect to the outcome gap between Whites and underrepresented minorities, partially supported for that between Asians and underrepresented minorities, and between men and women. Hypothesis 2, that college selectivity, after accounting for student characteristics, will be positively associated with SME persistence, was not supported. We demonstrate that the significance of the selectivity effect is overestimated when unilevel models are used. Admission officials are advised to carefully consider the relative academic preparedness of science-interested students, and such students choosing among colleges are advised to compare their academic qualifications to those of successful science students at each institution. Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 102 Gilmer Hall, PO Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA, 22904-4400 (2) University of Virginia, USA Article History: Registration Date: 01/10/2004

Latent growth models were applied to data from the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging to discover if the rate of change in cognitive performance increased from middle age to later adulthood. The sample included 590 participants aged 44 to 88 years at first measurement. Data were gathered at 2 follow-up occasions at intervals of 3 years. Cognitive ability was assessed through 11 tests that tapped crystallized, fluid, memory, and spatial abilities and perceptual speed. Results indicated stability for measures of crystallized ability, linear age changes for many cognitive abilities, and a significant acceleration in linear decline after age 65 for measures with a large speed component. Gender differences were found only in mean level, not in rate of decline.

Latent growth curve techniques and longitudinal data are used to examine predictions from the theory of fluid and crystallized intelligence (Gf-Gc theory; J. L. Horn & R. B. Cattell, 1966, 1967). The data examined are from a sample (N ~ 1,200) measured on the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery--Revised (WJ-R). The longitudinal structural equation models used are based on latent growth models of age using two-occasion 'accelerated' data (e.g., J. J. McArdle & R. Q. Bell, 2000; J. J. McArdle & R. W. Woodcock, 1997). Nonlinear mixed-effects growth models based on a dual exponential rate yield a reasonable fit to all life span cognitive data. These results suggest that most broad cognitive functions fit a generalized curve that rises and falls. Novel multilevel models directly comparing growth curves show that broad fluid reasoning (Gf) and acculturated crystallized knowledge (Gc) have different growth patterns. In all comparisons, any model of cognitive age changes with only a single g factor yields an overly simplistic view of growth and change over age.

This article describes statistical research on the academic performance of student-athletes in college sports programs. We describe several statistical models used in the prediction of academic success defined by college persistence and graduation. Using longitudinal data on the academic performances of about 3,000 student-athletes in NCAA Division I collegiate sports programs, we formulate logit and multilevel logit statistical models for the prediction of graduation rates. These prediction models are based on academic, demographic, and athletic variables, and are used to account for differences in both the students and the colleges. These results show (1) moderate but significant relationships between precollege academic characteristics and college graduation, (2) small but significant differential validity of prediction between major student-athlete groups, (3) notable college-level variance in the average graduation rate, (4) small but significant within-college relationships between precollege academic characteristics and college graduation, and (5) differences between colleges accounted for by institutional graduation rates. We highlight statistical issues about the application of logit and multilevel models and discuss substantive issues about the current implications of these results. KEY WORDS: ACT; GPA; Graduation; Logit; Multilevel; NCAA; SAT; Student-athlete., Statistical research on the academic performance of student-athletes in college sports programs is examined. Logit and multilevel logit statistical models are established to predict graduation rates as a measure of academic success. It is shown that the models establish a relationship between precollege academic characteristics and college graduation. Variance is also observed for the average graduation rate., 1. INTRODUCTION Academic success in college has become an important indicator of the American educational system. Acceptance or rejection to a particular college can have effects on the individual and [...]

The issue of age trends in cognition among older adults observed in the longitudinal Health and Retirement Study (HRS) undertaken between 1992 and 2004 is presented.

The nature of the dynamic relationships that are formed among components of intelligence during aging is clarified in the light of earlier studies on the subject.

Correlates of change between memory and processing speed and the contribution of age and retest to such change correlates are examined using longitudinal multivariate mixed models. It is suggested that age alone does not capture such a co-variation although the changes in memory and processing speed may be correlated over time.

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0297.2010.02394.x Byline: James P. Smith (1), John J. McArdle (2), Robert Willis (3) Abstract: In this article, we study the association of cognitive traits and, in particular, numeracy of both spouses on financial outcomes of the family. We find significant effects, particularly for numeracy for financial and non-financial respondents alike, but much larger effects for the financial decision maker in the family. We also examine who makes these financial decisions in the family and why. Once again, cognitive traits such as numeracy are an important component of that decision with larger effects of numeracy for husbands compared to wives. Author Affiliation: (1)RAND Corporation (2)University of Southern California (3)University of Michigan Article note: (*) Corresponding author: James P. Smith, The RAND Corporation, 1776 Main Street, PO Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138, USA. Email: smith@rand.org.

Issues are presented concerning the psychometric properties of a Hawaiian Culture Scale - Adolescent Version. The means by which the Hawaiian way of life was learnt by 1,170 non-Hawaiian adolescents and 2,272 native Hawaiian adolescents is discussed.