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Data from the Interplay of Genes and Environment across Multiple Studies (IGEMS) consortium were used to examine predictions of different models of gene-by-environment interaction to understand how genetic variance in self-rated health (SRH) varies at different levels of financial strain. A total of 11,359 individuals from 10 twin studies in Australia, Sweden, and the United States contributed relevant data, including 2,074 monozygotic and 2,623 dizygotic twin pairs. Age ranged from 22 to 98 years, with a mean age of 61.05 (SD = 13.24). A factor model was used to create a harmonized measure of financial strain across studies and items. Twin analyses of genetic and environmental variance for SRH incorporating age, age2, sex, and financial strain moderators indicated significant financial strain moderation of genetic influences on self-rated health. Moderation results did not differ across sex or country. Genetic variance for SRH increased as financial strain increased, matching the predictions of the diathesis–stress and social comparison models for components of variance. Under these models, environmental improvements would be expected to reduce genetically based health disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Arab Americans are significantly affected by depression with prevalence as high as 50%. Our study assesses whether unique causes of depression such as stress, acculturation, and heritage identity play a role in the high prevalence of depression in Arab Americans. Methods: We surveyed 142 self-identified Arab Americans using a convenience model. Participants answered questions about their level of perceived stress, everyday discrimination, and acculturative stress. They also answered questions regarding their level of acculturation and heritage identity. Finally, participants answered questions regarding their depressive symptoms. A score of 16+ on the depression scale was used as the cut-off for depression. Results: The prevalence of depression in our sample was 60%. In our logistic regression model adjusted for age, sex, BMI and education, we found that perceived stress (OR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.10, 1.33, p < 0.01) and acculturative stress (OR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.00, 1.05, p < 0.05) were associated with greater odds of having depression in Arab Americans. We did not find that everyday discrimination, acculturation, or heritage identity were associated with depression in Arab Americans (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our study shows that perceived stress and acculturative stress increase the odds of depression in Arab Americans and therefore may play a role in the high prevalence of depression in this population. We hope our findings inform clinicians on the important underlying causes that may be causing depression in their Arab American patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research links chronic health conditions and financial hardship to cognitive outcomes among older Blacks. However, few studies have explored the moderating effect of financial hardship on chronic disease burden and specific cognitive domains. This study examined whether financial hardship (as measured by difficulty paying monthly bills) modifies the impact of self-reported chronic health conditions (e.g., diabetes, stroke) on episodic memory among 871 older Blacks (50+ years) in the 2006 Health and Retirement Study. Financial hardship modified the association between chronic disease burden and episodic memory performance such that individuals who reported very little difficulty paying their monthly bills had significantly lower memory scores at high levels of disease burden compared to those reporting high financial difficulty after controlling for age, gender and education (F 2, 49 = 5.03, p =.010). This cross-sectional study suggests that both financial and physical wellbeing may have joint effects on cognitive health in older Blacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When massive open online courses (MOOCs) began, they held the promise of bringing high-quality, college-level courses from leading academic institutions to people who otherwise would not have access to that type of content. In the ensuing years, it has become clear that the majority of MOOC students are not underserved in terms of educational opportunities; the typical MOOC learner already has a college degree. However, this does not mean that MOOCs are failing to fulfill the promise of democratization. Among the millions of learners who have taken Coursera MOOCs, there are some for whom this is their only way to access a rigorous, college-level course. In this analysis, we present descriptions of three learner populations for whom a MOOC offered an opportunity that they could not have had otherwise. These groups are (1) young people under the age of 18, (2) older adults over 65, and (3) people who reported that they did not have access to higher education opportunities. We compare the demographic characteristics, course attitudes and intentions, as well as qualitative learner feedback from each of these groups to the Coursera student body as a whole to understand the unique benefits that MOOCs bring to each of these underserved groups. We used data collected from 13 MOOCs offered by Duke University in the Fall 2014 semester. The data used in this analysis come from pre-course surveys administered to everyone who registered for a Duke MOOC. Finally, we illustrate our findings with qualitative data from open-ended survey questions. Our analysis shows that each group has a unique profile in terms of self-reported course experiences. Contrary to claims that MOOCs are not fulfilling the promise of democratization of education, learners have benefited by gaining access to content and learning experiences they otherwise would not have had. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Introduction: Significant evidence has demonstrated that Type 2 diabetes mellitus and related precursors are associated with diminished neurocognitive function and risk of dementia among older adults. However, very little research has examined relations of glucose regulation to neurocognitive function among older adults free of these conditions. The primary aim of this investigation was to examine associations among fasting glucose, glucose tolerance, and neurocognitive function among nondiabetic older adults. The secondary aim was to examine age, gender, and education as potential effect modifiers. Method: The study employed a cross-sectional, correlational study design. Participants were 172 older adults with a mean age of 64.43 years (SD = 13.09). The sample was 58% male and 87% White. Participants completed an oral glucose tolerance test as part of a larger study. Trained psychometricians administered neuropsychological tests that assessed performance in the domains of response inhibition, nonverbal memory, verbal memory, attention and working memory, visuoconstructional abilities, visuospatial abilities, psychomotor speed and executive function, and motor speed and manual dexterity. Linear multiple regressions were run to test study aims. Results: No significant main effects of fasting glucose and 2-hour glucose emerged for performance on any neurocognitive test; however, significant interactions were present. Higher fasting glucose was associated with poorer short-term verbal memory performance among men, but unexpectedly better response inhibition and long-term verbal memory performance for participants over age 70. Higher 2-hour glucose values were associated with reduced divided attention performance among participants with less than a high school education. Conclusions: Mixed findings suggest that glucose levels may be both beneficial and deleterious to neurocognition among nondiabetic older adults. Additional studies with healthy older adults are needed to confirm this unexpected pattern of associations; however, findings have implications for the importance of maintaining healthy glucose levels in older adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined factors that influence sleep quality in older African American women (N= 181) reporting chronic pain. Participants completed a series of questions assessing demographic and behavioral characteristics, health status, pain intensity, and sleep disturbance. Findings indicated that younger participants and those experiencing poorer physical functioning reported more difficulty sleeping due to pain. Similarly, participants who reported being awakened from sleep due to pain were younger and experienced greater pain intensity. Understanding the relationship between sleep and pain in this group of women may be useful in promoting effective disease management and sleep awareness among patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social support and functional ability are related to a number of outcomes in later life among African Americans, including cognitive performance. This study examined how providing and receiving social support was related to fluid and crystallized cognitive abilities among aging African American adults after accounting for functional limitations, age, education, sex, income, and self-reported health. Data from 602 African American adults (M = 69.08,SD = 9.74; 25% male) were analyzed using latent variable modeling. Fluid ability was a second-order factor indicated by measures that assessed verbal memory, working memory, perceptual speed, and inductive reasoning. Crystallized ability was a first-order factor indicated by three measures that assessed vocabulary (Shipley Verbal Meaning Test and parts A and B of the ETS Vocabulary Test). Results indicated that the receipt of social support was negatively related to both fluid and crystallized abilities, while the provision of support was positively related to fluid and crystallized ability. Follow-up tests found that the receipt of support was more strongly related to fluid ability than crystallized ability. There was no significant difference regarding the relationship of provision of support with fluid ability compared to crystallized ability. Results discuss the importance of considering the social context of older adults when examining cognitive ability. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The impact of cerebrovascular events (CVE) on cognitive functioning in adults with sickle cell disease is not well understood. Sequelae of CVEs can adversely impact their quality of life. We reviewed neurocognitive presentation and testing in adults with sickle cell disease. We evaluated the frequency of complaints of memory disturbance using survey methodology in a sample of 109 adult patients with sickle cell disease (48 males, 61 females). A subsample of 24 patients also received a memory questionnaire where specific cognitive functions were assessed. Overall, we found that males and females did not differ in the frequency of experienced memory disturbance during painful crises. However, the frequency of men reporting that their ability to remember where they place common objects such as keys (p == 0.017) and remembering the item they intended to buy in a grocery store or pharmacy (p == 0.048) was worse now compared to when they were in high school and was greater when compared to women. The frequency of men who reported their memory was worse now than when they were in high school (p == 0.051) was also greater than in women. We concluded that memory dysfunction predicts global monthly presentation of pain. We suggest incorporating cost-effective neurocognitive screening measures as a standard of practice in sickle cell disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article compared and contrasted the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status (TICS) to the racially-sensitive Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ). The empirical questions addressed was whether the TICS over-represented African American (AA) cognitive impairment (CI) relative to the SPMSQ, if there were age differences in CI prevalence between younger subjects (ages 50-64) and older ones (>64 years) and on accuracy to detect CI in individuals with higher levels of educations (≥13 years) versus those with lower education levels (<13 years). A secondary data analysis was performed on 396 AA participants from the Carolina African American Twin Study on Aging (CAATSA). The SPMSQ measured CI prevalence at 10.3% and the TICS at 45.0%. Within the younger group, TICS and CI prevalence was 49.3 and 80% among the older group. Within the younger group SPMSQ and CI prevalence was 14.5 and 53.8% among the older group. Within the higher educated group, TICS and CI prevalence was 36.7 and 51.4% among the lower educated. Within the higher educated group, SPMSQ and CI prevalence was 7.7 and 14.5% among the lower educated. Findings are consistent with our hypotheses that the TICS would be a less accurate assessor of CI among AAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is typically considered relative to individuals and thought to originate from both biological and environmental factors. However, the environmental constraints and insults that African Americans experience likely influence the concordance by age and gender for depression scores among adult African American twins. Monozygotic (MZ) (n = 102) and Dizygotic (DZ) (n = 110) twins, age 25-88 years in the Carolina African American Twin Study of Aging were examined using an 11-item version of the CES-D measure of depressive symptomatology. Those participants with scores above nine were considered depressed. Overall, the MZ pairs had a higher concordance than the DZ pairs implying genetic influence. Both MZ and DZ males had higher concordances than either female zygosity groups. The difference between the concordance rates for MZ and DZ twin pairs was greater in males than females. By age group, the difference between the concordance rates for younger MZ and DZ twin pairs was much larger than for older pairs. The results suggest that, even though African Americans may be at risk for depression due to contextual/environmental factors, genetic influences remain important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study sought to examine whether there were differences in the structure of specific cognitive abilities and their association with age and education in a sample of African American elders with two different early educational experiences. The study was conducted with a sample of 197 community dwelling older adults ranging in age from 50 to 79 years (mean age = 61.50 years, SD = 7.30 years). The sample included 79 individuals who attended a desegregated school at anytime during their formal education, while 118 participants completed their schooling without ever attending a desegregated school. Major results included: (1) typical patterns among cognitive abilities and age as well as years of education were found in the full sample of participants; (2) the pattern of age differences in cognition differed between the two groups. Regarding the latter, the desegregated sample exhibited significant negative age differences for some cognitive abilities, while the segregated group did not. Discussion focuses on the importance of considering the nature of the educational experience when examining cognitive aging in African American elders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The John Henryism (JH) hypothesis argues that prolonged high-effort coping with chronic psychosocial stressors may be associated with elevated risk for negative health outcomes among those without sufficient socioeconomic resources. Early JH studies found a significant association between high JH, low socioeconomic status, and hypertension among African-Americans. More recently, these findings have been extended to a wide array of health status outcomes, including cardiovascular reactivity, neurohormonal secretion, and negative health behaviors. The present review provides a comprehensive overview of JHs conceptual bases and empirical support. Limitations of the construct are discussed and recommendations are made to guide future theoretical and research efforts in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In twin research, typically both members of a pair must participate. Survivorship of members of intact pairs compared to surviving members of nonintact twin pairs may reflect differences in psychosocial and health factors, and represent a potential selection bias relative to the general population. The purpose of the present study is to examine health, cognition, and well-being among members of African American intact twin pairs compared to individuals from nonintact twin pairs. Data from the Carolina African American Twin Study of Aging (CAATSA) were used for analyses. Subjects ranged in age from 25 to 89 years of age (mean=59.78 years, SD=12.84 years). CAATSA implements a 3-h protocol to collect data on demographics, health, cognition, and well-being. Data from one randomly selected member of each twin pair (N=78) was compared to data from surviving members of nonintact twin pairs (N=52). The results indicated significant differences on 11 of the 39 measures (i.e., age, education, forced expiratory volume, mean standing and sitting systolic and diastolic blood pressures, cognitive impairment score, alpha span, digit symbol, and logical memory). In each case, members of intact twin pairs performed better than surviving members of nonintact twin pairs. After controlling demographic variables, only blood pressures differed between the groups. It appears that using only pairs in research on older African American twins may represent a selection bias in estimating origins of individual variability in cognitive functioning and health but not psychological well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social support, health status, and everyday problem solving in African Americans. The sample included subjects recruited from Baltimore, Maryland. The sample consisted of 249 community-dwelling African American adults, 32% of whom were male, with a sample mean age of 67.8 years (SD = 8.47 years). Variables included: Everyday, Problem Solving Test (EPT), social support given and received, physical limitations, counts of chronic illness, smoking, and demographic information. Using stepwise regression, age, education, physical limitations, and social support given were found to be significant predictors of performance on the EPT. Further analysis found support for a partial mediating effect of physical limitations on the relationship between social support and everyday problem solving. The results indicate that there may be differences in the cognitive abilities of those actively involved in social activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the aging population continues to become more diverse, there is growing interest in understanding the similar and unique aspects of aging within and across people of different ethnic groups. The impact of culture on the sources of variation identified in quantitative genetic approaches has not been well discussed in the literature. The purpose of this paper is to review previous research pertinent to the cultural aspects of quantitative genetic approaches and methodologies, and provide conceptual and statistical approaches for advancing the science. To meet this objective, results from previously published studies as well as preliminary data analyses from the Carolina African American Twin Study of Aging will be presented. There are three themes to draw from the issues discussed in this paper: (1) avoiding genetic reductionism, (2) interpreting differential heritabilities, and (3) modeling cultural influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results from previous research on everyday problem solving involving Caucasians suggests that it may be a useful concept in studying cognitive aging in African Americans . The purpose of this investigation was to examine : (1) the factor structure of an everyday problem solving in a sample of African Americans , (2) the internal consistency of everyday problem solving in a sample of African Americans , and (3) the relation ship of problem solving to demographic factors, physical functioning, and measures of fluid ability. The sample included subjects recruited from Baltimore , MD . The sample consisted of 249 community dwelling African - American adults with a mean age of 67 . 8 years (SD = 8.47). Variables included the Everyday Problem Solving Test (EPT), gender , age , education , physical functioning , and inductive reasoning . Everyday problem solving as a latent construct was confirmed and the split half reliability was high (.89). As in previous research , inductive reasoning and physical functioning were related to everyday problem solving abilities . We also found that certain domains of the EPT are more influ enced by demographic factors than others . Our finding suggest that the Everyday Problems Test is appropriate for use with African American samples . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has shown that forced expiratory volume (FEV) is a useful predictor of remaining life in older adults . The present analyses are an attempt to replicate results from a study of Swedish twins which demonstrated substantial heritability of FEV with a sample of middle aged Russian adult twins . Data were collected from 116 pairs of Russian twins (monozygote = 71, dizygotic = 45, mean age = 40.9 years). Phenotypic correlations between FEV , age , gender , height , and cigarette consumption ( in pack years ) were all significant , ranging from - . 72 to . 31 . After the effects of age , gender , height , and smoking were partialled out of FEV , quantitative genetic analyses were conducted . Shared environmental effects were significant , accounting for 47 % of the variance in FEV . Genetic effects , which accounted for about 28 % of the variance , could be dropped from the model without a significant decrease in the fit . These results are discussed in relation to previous research conducted in other countries . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to compare the Satz–Mogel (S–M) short form of the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS–R) with the full-scale WAIS–R to establish its utility in the assessment of intellectual functioning in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). PD patients and elderly control subjects were administered a neuropsychological test battery that included the complete WAIS–R or the S–M. Results indicated that the S–M [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

There is great interest in the interindividual variability in aged populations. Knowledge of the etiology of these individual differences may lead to a more comprehensive understanding of aging. The purpose of this article is to discuss the use of quantitative genetic (or behavioral genetic) methodology to identify sources of individual variation in later life. These methods can provide insights into the proportion of environmental and genetic influences on behavior. Some of the basic procedures used in quantitative genetic analyses and their rationales are provided. In addition, the use of structural equation modeling to model genetic and environmental effects is discussed. Lastly, some of the special issues involved in quantitative genetic research on aged populations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Young (17–26) and old (60–80) men and women performed a perceptual closure task for degraded line drawings under three conditions of prior picture knowledge (exact, similar, no prior knowledge) and two conditions of perceptual noise (contour or detail drawings) resulting in six levels of task difficulty. Young and old subjects took equal advantage prior knowledge conditions, however, old subjects required a greater percentage of picture and more time to make closure under all conditions when compared to young subjects. To test the perceptual slowing hypothesis, old subject performance was regressed on that of young across three levels of task difficulty. The slope of these regression equations supported the notion of a perceptual slowing hypothesis to explain age cohort differences. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Introduces articles about the genetics of aging in the October 2002 issue of the journal 'Experimental Aging Research.' Works about issues such as longevity, cognitive functioning, stress and health; Methodological advances and challenges in the field of animal and human research.