Biomedical subjects

Marja J Aartsen

Publications and source records attributed to Marja J Aartsen.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

The impact of change in cognitive functioning and cognitive decline on disability, well-being, and the use of healthcare services in older persons. Results of Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam.

The study investigated the impact of change in cognitive functioning and cognitive decline on disability, well-being, and the use of healthcare services among older persons in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). Data were collected from 1,349 subjects, aged 65-85 years, who had scores of 24 and higher on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) at baseline, over a period of 6 years in three waves. The results indicate that cognitive decline and changes in cognitive functioning in older persons who were either not impaired or only mildly cognitively impaired at baseline have an impact on disability, well-being, and the use of healthcare services. With the aging of the population, the number of persons with cognitive impairment is likely to increase, and appropriate services should be available to them.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Does widowhood affect memory performance of older persons?

BACKGROUND: The loss of a spouse has been found to have a negative effect on physical and mental health and leads to increased mortality. Whether conjugal bereavement also affects memory functioning has largely been unexamined. The present study investigates the effect of widowhood on memory functioning in older persons. METHOD: The sample consisted of 474 married women and 690 married men aged 60-85 years in 1992, followed up in 1995 and 1998. During the study 135 (28%) of the women and 69 (10%) of the men lost their spouse. Linear regression analysis was used to examine whether widowed men and women differed from those who had not been widowed in rate of memory change over 6 years. Cross-domain latent-change models were subsequently used to evaluate the extent to which changes in memory are related to changes in other domains of functioning that may be affected by widowhood. RESULTS: Older adults who lost a spouse during follow-up showed a greater decline in memory over 6 years than those who remained married. A higher level of depressive symptoms at baseline was related to lower levels of memory functioning and a greater decline. Memory decline was unrelated to changes in depressive symptoms and physical health. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of the spouse is related to a greater decline in memory in older adults. The absence of an association with physical functioning and the weak association with mental functioning suggest that losing a spouse has an independent effect on memory functioning.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Activity in older adults: cause or consequence of cognitive functioning? A longitudinal study on everyday activities and cognitive performance in older adults.

The impact of three types of everyday activities (i.e., social, experiential, and developmental) on four cognitive functions (i.e., immediate recall, learning, fluid intelligence, and information-processing speed) and one global indicator of cognitive functioning (Mini-Mental State Exam score) over a period of 6 years was studied in a large 55--85 year-old population-based sample (N = 2,076). A cross-lagged regression model with latent variables was applied to each combination of 1 cognitive function and 1 type of activity, resulting in 15 (3 x 5) different models. None of the activities were found to enhance cognitive functioning 6 years later when controlling for age, gender, level of education, and health, as well as for unknown confounding variables. Conversely, one cognitive function (i.e., information-processing speed) appeared to affect developmental activity. It is suggested that no specific activity, but rather socioeconomic status to which activities are closely connected, contributes to maintenance of cognitive functions.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Short-term versus long-term longitudinal changes in processing speed.

BACKGROUND: Previous longitudinal studies of cognitive aging have focused on long-term performance changes. A recent surge of research has demonstrated that there are reliable interindividual differences in short-term cognitive performance changes. OBJECTIVE: The present study links these two pathways of cognitive aging research by examining the association between short-term (learning, practice) versus long-term (development) changes in processing speed. METHODS: Data from 963 elderly participants come from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). RESULTS: Nested latent growth curve analyses show that the amount of learning or practice in processing speed at first measurement occasion is positively related (r = 0.72) to individual differences in development of processing speed across 6 years. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term learning or practice gains in processing speed are positively associated with long-term developmental changes in processing speed in the elderly.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Gender differences in level and change in cognitive functioning. Results from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam.

BACKGROUND: Gender differences in level of cognitive functioning are frequently observed, but little is known about gender differences in rate of decline of cognitive functioning. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to describe variability between and within men and women specified for four different cognitive abilities at baseline, and variability in change in these abilities among men and women over 6 years. METHODS: We started with a study sample of 1132 men and 1175 women, with a measurement interval of 3 years. At wave 3 of the study, 1552 of the respondents from wave 1 were still present. Differences in level and rate of change were estimated with latent change models. RESULTS: Women have higher levels of memory functioning then men, but no gender differences were observed for speed or non-verbal reasoning changes. CONCLUSION: In spite of evidence for a stronger age-related atrophy of the brain structure of men, no gender differences in decline of cognitive functions could be observed.

Aged↗