Midlife perceived stress is associated with cognitive decline across three decades
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Midlife perceived stress is associated with cognitive decline across three decades. / Christensen, Dinne Skjaerlund; Garde, Ellen; Siebner, Hartwig Roman; Mortensen, Erik Lykke.
In: BMC Geriatrics, Vol. 23, No. 1, 121, 2023.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Midlife perceived stress is associated with cognitive decline across three decades
AU - Christensen, Dinne Skjaerlund
AU - Garde, Ellen
AU - Siebner, Hartwig Roman
AU - Mortensen, Erik Lykke
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - BackgroundResearch indicates detrimental effects of stress on brain health and cognitive functioning, but population-based studies using comprehensive measures of cognitive decline is lacking. The present study examined the association of midlife perceived stress with cognitive decline from young adulthood to late midlife, controlling for early life circumstances, education and trait stress (neuroticism).MethodsThe sample consisted of 292 members of the Copenhagen Perinatal Cohort (1959-1961) with continued participation in two subsequent follow-up studies. Cognitive ability was assessed in young adulthood (mean age 27 years) and midlife (mean age 56 years) using the full Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), and perceived stress was measured at midlife using the Perceived Stress Scale. The association of midlife perceived stress with decline in Verbal, Performance and Full-Scale IQ was assessed in multiple regression models based on Full Information Maximum Likelihood estimation.ResultsOver a mean retest interval of 29 years, average decline in IQ score was 2.42 (SD 7.98) in Verbal IQ and 8.87 (SD 9.37) in Performance IQ. Mean decline in Full-scale IQ was 5.63 (SD 7.48), with a retest correlation of 0.83. Controlling for parental socio-economic position, education and young adult IQ, higher perceived stress at midlife was significantly associated with greater decline in Verbal (beta = - 0.012), Performance (beta = - 0.025), and Full-scale IQ (beta = - 0.021), all p < .05. Across IQ scales, additionally controlling for neuroticism in young adulthood and change in neuroticism had only minor effects on the association of midlife perceived stress with decline.ConclusionsDespite very high retest correlations, decline was observed on all WAIS IQ scales. In fully adjusted models, higher midlife perceived stress was associated with greater decline on all scales, indicating a negative association of stress with cognitive ability. The association was strongest for Performance and Full-scale IQ, perhaps reflecting the greater decline on these IQ scales compared to Verbal IQ.
AB - BackgroundResearch indicates detrimental effects of stress on brain health and cognitive functioning, but population-based studies using comprehensive measures of cognitive decline is lacking. The present study examined the association of midlife perceived stress with cognitive decline from young adulthood to late midlife, controlling for early life circumstances, education and trait stress (neuroticism).MethodsThe sample consisted of 292 members of the Copenhagen Perinatal Cohort (1959-1961) with continued participation in two subsequent follow-up studies. Cognitive ability was assessed in young adulthood (mean age 27 years) and midlife (mean age 56 years) using the full Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), and perceived stress was measured at midlife using the Perceived Stress Scale. The association of midlife perceived stress with decline in Verbal, Performance and Full-Scale IQ was assessed in multiple regression models based on Full Information Maximum Likelihood estimation.ResultsOver a mean retest interval of 29 years, average decline in IQ score was 2.42 (SD 7.98) in Verbal IQ and 8.87 (SD 9.37) in Performance IQ. Mean decline in Full-scale IQ was 5.63 (SD 7.48), with a retest correlation of 0.83. Controlling for parental socio-economic position, education and young adult IQ, higher perceived stress at midlife was significantly associated with greater decline in Verbal (beta = - 0.012), Performance (beta = - 0.025), and Full-scale IQ (beta = - 0.021), all p < .05. Across IQ scales, additionally controlling for neuroticism in young adulthood and change in neuroticism had only minor effects on the association of midlife perceived stress with decline.ConclusionsDespite very high retest correlations, decline was observed on all WAIS IQ scales. In fully adjusted models, higher midlife perceived stress was associated with greater decline on all scales, indicating a negative association of stress with cognitive ability. The association was strongest for Performance and Full-scale IQ, perhaps reflecting the greater decline on these IQ scales compared to Verbal IQ.
KW - Cognitive decline
KW - Cognitive ability
KW - Intelligence
KW - Stress
KW - Cohort study
KW - LIFE EVENTS
KW - PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS
KW - POPULATION
KW - MEMORY
KW - ADULTHOOD
KW - BRAIN
KW - PERSONALITY
KW - EDUCATION
KW - CORTISOL
KW - TRAUMA
U2 - 10.1186/s12877-023-03848-8
DO - 10.1186/s12877-023-03848-8
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 36870969
VL - 23
JO - B M C Geriatrics
JF - B M C Geriatrics
SN - 1471-2318
IS - 1
M1 - 121
ER -
ID: 340324962