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Cognitive Aging with Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment, or No Impairment: A Comparison of Same- and Mixed-Sex Couples

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Lesbian and gay older adults have health disparities that are risk factors for Alzheimer's disease, yet little is known about the neurocognitive aging of sexual minority groups. OBJECTIVE: To explore cross-sectional and longitudinal dementia outcomes for adults in same-sex relationships (SSR) and those in mixed-sex relationships (MSR). METHODS: This prospective observational study utilized data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set (NACC UDS) collected from contributing Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers. Participants were adults aged 55+ years at baseline with at least two visits in NACC UDS (from September 2005 to March 2021) who had a spouse, partner, or companion as a co-participant. Outcome measures included CDR® Dementia Staging Instrument, NACC UDS neuropsychological testing, and the Functional Activities Questionnaire. Multivariable linear mixed-effects models accounted for center clustering and repeated measures by individual. RESULTS: Both MSR and SSR groups experienced cognitive decline regardless of baseline diagnosis. In general, MSR and SSR groups did not differ statistically on cross-sectional or longitudinal estimates of functioning, dementia severity, or neuropsychological testing, with two primary exceptions. People in SSR with mild cognitive impairment showed less functional impairment at baseline (FAQ M = 2.61, SD = 3.18 vs. M = 3.97, SD = 4.53, respectively; p < 0.01). The SSR group with dementia had less steep decline in attention/working memory (β estimates = -0.10 versus -0.18; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Participants in SSR did not show cognitive health disparities consistent with a minority stress model. Additional research into protective factors is warranted.

Source: Journal of Alzheimer s Disease

DOI: 10.3233/jad-220309

Authors: Anthony N. Correro II, Kathryn Gauthreaux, Jaime Perales-Puchalt, Yen-Chi Chen, Kwun C.G. Chan, Walter A. Kukull, Jason D. Flatt

Institutions: Medical College of Wisconsin, University of Michigan, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Michigan Medicine, University of Washington, National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, University of Kansas, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language: English

Topic: Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities

Awards: G1104192986, G113062254, G1171648585, Building Community and Research Engagement among Sexual and Gender Minority Older Adults at Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias, Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Core Center, UC Davis Alzheimer's Disease Core Center, Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, G1375833519, G1492531059, G1663213784, G1778344677, Wake Forest Alzheimer's Disease Core Center, G2075747288, G234895681, University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Core Center, Neurobiology of Alzheimer's Disease and Aging, G2640555407, G2769554943, Feasibility of a Novel Systems Approach for Improving Utilization of Alzheimer's Disease Services Among Latinos Attending Primary Care Practices, G3036763132, G3066742295, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, UCSD Alzheimer's Disease Research Center P50, G3335858628, G3359100610, G3439557519, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, G3946457848, G4103239427, Alzheimer's Disease Core Center, G4318823550, The Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the University of California, Irvine, Stanford Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, G4684857399, Oregon Alzheimer's Disease Center, G496605150, Rush Alzheimer's Disease Core Center, G511679733, Alzheimer's Disease Core Center, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center - Overall, Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, G6492025387, University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Core Centers, G6750444795, The Epidemiology of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in Sexual and Gender Minority Older Adults: Identifying Risk and Protective Factors, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Yale Alzheimer Disease Research Center, Arizona Alzheimer's Disease Core Center, Johns Hopkins Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, G7409097460, Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Center, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Alzheimer's Disease Core Center, G8018240826, Emory Alzheimer's Disease Center, University of Florida - Mt. Sinai Medical Center AD Research Center, G873702183, G9000005508, G9000013408, G9000025891, G9000033698, G9000036492, G9000064269, G9000070217, G9000092781, G9000104082, G9000108235, G9000119544, G9000126115, G9000132673, G9000145746, G9000167101, G9000208643, G9000212151, G9000218452, G9000218858, G9000227227, G9000227779, G9000252716, G9000274623, G9000307348, G9000352745, G9000354213, University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (KU ADRC), National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, New Approaches to Dementia Heterogeneity, Mayo Alzheimer's Disease Research Center

OpenAlex ID: W4317840377

FWCI: 1.216

Cites: 78

Cited by: 7

Related to: 10