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Hostility and change in cognitive function over time in older blacks and whites
Lisa L Barnes1, Carlos F Mendes de Leon, Julia L Bienias
1Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. lbarnes1@rush.edu
Psychosomatic Medicine
|June 2, 2009
Summary
Hostility is linked to lower cognitive function in older adults, but it does not predict the rate of cognitive decline. This association was consistent across racial groups in the study.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychology
Background:
- Hostility, a personality trait, is increasingly recognized for its potential impact on health outcomes.
- Understanding factors influencing cognitive function in aging populations is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between hostility levels and cognitive decline in older adults.
- To determine if race modifies the association between hostility and cognitive changes.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study of over 4800 individuals from Chicago, with data collected over approximately 8.8 years.
- Hostility assessed using the Cook-Medley Hostility Scale; cognitive function measured via a composite score from four tests.
- Mixed-effects models analyzed cognitive change in relation to hostility, controlling for covariates.
Main Results:
- Higher baseline hostility scores were associated with lower cognitive function scores.
- Cognitive decline occurred at an average rate of 0.051 U per year.
- Hostility did not predict the rate of cognitive decline, and this finding was consistent in Black and White participants.
Conclusions:
- Hostility is associated with the level of cognitive function in older individuals.
- Hostility is not a predictor of the rate of cognitive decline in this population.
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