Chronic stress, social support, and domain-specific cognitive decline in HABS-HD.

INTRODUCTION

Few studies have examined the longitudinal associations between chronic stress, social support, and cognitive decline or whether sociodemographic factors modify associations.

METHODS

We included 3873 older adults enrolled in the Health and Aging Brain Study-Health Disparities (HABS-HD). Longitudinal mixed-effects models were used to examine associations of baseline chronic stress and social support with changes in domain-specific cognitive z-scores (attention, memory, executive functioning, language). Interactions between baseline chronic stress or social support and gender or race/ethnicity in relation to cognitive decline were also assessed.

RESULTS

Higher baseline chronic stress was associated with greater decline in attention and language for women compared to men and greater decline in memory for Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Higher baseline social support was associated with less decline in attention; results did not differ by gender or race/ethnicity.

DISCUSSION: Sociodemographic factors warrant consideration when examining associations of chronic stress or social support with cognitive decline.