Open AccessAssociations of Widowhood and β-Amyloid With Cognitive Decline in Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults
Author(s) -
Kelsey D. Biddle,
Heidi I.L. Jacobs,
Federico d’Oleire Uquillas,
Benjamin S. Zide,
Dylan Kirn,
Michael R. Properzi,
Dorene M. Rentz,
Keith A. Johnson,
Reisa A. Sperling,
Nancy J. Donovan
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
jama network open
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.278
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2574-3805
DOI - 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.0121
Subject(s) - cohort , cognitive decline , gerontology , cognition , marital status , medicine , cohort study , depression (economics) , socioeconomic status , longitudinal study , incidence (geometry) , alzheimer's disease , disease , psychology , demography , dementia , population , psychiatry , pathology , physics , environmental health , sociology , optics , economics , macroeconomics
Key Points Question Is widowhood a specific risk factor associated with more rapid cognitive decline among cognitively unimpaired older adults with higher levels of brain β-amyloid, the Alzheimer disease biomarker? Findings In this cohort study of 257 community-dwelling cognitively unimpaired older adults, widowhood and β-amyloid were additively and interactively associated with cognitive decline. These results were independent of demographic factors, cardiovascular disease risk, depression, health-related behaviors, and social support factors. Meaning These findings suggest that widowhood may be an understudied risk factor for cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer disease and highlight the need for increased research and clinical attention to this high-risk group.
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