Informant-Reported Cognitive Decline and Activity Engagement across Four Years in a Community Sample.

Background: Subtle age-related cognitive decline may be associated with the capacity to remain engaged in mental, physical, and social activities. Informant reports of cognitive decline potentially provide additional information to psychometric tests on change in everyday cognitive function relevant to activity engagement.

Objective: To investigate relations between decline in everyday cognitive function as assessed by informant report and activity engagement in community-dwelling older adults.

Ageism: we are our own worst enemy.

In 1969, Butler (1969) first coined the term "ageism" to confront "prejudice by one age group toward other age groups" (pp. 243). As with other "isms," such as racism and sexism, ageism leads to bigotry and discrimination, though it is a very distinct beast in that, for the most part, other "isms" refer to those different from ourselves: distinct, mutually exclusive, and impervious groups.

An Australian survey of cognitive health beliefs, intentions, and behaviours through the adult life course.

Objective: Information is required regarding cognitive health beliefs and behaviours from across the life in order to inform the design of interventions to optimise cognitive health and reduce the risk of cognitive impairment.

Methods: A survey of Australian adults aged 20-89 was administered via Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) software to respondents recruited by random digit dialling (N = 900). Socio-demographic and self-reported health information was collected to investigate associations with cognitive health responses.

Concurrent lifestyle risk factors: Clusters and determinants in an Australian sample.

Objective: To examine clustering among three major lifestyle risk factors for chronic disease (smoking, alcohol, and physical inactivity) and define sociodemographic subgroups with elevated risks of multiple lifestyle risk factors.

Method: Data on 6052 adults aged 28-32, 48-52, and 68-72 from wave 3 (2007-2010) of the PATH Through Life Cohort Study, Australia, were used to estimate prevalence of individual and combinations of risk factors, and multinomial regression analysis undertaken to examine demographic factors associated with number of risks.

Results: Clustering of risks varied by age and gender, with more people than expected having none or all of the risk factors.

Association of cognitive function with glucose tolerance and trajectories of glucose tolerance over 12 years in the AusDiab study.

Introduction: We investigated the association between glucose tolerance status and trajectories of change in blood glucose, and cognitive function in adults aged 25 to 85.

Methods: The sample (n = 4547) was drawn from a national, population-based cohort study in Australia (AusDiab). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and general health were assessed at 0, 5 and 12 years.

A qualitative study of older and middle-aged adults' perception and attitudes towards dementia and dementia risk reduction.

Aim: To investigate perceptions of dementia and dementia risk reduction held by people without dementia.

Background: Dementia does not only affect individuals with dementia, but also has an impact on family and friends, society and healthcare professionals. Recent research has identified modifiable risk and protective factors for dementia.

The relationship between age-stereotypes and health locus of control across adult age-groups.

Objective: This study integrates healthy ageing and health psychology theories to explore the mechanisms underlying the relationship between health control expectancies and age-attitudes on the process of ageing well. Specifically, the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between age-stereotypes and health locus of control.

Design: A population-based survey of 739 adults aged 20-97 years (mean = 57.

Hippocampal atrophy is associated with subjective memory decline: The PATH Through Life study.

Objective: To investigate whether subjective memory decline (SMD) in cognitively healthy individuals is associated with hippocampal atrophy.

Methods: Multiple regression analyses assessing the relationship between hippocampal atrophy over 4 years and SMD at baseline and follow-up in 305 cognitively healthy individuals aged 60-64 years free from dementia, mild cognitive impairment, and other neurological disorders.

Results: SMD at baseline was not a significant predictor of hippocampal atrophy.

Development of the motivation to change lifestyle and health behaviours for dementia risk reduction scale.

Background And Aims: It is not yet understood how attitudes concerning dementia risk may affect motivation to change health behaviours and lifestyle. This study was designed to develop a reliable and valid theory-based measure to understand beliefs underpinning the lifestyle and health behavioural changes needed for dementia risk reduction.

Methods: 617 participants aged ≥50 years completed a theory-based questionnaire, namely, the Motivation to Change Lifestyle and Health Behaviours for Dementia Risk Reduction (MCLHB-DRR) scale.

Gender differences in alcohol consumption among middle-aged and older adults in Australia, the United States and Korea.

Objectives: To compare gender differences in alcohol use and the socioeconomic correlates of at-risk drinking among middle-aged and older adults in Australia, the United States (US) and South Korea.

Method: Data were drawn from large nationally representative surveys of people aged 45 years and older, collected in 2006.

Results: Rates of any drinking and at-risk drinking (>14 US standard drinks/week) were higher for males than females in all countries and these gender differences were largest in Korea.

Role of physical activity in the relationship between mastery and functional health.

Purpose Of The Study: To examine the influence of mastery, physical activity levels, and subsequent trajectories of domains of functional health across the adult life course.

Design And Methods: We examined 8-year trajectories of physical functioning (handgrip strength) and functional health (physical [RAND PHC12], psychological [RAND MHC12], and cognitive [processing speed]) in a large Australian sample (n = 7,485 at baseline) of 3 cohorts (20-24, 40-44, and 60-64 years). Within- and between-person indirect effects of physical activity on the relationship between mastery and health were examined using multilevel structural equation models.

The Impact of Age Stereotypes on Older Adults' Hazard Perception Performance and Driving Confidence.

This study examined the effect of age-stereotype threat on older adults' performance on a task measuring hazard perception performance in driving. The impact of age-stereotype threat in relation to the value participants placed on driving and pre- and post-task confidence in driving ability was also investigated. Eighty-six adults aged from 65 years of age completed a questionnaire measuring demographic information, driving experience, self-rated health, driving importance, and driving confidence.

Cognitive development over 8 years in midlife and its association with cardiovascular risk factors.

Objective: We describe population-level cognitive development in early middle-age and evaluate whether cardiovascular risk factors for late-onset dementia influence cognitive change in midlife.

Method: The sample from the PATH Through Life (PATH) Project (N = 2,530; 40-44 years of age at baseline) was drawn randomly from the community, followed for 8 years, and assessed on cognitive function, health, and lifestyle risk factors at 4 yearly intervals. A summary risk score (PATHrisk) was computed for presence of smoking, hypertension, depression, high body mass index, diabetes, and insufficient physical activity.

An examination of the effects of intra and inter-individual changes in wellbeing and mental health on self-rated health in a population study of middle and older-aged adults.

Purpose: Self-rated health is frequently used as an indicator of health and quality of life in epidemiological studies. While the association between self-rated health and negative mental health is well established, associations with indictors of positive wellbeing are less clear. Data from the Dynamic Analyses to Optimise Ageing (DYNOPTA) project were used to compare the effects of vitality and mental health on self-rated health.

Self-Reported History of Chemotherapy and Cognitive Decline in Adults Aged 60 and Older: The PATH Through Life Project.

Background: There is a lack of data from cohort studies assessing cognitive function prior to and after chemotherapy. We evaluated the effect of self-reported cancer chemotherapy on cognitive function in a cohort assessed at baseline, 4 and 8 years.

Methods: Participants were from the population-based PATH Through Life Study.

The effect of health behavior change on self-rated health across the adult life course: a longitudinal cohort study.

Objective: While it is clear that health behaviors are related to self-rated health (SRH), it is less clear if maintaining positive behaviors, or improving, can protect SRH over time.

Method: SRH trajectories were modeled in a large representative Australian sample (n=7485 at baseline), of three age cohorts (20-24, 40-44 and 60-64 years at baseline; 1999, 2000 & 2001 respectively), over an 8 year period. Change in smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity on SRH trajectories were examined, controlling for demographic, physical and mental health factors.

Measuring anxiety about aging across the adult lifespan.

Background: The development of instruments to measure aging attitudes is an essential part of research into the role of individual differences in the aging process, giving clarification to the relationship between attitudes and behavior across the lifespan. Here we test the structural validity of Lasher and Faulkender's (1993) Anxiety about Aging Scale (AAS), and explore measurement invariance across age and gender.

Methods: A sample of 783 adults (42% females) age ranging from 20 to 97 years (M = 57.

Characterizing mild cognitive disorders in the young-old over 8 years: prevalence, estimated incidence, stability of diagnosis, and impact on IADLs.

Objectives: Few studies report incidence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and other mild cognitive disorders (MCD) in cohorts in their 60s, at an age when diagnoses are less stable. The authors' goal was to estimate the incidence and prevalence of MCI and MCD, characterize subgroups with stable vs nonstable diagnoses, and evaluate the impact of diagnosis on daily life in a young-old cohort.

Methods: A community-based cohort age 60 to 64 years in 1999 (n = 2551) was monitored for 8 years and assessed every 4 years.

Correlates of subjective health across the aging lifespan: understanding self-rated health in the oldest old.

Objectives: To examine the determinants of self-rated health (SRH) in different age groups of older adults, including the oldest old.

Methods: Variables assessing physical health, difficulty with self-care, depressive symptoms, and cognitive impairment were pooled and harmonized from three Australian longitudinal studies of ageing (N = 5,222). The association of these with SRH was examined in older adults aged 60 to 64 years, 65 to 74 years, 75 to 84 years, and 85 years and older.

A simple measure with complex determinants: investigation of the correlates of self-rated health in older men and women from three continents.

Background: Self-rated health is commonly employed in research studies that seek to assess the health status of older individuals. Perceptions of health are, however, influenced by individual and societal level factors that may differ within and between countries. This study investigates levels of self-rated health (SRH) and correlates of SRH among older adults in Australia, United States of America (USA), Japan and South Korea.

Determinants of retirement timing expectations in the United States and Australia: a cross-national comparison of the effects of health and retirement benefit policies on retirement timing decisions.

Data from the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (N = 2,589) and the Australian Household Income and Labour Dynamics survey (N = 1,760) were used to compare the macro-level policy frameworks on individual retirement timing expectations for pre-baby boomers (61+ years) and early baby boomers (45 to 60 years).

Change in health and self-perceptions of aging over 16 years: the role of psychological resources.

Objective: Self-perceptions of aging (SPA) are argued to be an indicator of the ability to adapt to heath decline in late life. Our objective was to examine the influence of psychological resources in maintaining positive self-perceptions of aging in the face of declining health in older adults.

Methods: Time-varying change in health (medical conditions), physical functioning (ADLs), and psychological resources (expectancy of control and self-esteem) on change in SPA were examined over 16 years (5 waves) in a large representative sample (N = 1569) of older adults (65 + years at baseline) from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Aging.

The relationship between change in self-perceptions of aging and physical functioning in older adults.

Negative self-perceptions of aging (SPA) have been linked to poor physical health and functioning outcomes in late life, yet the direction of this relationship remain unclear. Using data from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Aging, we investigated the directionality of the dynamic relationship between self-perceptions of aging and physical functioning in 1,212 adults 65 years and above (mean age = 76.89, SD = 6.