Faculty Collaboration Database

Cognitive Aging with Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment, or No Impairment: A Comparison of Same- and Mixed-Sex Couples. J Alzheimers Dis 2023;92(1):109-128

Date

01/31/2023

Pubmed ID

36710669

Pubmed Central ID

PMC10029351

DOI

10.3233/JAD-220309

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85150079556 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   1 Citation

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.

Author List

Correro Ii AN, Gauthreaux K, Perales-Puchalt J, Chen YC, Chan KCG, Kukull WA, Flatt JD

Author

Anthony N. Correro PhD Assistant Professor in the Neurology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aged
Alzheimer Disease
Cognitive Aging
Cognitive Dysfunction
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Neuropsychological Tests