Older Adult Social Participation, Gender, and Cognitive Decline

项目摘要/摘要 寻找延缓或预防认知衰退和痴呆症的方法仍然是NIA的优先事项。作为这项工作的一部分 在工作中，越来越多的人认识到，社会参与和社区联系可能会降低风险 这些疾病。不幸的是，这项研究几乎没有提供各种社会活动是如何 可能会不同地预测认知能力下降。也很少有人调查老年人是如何社交的 参与或其与认知的关系可能因性别而不同。 与许多标准调查项目(例如，健康、教育)不同，在如何社交方面没有足够的一致性 参与度是通过社会调查来衡量的，并被用于实证研究。尤其是，使用社交媒体 参与度“概要衡量”(A)可能模糊认知和基础之间的区别联系 社交活动，以及(B)经常包括可以说不是“社会参与”的项目(例如，与 家庭成员)。这导致了两个限制：第一，不知道哪些社会活动--以及什么社会活动 这些活动的范围-正在推动任何联想。第二，很难将相似的结果进行比较 研究，引起了人们对效度和可靠性的担忧。 这个项目有三个目标。第一，我们将调查社会参与和老年人之间的关系 成年人的认知功能因社会活动而异。第二，我们将确定将特定社会联系起来的机制 活动对认知健康的影响。第三，我们将调查社会参与在多大程度上与 老年人的认知功能因性别而异。为了实现这些目标，我们将利用四个大的 具有全国代表性的老年人纵向研究。 Eric Vogelang博士，PI，有关于老年人社会参与和健康的既定出版记录 研究。该项目的合作者在认知功能研究方面拥有丰富的经验， 辅导和国立卫生研究院的拨款。在一家超级拉美裔服务机构(CSU-San Bernardino)工作， 该项目将为机会有限的学生提供研究经验。 拟议的研究将产生三个好处。首先，它将告知患者、从业者和政策制定者 希望延缓或防止认知衰退的发生。第二，它将使人们认识到对健康的影响 老年人社交活动中的性别不平等问题。第三，我们希望这项工作能够推动标准化 社会调查中的“社会参与”措施。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Identifying ways to delay or prevent cognitive decline and dementia remains a priority of the NIA. As part of this work, there is growing recognition that social participation and community connectedness may reduce the risk of these diseases. Unfortunately, this research has provided little specificity into how various social activities may differentially predict cognitive decline. There has also been little inquiry into how older adult social participation or its relationship with cognition might differ by gender. Unlike many standard survey items (e.g., health, education), there is insufficient consistency with how social participation is measured in social surveys and utilized in empirical research. In particular, the use of social participation “summary measures” (a) may obscure differential associations between cognition and underlying social activities, and (b) often include items that are, arguably, not “social participation” (e.g., meeting with family members). This has resulted in two limitations: One, it is not known which social activities—and to what extent these activities—are driving any associations. Two, it is difficult to compare results among similar studies, raising concerns about validity and reliability. This project has three aims. One, we will investigate how associations between social participation and older adult cognitive functioning differ by social activity. Two, we will identify mechanisms that link particular social activities to cognitive health. Three, we will investigate to what extent associations between social participation and older adult cognitive functioning differ by gender. To accomplish these goals, we will utilize four large nationally representative longitudinal studies of older adults. Dr. Eric Vogelsang, PI, has an established publication record of older adult social participation and health research. The collaborators on this project have extensive experience in cognitive functioning research, mentoring, and NIH grants. Working at a “Super” Hispanic Serving Institution (CSU-San Bernardino), the project will provide research experience to students with limited opportunities. The proposed study will produce three benefits. One, it will inform patients, practitioners, and policy makers looking to delay or prevent the onset of cognitive decline. Two, it will bring recognition to the health implications of gender inequality in older adult social activity. Three, we expect this work to motivate standardization of “social participation” measures in social surveys.