Racial Differences in Associations of Cognitive Health Status With Happiness, Helplessness, and Hopelessness Among Older Adults: An Exploratory Study

Emre Umucu; Beatrice Lee; Mary Wyman; Mary Wyman; Mary Wyman; Diane Carol Gooding; Carol Ann Van Hulle; Carol Ann Van Hulle; Adrienne Johnson; Carola A. Ferrer Simo; Carola A. Ferrer Simo; Fabu Carter; Hector Salazar; Taryn T. James; Shenikqua Bouges; Nicholas H. Lambrou; Sterling C. Johnson; Sterling C. Johnson; Sterling C. Johnson; Sanjay Asthana; Sanjay Asthana; Sanjay Asthana; Sanjay Asthana; Carey E. Gleason; Carey E. Gleason; Carey E. Gleason

doi:10.3389/fnagi.2022.890404

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (May 2022)

Racial Differences in Associations of Cognitive Health Status With Happiness, Helplessness, and Hopelessness Among Older Adults: An Exploratory Study

Emre Umucu,
Beatrice Lee,
Mary Wyman,
Mary Wyman,
Mary Wyman,
Diane Carol Gooding,
Carol Ann Van Hulle,
Carol Ann Van Hulle,
Adrienne Johnson,
Carola A. Ferrer Simo,
Carola A. Ferrer Simo,
Fabu Carter,
Hector Salazar,
Taryn T. James,
Shenikqua Bouges,
Nicholas H. Lambrou,
Sterling C. Johnson,
Sterling C. Johnson,
Sterling C. Johnson,
Sanjay Asthana,
Sanjay Asthana,
Sanjay Asthana,
Sanjay Asthana,
Carey E. Gleason,
Carey E. Gleason,
Carey E. Gleason

Affiliations

Emre Umucu: Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
Beatrice Lee: Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
Mary Wyman: W. S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States
Mary Wyman: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Mary Wyman: Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Diane Carol Gooding: Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Carol Ann Van Hulle: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Carol Ann Van Hulle: Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Adrienne Johnson: Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States
Carola A. Ferrer Simo: Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Carola A. Ferrer Simo: Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, The School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Fabu Carter: Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Hector Salazar: Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Taryn T. James: W. S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States
Shenikqua Bouges: W. S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States
Nicholas H. Lambrou: W. S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States
Sterling C. Johnson: Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Sterling C. Johnson: Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, The School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Sterling C. Johnson: Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States
Sanjay Asthana: W. S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States
Sanjay Asthana: Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Sanjay Asthana: Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, The School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Sanjay Asthana: Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States
Carey E. Gleason: Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Carey E. Gleason: Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, The School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Carey E. Gleason: Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2022.890404
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14

Abstract

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BackgroundThe relationship between healthy and positive aging and dementia and cognitive impairment has received limited attention in the field of aging. Affect impacts cognitive changes and processes, and cognitive impairment is associated with affective comorbidities. The purpose of the study was to examine (a) whether happiness, helplessness, and hopelessness are linked to cognitive health status, and (b) whether these associations differ by race.MethodsParticipants were enrollees in the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s Clinical Core (ADRC). Average age at baseline was 60.85 (SD = 8.65), 73.70 (SD = 8.02), and 73.80 (SD = 9.59) years for cognitively normal individuals, individuals with MCI, and individuals with dementia, respectively.ResultsIn the full sample, chi-square test results revealed associations between Cognitive Health Status (CHS) and (a) happiness, χ2(2) = 6.06, p < 0.05, (b) helplessness, χ2(2) = 6.44, p < 0.05, and (c) hopelessness, χ2(2) = 14.11, p < 0.01.ConclusionThis study provides support for the association of both positive and negative affect with cognitive health status in middle- to older-aged adults.

Published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

ISSN: 1663-4365 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience

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