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. 2024;11(3):787-797.
doi: 10.14283/jpad.2024.39.

Examining Demographic Factors, Psychosocial Wellbeing and Cardiovascular Health in Subjective Cognitive Decline in the Brain Health Registry Cohort

R Tank  1 , A Diaz, M T Ashford, M J Miller, J Eichenbaum, A Aaronson, B Landavazo, J Neuhaus, M W Weiner, R S Mackin, J Barnes, R L Nosheny
Affiliations

Examining Demographic Factors, Psychosocial Wellbeing and Cardiovascular Health in Subjective Cognitive Decline in the Brain Health Registry Cohort

R Tank et al. J Prev Alzheimers Dis. 2024.

Abstract

Background: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is defined as an individual's perception of sustained cognitive decline compared to their normal state while still performing within boundaries for normal functioning. Demographic, psychosocial and medical factors have been linked to age-related cognitive decline, and Alzheimer's dementia (AD). However, their relation to risk for SCD remains unclear. This study aims to identify demographic factors, psychosocial and cardiovascular health associated with SCD within the Brain Health Registry (BHR) online cohort.

Methods: Participants aged 55+ (N=27,596) in the BHR self-reported SCD measured using the Everyday Cognition Scale (ECog) and medical conditions, depressive symptoms, body mass index, quality of sleep, health, family history of AD, years of education, race, ethnicity and gender. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine whether SCD was associated with demographic, psychosocial, and medical conditions.

Results: We found that advanced age, depressive symptoms, poorer sleep quality and poorer quality of health were positively associated with more self-reported SCD in all models. No race or ethnicity differences were found in association with SCD. Males who reported alcohol and tobacco use or underweight BMI had higher ECog scores compared with females.

Conclusion: In addition to well-established risk factors for cognitive decline, such as age, our study consistently and robustly identified a strong association between psychosocial factors and self-reported cognitive decline in an online cohort. These findings provide further evidence that psychosocial health plays a pivotal role in comprehending the risk of SCD and early-stage cognitive ageing. Our findings emphasise the significance of psychosocial factors within the broader context of cardiovascular and demographic risk factors.

Keywords: Subjective cognitive decline; cardiovascular; gender; psychosocial; race.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Ashford receives support from the National Institutes of Health and declares no potential conflicts of interest. Dr. Weiner receives support for his research from the following funding sources: National Institutes of Health (NIH): 2U19AG024904-14; 5R01AG053798-01A1; R01 MH098062; U24 AG057437-01; 1U2CA060426-01; 1R01AG058676-01A1; and 1RF1AG059009-01; Department of Defense (DOD): W81XWH-15-2-0070; 0W81XWH-12-2-0012; W81XWH-14-1-0462; and W81XWH-13-1-0259; Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI): PPRN-1501-26817; California Department of Public Health (CDPH): 16-10054; University of Michigan: 18-PAF01312; Siemens: 444951-54249; Biogen: 174552; Hillblom Foundation: 2015-A-011-NET; Alzheimer’s Association: BHR-16-459161; The State of California: 18-109929. He also receives support from Johnson and Johnson, Kevin and Connie Shanahan, GE, VUmc, Australian Catholic University (HBI-BHR), The Stroke Foundation, and the Veterans Administration. Dr. Nosheny has received support from NIA, California Department of Public Health, Genentech, Inc. and Alzheimer’s Association.

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