ACUTE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION AMONG AGING ADULTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. (20th December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kobayashi, Lindsay; O'Shea, Brendan; Joseph, Carly; Finlay, Jessica
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 6(2022)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 300
• Page End: 301
• Publication Date: 2022-12-20
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igac059.1189
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: The acute impacts of COVID-19-related mental health concerns on cognitive function among aging adults are unknown. We investigated whether between-person (BP) differences and within-person (WP) changes in loneliness, anxiety, and COVID-19 worry were related to cognitive function and abilities in the COVID-19 Coping Study over nine months from August/September 2020 through April/May 2021 (n=2, 262). Marginal structural models accounting for depression as a time-varying confounder and incorporating attrition and sampling weights estimated the BP and WP relationships of loneliness, anxiety, and COVID-19 worry with PROMIS cognitive function and abilities scores over time. In any given month, experiencing a loneliness or anxiety score higher than the sample mean (BP difference) as well higher than one's personal mean across the nine-month period (WP change) were negatively associated with cognitive function and abilities in that month. Future research should explore long-term impacts of loneliness and anxiety experienced during the pandemic for population cognitive aging.