INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 02 Program Schedule 02/15/2024 08:00 am - 09:15 am Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120) Poster Session 02: Aging \| MCI \| Neurodegenerative Disease - PART 1 Final Abstract #99 Sex Differences in the Association of Dementia Worry with Everyday Functioning in Older Adults Jalyn Underwood, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, United States Ross Diver, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, United States Matthew Calamia, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, United States Category: Aging Keyword 1: everyday functioning Keyword 2: anxiety Objective: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, has been observed to disproportionately impact women, though mechanisms underlying sex differences are still ambiguous. Anxiety and related constructs, particularly worry related to the development of dementia, have previously been associated with changes in everyday functioning in older adults, a noted risk factor for conversion to mild cognitive impairment and dementia. However, exploring anxiety related constructs such as dementia worry as a pathway for observed sex differences remains understudied. The present study sought to address this gap in the literature by comparing the relationship between dementia worry and everyday functioning in older men and women. Participants and Methods: Older adult participants (N = 428, women = 317, men = 111), participants completed questionnaires via Qualtrics Panels. Everyday function was assessed via the 39-item self-report Everyday Cognition scales (ECog). Dementia worry was assessed via the Dementia Worry Scale (DWS). Sex, dementia worry, and their interaction were analyzed as predictors of everyday functioning via linear regression. Results: The overall model accounted for a significant portion of the variance in everyday function, F(3, 289) = 17.95, p< .01, with an R²of .16. The interaction between sex and dementia worry was significant, such that the relationship between dementia worry and everyday function was stronger for men. Sex was not a significant predictor of everyday functioning. Conclusions: Anxiety and related constructs have been identified as risk factors for the decline in cognition and everyday functioning in older adults and may be a pathway explaining observed sex differences in AD. Contrary to our hypotheses, the relationship between dementia worry and everyday functioning was stronger for men, despite research showing that older women are more likely to present with clinically significant anxiety. Dementia worry may be an addressable factor for older men to reduce concern and improve quality of life. Continued exploration of sex differences in anxiety-related constructs in older adults is warranted.

Poster

02/15/2024
08:00 am - 09:15 am
Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120)

Poster Session 02: Aging | MCI | Neurodegenerative Disease - PART 1

Final Abstract #99

Sex Differences in the Association of Dementia Worry with Everyday Functioning in Older Adults

Jalyn Underwood, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, United States
Ross Diver, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, United States
Matthew Calamia, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, United States

Category: Aging

Keyword 1: everyday functioning
Keyword 2: anxiety

Objective:

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, has been observed to disproportionately impact women, though mechanisms underlying sex differences are still ambiguous. Anxiety and related constructs, particularly worry related to the development of dementia, have previously been associated with changes in everyday functioning in older adults, a noted risk factor for conversion to mild cognitive impairment and dementia. However, exploring anxiety related constructs such as dementia worry as a pathway for observed sex differences remains understudied. The present study sought to address this gap in the literature by comparing the relationship between dementia worry and everyday functioning in older men and women.

Participants and Methods:

Older adult participants (N = 428, women = 317, men = 111), participants completed questionnaires via Qualtrics Panels. Everyday function was assessed via the 39-item self-report Everyday Cognition scales (ECog). Dementia worry was assessed via the Dementia Worry Scale (DWS). Sex, dementia worry, and their interaction were analyzed as predictors of everyday functioning via linear regression.

Results:

The overall model accounted for a significant portion of the variance in everyday function, F(3, 289) = 17.95, p< .01, with an R²of .16. The interaction between sex and dementia worry was significant, such that the relationship between dementia worry and everyday function was stronger for men. Sex was not a significant predictor of everyday functioning.

Conclusions:

Anxiety and related constructs have been identified as risk factors for the decline in cognition and everyday functioning in older adults and may be a pathway explaining observed sex differences in AD. Contrary to our hypotheses, the relationship between dementia worry and everyday functioning was stronger for men, despite research showing that older women are more likely to present with clinically significant anxiety. Dementia worry may be an addressable factor for older men to reduce concern and improve quality of life. Continued exploration of sex differences in anxiety-related constructs in older adults is warranted.