INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 08 Program Schedule 02/16/2024 01:45 pm - 03:00 pm Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 08: Cognition \| Cognitive Reserve Variables Final Abstract #26 Association between Reproductive History and Cognition in Post-Menopausal Latinas from the Boston Latino Aging Study Averi Giudicessi, Massachusetts General Hospital/Boston University, Boston, United States Diana Munera, Massachusetts General Hosptial, Boston, United States Alex Badillo Cabrera, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States Nikole Bonillas Felix, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States Elizabeth Kaplan, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States Liliana Ramirez-Gomez, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States Marta Gonzalez Catalan, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States Clara Vila-Castelar, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States Alice Cronin-Golomb, Boston University, Boston, United States Yakeel Quiroz, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States Category: Aging Keyword 1: cognitive functioning Keyword 2: aging (normal) Keyword 3: diversity Objective: Sex disparities in Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk are significant, with nearly two-thirds of AD cases occurring in females. Recent research has begun to explore the connection between women's endocrine history, encompassing factors like reproductive span, birth control use, and pregnancy, and their cognitive well-being as they age. However, many of these studies often neglect to investigate the influence of women's reproductive events on cognition. This gap in research highlights the critical need to examine these factors, especially within the context of Alzheimer's disease, among Latino populations. Moreover, existing literature on sex-specific factors impacting AD primarily focuses on White participants, despite Latinos experiencing a disproportionate burden of AD. This study aims to investigate the potential relations between a female’s reproductive history and cognitive function after the age of 55. Participants and Methods: A total of 61 Spanish-speaking Latinas from the Boston Latino Aging Study (BLAST) were included (mean age= 66.8 (SD=11.0); years of education=11.0 (SD=5.0)). Reproductive factors were assessed using a comprehensive reproductive health history questionnaire, covering reproductive span (difference between age of last and first menstruation), use of hormonal birth control, number of pregnancies, reproductive surgeries (e.g., hysterectomy), menopause, and use of hormone replacement therapy. Cognitive function was measured with the Preclinical Alzheimer’s Cognitive Composite-5 (PACC5; a z-score), adapted for Spanish-speakers, calculated as the mean performance across five measures: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-4th edition (WAIS-IV) Digit Symbol Coding, the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT); Logical Memory, from the NEUROPSI Memoria y Atención, and Category Fluency (Animals). Regression models, adjusted for age and education, were used to determine associations among reproductive factors and cognition. Results: Participants had a mean MMSE score of 25.9 (SD=3.3). Mean reproductive span (calculated as the difference between the ages of reported last and first menstruation) was 33.6 (SD=8.0), and the average number of pregnancies was 3.6 (SD=1.8). Seven females reported they had a hysterectomy, 2 reported currently using hormone therapy, and 4 reported using hormone therapy in the past. Greater number of pregnancies was associated with worse PACC-5 composite score (β =-0.09, 95% CI: -0.19 to -0.01, p < 0.05) and DSST scores (β =-0.16, 95% CI: -0.28 to -0.04, p<0.01). No significant relations were found between cognitive composite scores and other reproductive factors. Conclusions: These results underscore the importance of considering reproductive history as a potential factor in females’ cognitive health as they age. Specifically, our study reveals a significant negative relationship between the number of pregnancies and cognitive function in Latina females, suggesting that a higher number of pregnancies may pose a risk for cognitive decline in later life. To validate these results, it is crucial to conduct further research with larger and more diverse sample groups, incorporating neuroimaging data to gain insights into Alzheimer's disease neuropathology, as well as delving deeper into sociocultural factors. Moreover, longitudinal studies are imperative to explore the lasting impacts of reproductive factors on cognitive aging, which could ultimately inform potential interventions aimed at mitigating the cognitive effects associated with pregnancy.

Poster

02/16/2024
01:45 pm - 03:00 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 08: Cognition | Cognitive Reserve Variables

Final Abstract #26

Association between Reproductive History and Cognition in Post-Menopausal Latinas from the Boston Latino Aging Study

Averi Giudicessi, Massachusetts General Hospital/Boston University, Boston, United States
Diana Munera, Massachusetts General Hosptial, Boston, United States
Alex Badillo Cabrera, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States
Nikole Bonillas Felix, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States
Elizabeth Kaplan, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States
Liliana Ramirez-Gomez, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States
Marta Gonzalez Catalan, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States
Clara Vila-Castelar, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States
Alice Cronin-Golomb, Boston University, Boston, United States
Yakeel Quiroz, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States

Category: Aging

Keyword 1: cognitive functioning
Keyword 2: aging (normal)
Keyword 3: diversity

Objective:

Sex disparities in Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk are significant, with nearly two-thirds of AD cases occurring in females. Recent research has begun to explore the connection between women's endocrine history, encompassing factors like reproductive span, birth control use, and pregnancy, and their cognitive well-being as they age. However, many of these studies often neglect to investigate the influence of women's reproductive events on cognition. This gap in research highlights the critical need to examine these factors, especially within the context of Alzheimer's disease, among Latino populations. Moreover, existing literature on sex-specific factors impacting AD primarily focuses on White participants, despite Latinos experiencing a disproportionate burden of AD. This study aims to investigate the potential relations between a female’s reproductive history and cognitive function after the age of 55.

Participants and Methods:

A total of 61 Spanish-speaking Latinas from the Boston Latino Aging Study (BLAST) were included (mean age= 66.8 (SD=11.0); years of education=11.0 (SD=5.0)). Reproductive factors were assessed using a comprehensive reproductive health history questionnaire, covering reproductive span (difference between age of last and first menstruation), use of hormonal birth control, number of pregnancies, reproductive surgeries (e.g., hysterectomy), menopause, and use of hormone replacement therapy. Cognitive function was measured with the Preclinical Alzheimer’s Cognitive Composite-5 (PACC5; a z-score), adapted for Spanish-speakers, calculated as the mean performance across five measures: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-4th edition (WAIS-IV) Digit Symbol Coding, the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT); Logical Memory, from the NEUROPSI Memoria y Atención, and Category Fluency (Animals). Regression models, adjusted for age and education, were used to determine associations among reproductive factors and cognition.

Results:

Participants had a mean MMSE score of 25.9 (SD=3.3). Mean reproductive span (calculated as the difference between the ages of reported last and first menstruation) was 33.6 (SD=8.0), and the average number of pregnancies was 3.6 (SD=1.8). Seven females reported they had a hysterectomy, 2 reported currently using hormone therapy, and 4 reported using hormone therapy in the past. Greater number of pregnancies was associated with worse PACC-5 composite score (β =-0.09, 95% CI: -0.19 to -0.01, p < 0.05) and DSST scores (β =-0.16, 95% CI: -0.28 to -0.04, p<0.01). No significant relations were found between cognitive composite scores and other reproductive factors.

Conclusions:

These results underscore the importance of considering reproductive history as a potential factor in females’ cognitive health as they age. Specifically, our study reveals a significant negative relationship between the number of pregnancies and cognitive function in Latina females, suggesting that a higher number of pregnancies may pose a risk for cognitive decline in later life. To validate these results, it is crucial to conduct further research with larger and more diverse sample groups, incorporating neuroimaging data to gain insights into Alzheimer's disease neuropathology, as well as delving deeper into sociocultural factors. Moreover, longitudinal studies are imperative to explore the lasting impacts of reproductive factors on cognitive aging, which could ultimately inform potential interventions aimed at mitigating the cognitive effects associated with pregnancy.