INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 11 Program Schedule 02/17/2024 10:45 am - 12:00 pm Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 11: Cultural Neuropsychology \| Education/Training \| Professional Practice Issues Final Abstract #37 Subjective Memory Concerns, Chronic Stress, and Social Support in an Ethnoracially Diverse Sample: A Cross-Sectional Study Alexa Gonzalez, University of Houston, Houston, United States Christopher Krause, University of Houston, Houston, United States Joshua Garcia, University of Houston, Houston, United States Michelle Martinez, University of Houston, Houston, United States Luis Medina, University of Houston, Houston, United States Category: Cross Cultural Neuropsychology/ Clinical Cultural Neuroscience Keyword 1: memory complaints Keyword 2: chronic stress Keyword 3: cross-cultural issues Objective: Given the trajectory of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs) ranges from the prodromal state to a dementia syndrome, researchers have focused on identifying early markers of cognitive decline. One potential risk marker is the presence of subjective memory concerns (SMCs). While individuals with SMCs may not exhibit objective memory impairment, evidence suggests self-reported SMCs may be associated with greater risk for later development of cognitive impairment in older adults. Furthermore, individuals with greater perceived stress tend to also report more concerns with their cognition while greater social support has been found to positively counter the effects of stressors. However, few studies have considered the relationship between chronic stress and SMCs alongside the role of social support in diverse samples. The current study examined how chronic stress and social support are associated with SMCs in a cross-sectional sample of older Hispanic/Latin American (H/L) and Black/African American adults. Participants and Methods: Data for 1,364 participants collected through the Health and Aging Brain Study: Health Disparities (HABS-HD) were examined, where 845 participants identified as H/L and 519 as Black/African American (Age = 63±7.95; Education = 11.9±4.57). Exclusion criteria included a diagnosis of depression, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and/or another dementia. The Subjective Memory Concerns Questionnaire (SMCQ), a self-report measure, was used to examine the presence of SMCs. Self-reported chronic stress and social support were also measured using questionnaires. Nested regression models were conducted to investigate the relationships between chronic stress, social support, and SMCs while controlling for demographic factors. Further, we examined the potential interaction between social support and chronic stress on presence of SMCs. Results: Controlling for age, gender, and level of education, levels of chronic stress (β = .27, p < .001, 95% CI [.22, .32]) significantly predicted presence of SMCs (ΔR² = .070; F(1, 1359) = 106.5; p < .001). Furthermore, social support (β = -.26, p < .001, 95% CI [-.31, -.21]) explained a significant proportion of variance above and beyond chronic stress (ΔR² = .059; F(1, 1358) = 96.5; p < .001). The interaction between chronic stress and social support was not significant (ΔR² = .0018; F(1, 1357) = 2.95; p = .086). Conclusions: Our findings provide support for an association between chronic stress and SMCs above and beyond the effects of demographic factors. This highlights the possible impact that social determinants of health, like long-term stressors, have on memory concerns. Also, lower social support may represent a risk factor. Future research may examine the possible mediating role of social support between long-term stressors and SMCs; doing so may elucidate how lifestyle factors may buffer against cognitive decline.

Poster

02/17/2024
10:45 am - 12:00 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 11: Cultural Neuropsychology | Education/Training | Professional Practice Issues

Final Abstract #37

Subjective Memory Concerns, Chronic Stress, and Social Support in an Ethnoracially Diverse Sample: A Cross-Sectional Study

Alexa Gonzalez, University of Houston, Houston, United States
Christopher Krause, University of Houston, Houston, United States
Joshua Garcia, University of Houston, Houston, United States
Michelle Martinez, University of Houston, Houston, United States
Luis Medina, University of Houston, Houston, United States

Category: Cross Cultural Neuropsychology/ Clinical Cultural Neuroscience

Keyword 1: memory complaints
Keyword 2: chronic stress
Keyword 3: cross-cultural issues

Objective:

Given the trajectory of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs) ranges from the prodromal state to a dementia syndrome, researchers have focused on identifying early markers of cognitive decline. One potential risk marker is the presence of subjective memory concerns (SMCs). While individuals with SMCs may not exhibit objective memory impairment, evidence suggests self-reported SMCs may be associated with greater risk for later development of cognitive impairment in older adults. Furthermore, individuals with greater perceived stress tend to also report more concerns with their cognition while greater social support has been found to positively counter the effects of stressors. However, few studies have considered the relationship between chronic stress and SMCs alongside the role of social support in diverse samples. The current study examined how chronic stress and social support are associated with SMCs in a cross-sectional sample of older Hispanic/Latin American (H/L) and Black/African American adults.

Participants and Methods:

Data for 1,364 participants collected through the Health and Aging Brain Study: Health Disparities (HABS-HD) were examined, where 845 participants identified as H/L and 519 as Black/African American (Age = 63±7.95; Education = 11.9±4.57). Exclusion criteria included a diagnosis of depression, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and/or another dementia. The Subjective Memory Concerns Questionnaire (SMCQ), a self-report measure, was used to examine the presence of SMCs. Self-reported chronic stress and social support were also measured using questionnaires. Nested regression models were conducted to investigate the relationships between chronic stress, social support, and SMCs while controlling for demographic factors. Further, we examined the potential interaction between social support and chronic stress on presence of SMCs.

Results:

Controlling for age, gender, and level of education, levels of chronic stress (β = .27, p < .001, 95% CI [.22, .32]) significantly predicted presence of SMCs (ΔR² = .070; F(1, 1359) = 106.5; p < .001). Furthermore, social support (β = -.26, p < .001, 95% CI [-.31, -.21]) explained a significant proportion of variance above and beyond chronic stress (ΔR² = .059; F(1, 1358) = 96.5; p < .001). The interaction between chronic stress and social support was not significant (ΔR² = .0018; F(1, 1357) = 2.95; p = .086).

Conclusions:

Our findings provide support for an association between chronic stress and SMCs above and beyond the effects of demographic factors. This highlights the possible impact that social determinants of health, like long-term stressors, have on memory concerns. Also, lower social support may represent a risk factor. Future research may examine the possible mediating role of social support between long-term stressors and SMCs; doing so may elucidate how lifestyle factors may buffer against cognitive decline.