Andrea Evers

Complex Mental and Physical Activity in Older Women and Cognitive Performance: A 6-month Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND Several reports suggest beneficial impacts of either physical or mental activity on cognitive function in old age. However, the differential effects of complex mental and physical activities on cognitive performance in humans remain to be clarified. METHODS This randomized controlled trial evaluates a cognitive and a physical standardized 6-month activity intervention (3 x 1.5 h/wk) conducted in Berlin (Germany). Two hundred fifty nine healthy women aged 70-93 years were randomized to a computer course (n = 92), an exercise course (n = 91), or a control group (n = 76), of whom 230 completed the 6-month assessment. Group differences in change over a period of 6 months in episodic memory (story recall, possible range, 0-21; word recall, possible range, 0-16), executive control (working memory, ie, time quotient of Trail Making Tests B/A), and verbal fluency were evaluated by analyses of covariance (intention to treat) adjusting for baseline, fluid intelligence, and educational level. RESULTS In contrast to the control group, both the exercise group, DeltaM (SD) = 2.09 (2.66), p < .001, and the computer group, DeltaM (SD) =1.89 (2.88), p < .001, showed improved delayed story recall. They maintained performance in delayed word recall and working memory (time measure) as opposed to the control group that showed a decline, DeltaM (SD) = -0.91 (2.15), p = .001, and DeltaM (SD) = 0.24 (0.68), p = .04, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In healthy older women, participation in new stimulating activities contributes to cognitive fitness and might delay cognitive decline. Exercise and computer classes seem to generate equivalent beneficial effects.

Why do Highly Qualified Women (Still) Earn Less? Gender Differences in Long-Term Predictors of Career Success

Our study investigated gender differences in the long-term effects of education, work experience, agentic personality traits, and number of children on career success (i.e., salary) in medicine. German male and female students (N = 99) were surveyed at a German medical school (T1) and 15 years later (T2). Women interrupted their careers for longer than men (d = .92). Men had a substantially higher income at T2 (d = 1.07). Career interruptions, agentic personality traits, and high school grades were significant predictors of salary for both sexes. High final grades at medical school were significantly and positively related to salary but only for men. Low final grades at medical school and number of children predicted the length of career interruptions. For women, number of children was significantly and positively related to career interruptions. For men, number of children was significantly but negatively related to career interruptions. The findings corroborate research from other occupational fields, showing that a discontinuous work history has a negative influence on career success and that human capital variables are better rewarded for men than for women.

Long-term adherence to a physical activity intervention: The role of telephone-assisted vs. self-administered coping plans and strategy use

Objective: This study investigated the role of coping plans and the use of selection, optimisation and compensation (SOC) strategies within an experimental evaluation of a 26-week physical exercise intervention. Methods: Older women (N = 86, M age = 73.7 years) were randomly assigned to a telephone-assisted or a self-administered coping planning intervention after 6 weeks’ participation in an exercise programme. The number of different coping plans formulated, exercise-specific SOC strategy use and their interaction were used to predict objectively measured long-term adherence to the intervention. Results: The number of coping plans formulated (β = 0.28) and goal-pursuit strategies reported (sum score of optimisation and compensation strategies, β = 0.39) predicted adherence to the exercise programme over 20 weeks. The predictive strength of coping plans increased with decreasing numbers of goal-pursuit strategies (β = −0.21). Women supported via telephone reported significantly more coping plans than did women in the self-administered coping planning group, F(1,80) = 9.47, p = 0.003. Conclusion: Coping plans have a buffering effect on adherence levels when use of SOC strategies is low. Older womens adherence to physical activities may be improved if they are given direct support in generating coping plans involving strategies of selection, optimisation and compensation.

Improving cognition by adherence to physical or mental exercise: A moderated mediation analysis

Background: The role of adherence to an intervention is examined to further understand the relationship between performing new challenging activities (either mental or physical ones) and their putative cognitive benefits. Method: Healthy older women (N = 229, age range: 70–93 years) took part in a six-month randomised controlled trial, covering either a physical or mental activity (three × weekly). They completed five tests, measuring episodic and working memory pre- and post-intervention. A moderated mediation model was specified to test the strength of the indirect effect of the activity mode (i.e. physical vs. mental) through adherence (i.e. time spent on course attendance) on levels of baseline cognitive performance. Results: Both physical and mental activity groups performed better over time than the control group (p < 0.001). Adherence predicted cognitive performance (p = 0.011). The indirect effect of the activity mode on cognitive performance through adherence was especially seen when levels of baseline composite scores were low (p = 0.023). Conclusion: Older healthy women can improve episodic and working memory through spending time on a challenging physical or mental activity. Results are most promising for cognitively less fit women. Time spent on course attendance can be interpreted as an adherence indicator that makes a difference for various cognitive outcomes of the intervention.

A brief questionnaire on metacognition: Psychometric properties

Objectives: Existing questionnaires on personal views of ones own cognitive functioning are either unduly long, restrict their focus on memory, and/or capture complaints rather than the general status quo. A brief 9-item questionnaire was developed, assessing metacognition with two subscales covering metamemory and metaconcentration. Methods: The questionnaire was tested in a sample of healthy women (n = 228) aged 70–93 years, during two face-to-face interviews with an interval of 6 months. Results: Subscales were confirmed to have factorial validity. While objective cognitive test performance did not predict self-reported everyday functioning, metamemory and metaconcentration accounted for a substantial amount of its variance. The newly developed instrument was shown to be predominantly characterized by latent trait variance components. Conclusion: The presented questionnaire is advantageous for the assessment of metacognition as it is brief and easily applicable. Since metacognition is highly relevant for sustained independence in old age, the questionnaire is suitable to capture important determining factors in research on aging phenomena and processes.

Adherence to physical and mental activity interventions: Coping plans as a mediator and prior adherence as a moderator.

OBJECTIVE Adherence to behavioural intervention programmes is a necessary condition for beneficial outcomes to be achieved. This study tested whether social cognitive variables and coping plans predict adherence. DESIGN AND METHODS  Adherence was examined in a randomized controlled trial with healthy older women (age range: 70-93 years), who were randomized to a physical (N= 86) or a mental (N= 85) activity intervention. Intentions, self-efficacies, coping plans, and objectively measured adherence levels were assessed. A moderated mediation analysis evaluated the power of coping plans to translate intention into behaviour, depending on levels of prior adherence. RESULTS  Adherence to the physical activity programme (65%) was significantly lower than adherence to the mental activity programme (84%, p < .001). Intentions (β= .22) weakly predicted adherence in the initiation period of the physical activity programme (6 weeks); pre-action self-efficacy predicted adherence in the initiation period of the mental activity programme (β= .35). In both groups, coping plans predicted mid-period adherence (10 weeks) and long-term adherence (20 weeks), moderated by prior adherence (all ps < .01). Coping plans mediated the relationship between intentions and behaviour only in the exercise condition. CONCLUSIONS  Instructing older individuals to generate coping plans facilitated their adherence to physical and mental activity programmes. This effect was larger for participants with lower levels of prior adherence--and may have prevented them from dropping out of the programme.

Activity experiences shape perceived fitness trajectories: Results from a 6-month randomized controlled trial in older women

ABSTRACT In this study we addressed the subjective benefits of activity interventions that were designed to improve cognitive fitness in old age. Two hundred and fifty-nine women (aged 70–93 years) were randomized to participate in an exercise or a computer course or a control condition for 6 months. Subjective ratings of the perceived change of cognitive and physical fitness components were captured before, during, after the intervention interval, and at a 10-month follow-up. Positive and negative affect levels and objective cognitive fitness parameters served as possible covariates. Multilevel modeling revealed that the computer group rated memory and concentration as having improved at 4 months and again at 6 months. The exercise group, in contrast, perceived physical capacities as maintained or improved. The characteristics of the activity experience seem to determine the perceived fitness changes. We conclude that actual learning experiences improve ones self-concept of abilities.

Nach der Promotion - Wie (un-)attraktiv ist eine wissenschaftliche Karriere?

Nach der Promotion stellt sich fur viele die Frage, ob sie weiterhin in der Wissenschaft bleiben und auf das grose Ziel „Professur“ hinarbeiten oder ob sie die Scientific Community verlassen. In einer aktuellen Studie der Universitat Heidelberg wurden promovierte Frauen und Manner innerhalb und auserhalb der Wissenschaft nach ihrer Zufriedenheit mit ihrer beruflichen Situation befragt.

Subjectively appreciated benefits from cognitive fitness interventions in older women.

S The Gerontological Society of America 63rd Annual Scientific Meeting November 19–23, 2010 New Orleans, LA Abstracts are arranged numerically by session and in the order of presentation within each session.s are arranged numerically by session and in the order of presentation within each session. 63rd Annual Scientific Meeting 1 SESSION 5 (PAPER) CAREGIVER HEALTH AND BURDEN CAREGIVING AND CLINICALLY-ASSESSED BIOLOGICAL RISK FACTORS: EVIDENCE FROM MIDUS II S. Kang, N. Marks, 1. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 2. UW Institute on Aging, Madison, Wisconsin Guided by a life course perspective and biopsychosocial approach to health, this study aimed to add to a population perspective on caregiving and health-related biological risks of family caregiving by (1) examining how providing caregiving for a child, spouse, parent, or parent-in-law due to their illness or disability (in contrast to not providing caregiving for any kin or nonkin) is linked to allostatic load (a 15-item composite measure of biological risk) and three subscales of allostatic load (metabolic dysfunction, inflammatory dysfunction, hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal axis/sympathetic nervous system [HPA/SNS] dysfunction) among midlife and older adults, and (2) evaluating how gender might moderate the link between caregiving and health-related biological risks. Data from a subsample of MIDUS II (Midlife in the U. S., 2005) respondents ages 34 to 83 that were recruited for additional clinical and biological assessment (N = 1054) were used to estimate multivariate models that also adjusted for numerous sociodemographic factors. Results revealed that providing caregiving for a spouse was associated with a greater risk in metabolic dysfunction. Models evaluating moderation of caregiving risks to biological health by gender revealed that women who were providing caregiving for a parent-in-law reported higher levels of allostatic load and its subscale indicators of inflammatory dysfunction than their men peers. Overall, results suggest that caring for a spouse is linked to important biological health risk for women and men, and caring for a parent-in-law is linked to important biological health risk for women. CAREGIVING TO ADVANCED CHRONIC ILLNESS (CHF/COPD) PATIENTS A. Wilkinson, S. Berry, 1. School of Nursing, Midwifery and Postgraduate Medicine, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia, 2. Rand Corporation, Santa Monica, California Background. The cost and responsibility for much of the care of seriously ill, elderly persons living in the community with advanced, eventually fatal, chronic illness has been shifted onto family members. Chronic organ system failure presents a distinct illness trajectory with an erratic and unpredictable course characterized by episodes of acute illness and periods of relative stability set against a background of gradual, progressive disability. Current caregiving research has not yet described the challenges, stresses, and rewards that accompany caregiving for individuals with advanced chronic organ system failure. This project sought to describe the factors that influence caregiver outcomes in caregiving to advanced CHF and COPD patients. Methods: We conducted a series of 9 focus groups (8-10 adults each), 18 years or older, who were currently providing care for a patient with advanced chronic CHF or COPD. Focus group discussion topics were identified from the literature Initial analysis resulted in a classification system for major topics derived from the material and a second analysis by both researchers determined a final set of themes. 65Results: Five major themes were identified: (1) how caregivers describe their experience, (2) prognosis/uncertainty impacts, (3) objective burden (tasks), (4) role conflict/reversal, and (5) subjective burden. Findings from this exploratory work suggest that interventions should provide information about topics of specific relevance to CHF/COPD caregivers (e.g., disease processes, prognosis, what to expect, symptom and self-management, and should address caregiver/patient social isolation. Details and implications for future research and intervention policy will be discussed. BEHAVIORAL PROBLEM SUBTYPES IN DEMENTIA AND EFFECTS ON INFORMAL CAREGIVER HEALTH, HEALTH BEHAVIORS, AND SERVICE USE J.M. Thorpe, C. Thorpe, 1. School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, 2. School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison,