Title: Predictors of Dementia and Memory Decline: Lifecourse Socioeconomic Status and Diabetes.
Authors: Marden, Jessica,; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.; Harvard University
Year: 2016
Abstract: This dissertation examines the relationship between both lifecourse socioeconomic status and diabetes and memory decline and dementia using data from the Health and Retirement Study. Chapter 1 examines associations between lifecourse measures of socioeconomic status (SES) and late life memory function and decline. Memory function was modeled longitudinally from 2002-2012 and decline was modeled for the same years via growth curves. SES measures included childhood SES, high school and college education, as well as late life household income. Of our SES measures, education was the strongest predictor of level of memory function, whereas rate of decline was driven by late life income, suggesting that late life interventions focused on SES or its downstream consequences – like health behaviors – may have the potential to slow cognitive decline.