| 1. |
- Fagerström, Cecilia, Docent, 1973-, et al.
(författare)
-
Factorial validity and invariance of the Life Satisfaction Index in older people across groups and time: Addressing the heterogeneity of age, functional ability, and depression.
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Archives of gerontology and geriatrics (Print). - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-4943 .- 1872-6976. ; 55:2, s. 349-356
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the last decades, extensive research efforts have been directed at exploring life satisfaction in old age, and the Life Satisfaction Index A scale (LSIA), developed by Neugarten et al. in the 1960s, is one of the most commonly used instruments. However, studies have focused on predicting and comparing changes in people’s life satisfaction without testing if the LSIA instrument is equally valid for different subgroups of people. The present study investigated the underlying dimensions of the LSIA in a Swedish population (n=1402) of people 60−96 years of age. The study also examined factorial invariance across age, gender, functional ability and depression during a six-year period. The results showed that while a five-factor solution of the LSIA did not exhibit an acceptable fit to the data, a three-factor solution did show a close fit. The two three-factor models that demonstrated the best fit showed invariance across gender and across time, but noninvariance across groups with different levels of reduced functional ability, depressive symptoms and age. These findings suggest that the psychometric properties of life satisfaction instruments like the LSIA need to be taken into consideration before drawing conclusions about life satisfaction when comparing older people of different ages and with different depression and function levels.
|
|
| 2. |
- Rolstad, Sindre, 1976, et al.
(författare)
-
All cognitive systems but speed and visuospatial functions reduce the effect of CSF pathology on other systems.
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Current Alzheimer research. - : Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.. - 1567-2050 .- 1875-5828. ; 9:9, s. 1043-1049
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The concept of reserve can be conceived as differences in the ability to compensate for pathology by recruiting additional or alternative networks. The purpose of this study was to examine whether certain cognitive systems may compensate for the effect of CSF amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42) and total tau (T-tau) on other cognitive systems. Five hundred and nine participants underwent neuropsychological examination and lumbar puncture. Multiple regression was performed with interaction terms to test whether a cognitive system reduced the impact of CSF pathology on other systems. All cognitive systems except speed and visuospatial functions were associated with reduced effects of T-tau and Aβ42 on semantic memory, working memory and visuospatial abilities. The burden of Aβ42 was reduced more often than that of T-tau. Our results suggest that most cognitive systems may be beneficial to maintenance of cognitive performance despite CSF burden. The results support the notion of cognitive reserve.
|
|
| 3. |
- Rolstad, Sindre, 1976, et al.
(författare)
-
Amyloid-β₄₂ is associated with cognitive impairment in healthy elderly and subjective cognitive impairment.
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Journal of Alzheimers Disorder. - 1387-2877. ; 26:1, s. 135-142
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to predict cognitive performance on the basis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers total tau (T-tau) and amyloid-β42 (Aβ42) in controls and patients at various impairment levels. Previous studies have found an association of CSF T-tau levels with cognitive symptoms, but it has been difficult to relate Aβ to cognition, and it has thus been hypothesized that Aβ reaches a plateau level prior to cognitive symptoms. A comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests was subjected to factor analysis to yield aggregated cognitive domains. Linear regression models were performed for the total sample of the Gothenburg MCI study (n = 435) and for each level of impairment. Aβ42 and T-tau accounted for a significant proportion of performance in all cognitive domains in the total sample. In controls (n = 60) and patients with subjective cognitive impairment (n = 105), Aβ42 predicted a significant proportion of semantic and working memory performance. For patients with mild cognitive impairment (n = 170), T-tau had the most pronounced impact across cognitive domains, and more specifically on episodic memory, visuospatial, and speed/executive performance. For patients with dementia (n = 100), the most pronounced impacts of Aβ42 were found in episodic memory and visuospatial functioning, while T-tau was substantially associated with episodic memory. Our results suggest that cognition is related to CSF biomarkers regardless of impairment level. Aβ42 is associated with cognitive functions from a potentially early to a later disease phase, and T-tau is more indicative of performance in a later disease phase.
|
|
| 4. |
- Rolstad, Sindre, 1976, et al.
(författare)
-
Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers mirror rate of cognitive decline.
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. - 1875-8908. ; 34:4, s. 949-56
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The ability to predict future decline in cognitive systems using the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers 42 amino acid form of amyloid-β (Aβ42) and total tau (T-tau) is not fully understood. In a clinical sample ranging from cognitively healthy to dementia (n = 326), linear regression models were performed in order to investigate the ability of CSF biomarkers to predict cognitive decline in all cognitive domains from baseline to 2-year follow-up. Gender, age, and years of education were included as covariates. In patients with subjective cognitive impairment, T-tau had a small impact on executive functions (r2 = 0.07). T-tau had a small to moderate influence (r2 = 0.06-0.11) on all cognitive functions with the exception of visuospatial functions in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In patients with dementia, the impact of T-tau was large (r2 = 0.29) on semantic memory. Aβ42 had a small effect (r2 = 0.07) on speed and executive functions in MCI. In patients with dementia, Aβ42 had a moderate influence (r2 = 0.13-0.24) on semantic and verbal working memory/fluency. Our results speak in favor of the notion that CSF biomarkers reflect the rate of cognitive decline across the continuum of cognitive impairment from healthy to dementia. CSF predicted subsequent decline in more cognitive domains among MCI cases, but the impact was most pronounced in patients with dementia.
|
|
| 5. |
- Berg, Anne Ingeborg, 1973, et al.
(författare)
-
"As long as I'm in good health". The relationship between medical diagnoses and life satisfaction in the oldest-old.
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Aging Clinical and Experimental Research. ; 21:4-5, s. 307-313
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Life satisfaction in the elderly has usually been found to be closely related to self-rated health, and less to diagnoses and more objective measures of health status. However, few studies have examined the relative importance of various specific diagnoses in population-based samples. METHODS: In this study, we investigate the relationship between life satisfaction and medical diagnoses in a non-demented sample of 392 participants aged 80 and older. RESULTS: Among 25 common diagnoses, only sleeping problems, urinary incontinence and stroke were significantly related to life satisfaction. Men with angina pectoris and eczema were less satisfied with life compared with men without these diagnoses, whereas women with peptic ulcer were less satisfied with life compared with women without this diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm previous findings of a weak relationship between medically based measures of health and life satisfaction. However, health care and future studies of health and quality of life need to focus on the fact that meaning and consequences of various diseases differ among individuals and that gender may partially account for variability.
|
|
| 6. |
- Berg, Anne Ingeborg, 1973, et al.
(författare)
-
Behavioral & Social Sciences : If I only had a good health”: A study of relationships between life satisfaction and medical diagnoses in the oldest-old.
- 2007
-
Ingår i: At the 60th Annual Scientific Meeting “The Era of Global Aging: Challenges and Opportunities” The Gerontologist, vol 47, Spical issue II, Oct. 2007.
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- People often claim that health makes the difference for life-satisfaction and well-being in late life. It is, however, typically found that self-report is the health measure that makes a difference in these outcomes, rather than medically based measures. Noteworthy, few studies have so far included a comprehensive set of common diagnoses based on medical records. The present study investigated the relationship between life satisfaction and medical diagnoses among 412 non-demented individuals drawn from the Swedish OCTO-Twin study. Analysis of covariance showed that when gender and age were controlled for, only 6 out of 50 diagnoses were related to lower life satisfaction. These were (prevalence in parenthesis) sleeping problems (65%), dizziness (64%), rheumatoid arthritis (3%), stroke (20%), and urine incontinence (51%). The study provides support for a relationship in diseases that affect everyday life functioning among a substantial proportion of the oldest old. Benefits and Learning Objectives • The relationship between life satisfaction and a range of common medical diagnoses in the oldest-old.
|
|
| 7. |
|
|
| 8. |
- Berg, Anne Ingeborg, 1973, et al.
(författare)
-
Importance of functional capacity for life-satisfaction in late life: Findings in a population-based sample aged 80 and older
- 2004
-
Ingår i: Presented at 17th Nordic Congress in Gerontology (Stockholm, Sweden).
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aging is accompanied with numerous biological and social changes that may compromise life-satisfaction. Aim: To examine the relative impact on life-satisfaction from functional limitations within the context of social, cognitive, and health related factors in the oldest-old. Methods and Material: Scales and questions regarding life-satisfaction (LSI-Z-index), functional capacity (instrumental and personal ADL), depression (CES-D), cognitive function (MMSE), social support, and economy was administered in a sample of 504 participants, aged 8098 years; (M=83 years, 68 % women). Results: Regression analysis indicated that functional capacity is associated with life-satisfaction but other variables such as subjective health, social support, and economy were equally important. Discussion: The results correspond with previous studies and emphasize the need to analyze the relationship between functional limitations and disability within a broader context of social, emotional, and cognitive variables
|
|
| 9. |
- Berg, Anne Ingeborg, 1973
(författare)
-
Life satisfaction in late life: Markers and predictors of level and change among 80+ year olds.
- 2008
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of the thesis was to examine within-individual and between-individual changes in life satisfaction in the oldest-old using different time metrics and to study life satisfaction within the context of psychosocial and health-related variables. Data were obtained from the Swedish OCTO-Twin Study of individuals aged 80 and older who were able to complete the Life Satisfaction Index-Z (LSI-Z). In Study I the association between life satisfaction and scales and questions regarding demographics, self-rated overall health and medically based health, functional capacity (instrumental and personal activities of daily living), cognitive function, depression, locus of control, and social network was investigated. Analyses indicated that social network quality, self-rated overall health, sense of being in control of one’s life, widowhood, and depressive symptoms were associated with life satisfaction. A gender-specific pattern was found; self-rated overall health and depressive symptoms were related to life satisfaction in women, whereas widowhood was significantly associated with lower satisfaction among men. In Study II the associates identified in Study I; perceived quality of social network, self-rated overall health, depressive symptoms, locus of control, and widowhood, in addition to financial satisfaction and the personality traits neuroticism and extraversion, were investigated as predictors of change in life satisfaction across four measurements over a 6-year period. Growth curve analysis showed a fairly consistent significant linear decline in life satisfaction. Certain markers predicted decrease in life satisfaction; the loss of spouse, particularly in men, and higher levels of depressive symptoms. Results suggest that life satisfaction is influenced by changes in psychosocial variables although there is an overall stability in level of life satisfaction in the oldest old. In Study III different time metrics were examined in the study of late life changes in life satisfaction. Findings of age-graded stability of life satisfaction, despite health-related losses distinctive of the oldest old, suggest that mortality-related processes could be more influential than chronological age. The study investigated changes in life satisfaction at 4 measurement occasions over a 6-year period using two competing parameterizations of time, chronological age and time-to-death. Growth curve analyses showed a linear decrease in both time-structures, but the time-to-death metric revealed a significantly better model fit. Notably, age, gender, SES, years to death, level or change in overall load of disease and self-rated health did not predict time-to-death related changes. Lower overall disease load was, however, related to higher levels of life satisfaction. In individuals with higher disease load, an external locus of control was related to lower satisfaction with life. Among those who rated their health as poor, a higher level of neuroticism was related to lower life satisfaction. The results suggest that a time-to-death metric was superior to chronological age to predict change in life satisfaction. In Study IV the relationships between life satisfaction and 25 specific chronic diagnoses were investigated. Problems with sleep, urinary incontinence and stroke were significantly related to life satisfaction in both men and women. Among men, angina pectoris and eczema were related to lower life satisfaction, whereas among women peptic ulcer was related to lower life satisfaction. The results confirm previous findings of a weak relationship between medically based measures of health and life satisfaction. However, health care and future studies of health and life satisfaction need to recognize and address that the meaning and consequences of various diseases may differ among individuals and that gender differences should be considered in this context. Overall findings from the thesis demonstrate a homogenous decline in life satisfaction in the oldest-old. Despite health-related losses, social network and personal resources accounted for substantial inter-individual differences in life satisfaction. The thesis demonstrated the need to analyse associates of life satisfaction at the intra-individual level and within a broader context of psychosocial and health-related variables also in late life.
|
|
| 10. |
|
|
