An Intersectional, Constrained Activity Approach to Later-Life Falls and Cognition

• In Event: Aging and the Life Course Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): 1: Dementia and Cognitive Aging

Abstract

Falls strongly predict later-life cognitive decline but less is known about patterned differences in post-fall cognitive vulnerability. We aim to address this gap in two innovative ways: (1) by examining differences across class, sex or gender, and race; and (2) by examining the differential mediating roles of post-fall physical activity and limitation patterns across these demographic groups. Drawing on six longitudinal cohorts in the U.S. Health and Retirement Study (HRS), our preliminary findings suggest significant socioeconomic variation in fall risk and post-fall cognition, with further conditioning of these socioeconomic links according to gender and race. We see especially strong differences in falls and their cognitive impacts across Black and White respondents. Next steps of the project – to be made available for the full conference presentation – will involve elaboration and formal testing of a longitudinal structural equation model that allows for differential or group-specific mediating effects of post-fall activity restrictions and physical activity on the longitudinal fall-cognition link. We term this a “constrained activity” approach to understanding intersectional activity and limitation patterns after falls as key, countervailing factors for post-fall cognitive health.

Authors

• Matthew Andersson, Baylor University

• Max Elliott Coleman, University of Utah

• Markus H. Schafer, Baylor University