Executive function and survival in the context of chronic illness.
BACKGROUND
Individual differences in executive function (EF) have been shown to predict risk factors for chronic illness. It is not currently known whether EFs also predict survival time following a diagnosis of a chronic illness.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this investigation was to examine the association between individual differences in EF and survival time among individuals suffering from one or more chronic illness.


METHODS
A sample of 162 community-dwelling older adults who suffered from a chronic illness at baseline underwent thorough medical and neurological examinations to ensure freedom from actual or probable dementia. Participants completed cognitive testing and were subsequently followed for 10 years; survival was assessed as survival time over the follow-up interval.


RESULTS
Findings indicated that individual differences in EF predicted survival time, and this association held when adjustments were made for demographic variables (age, sex), education, and body mass index.


CONCLUSIONS
Individual differences in EF may be important determinants of survival in the context of chronic illness.
Departments of Kinesiology & Psychology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, Canada. pahall@healthy.uwaterloo.ca
Peter A
PA
Hall
Margaret
M
Crossley
Carl
C
D'Arcy
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate