title: Caregiving and cognitive function in older women: evidence for the healthy caregiver hypothesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent findings of better health outcomes in older caregivers than noncaregivers suggest a healthy caregiver hypothesis (HCH) model may be more appropriate than the stress process model for evaluating the health effects of caregiving. In a cross-sectional study, we tested the HCH on two cognitive domains: verbal memory and processing speed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants from the Caregiver Study of Osteoporotic Fractures who had a 2-year follow-up interview were categorized as continuous caregivers (n = 194), former caregivers (n = 148), or continuous noncaregivers (n = 574). The Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT; memory) and Digit Symbol Substitution Task (DSST; processing speed) were administered at the follow-up interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Continuous caregivers had better memory performance and processing speed than continuous noncaregivers: adjusted mean scores for HVLT were 18.38 versus 15.80 (p < .0001), and for DSST were 35.91 versus 34.38 (p = .09).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results support the HCH model for cognitive outcomes in older women caregivers; however, the relationship may be domain specific.
authors.affiliation: Domestic Health Division, Health Policy, Abt AssociatesInc., Cambridge, MA, USA. Rosanna_bertrand@abtassoc.com
authors.forename: Rosanna M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bertrand
authors.forename: Jane S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Saczynski
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mezzacappa
authors.forename: Mallorie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hulse
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ensrud
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fredman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000451:nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States