title: Self-efficacy is independently associated with brain volume in older women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  ageing is highly associated with neurodegeneration and atrophy of the brain. Evidence suggests that personality variables are risk factors for reduced brain volume. We examine whether falls-related self-efficacy is independently associated with brain volume.
  
  
  METHODS
  a cross-sectional analysis of whether falls-related self-efficacy is independently associated with brain volumes (total, grey and white matter). Three multivariate regression models were constructed. Covariates included in the models were age, global cognition, systolic blood pressure, functional comorbidity index and current physical activity level. MRI scans were acquired from 79 community-dwelling senior women aged 65-75 years old. Falls-related self-efficacy was assessed by the activities-specific balance confidence (ABC) scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  after accounting for covariates, falls-related self-efficacy was independently associated with both total brain volume and total grey matter volume. The final model for total brain volume accounted for 17% of the variance, with the ABC score accounting for 8%. For total grey matter volume, the final model accounted for 24% of the variance, with the ABC score accounting for 10%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  we provide novel evidence that falls-related self-efficacy, a modifiable risk factor for healthy ageing, is positively associated with total brain volume and total grey matter volume.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00426881.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI), 357-2647 Willow Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Lindsay S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Nagamatsu
authors.forename: Chun Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: B Lynn
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Beattie
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu-Ambrose
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001955:British Columbia; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009929:Organ Size; D004856:Postural Balance; D055070:Resistance Training; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors