Stressful events, social support, and cognitive function in middle-aged adults with a family history of Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the associations of stressful experiences and social support with cognitive function in a sample of middle-aged adults with a family history of Alzheimer's disease (AD).


METHODS
Using data from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention (WRAP; N = 623), we evaluated relationships between stressful events experienced in the past year, as well as social support, and cognitive performance in four domains: speed and flexibility, immediate memory, verbal learning and memory, and working memory. We assessed interactions between psychosocial predictors, and with APOE ε4 status.


RESULTS
Greater number of stressful events was associated with poorer performance on tests of speed and flexibility. Greater social support was associated with better performance in the same domain; this relationship was diminished by the presence of the ε4 allele. No associations were seen in the remaining three domains.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychosocial factors may influence cognition in at-risk individuals; influence varies by cognitive domain and ε4 status.
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, USA.
Megan L
ML
Zuelsdorff
Corinne D
CD
Engelman
Elliot M
EM
Friedman
Rebecca L
RL
Koscik
Erin M
EM
Jonaitis
Asenath La
AL
Rue
Mark A
MA
Sager
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D014922:Wisconsin
cognitive function; gene–environment interaction; geriatrics; social factors; stressful events