title: Vagal Recovery From Cognitive Challenge Moderates Age-Related Deficits in Executive Functioning.
abstract: Decline in executive functioning (EF) is a hallmark of cognitive aging. We have previously reported that faster vagal recovery from cognitive challenge is associated with better EF. This study examined the association between vagal recovery from cognitive challenge and age-related differences in EF among 817 participants in the Midlife in the U.S. study (aged 35-86). Cardiac vagal control was measured as high-frequency heart rate variability. Vagal recovery moderated the association between age and EF (β = .811, p = .004). Secondary analyses revealed that older participants (aged 65-86) with faster vagal recovery had superior EF compared to their peers who had slower vagal recovery. In contrast, among younger (aged 35-54) and middle-aged (aged 55-64) participants, vagal recovery was not associated with EF. We conclude that faster vagal recovery from cognitive challenge is associated with reduced deficits in EF among older, but not younger individuals.
authors: Healthcare Innovation Technology Lab, New York, NY, USA olga.v.crowley@gmail.com.
authors: Olga V
authors: OV
authors: Crowley
authors: Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Kimhy
authors: Division of Behavioral Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors: Paula S
authors: PS
authors: McKinley
authors: Division of General Medicine, Columbia University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors: Matthew M
authors: MM
authors: Burg
authors: Division of General Medicine, Columbia University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors: Joseph E
authors: JE
authors: Schwartz
authors: Department of Psychology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA.
authors: Margie E
authors: ME
authors: Lachman
authors: Department of Psychology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA.
authors: Patricia A
authors: PA
authors: Tun
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
authors: Carol D
authors: CD
authors: Ryff
authors: Division of Geriatrics, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Teresa E
authors: TE
authors: Seeman
authors: Division of Behavioral Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors: Richard P
authors: RP
authors: Sloan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: aging; cardiac vagal control; cognitive aging; executive function; vagal recovery from cognitive challenges