title: Are Changes in Self-Rated Health Associated With Memory Decline in Older Adults?
abstract: The association between patterns of change in self-rated health (SRH) and memory trajectories in older adults was examined using a systematic approach.
  
  
  
  Data from the Health and Retirement Study ( n = 6,016) and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing ( n = 734) were analyzed. Individuals were grouped into five categories according to their pattern of change in SRH over 8 years: stable excellent/very good/good, stable fair/poor, improvement, decline, and fluctuating pattern without a trend. Memory was measured using immediate and delayed recall tests. Kruskal-Wallis, chi-squares tests, and linear mixed models were used to examine the association.
  
  
  
  Different rates of decline in memory can be identified in the different patterns of change in SRH. Those who had a stable excellent/very good/good pattern had the slowest rate of decline.
  
  
  
  Our findings suggest that SRH status and patterns of change could be used as a marker of cognitive decline in prevention screening programs.
authors.affiliation: 1 MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bendayan
authors.affiliation: 2 University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrea M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Piccinin
authors.affiliation: 2 University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hofer
authors.affiliation: 1 MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Graciela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muniz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders; D057566:Self Report; D014481:United States
keywords: cognitive decline; memory; older adults; self-rated health