Session: Midlife and Later-Life Cognitive and Psychological Health
Psychosocial assets and cognitive function across 12 years: A mixed methods investigation from the National Child Development Study (Julia Boehm, Chapman University)
We qualitatively assessed psychosocial assets and examined associations with cognitive function across 12 years. Data came from the National Child Development Study. At age 50, participants wrote about their futures. Two judges rated responses for eight psychosocial assets (e.g., life purpose). At age 62, cognitive function was measured with four validated tasks, which were standardized and averaged together. In unadjusted models, higher levels of each age 50 psychosocial asset were associated with better age 62 cognitive function. Associations for life purpose, personal growth, agency, enjoyment, and positivity were maintained when adjusting for sociodemographic factors. No asset was related to age 62 cognitive function when adjusting for age 50 cognitive function. This work highlights assets to investigate further and suggests midlife cognitive function predicts later functioning.
Associations between biomarkers of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease at age 70 and cognitive performance over the subsequent 7 years in members of the British 1946 Birth Cohort (Kirsty Lu, UCL)
The ‘Insight 46’ study (a sub-study of the National Survey of Health and Development) provides an opportunity to investigate longitudinal associations between biomarkers of preclinical Alzheimer’s disease and early cognitive decline. Participants were assessed at ages ~70, ~73, and ~77 years (max n=702) with various cognitive tests and biomarker measures (blood-based; neuroimaging). Between ages 70-73, there was little cognitive change overall, but faster rates of brain atrophy were associated with subtle memory decline among amyloid-positive participants. By age 77, there was clear divergence in cognitive trajectories with poorer performance among those with preclinical pathologies. As we move closer towards potential presymptomatic treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, Britain’s Birth Cohorts are making a valuable contribution towards the goal of healthy brain ageing for all.
Psychometric Comparability of the Backward Digit Span Task Across UK Longitudinal Cohorts: A Rasch and Differential Item Functioning Approach (Eren Halil Ozberk, National Foundation for Educational Research)
Backward Digit Span is widely used as a brief indicator of working memory, yet its psychometric comparability across cohort contexts is rarely examined directly. This study examines the task in two UK longitudinal studies: the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS Age 23) and Next Steps (Age 32), both of which provide trial-level cognitive records for the task (CLS, 2024; 2026). Rasch analyses showed highly similar item difficulty hierarchies across cohorts, and pooled logistic differential item functioning analyses indicated minimal item-level bias. Overall, the findings support the interpretation of Backward Digit Span as a broadly comparable working-memory measure across the two cohorts (Baddeley, 2003; Swaminathan & Rogers, 1990).
Sex Differences in the Genetics of Depression: Insights from Large-Scale Cohort Studies (David Howard, King’s College London)
Men and women differ in how often depression occurs, how it is experienced, and how people respond to treatment. Understanding the reasons for these differences is important for improving prevention and care. Advances in large scale genetic studies now allow researchers to identify genetic risk factors for depression that may differ between males and females.
This work draws on international collaborations combining data from over 60 cohort studies, including the 1958 National Child Development Study, the 1970 British Cohort Study, and the Millennium Cohort Study. For these studies, additional analysis of the X chromosome was undertaken to maximise use of available data.
This presentation will outline this work and discuss how emerging genetic findings may help inform more personalised approaches to preventing and treating depression.
