Associations of Subjective Memory with Life Space and Neighborhood Built Environment in Older Adults in the ACTIVE Study

  • Gail Wallace
  • , Tyler Bell
  • , Sheila Black
  • , Michael Crowe
  • , Roland J. Thorpe
  • , Caitlin Pope
  • , George W. Rebok

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the longitudinal association of life space and neighborhood and built environment (NBE) with subjective memory among individuals 65 and older, and the mediating role of depressive symptoms, a major correlate of life space mobility, NBE, and subjective memory. Methods: We examined community-dwelling participants in the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly study (N = 2,622, Mean age = 73.7 years, 24.9% Black) across annual assessments of up to 3 years. Results: Baseline life space and NBE were positively associated with subjective memory, and these associations were partly mediated by depressive symptoms. Over time, higher baseline life space predicted a better subjective memory as one aged. Life space was concurrently associated with subjective memory across time, mediated by concurrent depressive symptoms. Discussion: Potentially modifiable environmental factors such as life space and NBE appear to influence level and change in subjective memory as we age. Interventions supporting movement in our environments may help offset subjective memory problems, a potential early sign of dementia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)161-169
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Aging and Health
Volume36
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2023.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute on Aging (R01AG054520). The ACTIVE intervention trials were supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Nursing Research to Hebrew Senior Life (U01NR04507), Indiana University School of Medicine (U01NR04508), Johns Hopkins University (U01AG14260), New England Research Institutes (U01AG14282), Pennsylvania State University (U01AG14263), the University of Alabama at Birmingham (U01AG14289), and the University of Florida (U01AG14276). Subsequently, this work was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health for a 20-year follow-up of the ACTIVE Trial (R01 AG056486; Willis and Rebok, MPIs) as well as an Administrative Supplement to this grant to examine SDoH for some outcome measures. Dr. Bell is supported by a grant award to William S. Kremen, Carol E. Franz, and Michael J. Lyons at the University of California San Diego (R01AG050595). Dr. Caitlin Pope is supported by a research career development award (K12DA035150: Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health Program-BIRCWH) from the National Institutes of Health Office of Research on Women’s Health and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Drs. Wallace, Thorpe and Rebok are supported by the National Institute on Aging (P30AG059298). Dr. Thorpe was supported by National Institute on Aging (K02AG059140) and by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (U54MD000214). The opinions expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the funding agencies, academic, research, governmental institutions, or corporations involved.

FundersFunder number
Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health Program-BIRCWH
MPIs
National Institute of Nursing Research to HebrewU01NR04507
National Institutes of Health Office of Research on Women’s Health
National Institutes of Health (NIH)R01 AG056486
Author National Institute on Drug Abuse DA031791 Mark J Ferris National Institute on Drug Abuse DA006634 Mark J Ferris National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism AA026117 Mark J Ferris National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism AA028162 Elizabeth G Pitts National Institute of General Medical Sciences GM102773 Elizabeth G Pitts Peter McManus Charitable Trust Mark J Ferris National Institute on Drug AbuseP30AG059298, K02AG059140
National Institute on AgingR01AG054520
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)U54MD000214
Florida AandM University and Florida State UniversityU01AG14276
The Johns Hopkins UniversityU01AG14260
University of California San Diego HealthK12DA035150, R01AG050595
The Pennsylvania State UniversityU01AG14263
University of Alabama, BirminghamU01AG14289
Indiana University School of MedicineU01NR04508
New England Research InstitutesU01AG14282

    Keywords

    • depressive symptoms
    • life space
    • neighborhood and built environment
    • subjective memory

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Health(social science)
    • Sociology and Political Science
    • Life-span and Life-course Studies

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