Differential Impact of Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline in Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Older Adults in England
Background/Objectives: Sexual minority older adults (SMOAs) report greater subjective cognitive decline (SCD) than heterosexual older adults (HOAs). This study aimed to compare the impact of multiple psycho-social risk factors on objective and subjective cognitive decline in HOAs and SMOAs. Methods:...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/1/90 |
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| author | Riccardo Manca Jason D. Flatt Annalena Venneri |
| author_facet | Riccardo Manca Jason D. Flatt Annalena Venneri |
| author_sort | Riccardo Manca |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/Objectives: Sexual minority older adults (SMOAs) report greater subjective cognitive decline (SCD) than heterosexual older adults (HOAs). This study aimed to compare the impact of multiple psycho-social risk factors on objective and subjective cognitive decline in HOAs and SMOAs. Methods: Two samples of self-identified HOAs and SMOAs were selected from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Reliable change indices for episodic and semantic memory were created to assess cognitive decline. SCD was self-reported for memory and general cognition. Depressive symptoms, loneliness, marital status and socio-economic status were investigated as risk factors. Results: No between-group differences were found in cognitive decline. Higher depression was associated with greater SCD risk and worse semantic memory decline. The latter effect was stronger in SMOAs. The findings were largely replicated in the sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: Poor mental health may represent the strongest driver of cognitive decline in SMOAs and to a greater extent than in HOAs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9436281891734fe7bd5cb81e75d35992 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-9436281891734fe7bd5cb81e75d359922025-01-24T13:25:56ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252025-01-011519010.3390/brainsci15010090Differential Impact of Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline in Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Older Adults in EnglandRiccardo Manca0Jason D. Flatt1Annalena Venneri2Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University of London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UKSchool of Public Health, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USADepartment of Life Sciences, Brunel University of London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UKBackground/Objectives: Sexual minority older adults (SMOAs) report greater subjective cognitive decline (SCD) than heterosexual older adults (HOAs). This study aimed to compare the impact of multiple psycho-social risk factors on objective and subjective cognitive decline in HOAs and SMOAs. Methods: Two samples of self-identified HOAs and SMOAs were selected from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Reliable change indices for episodic and semantic memory were created to assess cognitive decline. SCD was self-reported for memory and general cognition. Depressive symptoms, loneliness, marital status and socio-economic status were investigated as risk factors. Results: No between-group differences were found in cognitive decline. Higher depression was associated with greater SCD risk and worse semantic memory decline. The latter effect was stronger in SMOAs. The findings were largely replicated in the sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: Poor mental health may represent the strongest driver of cognitive decline in SMOAs and to a greater extent than in HOAs.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/1/90cognitive declinememorysexual orientationminoritymental healthmarital status |
| spellingShingle | Riccardo Manca Jason D. Flatt Annalena Venneri Differential Impact of Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline in Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Older Adults in England Brain Sciences cognitive decline memory sexual orientation minority mental health marital status |
| title | Differential Impact of Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline in Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Older Adults in England |
| title_full | Differential Impact of Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline in Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Older Adults in England |
| title_fullStr | Differential Impact of Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline in Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Older Adults in England |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differential Impact of Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline in Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Older Adults in England |
| title_short | Differential Impact of Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline in Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Older Adults in England |
| title_sort | differential impact of risk factors for cognitive decline in heterosexual and sexual minority older adults in england |
| topic | cognitive decline memory sexual orientation minority mental health marital status |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/1/90 |
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