The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, Jan 6, 2018
Early socioeconomic status (SES) correlates with later-life cognition. However, the effect of soc... more Early socioeconomic status (SES) correlates with later-life cognition. However, the effect of socioeconomic context (SEC), which reflects influences from broader ecological contexts, has not been examined. The present study developed a measure of SEC using lifetime residential addresses and examined SEC and residential mobility effects on later-life cognition. Older adults (N=117, Mage=75) reported addresses since birth. Latent SEC was constructed from census income, employment, and education (1920-2010) for each county and census year, extrapolated between census years. Controlling for current SES, SEC in childhood (ages 0-18) and adulthood (ages 19-60), with finer granulations in young adulthood (ages 19-39) and midlife (ages 40-60), predicted later-life cognition. Effects of residential mobility on later-life cognition were also examined. Higher childhood and adulthood SEC were associated with better Auditory Verbal Learning Test recognition (β=.24, p=.012) and immediate recall (...
Higher IQ correlates with lower systemic inflammation, consistent with an association between low... more Higher IQ correlates with lower systemic inflammation, consistent with an association between lower IQ and disease risk. The present study examined the role of repetitive thought (RT) in the relationship between IQ and interleukin (IL)-6. RT is thinking attentively, repeatedly, and frequently about oneself and one's world and is characterized by Valence (positive-negative), Purpose (searching-solving), and Total quantity (much-little). Estimated IQ and RT dimension scores were assessed at baseline in a sample of older adults (N=120, Mage=74 years), who thereafter had blood drawn up to 10 times semiannually (n=799). Models adjusted for BMI, chronological age, and statin medication. Higher IQ was associated with lower IL-6 (γ=-0.225, SE=0.111, p=.045). Of the RT dimensions, only more Total RT predicted lower IL-6 (γ=-0.037, SE=0.011, p=.001), an effect that was not moderated by Valence or Purpose. More Total RT accounted for part of the effect of IQ on IL-6 (indirect effect = -0.0...
Neuropathology of Drug Addictions and Substance Misuse, 2016
Abstract Understanding neurobiology forms a strong foundation for investigating addictive behavio... more Abstract Understanding neurobiology forms a strong foundation for investigating addictive behavior. Brain structure is briefly discussed, including major cortical and subcortical structures, white matter pathways, other vital systems, and cellular components. The mesocorticolimbic system and dopamine are discussed in light of psychoactive substances. Mesocorticolimbic changes have been documented in the transition from recreational substance use to chronic dependence, reflecting a change from the basic positive reinforcement of initial use to the development of a negative reinforcement paradigm due to the avoidance of negative withdrawal consequences. Anticipation and craving reflect persistent changes in the mesolimbic system attributable to substance dependence. Not only do mesolimbic systemic operations alter in the presence of substances, but responses to substances within the structures themselves also appear to change. These principles are applied to the practical understanding of pathological compulsive behaviors, including gambling and hoarding, and the chapter then closes with a brief discussion of the societal value of insight into the neurological effects of substances.
Physical pain is more prevalent with older age and female gender, and pain can interfere with goa... more Physical pain is more prevalent with older age and female gender, and pain can interfere with goal pursuit and its psychological benefit. In particular, insofar as pain is associated with fatigue, it may limit resources for goal pursuit and increase goal resource conflict: the competition between goals for time and energy. Therefore, the pursuit of goals with high value and low resource conflict should provide the most psychological benefit, particularly for women who experience physical pain. Women in middle and older age (N = 200) completed up to 7 daily diaries (n = 1,380), in which they reported and rated their daily goals and assessed their daily pain, distress, fatigue, and cognitive function. Raters also assessed goal conflict. Multilevel models tested the within- and between-person relationships of goal value and goal conflict with daily distress, fatigue, and cognitive function, as well as moderation by pain. Higher goal value was associated with less distress and fatigue a...
The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences, Jan 6, 2018
Early socioeconomic status (SES) correlates with later-life cognition. However, the effect of soc... more Early socioeconomic status (SES) correlates with later-life cognition. However, the effect of socioeconomic context (SEC), which reflects influences from broader ecological contexts, has not been examined. The present study developed a measure of SEC using lifetime residential addresses and examined SEC and residential mobility effects on later-life cognition. Older adults (N=117, Mage=75) reported addresses since birth. Latent SEC was constructed from census income, employment, and education (1920-2010) for each county and census year, extrapolated between census years. Controlling for current SES, SEC in childhood (ages 0-18) and adulthood (ages 19-60), with finer granulations in young adulthood (ages 19-39) and midlife (ages 40-60), predicted later-life cognition. Effects of residential mobility on later-life cognition were also examined. Higher childhood and adulthood SEC were associated with better Auditory Verbal Learning Test recognition (β=.24, p=.012) and immediate recall (...
Higher IQ correlates with lower systemic inflammation, consistent with an association between low... more Higher IQ correlates with lower systemic inflammation, consistent with an association between lower IQ and disease risk. The present study examined the role of repetitive thought (RT) in the relationship between IQ and interleukin (IL)-6. RT is thinking attentively, repeatedly, and frequently about oneself and one's world and is characterized by Valence (positive-negative), Purpose (searching-solving), and Total quantity (much-little). Estimated IQ and RT dimension scores were assessed at baseline in a sample of older adults (N=120, Mage=74 years), who thereafter had blood drawn up to 10 times semiannually (n=799). Models adjusted for BMI, chronological age, and statin medication. Higher IQ was associated with lower IL-6 (γ=-0.225, SE=0.111, p=.045). Of the RT dimensions, only more Total RT predicted lower IL-6 (γ=-0.037, SE=0.011, p=.001), an effect that was not moderated by Valence or Purpose. More Total RT accounted for part of the effect of IQ on IL-6 (indirect effect = -0.0...
Neuropathology of Drug Addictions and Substance Misuse, 2016
Abstract Understanding neurobiology forms a strong foundation for investigating addictive behavio... more Abstract Understanding neurobiology forms a strong foundation for investigating addictive behavior. Brain structure is briefly discussed, including major cortical and subcortical structures, white matter pathways, other vital systems, and cellular components. The mesocorticolimbic system and dopamine are discussed in light of psychoactive substances. Mesocorticolimbic changes have been documented in the transition from recreational substance use to chronic dependence, reflecting a change from the basic positive reinforcement of initial use to the development of a negative reinforcement paradigm due to the avoidance of negative withdrawal consequences. Anticipation and craving reflect persistent changes in the mesolimbic system attributable to substance dependence. Not only do mesolimbic systemic operations alter in the presence of substances, but responses to substances within the structures themselves also appear to change. These principles are applied to the practical understanding of pathological compulsive behaviors, including gambling and hoarding, and the chapter then closes with a brief discussion of the societal value of insight into the neurological effects of substances.
Physical pain is more prevalent with older age and female gender, and pain can interfere with goa... more Physical pain is more prevalent with older age and female gender, and pain can interfere with goal pursuit and its psychological benefit. In particular, insofar as pain is associated with fatigue, it may limit resources for goal pursuit and increase goal resource conflict: the competition between goals for time and energy. Therefore, the pursuit of goals with high value and low resource conflict should provide the most psychological benefit, particularly for women who experience physical pain. Women in middle and older age (N = 200) completed up to 7 daily diaries (n = 1,380), in which they reported and rated their daily goals and assessed their daily pain, distress, fatigue, and cognitive function. Raters also assessed goal conflict. Multilevel models tested the within- and between-person relationships of goal value and goal conflict with daily distress, fatigue, and cognitive function, as well as moderation by pain. Higher goal value was associated with less distress and fatigue a...
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Papers by April B Scott