Aging children of longâ lived parents experience slower cognitive decline

BackgroundParental longevity confers lower risks for some ageâ related diseases in offspring. We tested the association between parental longevity and lateâ life cognitive decline or dementia.MethodsData were from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a US national sample. Biennial cognitive assessment (Telephone Interview of Cognitive Statusâ Modified [TICSâ m]) occurred for ages 64 years or older in 1996 through 2008 (maximum, 79 years), including physicianâ diagnosed memory disorder. Offspring were categorized into parental longevity groups based on genderâ specific distributional cut points. Model covariates included race, respondents’ education, and income status during childhood and adulthood.ResultsOffspring groups did not differ on TICSâ m scores at baseline. During followâ up, offspring of two longâ lived parents experienced 40% slower rates of TICSâ m decline than those with no longâ lived parents (95% confidence interval, 12â 72; P = .003; n = 4731). Increased parental longevity was also associated with lower risk of physicianâ diagnosed memory disorder. Estimates did not change after controlling for environmental variables.ConclusionsParental longevity is associated inversely with cognitive decline and selfâ reported diagnosed memory disorders in aging offspring. Parental longevity may be a valuable trait for identifying early biomarkers for resistance to cognitive decline in aging.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/153076/1/alzjjalz201307002.pd