The work proposed in this competing continuation application will combine the methods and data developed in our NGCS studies to evaluate and improve the large-scale cognitive aging data based on the HRS. Our previous research on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS;NIA grant AG02695) and the Woodcock-Johnson tests (WJ-R;AG04704, and AG07407) has produced: (1) a large-scale data base of WAIS/WJ-R information useful foraging research, (2) novel structural equation models (SEM) appropriate for aging research, (3) practical results about the complex measurement functions of the WAIS/WJ-R, and (4) dynamic representations of the kinematic and kinetic functions of intellectual ability. During the past five years of this project (AG-07407) we have analyzed (5) ability measurement data on large samples (N>12,000) with multiple batteries, (6) three-wave longitudinal retest data on the National Growth and Change Study (NGCS) sample, (7) a seventh-wave of longitudinal data on the Bradway children (now 68-73), and (8) a sixth-wave of longitudinal data on the Berkeley Growth Study children (now 67-71). We have also developed (9) dynamic models for unraveling patterns of leading and lagging indicators of aging processes, and (10) IRT-based item-level analyses for converging information from different tests at different ages. Our most recent work uses cognitive data from the Health and Retirement Study (MRS), including analyses of latent age- curves of cognition, and the factorial structure of current MRS measures. Our working hypothesis is that the current MRS cognitive testing is efficient, and the resulting measures are useful, but HRS does not measure some key constructs in cognitive aging (e.g., reasoning, executive functioning, speed). To assess and improve the HRS procedures we will: (1) Develop new cognitive tests based on the WJ-R/ WAIS measures for telephone administration in the HRS;(2) Collect HRS telephone and NGCS in-person cognitive measures on a new large and nationally representative sample of persons (A/=1,118) born in 1947 or before, who will be measured longitudinally at two separate occasions at varying intervals (Dt=1-23 months);(3) Identify the age-related cognitive ability factors in the HRS across new telephone measures and traditional face-to-face measures by convergent measurement analyses based on contemporary SEM/IRT techniques;(4) Analyze the dynamic age changes across cognitive measures, and in relations among spouses in cognition and related to demographics, personality, lifestyle, health, and economics;(5) Improve the cognitive measurements in current HRS analyses and future HRS data collections, and create a public-use data set. The resulting NGCS+HRS data set will provide a large-scale nationally representative public-use longitudinal dataset with persons from many households measured on indicators of many key constructs related to normal cognitive abilities and functioning. These new results will help synthesize past research on current HRS cognitive measures, explicitly define the internal validity of the HRS using standard cognitive batteries, add to the external validity of adult intellectual abilities with a variety of demographic, health, and economic variables, and provide a rich multivariate-longitudinal data source for other researchers.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
3R37AG007137-20S3
Application #
7847772
Study Section
Cognition and Perception Study Section (CP)
Program Officer
King, Jonathan W
Project Start
1987-06-01
Project End
2011-04-30
Budget Start
2009-07-01
Budget End
2010-04-30
Support Year
20
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$10,000
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Southern California
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
072933393
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90089
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Blankson, A Nayena; McArdle, John J (2014) A Brief Report on the Factor Structure of the Cognitive Measures in the HRS/AHEAD Studies. J Aging Res 2014:798514
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González, Hector M; Tarraf, Wassim; Bowen, Mary E et al. (2013) What do parents have to do with my cognitive reserve? Life course perspectives on twelve-year cognitive decline. Neuroepidemiology 41:101-9

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