Résumé :
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[BDSP. Notice produite par INIST-CNRS C8JR0x9D. Diffusion soumise à autorisation]. Objectives. We tested whether social integration protects against memory loss and other cognitive disorders in late life in a nationally representative US sample of elderly adults, whether effects were stronger among disadvantaged individuals, and whether earlier cognitive losses explained the association (reverse causation). Methods. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (N=16638), we examined whether social integration predicted memory change over 6 years. Memory was measured by immediate and delayed recall of a 10-word list. Social integration was assessed by marital status, volunteer activity, and frequency of contact with children, parents, and neighbors. We examined growth-curve models for the whole sample and within subgroups. Results. The mean memory score declined from 11.0 in 1998 to 10.0 in 2004. Higher baseline social integration predicted slower memory decline in fully adjusted models (P<. memory among the least integrated declined at twice rate as most integrated. this association was largest for respondents with fewer than years of education. there no evidence reverse causation. conclusions. our study provides that social integration delays loss elderly americans. future research should focus on identifying specific aspects important preserving memory.>
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