Does Consumer Credit Precede or Follow Changes in Cognitive Impairment Among Older Adults? An Investigation in the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) Trial

Lorraine T Dean; Shang-En Chung; Alden L Gross; Olivio J Clay; Sherry L Willis; Michael Crowe; Ian M McDonough; Kelsey R Thomas; Michael Marsiske; Jaya Aysola; Roland J Thorpe Jr; Cynthia Felix; Melissa Berkowitz; Norma B Coe

doi:10.1177/08982643221113715

Does Consumer Credit Precede or Follow Changes in Cognitive Impairment Among Older Adults? An Investigation in the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) Trial

J Aging Health. 2023 Oct;35(9_suppl):84S-94S. doi: 10.1177/08982643221113715.

Authors

Lorraine T Dean¹, Shang-En Chung¹, Alden L Gross¹, Olivio J Clay^{2

3}, Sherry L Willis⁴, Michael Crowe², Ian M McDonough⁵, Kelsey R Thomas⁶, Michael Marsiske⁷, Jaya Aysola⁸, Roland J Thorpe Jr^{9

10}, Cynthia Felix¹¹, Melissa Berkowitz⁸, Norma B Coe⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
² Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
³ University of Alabama at Birmingham Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Birmingham, AL, USA.
⁴ University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
⁵ Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA.
⁶ VA San Diego Healthcare System and Department of Psychiatry, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.
⁷ University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
⁸ Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
⁹ Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
¹⁰ Johns Hopkins Alzheimer's Disease Resource Center for Minority Aging Research, Baltimore, MD, USA.
¹¹ Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

PMID: 37994853
DOI: 10.1177/08982643221113715

Abstract

Objectives: We assessed the relationships between pre- and post-morbid consumer credit history (credit scores, debts unpaid, or in collections) and classification of mild (or greater) cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods: Generalized Estimating Equation models assessed pre-and post-morbid credit history and MCI risk among 1740 participants aged 65+ in the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) study, linked to TransUnion consumer credit data.

Results: Each 50-point increase in credit score was associated with up to 8% lower odds of MCI in the next 3 years. In contrast, new unpaid collections over doubled the odds of having MCI in the next 3 years. MCI was associated with subsequent credit score declines and a 47%-71% greater risk of having a new unpaid collection in the next 4 years.

Discussion: Credit declines may signal risk for future MCI. MCI may lead to financial challenges that warrant credit monitoring interventions for older adults.

Keywords: aging; cognitive dysfunction; financial activities.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Aged
Cognitive Dysfunction* / psychology
Cognitive Training*
Humans
Patient Credit and Collection*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding