Predictors of Physical Resilience in Older Adults

Abstract Physical resilience (PR), which denotes one’s ability to resist functional physical decline, can be operationalized through longitudinal assessments on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Dual-task walking (DTW) is predictive of adverse outcomes but its role in predicting incident PR has not been assessed. Herein, we determined whether velocity during Single-Task-Walk (STW) and Dual-Task-Walk (DTW) conditions predicted incident loss of PR and identified moderators of this relationship. Participants were 163 (mean age=75.5; %female=52) non-demented, community-dwelling older adults with baseline SPPB scores of 10-12. At baseline, individuals completed neuropsychological testing, the SPPB and DTW paradigm. Cognitive reserve was evaluated using the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT-3) and speed of processing was assessed using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Individuals with SPPB scores < 10 were categorized as not physically resilient. Those with scores of 10 or higher were categorized as physically resilient. At three-year follow up 75.4% (n=123) of participants remained physically resilient while 24.5% (n=40) lost PR. Binary logistic regression revealed that slower DTW (OR= 0.96, p= 0.033, 95%CI [.926, .997]), but not STW velocity (OR= 1.00, p= 0.861, 95%CI [0.962, 1.048]), was a significant predictor of PR loss. Moreover, moderation analyses revealed that DTW velocity predicted PR loss only among individuals who had lower baseline scores on the WRAT-3 (OR=0.937, p=0.004, 95%CI [.896, .979]) and SDMT (OR=0.949, p=0.018, 95%CI [.909, .991]). We propose that cognitive reserve and speed of processing influenced the utility of DTW velocity in predicting PR loss among community-residing older adults.

longitudinal study investigating the causes of excess stroke mortality among African Americans and individuals living in the Southeastern US stroke belt region. LSA scores declined from a median of 100 in the 45-54 age range to a median of 59.7 in the 85 and older age range, with higher median scores in males. LSA scores showed modest but significant positive correlations with SF-12 Physical Component and Mental Component, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and Six Item Screener cognitive scores, as well as modest but significant negative correlations with AD8 Dementia Screening, Katz Activities of Daily Living, and Timed Walk scores. The LSA is a brief, easily administered measure that offers a valid method of assessing community mobility in the older adult population.

LIFESTYLE ADJUSTMENT AND MOBILITY-RELATED GOAL SETTING AFTER DRIVING CESSATION WITH PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA
Theresa Scott, 1 Jacki Liddle, 1 Elizabeth Beattie, 2 Louise Gustafsson, 3 Geoffrey Mitchell, 1 Donna Rooney, 4 and Nancy Pachana, 1 1. The University of Queensland,St Lucia,Queensland,Australia,2. Queensland University of Technology,Brisbane,Australia,3. Griffith University,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia,4. The University of Queensland,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia Community mobility is an important social determinant of health. For people living with dementia, the forfeiture of a driving licence can signal a loss of independence, limiting access to activities outside of the home. Loss of community connectivity and social participation has a substantial impact on quality of life and may lead to depression and more rapid cognitive decline. This study is focused on a driving cessation intervention that helps people with dementia identify personal goals that are framed around community mobility and adjusting to life without driving. Health professionals work with participants to translate these into specific, practical and achievable outcomes by program end. Participants may nominate more than one goal. This study reports on goal setting and achievement. Using a modified version of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure it examines pre-to post-intervention achievement of, and satisfaction with, identified goals for 17 participants living with dementia aged 63-93 (M=75.24, 76% male) from regional and metropolitan Australia. Thematic analysis of clinical interviews and field notes highlighted the range of desired goals, and the challenges posed and problem-solving strategies used in setting realistic, non-driving goals. Significant positive improvements were found across a total of 29 goals for (i) performance t(28) = -10.01, p < .000, and (ii) satisfaction, t(28) = -10.32, p < .000. The implications for practice are that supportive goal-setting of personally relevant objectives and valued activities following driving cessation may be effective in lessening some of the negative effects of giving up driving for people with dementia.

PREDICTORS OF PHYSICAL RESILIENCE IN OLDER ADULTS Catherine O'Brien, and Roee Holtzer, Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York, United States
Physical resilience (PR), which denotes one's ability to resist functional physical decline, can be operationalized GSA 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting Innovation in Aging, 2020, Vol. 4, No. S1 through longitudinal assessments on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Dual-task walking (DTW) is predictive of adverse outcomes but its role in predicting incident PR has not been assessed. Herein, we determined whether velocity during Single-Task-Walk (STW) and Dual-Task-Walk (DTW) conditions predicted incident loss of PR and identified moderators of this relationship. Participants were 163 (mean age=75.5; %female=52) non-demented, community-dwelling older adults with baseline SPPB scores of 10-12. At baseline, individuals completed neuropsychological testing, the SPPB and DTW paradigm. Cognitive reserve was evaluated using the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT-3) and speed of processing was assessed using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Individuals with SPPB scores < 10 were categorized as not physically resilient. Those with scores of 10 or higher were categorized as physically resilient. At three-year follow up 75.4% (n=123)  . We propose that cognitive reserve and speed of processing influenced the utility of DTW velocity in predicting PR loss among community-residing older adults.

TRAJECTORIES OF WALKING SPEED AND CAUSE-SPECIFIC MORTALITY: EVIDENCE FROM ENGLAND
Giorgio Di Gessa, 1 and Paola Zaninotto, 2 1. University College London, London, England, United Kingdom,

University College London, London, United Kingdom
Decreased walking speed can predict adverse healthrelated outcomes such as falls and admissions to hospital. Experiencing fast decline in walking speed has also been associated with increased risk of 'all-cause' mortality. In this study, we investigate the links between walking speed trajectories and specific causes of death. We used data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a large nationally representative survey which collects information biennially on people aged 50 and over in England since 2002. The sample consisted of 4,112 respondents eligible for a walking speed test at baseline who had not died before 2006. Rate of change in walking speed was derived from growth curve models and categorised in three trajectories (slow, moderate, and fast decline). We used competing risk analysis to explore the relationships between these trajectories and mortality, and their interactions with baseline wealth. During a mean of 9.5 years of follow-up, 1543 participants (37%) died (639 from cardiovascula disease -CVD, 311 from respiratory disease -RD, and 593 from cancer). Results suggest a significant difference in mortality across walking speed trajectories (with increased risk of death among those with fast declines) for CVD and RD deaths (P<0.001), even after controlling for baseline characteristics. There was no significant difference for cancer deaths (p=0.44). Further stratified analyses suggested that fast decline was associated with higher CVD and RD mortality even among those with an initial fast walking speed (>1.22 m/s). Strategies to maintain motor performances in later life have the potential to preserve life.

CAN SOCIAL CONNECTIONS IMPROVE DEMENTIA KNOWLEDGE AMONG HOMEBOUND COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER AFRICAN AMERICANS?
Maritza Dowling, 1 Hiroko Dodge, 2 Antonio Puente, 3 and Beverly Lunsford, 4 1. George Washington Washington,District of Columbia,United States,2. Pregon Health & Science University,Portland,Oregon,United States,3. School of Medicine & Health Sciences,Washington,District of Columbia,United States,Washington,District of Columbia,United States Despite the clear and compelling association between social connections and well-being, the underlying mechanisms that help stave off adverse health impacts are not well understood, particularly among older adults in disadvantaged groups. Social relationships in older age may be instrumental for exchanging and gaining knowledge that further influence health and help increase awareness about misconceptions and lifestyle behaviors known to delay or reduce cognitive decline. This study used cross-sectional survey data from 147(aged 58-90 years; 75% female) low-income African American homebound community dwellers to investigate heterogeneity in dementia literacy profiles and its association with social connectedness. Eleven items (false=0, true=1, don't know=2) from a validated instrument were used to measure dementia literacy (DL). The Lubben's social network scale was used for a social connectedness construct. We employed a 2-stage latent class modeling approach to examine heterogeneity in DL and estimate the regressions among the derived classes and the predictors (social connectedness, education level and age). A 3-class model produced a reasonable fit and classification (entropy=0.852) of "dementia literacy patterns" labeled as (high-literacy:37%), moderate-literacy:45.2%), low-literacy:17.8%)). Social connectedness was highly predictive of class membership. A high level of social relationships increased the probability of being in the "high-dementia-literacy" class compared to the "lowdementia-literacy" class (OR=2.189, p=0.016). For a unit increase in social connectedness, the odds of being in the "high-dementia-literacy" class compared to the "lowdementia-literacy" class increased by a factor of 2.2. Tailored and focused interventions to reduce social disconnectedness may also help increase dementia awareness and reduce barriers to early diagnosis.

COGNITIVE ACTIVITY AS A MODERATOR OF EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND WORK STATUS IN COGNITIVE AGING Mirjam Stieger, and Margie Lachman, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
Cross-sectional findings showed that education differences in memory performance were moderated by frequent