Year of Award
2021
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Type
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Degree Name
Clinical Psychology
Other Degree Name/Area of Focus
Neuropsychology
Department or School/College
Department of Psychology
Committee Chair
Stuart Hall
Committee Co-chair
John Quindry
Commitee Members
Nathan Insel, Rachel Severson, Allen Szalda-Petree
Keywords
aging, cognitive performance, executive function, heart rate variability, Midlife in the United States
Publisher
University of Montana
Abstract
Using data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Longitudinal Study of Health and Well-Being, this study examined high frequency heart rate variability as a longitudinal predictor of cognitive change in key executive function domains: inhibition, shifting, and updating. This study further explored the interactions between HF HRV and important health factors (inflammation, stress, sleep, and mood and anxiety) in predicting executive function decline.
The results of this investigation demonstrated that while high frequency heart rate variability and inhibition decline were correlated, HF HRV was not a significant predictor of decline in any executive function. However, results did show an interaction effect between HF HRV and depression in predicting inhibition and shifting declines in mid-life adults. Further, main effects of sleep quality and anxiety on inhibition and shifting declines were identified. Implications of these findings as well as limitations and future research directions are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Caughie, Cali Anne, "BIOBEHAVIORAL PREDICTORS OF EXECUTIVE FUNCTION DECLINE IN MID- AND LATE LIFE ADULTS" (2021). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 11987.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/11987
© Copyright 2021 Cali Anne Caughie