AUTHOR=Morse Rachel M. , Koutsoubelis Freya , Whitfield Tim , Demnitz-King Harriet , Ourry Valentin , Stott Josh , Chocat Anne , Devouge Eglantine Ferrand , Walker Zuzana , Klimecki Olga , Collette Fabienne , Chetelat Gael , Gonneaud Julie , Poisnel Geraldine , Marchant Natalie L. , for the Medit-Ageing Research Group , Allais Florence , André Claire , Arenaza-Urquijo Eider , Bachelet Romain , Baez Lugo Sebastian , Barnhofer Thorsten , Botton Maelle , Coll-Padros Nina , De Flores Robin , De La Sayette Vincent , Delarue Marion , Egret Stéphanie , Espérou Hélène , Frison Eric , Goldet Karine , Hamdidouche Idir , Heidmann Marc , Joret Philippe Agathe , Kuhn Elizabeth , La Joie Renaud , Landeau Brigitte , Le Du Gwendoline , Lefranc Valérie , Leon Maria , Meiberth Dix , Mezenge Florence , Moulinet Inés , Palix Cassandre , Paly Léo , Quillard Anne , Rauchs Géraldine , Rehel Stéphane , Requier Florence , Reyrolle Leslie , Richert Laura , Salinero Ana , Salmon Eric , Sanchez Raquel , Sannemann Lena , Schild Ann-Katrin , Schlosser Marco , Tomadesso Clémence , Touron Edelweiss , Vivien Denis , Vuilleumier Patrik , Wallet Cédrick TITLE=Worry and ruminative brooding: associations with cognitive and physical health in older adults JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology VOLUME=15 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1332398 DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1332398 ISSN=1664-1078 ABSTRACT=Introduction

Mental health conditions are associated with cognition and physical function in older adults. We examined whether worry and ruminative brooding, key symptoms of certain mental health conditions, are related to subjective and/or objective measures of cognitive and physical (cardiovascular) health.

Methods

We used baseline data from 282 participants from the SCD-Well and Age-Well trials (178 female; agemean = 71.1 years). We measured worry and ruminative brooding using the Penn State Worry Questionnaire and the Ruminative Response Scale-brooding subscale. We assessed subjective physical health using the WHOQOL-Bref physical subscale, and objective physical health via blood pressure and modified versions of the Framingham Risk Score and Charlson Comorbidity Index. With subjective and objective cognition, we utilized the Cognitive Difficulties Scale and a global composite (modified Preclinical Alzheimer’s Cognitive Composite, PACC5, with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV, category fluency, Mattis Dementia Rating Scale-2, and either the California Verbal Learning Test or the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test). We conducted linear regressions, adjusted for education, age, sex and cohort.

Results

Worry and ruminative brooding were negatively associated with subjective physical health (worry: β = −0.245, 95%CI −0.357 to −0.133, p < 0.001; ruminative brooding: β = −0.224, 95%CI −0.334 to −0.113, p < 0.001) and subjective cognitive difficulties (worry: β = 0.196, 95%CI 0.091 to 0.302, p < 0.001; ruminative brooding: β = 0.239, 95%CI 0.133 to 0.346, p < 0.001). We did not observe associations between worry or ruminative brooding and any measure of objective health.

Discussion

Worry and ruminative brooding may be common mechanisms associated with subjective but not objective health. Alternatively, cognitively unimpaired older adults may become aware of subtle changes not captured by objective measures used in this study. Interventions reducing worry and ruminative brooding may promote subjective physical and cognitive health; however, more research is needed to determine causality of the relationships.