Abstract
The purpose of this study was to further examine potential biomarkers of cognitive aging by looking at the associations among oxidative stress, cognitive abilities, and medication adherence in a community-based sample of middle-aged and older adults (n = 42; mean age = 69 years) prescribed at least one medication for hypertension. In addition to measures described in Part I, “Biomarkers for Cognitive Aging,” a 12-hr urine collection for F2-isoprostanes served as an indicator of oxidative stress. Participants completed a battery of cognitive assessments and 8 weeks of electronic medication monitoring for adherence to one antihypertensive agent. Oxidative stress was significantly associated with logical memory, immediate (r = −.38, p < .01) and delayed recall (r = −.42, p < .01), and recognition memory (r = −.42, p < .01) from the Wechsler Memory Scale III, number of perseveration errors (r = .26, p < .05) and categories achieved (r = −.26, p < .01) on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WSCT), and medication adherence (r = −.34, p <.05). Findings indicate that a biomarker of oxidative stress, F2-isoprostanes corrected for vitamin E, is significantly associated with cognitive measures and a functional outcome.
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