AS39 - The effects of HRT on the development and progression of dementia (WHIMS)

Investigator Names and Contact Information

Sally Shumaker (sshumake@wakehealth.edu)

Introduction/Intent

WHI Memory Study (WHIMS) Data Overview

The WHIMS datasets include baseline and follow-up data collected through December 31, 2017. Data dictionaries for additional variables will be added as they become available. WHI PIs may download these datasets. Others who need access should ​go through their PI.

Everyone who will be using WHIMS data must return a signed copy of the data use agreement to the WHI Helpdesk. If you have questions about gaining access or downloading data, please direct them to the WHI Helpdesk.

We strongly advise you to read the data preparation documents before beginning your analysis. The zipped dataset file includes: SAS data set (.sas7bdat), Data dictionary (.pdf), and Data preparation (.pdf).

WHI Memory Study (WHIMS): Overview of Program Components

  1. On Trial (WHI Study #AS39, WHIMS)

    1995 - July 8, 2002 for CEE+MPA trial; 1995 through February 29, 2004 for CEE-alone trial

    N=7,427

    WHIMS was an ancillary study to the WHI Hormone Trials and enrolled approximately 7,500 women aged 65 years and older. WHIMS investigated the effects of hormone supplementation on risk of probable dementia and any cognitive impairment and on changes in global cognition over time. Form 39 (Modified Mini Mental State Exam) was administered annually to WHIMS participants. If a participant scored at or below the cut point (80 for women with 8 or fewer years of formal education and 88 for those with 9 or more years of formal education), she progressed to further cognitive testing and clinical assessment. Note that before July 1, 1998 the cut points were 72 and 76. A friend or family member, whose name the participant furnished at the beginning of the trial, was also interviewed regarding her cognitive and behavioral status. Based on clinician judgment, some participants received additional medical tests (brain imaging and blood assay). All data were reviewed by a central adjudication committee who classified participants as: probable Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment or No Cognitive Impairment.

  2. Post-Trial Extension (WHI Study #AS233; WHIMS Extension)

    End-date of trial - September 30, 2007

    N~5,835

    During the post-trial/extension period, the WHIMS protocol continued to be administered annually to WHIMS participants through 2007.

  3. Supplemental Case Ascertainment Protocol (SCAP; Subset of AS233, WHIMS Extension)

    2005 - Present

    N~1,025

    SCAP was instituted in 2005 to identify cases of Probable Dementia (PD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), in the deceased and proxy-dependent participants. SCAP includes the Dementia Questionnaire (DQ), a standardized, validated instrument used to reliably classify dementia in deceased persons. It has demonstrated sensitivity and specificity. The DQ consists of 48 items assessing memory and other cognitive functions, language, daily functioning, insight, and other medical and psychiatric difficulties. The DQ is a semi-structured interview that was administered by telephone to informants previously selected by the participant, who are knowledgeable about the participant's medical history and ante-mortem functional status. SCAP data are submitted to the central adjudication panel for classification similar to WHIMS. SCAP is ongoing.

  4. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI-1 and -2; WHI Study #AS183, WHIMS MRI)

2004 - 2010

N=1,365

Between April, 2005 and January, 2006, 1,426 women underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) across 14 Women's Health Initiative (WHI) centers. The effort yielded N=1,365 scans that met central reading center quality control standards. The WHIMS-MRI-2 protocol was designed to collect a second MRI (approximately 4 years after the first MRI) from these women to assess incident neuropathology and the rate of atrophy (N=730).

  1. WHI Study of Cognitive Aging (WHISCA; WHI Study #AS103)

1999 - 2010

N~2,302

The WHI Study of Cognitive Aging (WHISCA) enrolled 2,302 WHIMS participants aged 66 to 84 years on average 3 years after WHI randomization and investigated the efficacy of postmenopausal hormone therapy on age related changes in specific cognitive functions in non-demented women at 14 of the 39 WHIMS sites. WHISCA provides more comprehensive annual assessments of cognitive function and mood. Annual follow-up of the WHISCA women continued after the termination of the WHI trials until 2010.

  1. WHI Epidemiology of Cognitive Health Outcomes (ECHO; WHI Study #AS244, WHIMS ECHO)

2008 – 2021

N~2,900

Women who were previously enrolled in the WHIMS Extension were recruited for WHIMS ECHO beginning in 2008. Instead of face-to-face evaluation, participants underwent an annual centralized, validated cognitive telephone interview for tracking changes in cognitive status (Rapp et al., 2012). The interview is comprised of a neuropsychological battery including a global cognitive screener (modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status, known as the TICSm) and additional neuropsychological tests. A score <30 triggers the collection of the Dementia Questionnaire from the proxy. As in WHIMS, all information is submitted to the central adjudication panel for classification (Dementia, MCI, No Impairment).

  1. WHIMS-Y (WHI Memory Study of Younger Women; WHI Study #AS262)

    2009 – 2016

    N~1,000

    The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study of Younger Women (WHIMS-Y) aims to assess the long-term impact of random assignment to postmenopausal hormone therapy among women who were aged 50-54 at the time of randomization into the WHI hormone trials. Secondary objectives relate to the consistency of any treatment effects across unopposed or opposed therapy and whether there exists evidence of graded relationships between cognitive effects and age of administration, years from menopause, and baseline risk factors for cognitive impairment. Assessment procedures identical to those in WHIMS-ECHO were used with central adjudication of impairment.

Data Dictionaries and Study Documentation

This section displays all study-related data dictionaries and study-related files. The investigators for this study will upload the datasets, data dictionaries, and other study-related files. Study-related files will be made available to the public one year after the completion of the ancillary study, with the exception of the datasets, which will only be available to those with a Data Distribution Agreement. Those will be available to those with permission to download and will appear as a download link next to the data dictionary

Data Dictionaries

Name
Description
Namewhisca_data_dictionary.pdfDescription

Study Documents

Name
Description
No results found

Related Papers

Cognitive function and retinal and ischemic brain changes: The Women’s Health Initiative

Mary Haan et al., 2012/3 PubMed #22422889 MSID: 1150
To examine the association between retinopathy and cognitive decline or brain lesions and volumes in older women.This study included 511 women aged 65 and older who were simultaneously enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study and the Sight Examination Study. In this analysis, we examined the link between retinopathy, assessed using fundus photography (2000-2002), cognitive performance over time assessed by the modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MSE) (1996-2007), and white mat...
Keywords: Retinopathy; Brain Mri; Cognition
Related Studies: 39, 62, 183

Do social resources predict cognition in older women?

Approved Proposal, Denburg, Natalie et al., 2009/7 MSID: 1053
Keywords: Social Support; Social Integration; Cognition; Cognitive Decline
Related Studies: 39

Erythrocyte omega-3 fatty acids are inversely associated with incident dementia: Secondary analyses of longitudinal data from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS)

Eric Ammann et al., 2017/6 PubMed #28651700 MSID: 1260
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether red blood cell (RBC) docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA+EPA) levels have a protective association with the risk of dementia in older women. METHODS: RBC DHA+EPA levels were assessed at baseline, and cognitive status was evaluated annually in a cohort of 6706 women aged =65 years who participated in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS). Cox regression was used to quantify the association between RBC DHA+EPA and the risk of probable demen...
Keywords: All Cognitive Disorders/Dementia; Alzheimer'S Disease; Biomarkers; Cohort Studies; Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Related Studies: 39, BA19

Joint models for global cognitive function and the incidence of probable dementia and mild cognitive impairment

Approved Proposal, Morgan, Timothy et al., 2009/10 MSID: 1095
Keywords: Dementia; Cognitive Function; Surrogate Measures; Hormone Therapy
Related Studies: 39

Depressive symptoms, antidepressant use, and future cognitive health in postmenopausal women: the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study

Joseph Goveas et al., 2012/2 PubMed #22301077 MSID: 1156
Antidepressants are commonly prescribed medications in the elderly, but their relationship with incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and probable dementia is unknown.The study cohort included 6,998 cognitively healthy, postmenopausal women, aged 65-79 years, who were enrolled in a hormone therapy clinical trial and had baseline depressive symptoms and antidepressant use history assessments at enrollment, and at least one postbaseline cognitive measurement. Participants were followed annually...
Keywords: Depression; Antidepressants; Ssri; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Dementia
Related Studies: 39

Risk of Alzheimer’s disease amongst cancer patients

Approved Proposal, White, Robert et al., 2011/3 MSID: 1384
Keywords: Dementia; Alzheimer’S Disease; Neoplasm; Risk Factors
Related Studies: 39

MRI biomarkers of cognitive outcomes in cancer patients among WHIMS participants

Approved Proposal, Kesler, Shelli et al., 2013/10 MSID: 2283
Keywords: Breast Cancer; Mri; Neuroimaging; Brain Networks; Cognition; Biomarker
Related Studies: 39, 233

Driving habits of older adult women: Risk factors and compensatory strategies

Approved Proposal, Dugan, Beth et al., 2016/1 MSID: 2463
Keywords: Aging; Driving; Driving Behaviors; Driving Compensatory Strategies; Activity Engagement
Related Studies: 39

Associations between reproductive factors and postmenopausal cognition as assessed by modified Mini Mental Status Exam Score: the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Approved Proposal, Wang, Ange et al., 2013/6 MSID: 2174
Keywords: Cognition; Reproductive Factors; Menarche; Menopause; Pregnancy; Parity; Breastfeeding; Hysterectomy
Related Studies: 39

Response to Annweiler and Beauchet

Publication, Rossom, Rebecca et al., MSID: 2181
Keywords: None Provided
Related Studies: 39

Dietary potassium intake and the risk of incident mild cognitive impairment or probable dementia in postmenopausal women

Approved Proposal, Seth, Arjun et al., 2013/8 MSID: 2208
Keywords: Dietary Potassium; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Dementia; Postmenopausal Women; Food Frequency Questionnaire
Related Studies: 39

Optimism and cognitive decline in older women

Approved Proposal, Koga, Hayami K. et al., 2025/1 MSID: 5250
Keywords: Optimism; Cognitive Decline; Healthy Aging; Epidemiology; Psychosocial Factors
Related Studies: 39, 103

Genetic modifiers of the effects of hormone therapy on cognitive trajectories in WHIMS

Approved Proposal, Hohman, Timothy et al., 2021/2 MSID: 4279
Keywords: Hormone Replacement Therapy; Estrogen; Progesterone; Cognitive Decline; Apoe; Genetics; Post-Menopause
Related Studies: 39, 233

No association between dietary patterns and risk for cognitive decline in older women with 9-year follow-up: data from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study

Bernhard Haring et al., 2016/2 PubMed #27050728 MSID: 2075
BACKGROUND: Data on the association between dietary patterns and age-related cognitive decline are inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether dietary patterns assessed by the alternate Mediterranean diet score (aMED), the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010), the Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 (AHEI-2010), or the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet score are associated with cognitive decline in older women, and to examine whether dietary patterns modify the risk for cogniti...
Keywords: Fruits; Vegetables; Multivitamin Use; Dementia; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Cognitive Decline
Related Studies: 39

The relationship between optimism, MCI, and dementia among postmenopausal women

Bonnie Sachs et al., 2022/6 PubMed #35694859 MSID: 3852
Objectives: The relationship between optimism and cognitive functioning is not fully understood. We examined the association of optimism with risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS). Methods: Optimism was measured by the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) total score, and optimism and pessimism subscales. A panel of experts adjudicated cognitive endpoints based on annual cognitive assessments. We used cox proportional hazard r...
Keywords: Positivity; Optimism; Dementia; Alzheimer’S; Resilience
Related Studies: 39

Epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of exceptional aging in the Women’s Health Initiative

Approved Proposal, Jain, Purva et al., 2020/5 MSID: 4182
Keywords: Epigenetic; Aging; Cognitive Function; Intact Mobility; Longevity
Related Studies: 39, 311, 315, BA23

Calcium and vitamin D supplementation and cognitive impairment in the Women's Health Initiative

Rebecca Rossom et al., 2012/11 PubMed #23176129 MSID: 1121
Impairments in physical performance increase sharply with age. Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels may be a modifiable risk factor for physical performance decline.Five hundred thirty-two participants in the Women's Health Initiative Clinical Trial (WHI CT) were among a 25% randomly selected subsample of women who participated in performance-based measures of physical performance at baseline, year 1, year 3, and year 6. A physical performance summary score was derived from three tests:...
Related Studies: 39, 103, W15, W24

Trans-ethnic genome-wide association study of psychomotor speed

Approved Proposal, Satizabal, Claudia L. et al., 2018/6 MSID: 3656
Keywords: Genome-Wide Association Studies; Common Genetic Variation; Psychomotor Speed; Finger Tapping Test; Neurocharge Consortium
Related Studies: 39, 103

The relationship between KLOTHO, dementia incidence and cognitive function

Approved Proposal, Driscoll, Ira et al., 2020/9 MSID: 4272
Keywords: Dementia; Mci; Cognitive Impairment; Resilience; Genetic Risk; Memory; Executive Function
Related Studies: 39, 103, 233, 244

Associations of Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers and comorbidities in older women: Data from the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Approved Proposal, Mielke, Michelle et al., 2022/8 MSID: 4745
Keywords: Alzheimer’S Disease; Blood Based Biomarkers; Abeta; Ptau; Gfap; Nfl
Related Studies: 39, 233, 244, 615, 637, 659

Statin use and dementia incidence and mortality in the Women’s Health Initiative

Approved Proposal, Kruper, Laura et al., 2019/9 MSID: 3904
Keywords: Statins; Randomized Trial; Dementia Incidence; Alzheimer’S
Related Studies: 39, W35

Low-fat dietary pattern and dementia incidence and mortality by metabolic syndrome risk factors in the Women’s Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial

Approved Proposal, Pan, Kathy et al., 2019/9 MSID: 3906
Keywords: Dementia; Dementia Mortality; Metabolic Syndrome; Dietary Modification; Randomized Trial
Related Studies: 39, W35

Heart rate, brain imaging biomarkers and cognitive impairment in older (=63 Years) women

Bernhard Haring et al., 2020/5 PubMed #32576368 MSID: 2850
Evidence on the relations between heart rate, brain morphology, and cognition is limited. We examined the associations of resting heart rate (RHR), visit-to-visit heart rate variation (VVHRV), brain volumes and cognitive impairment. The study sample consisted of postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study and its ancillary MRI sub-studies (WHIMS-MRI 1 and WHIMS-MRI 2) without a history of cardiovascular disease, including 493 with one and 299 women with 2 brain ma...
Keywords: Heart Rate; Brain And Lesion Volume; Dementia; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Cognitive Decline
Related Studies: 39

Associations of risk factors with transitional states from normal cognition to MCI to dementia among post-menopausal women

Approved Proposal, Armstrong, Nicole et al., 2021/9 MSID: 4554
Keywords: Dementia; Parity; Hypertension; Obesity; Hormone Therapy
Related Studies: 39, 233, 244

Sensory impairment and transitional states in progression of dementia

Approved Proposal, Brenowitz, Willa et al., 2021/8 MSID: 4555
Keywords: Dementia; Hearing Impairment; Vision Impairment; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Dual Sensory Impairment
Related Studies: 39, 233, 244

The impact of lifestyle habits and body weight on the risk of cardiovascular events in postmenopausal women with mild to moderate chronic kidney disease – a population based study from the Women’s health initiative

Approved Proposal, Lawesson, Sofia Sederholm et al., 2017/10 MSID: 3467
Keywords: Cardiovascular Disease; Chronic Kidney Disease; Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate; Physical Activity; Body Mass Index; Smoking
Related Studies: 39, M5, M13

Social resources, brain reserve, and risk of cognitive decline and incident MCI or dementia in the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Approved Proposal, Gruenewald, Tara et al., 2019/11 MSID: 4054
Keywords: Social Support; Social Strain; Cognitive Function; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Dementia
Related Studies: 39, 103, 252, 262

Long term global cognitive function and cognitive impairment among post menopausal women with history of migraine: WHIMS

Approved Proposal, Irby, Megan Bennett et al., 2020/12 MSID: 4316
Keywords: Migraine; Headache; Cognition; Cognitive Impairment; Cognitive Decline
Related Studies: 39, 244

How women’s reproductive life-history predicts post-menopausal atrophy

Approved Proposal, Bramen, Jennifer et al., 2024/9 MSID: 5186
Keywords: Pregnancy; Breastfeeding; Reproductive History; Alzheimer’S; Dementia; Cortical Thickness; Gray Matter Density; Hippocampus; Amygdala.
Related Studies: 39, 103, 183

Anemia and cognitive function in post-menopausal women: The Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Approved Proposal, Inaba, Michiko et al., 2015/11 MSID: 2869
Keywords: Anemia; Cognitive Impairment; Cognitive Decline; Incident Dementia; Mci
Related Studies: 39

Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential and the risk of mild cognitive impairment or probable dementia in the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Approved Proposal, Hayden, Kathleen et al., 2019/12 MSID: 4067
Keywords: Mild Cognitive Impairment; Probable Dementia; Risk Factor; Clonal Hematopoiesis Of Indeterminate Potential
Related Studies: 39, 233, 244, 564, 628

Subjective memory complaints in the WHI

Approved Proposal, Klein, Liviu et al., 2016/12 MSID: 3232
Keywords: Subjective Memory Complaints; Cognitive Change Index; Validation; Sensitivity; And Specificity
Related Studies: 39

Portfolio diet, cognitive impairment and dementia in postmenopausal women: results from Women’s Health Initiative memory study

Approved Proposal, Lo, Kenneth et al., 2018/9 MSID: 3699
Keywords: Dementia; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Memory Study; Portfolio Diet; Food Frequency Questionnaire; Dietary Pattern
Related Studies: 39, 244

Chocolate consumption in relation to global cognitive function and incident dementia in women: The Women’s Health Initiative

Approved Proposal, Sun, Yangbo et al., 2018/12 MSID: 3759
Keywords: Chocolate Consumption; Cognitive Function; Dementia; Longitudinal
Related Studies: 39, 244

Estrogen plus progestin and the incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in postmenopausal women: the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study: A randomized controlled trial

Sally Shumaker et al., 2003/5 PubMed #12771112 MSID: 225
Postmenopausal women have a greater risk than men of developing Alzheimer disease, but studies of the effects of estrogen therapy on Alzheimer disease have been inconsistent. On July 8, 2002, the study drugs, estrogen plus progestin, in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial were discontinued because of certain increased health risks in women receiving combined hormone therapy.To evaluate the effect of estrogen plus progestin on the incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment compared...
Keywords: Estrogen; Progesterone; Dementia; Cognition; Incidence
Related Studies: 39

Effect of estrogen plus progestin on global cognitive function in postmenopausal women: the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study: A randomized controlled trial

Stephen Rapp et al., 2003/5 PubMed #12771113 MSID: 226
Observational studies have suggested that postmenopausal hormone treatment may improve cognitive function, but data from randomized clinical trials have been sparse and inconclusive. The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) is an ancillary study of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) hormone therapy trials. On July 8, 2002, the estrogen plus progestin therapy in the WHI trial was discontinued because of certain increased health risks for women.To determine whether estrogen plus progest...
Keywords: Estrogen; Progesterone; Cognition
Related Studies: 39

The joint effect of hormone therapy and kidney function on incident mild cognitive impairment and probable dementia in postmenopausal women

Approved Proposal, Ingram, Eva et al., 2018/6 MSID: 3566
Keywords: Mild Cognitive Impairment; Dementia; Chronic Kidney Disease; Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate
Related Studies: 39

Interaction between body mass index and central adiposity and risk of incident cognitive impairment and dementia: Results from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study

Diana Kerwin et al., 2011/1 PubMed #21226681 MSID: 360
To assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) and the clinical end points of cognitive impairment and probable dementia in a cohort of older women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS).Prospective, randomized clinical trial of hormone therapies with annual cognitive assessments and anthropometrics.Fourteen U.S. clinical sites of the WHIMS.Seven thousand one hundred sixty-three postmenopausal women aged 65 to 80 without dementia.Annual...
Keywords: Dementia; Obesity; Alzheimer Disease; Vascular Risk Factors; Hormone Use
Related Studies: 39

Erythrocyte omega-3 index, ambient fine particle exposure and brain aging

Publication, Chen, Jiu-Chiuan et al., 2019/3 MSID: 3369
Related Studies: 39, 183, 252

Moderating effect of antioxidant intakes on brain aging associated with particulate air pollution exposure in older women

Approved Proposal, He, Ka et al., 2017/5 MSID: 3370
Related Studies: 39, 183, 252

The MIND Diet and cognitive function in the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Approved Proposal, Hayden, Kathleen et al., 2016/3 MSID: 3005
Keywords: Diet; Cognitive Decline; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Dementia; Dash Diet; Mediterranean Diet; Mind Diet
Related Studies: 39

B vitamin intakes modify the association between particulate air pollutants and incidence of all-cause dementia: Findings from the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Cheng Chen et al., 2022/2 PubMed #35103387 MSID: 3371
Introduction: Particulate air pollutants may induce neurotoxicity by increasing homocysteine levels, which can be lowered by high B vitamin intakes. Therefore, we examined whether intakes of three B vitamins (folate, B12 , and B6 ) modified the association between PM2.5 exposure and incidence of all-cause dementia. Methods: This study included 7183 women aged 65 to 80 years at baseline. B vitamin intakes from diet and supplements were estimated by food frequency questionnaires at baseline. The 3...
Keywords: Cognition Disorders; Dementia; Air Pollution; Postmenopausal Women; Diet; B Vitamins
Related Studies: 39, 183, 252

Work over the life course and women's risk of dementia: evidence from the Women's Health Initiative

Approved Proposal, Falconi, April et al., 2018/4 MSID: 3585
Keywords: Work; Occupation; Life Course; Employment; Dementia; Cognitive Impairment
Related Studies: 39

The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS): A trial of the effect of estrogen therapy in preventing and slowing the progression of dementia

Sally Shumaker et al., 1998/12 PubMed #9875839 MSID: 60
Evidence from animal, human cross-sectional, case-control, and prospective studies indicate that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a promising treatment to delay the onset of symptoms of dementia. The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) is the first double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled, long-term clinical trial designed to test the hypothesis that HRT reduces the incidence of all-cause dementia in women aged 65 and older. WHIMS, an ancillary study to the Women's Health Ini...
Related Studies: 39

Conjugated equine estrogens and incidence of probable dementia and mild cognitive impairment in postmenopausal women: Women's Health Initiative Memory Study

Sally Shumaker et al., 2004/6 PubMed #15213206 MSID: 336
The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) previously found increased risk for dementia and no effect on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in women treated with conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA).To determine the effects of CEE alone and CEE plus MPA on incidence of probable dementia and MCI in older women.Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials of CEE (estrogen-alone trial) or CEE plus MPA (estrogen plus progestin trial) in commun...
Keywords: Estrogen; Progesterone; Dementia; Cognition; Incidence
Related Studies: 39

Long-term relationship between specific domains of cognitive function and history of migraine among post-menopausal women: Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Approved Proposal, Irby, Megan Bennett et al., 2020/12 MSID: 4317
Keywords: Migraine; Headache; Cognition; Cognitive Impairment; Cognitive Decline
Related Studies: 39, 103

Associations of hearing loss and menopausal hormone therapy with change in global cognition and incident cognitive impairment among postmenopausal women

Nicole Armstrong et al., 2019/7 PubMed #31326978 MSID: 3536
BACKGROUND: Hearing loss (HL) and menopausal hormone (conjugated equine estrogens [CEE] and/or medroxyprogesterone acetate [MPA]) are separately associated with cognitive decline and increased risk of incident cognitive impairment. Joint effects of HL and HT could be associated with additive or synergistic decline in global cognition and risk of incident cognitive impairment among postmenopausal women. METHODS: Using the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Memory Study, 7,220 postmenopausal women wi...
Keywords: Hearing Loss; Dementia; Hormone Therapy; Cognitive Decline; Older Adults
Related Studies: 39

Predicting incident cognitive impairment in WHIMS using random survival forests

Approved Proposal, Casanova, Ramon et al., 2018/12 MSID: 3772
Keywords: Incident Cognitive Impairment; Machine Learning; Older Women; Random Survival Forests
Related Studies: 39, 233

The effect of hypertension and baseline blood pressure on cognitive decline and dementia in postmenopausal women: The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study

Karen Johnson et al., 2008/7 PubMed #18637980 MSID: 173
To examine the relationship between baseline hypertension, blood pressure, and the development of cognitive decline in participants in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS).Prospective analyses.Thirty-nine centers.Seven thousand one hundred forty-nine women aged 65 and older.The Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS) was used to assess global cognitive functioning. Participants who scored below pre-established cutpoints were scheduled for more-extensive neurocognitive assessme...
Keywords: Cognition; Blood Pressure; Antihypertensive Medications
Related Studies: 39

Benchmarks for designing two-stage studies using modified mini-mental state examinations: Experience from the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Mark Espeland et al., 2006/4 PubMed #16773952 MSID: 370
The most efficient approach for studies examining the incidence of dementia involves a brief screening instrument to identify participants for more extensive testing to identify cognitive impairment. The modified mini-mental state examination (3MS) is commonly used as this initial screen in such two-stage designs, however its properties for this role require further study.We use data from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study to contrast design options in two-stage designs.This trial enroll...
Keywords: Dementia Screening; Cognition
Related Studies: 39

Subtypes of mild cognitive impairment in older postmenopausal women: The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study

Stephen Rapp et al., 2010/5 PubMed #20473134 MSID: 399
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional state between normal cognitive functioning and dementia. A proposed MCI typology classifies individuals by the type and extent of cognitive impairment, yet few studies have characterized or compared these subtypes. Four hundred forty-seven women 65 years of age and older from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study were classified into the 4 MCI subgroups and a ""no impairment"" group and compared on clinical, sociodemographic, and health vari...
Keywords: Mild Cognitive Impairment; Hormone Therapy; Memory
Related Studies: 39

Ascertaining dementia-related outcomes for deceased or proxy-dependent participants: an overview of the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study supplemental case ascertainment protocol

Sarah Gaussoin et al., 2011/3 PubMed #21416508 MSID: 665
The aim of the study was to compare a two-staged clinic-based standardized protocol with a supplemental proxy-based protocol.The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study enrolled 7479 women, aged 65-79 years and free of dementia, in a clinical trial of postmenopausal hormone therapy who were followed for up to 13 years with annual two-staged clinic-based standardized protocols to identify incidence of probable dementia. A supplemental proxy-based protocol, involving telephone administration of the...
Keywords: Dementia; Attrition
Related Studies: 39

Postmenopausal hormone therapy and cognitive outcomes: the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Laura Coker et al., 2009/11 PubMed #19932751 MSID: 883
This review discusses major findings from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS). WHIMS reported hormone therapy (HT)--conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) with or without medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA)--increased the risk for dementia (HR 1.76 [95% CI, 1.19-2.60]; P=0.005) and global cognitive decline, with a mean decrement relative to placebo of 0.21 points on the Modified Mini Mental State Examination (3MS) (P=0.006) in women age 65 and older. A subset of WHIMS participants joined ...
Keywords: Hormone Therapy; Cognition; Brain Mri; Cerebrovascular Disease
Related Studies: 39, 183

Psychiatric disorders and cognitive dysfunction among older, postmenopausal women: Results from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study

Christopher Colenda et al., 2010/1 PubMed #20104074 MSID: 639
To estimate the frequency of depressive symptoms and selected psychiatric disorders in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) cohort and related them to cognitive syndromes.WHIMS was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled prevention clinical trial examining whether opposed and unopposed hormone therapy reduced the risk of dementia in healthy postmenopausal women. Participants scoring below a designated cutpoint on a cognitive screener received a comprehensive neuropsychiatr...
Keywords: Prevalence; Psychiatric Co-Morbidity; Mci; Risk Of Dementia; Outcome
Related Studies: 39

The inflammatory dietary pattern, cognitive decline and dementia in the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Approved Proposal, Gu, Xiao et al., 2016/6 MSID: 3051
Keywords: Cognitive Decline; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Dementia; Inflammatory Diet; Inflammation
Related Studies: 39

Sleep duration, cognitive decline, and dementia risk in older women

Jiu-Chiuan Chen et al., 2015/6 PubMed #26086180 MSID: 670
Consistent evidence linking habitual sleep duration with risks of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia is lacking.We conducted a prospective study on 7444 community-dwelling women (aged 65-80 y) with self-reported sleep duration, within the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study in 1995-2008. Incident MCI/dementia cases were ascertained by validated protocols. Cox models were used to adjust for multiple sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, depression, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and...
Keywords: Sleep Disorders; Insomnia; Cognition; Dementia
Related Studies: 39, 226

Sleep duration and risk of ischemic stroke in postmenopausal women

Jiu-Chiuan Chen et al., 2008/7 PubMed #18635832 MSID: 430
Many studies have shown a U-shape association between sleep duration and mortality, but epidemiological evidence linking cardiovascular diseases with habitual sleep patterns is limited and mixed.We conducted a prospective study on 93 175 older women (aged 50 to 79 years) in the Women's Health Initiative Observational study cohort to examine the risk of ischemic stroke in relation to self-reported sleep duration. Cox models were used to investigate the putative associations, adjusting for multipl...
Keywords: Insomnia; Cardiovascular Diseases; Risk Factors; Inflammation Mediators; Endocrine System
Related Studies: 39, 140

Association of heart failure and cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment and probable dementia: chicken or egg

Approved Proposal, Eaton, Charles et al., 2017/2 MSID: 3300
Keywords: Heart Failure; Cognitive Decline; 3-Mse; Aging
Related Studies: 39

Conjugated equine estrogens and global cognitive function in postmenopausal women: Women's Health Initiative Memory Study

Mark Espeland et al., 2004/6 PubMed #15213207 MSID: 332
The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) previously reported that estrogen plus progestin therapy does not protect cognition among women aged 65 years or older. The effect of estrogen-alone therapy, also evaluated in WHIMS, on cognition has not been established for this population.To determine whether conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) alters global cognitive function in older women and to compare its effect with CEE plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (CEE plus MPA).A randomized, double-bl...
Keywords: Cognitive Function; Hormone Therapy; Estrogen; Postmenopausal Women; Randomized Clinical Trial
Related Studies: 39

Depressive symptoms and incidence of mild cognitive impairment and probable dementia in elderly women: The Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Joseph Goveas et al., 2011/1 PubMed #21226676 MSID: 919
To examine whether significant depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women increases the risk of subsequent mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia.Prospective cohort study.Thirty nine of the 40 Women's Health Initiative (WHI) clinical centers that participated in a randomized clinical trial of hormone therapy.Six thousand three hundred seventy-six postmenopausal women without cognitive impairment aged 65 to 79 at baseline.Depressive disorders were assessed using an eight-item Burnam algori...
Keywords: Depression; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Dementia
Related Studies: 39

Neighborhood socioeconomic status and cognitive function in women

Regina Shih et al., 2011/7 PubMed #21778482 MSID: 1149
We examined whether neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) is associated with cognitive functioning in older US women and whether this relationship is explained by associations between NSES and vascular, health behavior, and psychosocial factors.We assessed women aged 65 to 81 years (n = 7479) who were free of dementia and took part in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study. Linear mixed models examined the cross-sectional association between an NSES index and cognitive functioning scores....
Keywords: Cognitive Function; Socioeconomic Status; Social Environment; Cardiovascular
Related Studies: 39, 220

Folate, vitamin B-6, and vitamin B-12 Intake and mild cognitive impairment and probable dementia in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study

Jessica Agnew-Blais et al., 2014/9 PubMed #25201007 MSID: 1038
Whether higher B vitamin intake (ie, B-6, B-12, and folate) is protective against cognitive decline in later life remains uncertain. Several prospective, observational studies find higher B vitamin intake to be associated with lower risk of dementia; other studies, including most trials of B vitamin supplementation, have observed no effect on cognition. We examined this question in a large population of older women carefully monitored for development of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and probab...
Keywords: Cognitive Decline; Dementia; Folate Intake; Folic Acid Supplementation; Hormone Replacement Therapy
Related Studies: 39, 103

Cognitive function and changes in cognitive function as predictors of incident cardiovascular disease: The Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Iris Leng et al., 2017/7 PubMed #28977360 MSID: 1042
BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment and decline may signal the increased risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). We examined associations of global cognitive function, as measured by the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS) and changes in 3MS over time, with incident CVD, individual CVD outcomes, CVD death, and all-cause mortality. METHODS: A total of 5,596 women (= 60) from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study free of CVD at baseline were followed for an average of 7.1 years. ...
Keywords: Cvd; Cognitive Function Decline; Cognitive Impairment; Mortality
Related Studies: 39

The influence of social support on cognitive health in older women: a Women's Health Initiative Study

Georgina Moreno et al., 2021/7 PubMed #34252006 MSID: 1267
Social support is associated prospectively with cognitive decline and dementia among the elderly; however, little is known about the impact of social support on healthy neurological aging. The current study investigates whether perceived social support has an influence on neurological health among a large sample of healthy postmenopausal women. Social support and neuropsychological outcomes were measured annually for six years through the Women's Health Initiative Study of Cognitive Aging. In p...
Keywords: Social Environment; Social Support; Social Integration; Aging; Cognition; Neuropsychology; Structural Mri; Brain Volumes
Related Studies: 39, 103, 183

Cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline in postmenopausal women: results from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study

Bernhard Haring et al., 2013/12 PubMed #24351701 MSID: 1295
Data on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cognitive decline are conflicting. Our objective was to investigate if CVD is associated with an increased risk for cognitive decline and to examine whether hypertension, diabetes, or adiposity modify the effect of CVD on cognitive functioning.Prospective follow-up of 6455 cognitively intact, postmenopausal women aged 65 to 79 years old enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS). CVD was determined by self-report. For cognitive declin...
Keywords: Coronary Heart Disease; Alzheimer Disease; Dementia; Postmenopausal Women
Related Studies: 39

Demographic and health factors associated with enrollment in posttrial studies: the Women’s Health Initiative Hormone therapy trials

Mark Espeland et al., 2013/3 PubMed #23480899 MSID: 1354
After clinical trials end, continued follow-up of the assembled cohort often is desirable for additional research. Factors influencing participants' decisions to consent to additional follow-up and how these shape posttrial cohorts have not been broadly studied.We examined how two re-enrollment campaigns and the passage of time altered features of the posttrial cohorts compared with the original Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Hormone Therapy clinical trials.We examined associations that markers...
Keywords: Retention; Informed Consent; Post-Trial Follow-Up; Aging; Epidemiological Methods
Related Studies: 39

Global cognitive function before and after a diagnosis of breast or colorectal cancer in the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS)

Approved Manuscript, Naughton, Michelle et al., 2018/8 MSID: 881
Keywords: Estrogen; Hrt; Cognition; Cancer
Related Studies: 39

Effects on dementia and cognitive functioning 3 years after stopping estrogen with and without progestin: the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Approved Proposal, Shumaker, Sally et al., 2008/10 MSID: 884
Keywords: Hormone Therapy; Postmenopausal Women; Dementia; Cognition; Mild Cognitive Impairment
Related Studies: 39

Statin use and cognition in postmenopausal women: The Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Approved Proposal, Legault, Claudine et al., 2005/7 MSID: 427
Keywords: Menopause; Statins; Hormone Therapy; Cognition; Dementia
Related Studies: 39

Baseline experience with Modified Mini Mental State Exam: The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS)

Stephen Rapp et al., 2003/5 PubMed #12775404 MSID: 138
The Modified Mini Mental State Exam (3MS) is widely used for screening global cognitive functioning, however little is known about its performance in clinical trials. We report the distribution of 3MS scores among women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) and describe differences in these scores associated with age, education, and ethnicity. The 3MS exams were administered to 7,480 women aged 65-80 who had volunteered for and were eligible for a clinical trial on postm...
Keywords: Cognition; 3ms; Mmse; Psychometrics; Normative
Related Studies: 39

Association between reported alcohol intake and cognition: Results from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study

Mark Espeland et al., 2005/2 PubMed #15671255 MSID: 274
Some, but not all, observational studies have suggested that moderate levels of alcohol intake may be associated with improved cognitive function and reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia. The authors of this 1996-2002 study used data from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study of postmenopausal combination hormone therapy to assess cross-sectional and prospective associations of self-reported alcohol intake with cognitive function. Across 39 US academic medical centers, 4,461 commu...
Keywords: Alcohol Intake; Cognition
Related Studies: 39

Social support and cognitive functioning in post-menopausal women

Approved Proposal, Messina, Catherine et al., 2007/2 MSID: 276
Keywords: Post-Menopausal Women; Mental Health; Cognitive Functioning; Social Support; Social Relationships; Social Burden
Related Studies: 39

Is there an association between baseline macronutrient intake and changes in cognition? Results from the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Approved Proposal, Vitolins, Mara et al., 2008/12 MSID: 397
Keywords: Nutrition; Cognitive Function; Postmenopausal; Macronutrients
Related Studies: 39

Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) Program: Emerging findings

Publication, Espeland, Mark et al., 2008/2 MSID: 727
Keywords: None Provided
Related Studies: 39, 183

Use of inverse probability of censoring weights in landmark estimation to address noncompliance in the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Approved Proposal, Parast, Layla et al., 2013/10 MSID: 2281
Keywords: Survival Analysis; Treatment Effect; Intermediate Event Information; Inverse Probability Of Censoring Weights (Ipcw); Dependent Censoring; Compliance
Related Studies: 39, 233

Predictors of incident dementia in postmenopausal women enrolled in a trial of hormone therapy: The Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Approved Proposal, Coker, Laura et al., 2006/3 MSID: 546
Keywords: Dementia; Alzheimer’S Disease; Cerebrovascular Disease
Related Studies: 39

The relationship between cognitive function and physical performance in older women: Results from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study

Hal Atkinson et al., 2009/9 PubMed #19789197 MSID: 558
Cognitive function and physical performance are associated, but the common sequence of cognitive and physical decline remains unclear.In the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) clinical trial, we examined associations at baseline and over a 6-year follow-up period between the Modified Mini-Mental State (3MS) Examination and three physical performance measures (PPMs): gait speed (meters/second), chair stands (number of stands in 15 seconds), and grip strength (kilograms). Using mixed m...
Keywords: Cognition; Physical Performance; Function; Cognitive Impairment; Gait Speed
Related Studies: 39

Identifying risk factors for cognitive change in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study: a neural networks approach

Publication, Bandelow, Stephan et al., 2006/7 MSID: 390
Keywords: Estrogen Treatment; Risk Assessment; Artificial Neural Networks; Dementia; Cognition
Related Studies: 39

Quality assurance and training in a low event long-term clinical trial

Approved Proposal, Dailey, Maggie et al., 2006/8 MSID: 595
Keywords: Long-Term Clinical Trial; Training Maintenance; Cognitive Testing; Learning Decay; Quality Assurance
Related Studies: 39

Prevalence of anticholinergic drug use and impact on cognition and function in older women

Approved Proposal, Sink, Kaycee et al., 2006/11 MSID: 597
Keywords: Cognitive/Functional Decline; Pre-Existing Cognitive Impairment; Older Adults; Medications
Related Studies: 39

Correcting the effects of -20°C storage and aliquot size on erythrocyte fatty acid content in the Women's Health Initiative

James Pottala et al., 2012/7 PubMed #22782370 MSID: 1558
Red blood cell (RBC) fatty acid (FA) patterns have been shown to predict risk for cardiovascular and other chronic diseases. As part of a project analyzing RBC samples from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) we observed implausibly low levels of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) suggestive of degradation. This was hypothesized to be due to short term storage (<1 month) at -20 °C during sample aliquoting. The purpose of this study was to measure the extent of degradation that ...
Keywords: Erythrocyte Fatty Acids; Storage Conditions; Oxidative Degradation; Regression Calibration; Multiple Imputation
Related Studies: 39, BA19

Dementia outcomes after addition of proxy-based assessments for deceased or proxy-dependent participants

Sarah Gaussoin et al., 2019/4 PubMed #31034676 MSID: 3318
OBJECTIVES: As people age and the incidence of dementia increases, studies of cognitive function continue to be of importance. Ascertaining cognitive data through different mechanisms is necessary to address missing data concerns. METHODS: The Dementia Questionnaire (DQ), which utilizes proxy-based assessments, is a potential tool to determine cognitive status in participants no longer being followed per traditional study protocol. The DQ is currently being used in the Supplemental Case Ascertai...
Keywords: Attrition; Cognitive Impairment; Dementia; Missing Data
Related Studies: 39, 233, 244

Hypertension, dietary sodium and cognitive decline: Results from the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Bernhard Haring et al., 2015/7 PubMed #26137952 MSID: 2074
To investigate the relationships of hypertension, antihypertensive treatment, and sodium intake on cognitive decline in older women.Prospective follow-up of 6,426 cognitively intact women aged 65-79 years enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) with a median follow-up of 9.1 years. Dietary sodium intake was determined by food frequency questionnaires. Hypertension was defined as self-report of current drug therapy for hypertension. Blood pressure (BP) control was assessed ...
Keywords: Sodium; Blood Pressure; Dementia; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Cognitive Decline
Related Studies: 39

Blood pressure variability and brain morphology in elderly women without cardiovascular disease

Bernhard Haring et al., 2019/2 PubMed #30814325 MSID: 2851
OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV), brain volumes, and cognitive functioning in postmenopausal women with few modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: Study participants consisted of postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative Memory MRI study (WHIMS-MRI) without cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or current smoking at baseline (1996-1999). BP readings were taken at baseline and each annual follow-...
Keywords: Blood Pressure; Brain And Lesion Volume; Dementia; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Cognitive Decline
Related Studies: 39

Vasomotor symptoms and cognitive decline in postmenopausal women

Approved Proposal, Purdue-Smithe, Alexandra et al., 2023/1 MSID: 4856
Keywords: Cognitive Decline; Dementia; Vasomotor Symptoms; Menopausal Symptoms
Related Studies: 39, 103

Adverse reproductive events and cognitive change in postmenopausal women

Approved Proposal, Purdue-Smithe, Alexandra et al., 2022/2 MSID: 4664
Keywords: Cognitive Decline; Dementia; Pregnancy; Parity; Infertility
Related Studies: 39, 103

Educational attainment, MRI changes, and cognitive function in older postmenopausal women from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study

Stephen Rapp et al., 2013/2 PubMed #24552037 MSID: 683
The relationship between neuropathology and clinically manifested functional and cognitive deficits is complex. Clinical observations of individuals with greater neuropathology who function better than some individuals with less neuropathology are common and puzzling. Educational attainment, a proxy for ""cognitive reserve,"" may help to explain this apparent contradiction. The objective of this study is to determine if educational attainment is correlated with cognitive decline, brain lesion vo...
Keywords: Cognition; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Aging; And Women’S Health
Related Studies: 39, 183

Alzheimer's diagnoses in older adults with chronic conditions (ADACC) network

Approved Proposal, Mielke, Michelle et al., 2022/9 MSID: 4797
Keywords: Alzheimer’S Disease; Blood Based Biomarkers; Abeta; P-Tau; Nfl; Comorbidities
Related Studies: 39, 233, 244, 659

Cognitive resilience among APOE e4 carriers in the oldest old

Kathleen Hayden et al., 2019/8 PubMed #31418472 MSID: 3353
OBJECTIVE: Relatively few APOE e4+ carriers survive to old age (age 80+) without cognitive impairment (CI), thus little is known about distinguishing characteristics of resilient APOE e4+ carriers. Herein we describe the sociodemographic characteristics of a large sample of resilient APOE e4+ women from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) and compare them to non-carriers and APOE e4+ women who developed CI before age 80. METHODS: Women were recruited for clinical trials evaluating...
Keywords: Apoe; Cognitive Decline; Cognitive Resilience; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Dementia; Alzheimer’S Disease
Related Studies: 39, 233, 244

Analysis of epigenetic age acceleration and healthy longevity among older US women

Purva Jain et al., 2022/7 PubMed #35895062 MSID: 4181
Importance: Accelerated biological aging is associated with decreased physical capability and cognitive functioning, which are associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Objective: We investigated associations between epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), a biomarker associated with aging, and healthy longevity among older women. Design, setting, and participants: This cohort study was a secondary analysis of participants in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) who were eligible to s...
Keywords: Epigenetic; Aging; Cognitive Function; Intact Mobility; Longevity
Related Studies: 39, 311, 315, BA23

Adherence to MIND Diet, genetic susceptibility, and incident dementia in three US cohorts

Marilyn Cornelis et al., 2022/7 PubMed #35807939 MSID: 4444
Adherence to Mediterranean-DASH Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) may lower the risk of dementia by impacting immunity and cholesterol, which are pathways also implicated by genome-wide association studies of Alzheimer's Dementia (AD). We examined whether adherence to the MIND diet could modify the association of genetic risk for AD with incident dementia. We used three ongoing US cohorts: Chicago Health and Aging Project (CHAP, n = 2449), Rush Memory and Aging Project (MAP, n...
Keywords: Mind; Cognitive Decline; Clinical Trial; Genetics; Alzheimer’S Disease
Related Studies: 39, 233, 244

Adherence to a MIND-like dietary pattern, long-term exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution, and MRI-based measures of brain volume: The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study-MRI

Cheng Chen et al., 2021/12 PubMed #34939828 MSID: 1426
Background: Previous studies suggest that certain dietary patterns and constituents may be beneficial to brain health. Airborne exposures to fine particulate matter [particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μ m ( PM 2.5 )] are neurotoxic, but the combined effects of dietary patterns and PM 2.5 have not been investigated. Objectives: We examined whether previously reported association between PM 2.5 exposure and lower white matter volume (WMV) differed between women whose usual diet dur...
Keywords: Cognition Disorders; Dementia; Air Pollution; Geographic Locations; Diet; Nutrition
Related Studies: 39, 183, 252

Relations of magnesium intake to cognitive impairment and dementia among participants in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study: a prospective cohort study

Kenneth Lo et al., 2019/11 PubMed #31685499 MSID: 3565
OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations of dietary and supplemental magnesium (Mg) as assessed by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire with cognitive outcomes among ageing women. DESIGN: This work conducts a prospective cohort study of participants enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS), which was subsequently extended and named WHIMS-Epidemiology of Cognitive Health. SETTING: Forty clinical centres in the USA. PARTICIPANTS: Postmenopausal women aged 65-79 year...
Keywords: Dementia; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Memory Study; Magnesium; Food Frequency Questionnaire; Supplement
Related Studies: 39

Trajectories of relative performance with 2 measures of global cognitive function

Mark Espeland et al., 2018/7 PubMed #29972592 MSID: 3411
OBJECTIVES: To examine whether trajectories of global cognitive function over time in studies that change assessment protocols may be modeled based on an individual's performance relative to others in the study cohort. DESIGN: Extended follow-up of a cohort originally enrolled in a clinical trial of postmenopausal hormone therapy. SETTING: The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study switched from an in-person interview with the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination to a telephone-based interview...
Keywords: Assessment Modalities; Global Cognitive Function; Longitudinal Trajectories; Risk Factors
Related Studies: 39

Exploring the Association of Dietary Fiber Intake and Prebiotic Supplement Use with Cognitive Impairment in Postmenopausal Women

Approved Proposal, Polston, Parker et al., 2024/8 MSID: 5177
Keywords: Fiber; Prebiotic; Dementia; Cognitive Impairment; Diet
Related Studies: 39, 233, 244

Objectively defined subtle cognitive decline (OBJ-SCD) and associations with air pollution

Approved Proposal, Petkus, Andrew J. et al., 2022/12 MSID: 4843
Keywords: Air Pollution; Cognitive Aging; Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Mild Cognitive Impairment; And Alzheimer’S Disease And Related Dementia
Related Studies: 39, 103, 183, 244, 252

Plasma oxysterols are associated with serum lipids and dementia risk in older women

Michelle Dunk et al., 2024/4 PubMed #38574442 MSID: 4587
Introduction: Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) carriers' tendency toward hypercholesterolemia may contribute to Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk through oxysterols, which traverse the blood-brain barrier. Methods: Relationships between baseline plasma oxysterols, APOE status, serum lipids, and cognitive impairment risk were examined in 328 postmenopausal women from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study. Women were followed for 25 years or until incident dementia or cognitive impairment. Results: Leve...
Keywords: Oxysterols; Blood Lipids; Apoe Gene; Dementia; Alzheimer’S Disease
Related Studies: 39, 233, 244

Artificially sweetened beverages, stroke, coronary heart disease, and all-cause mortality in the Women's Health Initiative

Yasmin Mossavar-Rahmani et al., 2019/3 PubMed #30802187 MSID: 3373
Background and Purpose- We examine the association between self-reported consumption of artificially sweetened beverages (ASB) and stroke and its subtypes, coronary heart disease, and all-cause mortality in a cohort of postmenopausal US women. Methods- The analytic cohort included 81 714 women from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study, a multicenter longitudinal study of the health of 93 676 postmenopausal women of ages 50 to 79 years at baseline who enrolled in 1993 to 1998. This p...
Keywords: Dementia; Soft Drinks; Diet Soda; Artificial And Sweetened Beverages; Stroke; Sugar
Related Studies: 39, 233, 244, 262

Body mass index trajectory and the modification effect of age and APOE genotype on the risk of incident cognitive impairment in women aged 65 and older

Approved Proposal, Liu, Longjian et al., 2023/2 MSID: 4864
Keywords: Bmi; Apoe; Mci; Dementia; Aging
Related Studies: 39, 233, 244, W63

Kidney Function and Cognitive Outcomes in Older Women with CKD: The Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS)

Approved Proposal, Oh , Ester et al., 2024/4 MSID: 5104
Keywords: Cognitive Outcomes; Probable Dementia; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Chronic Kidney Disease.
Related Studies: 39, 183

The direct and indirect role of reproductive aging for racial disparities in adjudicated cognitive impairment

Approved Proposal, Reeves, Alexis et al., 2022/12 MSID: 4821
Keywords: Race; Racism; Menopause; Dementia; Cognitive Aging; Reproductive Aging; Hysterectomy/Oophorectomy
Related Studies: 39, 183, 262, 548

Association of social support with mild cognitive impairment and dementia among older women: Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Alexander Posis et al., 2023/undefined PubMed #36565123 MSID: 4496
Background: Social support may be a modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment. However, few long-term, large prospective studies have examined associations of various forms of social support with incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia.Objective: To examine associations of perceived social support with incident MCI and dementia among community-dwelling older women. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 6,670 women from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study who ...
Keywords: Social Support; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Dementia; Mediation Analysis; Inverse Probability Weighting
Related Studies: 39, 244

Plasma proteins related to inflammatory diet predict future cognitive impairment

Michael Duggan et al., 2023/2 PubMed #36737481 MSID: 4396
Dysregulation of the immune system and dietary patterns that increase inflammation can increase the risk for cognitive decline, but the mechanisms by which inflammatory nutritional habits may affect the development of cognitive impairment in aging are not well understood. To determine whether plasma proteins linked to inflammatory diet predict future cognitive impairment, we applied high-throughput proteomic assays to plasma samples from a subset (n = 1528) of Women's Health Initiative Memory St...
Keywords: Inflammation; Dementia; Alzheimer’S Disease; Proteomics; Diet
Related Studies: 39, 103, 183, 233, 244, 262, 615

Self-reported and accelerometer measures of physical activity and sedentary behavior with Alzheimer’s disease and related Dementias among older women

Approved Proposal, Nguyen, Steve et al., 2023/6 MSID: 4941
Keywords: Dementia; Aging; Physical Activity; Epidemiology; Public Health
Related Studies: 39, 286, 629

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and associated neuropsychiatric conditions

Approved Proposal, Suresh, Sunitha et al., 2023/4 MSID: 4924
Keywords: Hypertensive Disorder Of Pregnancy; Neurocognitive Dysfunction; Depression; Anxiety; Preeclampsia; Eclampsia
Related Studies: 39, 244, 548

Associations of dietary cholesterol and fat, blood lipids, and risk for dementia in older women vary by APOE genotype

Ira Driscoll et al., 2023/7 PubMed #37438877 MSID: 3714
Introduction: Whether apolipoprotein E's (APOE's) involvement in lipid metabolism contributes to Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk remains unknown. Methods: Incident probable dementia and cognitive impairment (probable dementia+mild cognitive impairment) were analyzed in relation to baseline serum lipids (total, low-density lipoprotein [LDL], high-density lipoprotein [HDL], non-HDL cholesterol, total-to-HDL, LDL-to-HDL, remnant cholesterol, and triglycerides) using Mendelian randomization in 5358 po...
Keywords: Probable Dementia; Cholesterol; Statins; Apoe; Global Cognition
Related Studies: 39, M13, W63

Association between blood pressure levels and cognitive impairment in older women: a prospective analysis of the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study

Longjian Liu et al., 2022/1 PubMed #35112096 MSID: 4161
Background: Whether blood pressure (BP), and at what level of controlled BP, reduces risk of cognitive impairment remains uncertain. We investigated the association of BP and hypertension treatment status with mild cognitive impairment and dementia in older women. Methods: We prospectively analysed a sample of 7207 community-dwelling women aged 65-79 years participating in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS). Participants were recruited between May 28, 1996, and Dec 13, 1999, at 3...
Keywords: Blood Pressure; Cognitive Function; Dementia
Related Studies: 39, 183, 233, 244

Longitudinal cognitive trajectories of women veterans from the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Claudia Padula et al., 2015/11 PubMed #26615021 MSID: 2461
A comparison of longitudinal global cognitive functioning in women Veteran and non-Veteran participants in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI).We studied 7,330 women aged 65-79 at baseline who participated in the WHI Hormone Therapy Trial and its ancillary Memory Study (WHIMS). Global cognitive functioning (Modified Mini-Mental State Examination [3MSE]) in Veterans (n = 279) and non-Veterans (n = 7,051) was compared at baseline and annually for 8 years using generalized linear modeling methods.C...
Keywords: Cognitive Decline; Risk Factors; 3mse; Aging
Related Studies: 39

An association between large optic nerve cupping and cognitive function

Thasarat S. Vajaranant et al., 2019/6 PubMed #31163134 MSID: 3085
PURPOSE: To determine if a larger cup-disc ratio is associated with poor cognitive function in postmenopausal women without glaucoma or ocular hypertension. METHODS: We used data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), originally designed to test effects of hormone therapy (HT) on various health outcomes. Large cup-disc ratio was defined as greater than 0.6 in either eye based on stereoscopic optic nerve photographs. Global cognitive function was assessed annually by Modified Mini-Mental State...
Keywords: Glaucoma; Aging; Brain; Blindness
Related Studies: 39, 62, 183

Association of visual impairment with risk of incident dementia in a Women's Health Initiative population

Suzann Pershing et al., 2020/4 PubMed #32297918 MSID: 3718
Importance: Dementia affects a large and growing population of older adults. Although past studies suggest an association between vision and cognitive impairment, there are limited data regarding longitudinal associations of vision with dementia. Objective: To evaluate associations between visual impairment and risk of cognitive impairment. Design, setting, and participants: A secondary analysis of a prospective longitudinal cohort study compared the likelihood of incident dementia or mild cogni...
Keywords: Visual Impairment; Vision; Cognitive Function; Dementia; Alzheimer’S Disease
Related Studies: 39, 62, 233, 244, W35

A voxel-based morphometry study reveals local brain structural alterations associated with ambient fine particles in older women

Ramon Casanova et al., 2016/10 PubMed #27790103 MSID: 2549
Objective: Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5: PM with aerodynamic diameters < 2.5 µm) has been linked with cognitive deficits in older adults. Using fine-grained voxel-wise analyses, we examined whether PM2.5 exposure also affects brain structure. Methods: Brain MRI data were obtained from 1365 women (aged 71-89) in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study and local brain volumes were estimated using RAVENS (regional analysis of volumes in normalized space). Based on geocoded ...
Keywords: Brain Aging; Air Pollution; Neurotoxicity; Geographic Locations
Related Studies: 39, 233, 252

Global cognitive function before, surrounding, and after ischemic stroke: the role of risk and protective factors varies with time among ischemic stroke survivors

Anne Leslie Vaughan et al., 2015/6 PubMed #26073439 MSID: 2183
An estimated 65% of individuals demonstrate multidomain cognitive impairment poststroke, although little is known about the varying role of cognitive risk and protective factors in preischemic, peri-ischemic, and postischemic stroke phases. Longitudinal changes in global cognitive function after ischemic stroke are not well characterized, especially in older adults over age 80. We examined global cognitive function trajectories in these three phases across a mean follow-up of 8.12 (2.30) years i...
Keywords: Cognition; Stroke
Related Studies: 39

The association between an inflammatory diet and global cognitive function and incident dementia in older women: The Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS)

Kathleen Hayden et al., 2017/5 PubMed #28531379 MSID: 2729
INTRODUCTION: The Mediterranean and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diets have been associated with lower dementia risk. We evaluated dietary inflammatory potential in relation to mild cognitive impairment (MCI)/dementia risk. METHODS: Baseline food frequency questionnaires from n = 7085 women (aged 65-79 years) were used to calculate Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) scores that were categorized into four groups. Cognitive function was evaluated annually, and MCI and all-cause dementia c...
Keywords: Inflammatory Diet; Global Cognitive Function; Dementia; Older Women
Related Studies: 39, 244

Predictors of optimal cognitive aging in 80+ women: the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study

Joseph Goveas et al., 2016/3 PubMed #26858326 MSID: 2219
BACKGROUND: Independent predictors of preserved cognitive functioning and factors associated with maintaining high preserved cognitive function in women =80 years remain elusive. METHODS: Two thousand two hundred twenty-eight women with a mean age of 85 years who participated in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study were classified as cognitively normal (n = 1,905, 85.5%), mild cognitive impairment (n = 88, 3.9%), dementia (n = 121, 5.4%) or other cognitive impairment (n = 114, n = 5.1%) by...
Keywords: Cognition; Optimal Aging; 80+ Yo; Late Life
Related Studies: 39