Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35526325›Full record

ArticleMaturitas2022

Better cognitive function in younger generations - Insights from two cohort studies of middle-aged to older adults in Wisconsin.

Natascha Merten, A Alex Pinto, Adam J Paulsen, Yanjun Chen, Carla R Schubert, Karen J Cruickshanks

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Maturitas, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Generational Differences in Audiometric and Self-Reported Hearing and Hearing Aid Use.Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology : JARO · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Natascha MertenDepartment of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA; Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA. Electronic address: natascha.merten@wisc.edu.
A Alex PintoDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA.
Adam J PaulsenDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA.
Yanjun ChenDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA.
Carla R SchubertDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA.
Karen J CruickshanksDepartment of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA.

Funding

FAMILIAL AND BIRTH COHORT EFFECTS ON THE AGING SENSESR01AG021917 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · PI CRUICKSHANKS, KAREN J · 2004 to 2018
$25.2M
Epidemiology of Age-related Hearing LossR37AG011099 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · PI CRUICKSHANKS, KAREN J · 2009 to 2018
$7.4M
The Beaver Dam Offspring Study Neurocognitive Aging Study (BOSS-NCAS)-A Study on the Role of Accelerated Aging and Midlife Sensory Decline for Early Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia in Later LifeR01AG079289 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · PI Natascha Merten · 2022 to 2026
$3.7M
Multisensory, Motor, and Biomarker Changes in Aging and Preclinical Alzheimer's DiseaseRF1AG066837 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · PI MERTEN, NATASCHA · 2020 to 2023
$2.1M
NIA NIH HHS R01 AG021917NIA NIH HHS R01 AG079289NIA NIH HHS R37 AG011099NIA NIH HHS RF1 AG066837
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUnderstanding generational trends in dementia and cognitive decline is essential to quantify future healthcare needs and may help identify interventions and preventions. We aimed to determine whether individuals from more recent generations showed better neurocognitive function.

methodsThis cross-sectional study combined data from 4439 participants (mean age 64 years (SD = 13); 57% were women) from the Epidemiology of Hearing Loss Study and Beaver Dam Offspring Study. We assessed participants' birth cohort (1901-1924, Greatest Generation; 1925-1945, Silent Generation; 1946-1964, Baby Boom Generation; 1965-1984, Generation X) and neurocognition (Trail-Making Tests A and B, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Verbal Fluency Test). Multivariable linear regression models were utilized.

resultsAdjusted for age, sex, education, and known risk factors for cognitive decline, more recent generations showed better processing speed, executive function, attention, and verbal fluency than the Greatest Generation. Largest benefits were found in the Baby Boom Generation. Compared with the Greatest Generation, individuals from the Baby Boom Generation performed better on Trail-Making Tests A (-0.21 ln(time in s); 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.29, -0.13) and B (-0.31 ln(time in s); 95% CI -0.40, -0.22), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (6.07 numbers correct; 95% CI 3.61, 8.52) and Verbal Fluency Test (8.75 numbers correct; 95% CI 5.07, 12.42 in women; 5.28 numbers correct; 95% CI 0.79, 9.78 in men), with effect sizes similar to effects of 11-15 years of less aging.

conclusionsThis indicates that some benefits of younger generations might be related to yet unknown and potentially modifiable environmental, health-related or lifestyle factors and motivates research of such underlying factors to promote healthy cognitive aging.

Indexed as

Cognition DisordersCognitive DysfunctionAgedCognitionCohort StudiesCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeuropsychological TestsWisconsinAgingBirth cohortCognitionExecutive functionMemoryProcessing speed

Identifiers

PMID35526325
PMCPMC9233025

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.