Does Military Veteran Status Affect Cognitive Functioning in Later Life?
Author Information
Author(s): Yorgason Jeremy, Erickson Lance, Marini Christina, Kaiser Anica
Primary Institution: Brigham Young University
Hypothesis
Does military veteran status predict cognitive functioning in later life?
Conclusion
Veteran status is not associated with individual cognitive functioning measures but may relate to overall cognitive functioning, with PTSD symptoms negatively impacting cognitive abilities.
Supporting Evidence
- Veteran status was not predictive of individual cognitive functioning subscales after adjusting for gender and age.
- PTSD symptoms were negatively associated with verbal fluency and overall cognitive functioning.
- Combat exposure did not show an association with cognitive outcomes.
Takeaway
Being a veteran doesn't always mean you will have problems with thinking as you get older, but if you have PTSD, it might make it harder to think clearly.
Methodology
The study used data from 777 individuals to explore the relationship between veteran status and cognitive functioning using various cognitive tests.
Potential Biases
The sample included mostly male veterans, which could introduce gender bias in the results.
Limitations
The study primarily focused on male veterans, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
The majority of participants were male veterans, with older respondents showing lower cognitive functioning scores.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.021
Statistical Significance
p=0.021
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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