THE EFFECTS OF TBI SEVERITY AND PTSD ON SUBJECTIVE COGNITIVE DECLINE IN OLDER VETERANS

Abstract Both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been linked to subjective cognitive complaints; however, less is known about the unique relationships of PTSD symptoms TBI severity with domain-specific declines in older Veterans. The current study included 215 Vietnam-Era Veterans from Department Defense-Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (age M=69.62 years, SD=4.30). General linear models, adjusting for age, education, apolipoprotein E ε4 status, self-reported health, MMSE score, depressive symptoms, examined effects (measured using Clinician-Administered Scale) (none, mild, moderate/severe) on decline measured Everyday Cognition (ECog) measure. Greater were associated greater ECog total score (t=.198, p=.009) as well memory (t=.197, p=.008), language (t=.228, p=.004), visuospatial (t=.216, p=.007) subscales. Compared participants no TBI, mild was (t=.329, p=.026) (t=.334, p=.030) divided attention (t=.411, subscales, while moderate-to-severe planning (t=.291, p=.049) (t=.320, p=.032). There interaction between scores. Results suggest that versus moderate/severe differentially impact specific domains decline. Future work should investigate how repetitive may modify these relationships, whether are objective cognition quality life