SENSE OF CONTROL AND COGNITIVE AGING - The Mediating Role of Risk and Protective Factors

Sep 29, 2026

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Sense of control is examined as a psychosocial factor linked to protective health behaviors and cognitive and physical outcomes in later life. The study tests whether sense of control relates to risk and protective factors affecting brain health, operationalized through the McCance Brain Care Score (BCS), covering modifiable physiological metrics, lifestyle behaviors, and psychosocial elements such as stress and purpose in life. Data from MIDUS waves (M2, M3) and biomarker sub-studies evaluate whether the BCS mediates 9-year cognitive and physical change.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

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Abstract

Study purpose and hypothesis

Measures and data sources

Key results

Implications

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 1197 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.4006 SENSE OF CONTROL AND COGNITIVE AGING: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS Nathan Merin1, Kylie Schiloski2, and Margie Lachman2, 1. Brandeis University, Burlingame, California, United States, 2. Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States Sense of control is a psychosocial factor that is known to be associated with engagement in protective health behaviors and cognitive and physical health outcomes in middle age and later life. The present study tested whether sense of control was related to risk and protective factors contributing to brain health measured by the McCance Brain Care Score (BCS), an index of modifiable physical (blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, Body Mass Index), lifestyle (nutrition, exercise, smoking status, sleep, alcohol consumption), and psychosocial factors (stress, relationships, purpose in life) . We hypothesized that the BCS would mediate the relationship between sense of control and 9-year changes in cognitive and physical health. Data were collected from the second (M2) and third (M3) waves of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Study and biomarker sub-study. Results showed that the relationships between sense of control and 9-year residual change in episodic memory, functional health, and chronic conditions were all mediated by the BCS, with each model controlling for age, sex, race, and level of education. The BCS also mediated the relationship between sense of control and level of performance 9-years later for executive functioning. These findings demonstrate that those with a higher sense of control were more likely to have a higher brain care score, which in turn was related to a greater maintenance of specific cognitive and physical health outcomes. This work suggests that promoting a sense of control shows potential for enhancing brain health and maintaining favorable cognitive and physical health.

FAQs

What is the main research question of the study?

Whether sense of control is associated with brain health risk and protective factors, and whether this association is mediated by the McCance Brain Care Score (BCS).

What does the McCance Brain Care Score (BCS) include?

It aggregates modifiable physical factors (e.g., blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, BMI), lifestyle factors (nutrition, exercise, smoking, sleep, alcohol), and psychosocial factors (stress, relationships, purpose in life).

Which outcomes did the BCS mediate over the 9-year period?

Associations between sense of control and 9-year changes in episodic memory, functional health, and chronic conditions were mediated by the BCS, and BCS also mediated later executive functioning performance.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by hdkawk