Executive Function and Survival in the Context of Chronic Illness

BACKGROUND: Individual differences in executive function (EF) have been shown to predict risk factors for chronic illness. It is not currently known whether EFs also predict survival time following a diagnosis of a chronic illness. PURPOSE: The objective of this investigation was to examine the association between individual differences in EF and survival time among individuals suffering from one or more chronic illness. METHODS: A sample of 162 community-dwelling older adults who suffered from a chronic illness at baseline underwent thorough medical and neurological examinations to ensure freedom from actual or probable dementia. Participants completed cognitive testing and were subsequently followed for 10 years; survival was assessed as survival time over the follow-up interval. RESULTS: Findings indicated that individual differences in EF predicted survival time, and this association held when adjustments were made for demographic variables (age, sex), education, and body mass index. CONCLUSION: Individual differences in EF may be important determinants of survival in the context of chronic illness.