Which of the following statements represents an association claim?

The statement that represents an association claim is grounded in the idea that one variable may be linked to another without implying a direct cause-and-effect relationship. In the chosen statement, "Depression in the elderly may predict dementia," there is a suggestion of a potential relationship between the levels of depression in elderly individuals and the likelihood of developing dementia. This conveys that there could be an association where one condition (depression) is linked to a future outcome (dementia), which is characteristic of an association claim.

Association claims typically highlight how two variables might be related in a way that is not necessarily causal; they indicate a correlation rather than asserting that one variable causes changes in the other. The usage of the term "may" also reflects uncertainty about the nature of the relationship, further emphasizing that it is an association rather than a definitive causal link.

In contrast, other options convey more definitive causal implications. For instance, the statement about particle physics affecting climate change suggests a direct cause-and-effect relationship, as does the claim that exercising daily leads to better health. Similarly, the idea that reading improves attention span implies that reading directly results in an enhancement of attention, which again indicates a causal framework rather than a mere association.