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Hillari L, Frank P, Cadar D. Systemic inflammation, lifestyle behaviours and dementia: A 10-year follow-up investigation. Brain Behav Immun Health 2024; 38:100776. [PMID: 38706574 PMCID: PMC11068506 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives Lifestyle behaviours have been linked to dementia incidence, but their cumulative impact on dementia and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigated the association of co-occurring lifestyle behaviours with dementia incidence and the mediating role of systemic inflammation in this association. Methods The sample comprised 3131 participants (55.2% female) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing aged 52-92 years at baseline (2008/09). Self-reported baseline lifestyle behaviours (alcohol intake, fruit and vegetable consumption, smoking, physical activity, sleep duration, social engagement, and cognitive activity) were summed to derive an index of lifestyle behaviours, ranging from 0 to 7, with higher scores denoting a higher number of health-risk behaviours. Incident dementia cases (n = 130, 4.2%) were identified through doctor-diagnosed dementia, informant interviews, and health records between 2014/15 and 2018/19. Systemic inflammation was measured through fasting plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein in 2012/13. Results Binary logistic regression models indicated that the odds of subsequent dementia increased by 1.19 for each additional health-risk behaviour (95% confidence intervals: 1.04, 1.37, p = 0.014) after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, wealth, education, marital status, body mass index, coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and depression. However, this association was not mediated by C-reactive protein. Conclusions Co-occurring health-risk behaviours were associated with higher dementia incidence up to 10 years later, underscoring the importance of modifying health-risk behaviours for the prevention of dementia. Systemic inflammation did not explain the association between behaviours and dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Hillari
- Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Philipp Frank
- Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK
- UCL Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Dorina Cadar
- Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, UK
- Centre for Dementia Studies, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK
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Turrini S, Wong B, Eldaief M, Press DZ, Sinclair DA, Koch G, Avenanti A, Santarnecchi E. The multifactorial nature of healthy brain ageing: Brain changes, functional decline and protective factors. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 88:101939. [PMID: 37116664 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
As the global population faces a progressive shift towards a higher median age, understanding the mechanisms underlying healthy brain ageing has become of paramount importance for the preservation of cognitive abilities. The first part of the present review aims to provide a comprehensive look at the anatomical changes the healthy brain endures with advanced age, while also summarizing up to date findings on modifiable risk factors to support a healthy ageing process. Subsequently, we describe the typical cognitive profile displayed by healthy older adults, conceptualizing the well-established age-related decline as an impairment of four main cognitive factors and relating them to their neural substrate previously described; different cognitive trajectories displayed by typical Alzheimer's Disease patients and successful agers with a high cognitive reserve are discussed. Finally, potential effective interventions and protective strategies to promote cognitive reserve and defer cognitive decline are reviewed and proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Turrini
- Precision Neuroscience & Neuromodulation Program, Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Centro studi e ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia "Renzo Canestrari", Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Campus di Cesena, Cesena, Italy
| | - Bonnie Wong
- Neuropsychology Program, Frontotemporal Disorders Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA , USA; Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark Eldaief
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel Z Press
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David A Sinclair
- Blavatnik Institute, Department of Genetics, Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of ageing Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Giacomo Koch
- Stroke Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Department of Clinical and Behavioural Neurology, Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Avenanti
- Centro studi e ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Dipartimento di Psicologia "Renzo Canestrari", Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, Campus di Cesena, Cesena, Italy; Centro de Investigación en Neuropsicología y Neurociencias Cognitivas, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Emiliano Santarnecchi
- Precision Neuroscience & Neuromodulation Program, Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Maitreyee R, Varley R, Cowell PE. Verbal ability in postmenopausal women in relation to age, cognitive and reproductive factors. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2023; 238:103963. [PMID: 37364371 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2023.103963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Word-finding difficulties have been associated with age and, in women, lowered sex hormone levels following menopause. However, there is limited understanding of the ways that specific aspects of word-finding are shaped by women's age, reproductive histories, and background factors such as education. The current study investigated the effects of age, cognitive and reproductive factors on word-finding abilities in 53 healthy postmenopausal women aged 48-79. A questionnaire was used to gather demographic information and reproductive history. A battery of verbal fluency, continuous series, and naming tasks was designed to assess word-finding across different sensory modalities and cognitive demands. Category and letter fluency were quantified as total number of correct words produced on each task. For continuous series, switch rates and switch costs were computed. For the naming tasks, accuracy and latency measures were used. There were three key findings. Firstly, there was a consistent positive association between education and all word-finding measures, i.e., verbal fluency, continuous series, and naming. Secondly, age-related declines were seen on tasks heavily dependent on working memory such as the continuous series task. Thirdly, reproductive factors across the lifespan such as age at menarche and reproductive years showed subtle effects on naming abilities, but not on verbal fluency or continuous series. The results highlight that word-finding abilities in healthy postmenopausal women are shaped by factors associated with their early years (education, age at menarche) and later adult life (age, reproductive years). The study also distinguished between the more global effects of education, and the more task-specific associations with age and reproductive variables, on verbal task performance after menopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramya Maitreyee
- Division of Human Communication Sciences, Health Sciences School, The University of Sheffield, 362 Mushroom Lane, Sheffield S10 2TS, United Kingdom.
| | - Rosemary Varley
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, UCL, 313, Chandler House, 2 Wakefield Street, London WC1N 1PF, United Kingdom.
| | - Patricia E Cowell
- Division of Human Communication Sciences, Health Sciences School, The University of Sheffield, 362 Mushroom Lane, Sheffield S10 2TS, United Kingdom.
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Bertogg A, Leist AK. Gendered life courses and cognitive functioning in later life: the role of context-specific gender norms and lifetime employment. Eur J Ageing 2023; 20:7. [PMID: 36995442 PMCID: PMC10063772 DOI: 10.1007/s10433-023-00751-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
With increasing life expectancy, dementia poses an epidemiological challenge. As a cure has not been developed, the investigation into preventive factors becomes pivotal. Previous research emphasizes the cognitively stimulating and socio-emotional benefits of lifetime employment, but research on heterogeneous patterns across social groups and societal contexts remains sparse. Sociological approaches have a promising potential to provide insights into health inequalities and can contribute to the study of this major societal challenge. We investigate the influence of previous employment biographies on cognitive functioning for men and women aged 50 to 75 in 19 European countries, using longitudinal and retrospective information from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. We link individual information on employment biographies and cognitive functioning to contextual measures of gender norms, using aggregated agreement rates to both men's and women's role in employment and family. We find that previous employment affects cognitive functioning men and women differently. Part-time employment is beneficial for women's cognitive functioning, but not for men's. Traditional gender norms are associated with lower levels of cognitive functioning for both genders and moderate the linkage between previous employment and cognitive functioning. In contexts with more traditional gender norms, men's part-time employment is associated with lower and women's part-time employment with higher cognitive functioning. We conclude that employment and non-employment participation can, depending on characteristics of individuals and contexts, benefit or hinder the life-course accumulation of cognitive reserve, and those with norm-deviating behaviour are disadvantaged.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anja K Leist
- Department of Social Sciences, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
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Juras L, Martincević M, Vranić A, Rebernjak B, Hromatko I. The brief case for everyday problems: a proposal of two brief alternate forms of the Everyday Problems Test. Eur J Ageing 2022; 19:1519-1528. [PMID: 36692781 PMCID: PMC9729654 DOI: 10.1007/s10433-022-00734-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Everyday Problems Test (EPT; Willis and Marsiske, Manual for the everyday problems test, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, 1993) is an 84-item performance-based measure of older adults' everyday cognitive competencies in seven everyday domains (e.g., finance, reading prescription). Its length makes it disadvantageous in the typical time-constrained testing context. Due to the potential practice effects, it is also impractical for longitudinal and intervention studies which require repetitive testing. We have addressed these issues by adapting two brief forms of EPT, with 14 items each. The psychometric evaluation of these two versions was conducted on a sample of 157 cognitively healthy older adults. Both brief forms demonstrated good internal consistency, high inter-correlation, and have shown satisfactory concurrent criterion-related validity based on their correlations with socio-demographic and cognitive variables. Results indicate that the two proposed brief forms can be a valuable tool in assessing the everyday cognitive competence of healthy older adults either as a one-time screening instrument or as a pretest-posttest difference indicator of the intervention efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luka Juras
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Ivana Lucica 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marina Martincević
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Ivana Lucica 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Andrea Vranić
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Ivana Lucica 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Blaž Rebernjak
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Ivana Lucica 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivana Hromatko
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Ivana Lucica 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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Xie J, Fan X, Yin P, Gu J, Yang C. Association between childhood friendship and cognitive ageing trajectory in later life: evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). BMC Geriatr 2022; 22:494. [PMID: 35676655 PMCID: PMC9178862 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03181-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Childhood experience has been suggested to affect cognitive function in later life. However, the association between childhood friendship status and cognitive ageing trajectory in middle-aged and older adults has not been fully assessed. This study examined the association between childhood friendship status and cognitive ageing trajectory and identified factors modifying this association. Methods We used four waves of data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), a national representative longitudinal study of adults aged 45 years or older, 2011–2018. The CHARLS included surveys on childhood friendship and cognitive assessments. Childhood friendship status was categorised as poor, fair, and good. To examine the association between childhood friendship and cognitive ageing trajectory in later life, we applied multilevel linear regression models, and explored potential influences of sociodemographic factors, health status and behaviours, and childhood conditions on this association. Results Of the 4,350 participants, 1,919 (44.1%) were women. The mean age was 56.29 ± 7.80 years. We found childhood friendship was significantly associated with cognitive ageing trajectory in later life, with a dose–response relationship. After adjusting for covariates, comparing to participants with poor childhood friendships, those with better childhood friendships had lower rates of cognitive decline (β = 0.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.03 to 0.22 [interaction term of fair friendship and time]; β = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.28 [interaction term of good friendship and time]) and higher level of cognitive functions (β = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.22 to 0.58 [fair friendships]; β = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.43 to 0.79 [good friendships]). These associations were stronger for those who were female, less educated, and had experienced more adverse childhood experiences. Conclusions Childhood friendship is associated with cognitive ageing in later life. Enhancing childhood friendships can play an important role to promote healthy ageing in the future. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-03181-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinzhao Xie
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyan Fan
- School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Ping Yin
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Gu
- Department of Medical Statistics, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. .,Sun Yat-sen Global Health Institute, School of Public Health and Institute of State Governance, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. .,Key Laboratory of Health Informatics of Guangdong Province, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Chengwu Yang
- Division of Biostatistics and Health Services Research, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA, 01655.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA, 01655
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McHugh Power JE, Feeney J, Fowler E, McMichael AJ, Hyland P, Lawlor BA, Cruise S, Potter C, Young I, McGuinness B, Kee F. Exposure to the troubles in Northern Ireland, memory functioning, and social activity engagement: results from NICOLA. Eur J Ageing 2022; 19:1099-1109. [PMID: 36692739 PMCID: PMC9729674 DOI: 10.1007/s10433-022-00683-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the potential impact of a cohort traumatic exposure, the Troubles in Northern Ireland, on memory functioning in later life, and the potential moderating effect of social activity engagement. Using data from 6571 participants aged 60 + in the Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal Study of Ageing (NICOLA) cohort, we used a structural equation modelling framework to explore associations between traumatic exposure during the Troubles and memory functioning. As expected, social activity engagement was positively associated with memory functioning, β = .102. Traumatic exposure was also positively associated with memory functioning, β = .053. This association was stronger at low levels of social activity engagement; among those with higher levels, there was little association, interaction β = - 0.054. The positive association between traumatic exposure during the Troubles and memory functioning was not moderated by the age at which the exposures occurred (based on analysis of a subsample with available data), interaction β = - 0.015. We conclude that superior memory functioning was associated with higher levels of traumatic exposure during the Troubles, particularly among those with lower levels of social activity engagement, and regardless of the age at which the exposures occurred. Future longitudinal analyses are required to build on these results, which potentially have implications for life-course epidemiology, in relation to critical periods for traumatising experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna E McHugh Power
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Education House, Co Kildare, Republic of Ireland ,Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Joanne Feeney
- School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Elizabeth Fowler
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Alan J. McMichael
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Philip Hyland
- Department of Psychology, Maynooth University, Education House, Co Kildare, Republic of Ireland
| | - Brian A. Lawlor
- School of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
| | - Sharon Cruise
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Claire Potter
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Ian Young
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | | | - Frank Kee
- Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
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van den Hurk W, Bergman I, Machado A, Bjermo J, Gustavsson A. Swedish Normative Data for Mindmore: A Comprehensive Cognitive Screening Battery, Both Digital and Self-Administrated. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2022; 28:188-202. [PMID: 34027854 DOI: 10.1017/S135561772100045X] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cognitive impairment is a key element in most mental disorders. Its objective assessment at initial patient contact in primary care can lead to better adjusted and timely care with personalised treatment and recovery. To enable this, we designed the Mindmore self-administrative cognitive screening battery. What is presented here is normative data for the Mindmore battery for the Swedish population. METHOD A total of 720 healthy adults (17 to 93 years) completed the Mindmore screening battery, which consists of 14 individual tests across five cognitive domains: attention and processing speed, memory, language, visuospatial functions and executive functions. Regression-based normative data were established for 42 test result measures, investigating linear, non-linear and interaction effects between age, education and sex. RESULTS The test results were most affected by age and to a lesser extent by education and sex. All but one test displayed either linear or accelerated age-related decline, or a U-shaped association with age. All but two tests showed beneficial effects of education, either linear or subsiding after 12 years of educational attainment. Sex affected tests in the memory and executive domains. In three tests, an interaction between age and education revealed an increased benefit of education later in life. CONCLUSION This study provides normative models for 14 traditional cognitive tests adapted for self-administration through a digital platform. The models will enable more accurate interpretation of test results, hopefully leading to improved clinical decision making and better care for patients with cognitive impairment.
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Dercon Q, Nicholas JM, James SN, Schott JM, Richards M. Grip strength from midlife as an indicator of later-life brain health and cognition: evidence from a British birth cohort. BMC Geriatr 2021; 21:475. [PMID: 34465287 PMCID: PMC8406895 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-021-02411-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Grip strength is an indicator of physical function with potential predictive value for health in ageing populations. We assessed whether trends in grip strength from midlife predicted later-life brain health and cognition. METHODS 446 participants in an ongoing British birth cohort study, the National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD), had their maximum grip strength measured at ages 53, 60-64, and 69, and subsequently underwent neuroimaging as part of a neuroscience sub-study, referred to as "Insight 46", at age 69-71. A group-based trajectory model identified latent groups of individuals in the whole NSHD cohort with below- or above-average grip strength over time, plus a reference group. Group assignment, plus standardised grip strength levels and change from midlife were each related to measures of whole-brain volume (WBV) and white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV), plus several cognitive tests. Models were adjusted for sex, body size, head size (where appropriate), sociodemographics, and behavioural and vascular risk factors. RESULTS Lower grip strength from midlife was associated with smaller WBV and lower matrix reasoning scores at age 69-71, with findings consistent between analysis of individual time points and analysis of trajectory groups. There was little evidence of an association between grip strength and other cognitive test scores. Although greater declines in grip strength showed a weak association with higher WMHV at age 69-71, trends in the opposite direction were seen at individual time points with higher grip strength at ages 60-64, and 69 associated with higher WMHV. CONCLUSIONS This study provides preliminary evidence that maximum grip strength may have value in predicting brain health. Future work should assess to what extent age-related declines in grip strength from midlife reflect concurrent changes in brain structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Dercon
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Jennifer M Nicholas
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah-Naomi James
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan M Schott
- Dementia Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Marcus Richards
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the pathophysiology of cognitive decline is multifactorial, and modifiable by lifestyle, the evidence for the role of diet on cognitive function is still accumulating, particularly the potentially preventive role of constituents of plant-based foods. METHODS We aimed to determine whether higher habitual intake of dietary flavonoids, key components of plant-based diets, were associated with improved cognition and medial temporal lobe volumes using three complementary approaches (longitudinal, cross-sectional and co-twin analyses). In 1126 female twins (n=224 with a 10-year follow-up of diet and cognition data) aged 18-89 years, habitual intakes of total flavonoids and seven subclasses (flavanones, anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, flavones, polymeric flavonoids (and proanthocyanidins separately)) were calculated using validated food frequency questionnaires. Cognition was assessed using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery test. Hippocampal volumes were measured in a subset using magnetic resonance imaging (16 monozygotic-twin pairs). Statistical models were adjusted for a range of diet and lifestyle factors. RESULTS Higher intakes of flavanones (tertile (T)3-T1=0.45, 95%CI 0.13,0.77; p=0.01) and anthocyanins (T3-T1=0.45, 95%CI 0.08,0.81; p=0.02) were associated with improvements in age-related cognition score over 10 years. In cross-sectional analysis higher intake of flavanones (T3-T1= 0.12, 95% CI 0.02, 0.21; p=0.02) and proanthocyanidins (T3-T1= 0.13, 95% CI 0.02, 0.24; p=0.02) were associated with improved paired-associates learning. Higher intake of anthocyanins was significantly associated with improved executive function (T3-T1= -0.52, 95% CI 0.19, 0.84; p=0.001) and with faster simple reaction times (T3-T1= -18.1, 95% CI -35.4, -0.7; p=0.04). In co-twin analysis, those with higher anthocyanin (2.0%, p=0.01) and proanthocyanidin (2.0%, p=0.02) intakes at baseline had the largest left hippocampal volumes after 12 years. CONCLUSION Small increases in habitual intake of flavonoid-rich foods (containing anthocyanins, flavanones and proanthocyanidins; equivalent to approximately two servings of oranges and blueberries per day) over long time periods have the potential to attenuate cognitive ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Jennings
- Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Claire J Steves
- Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, St Thomas' Campus, London, UK
| | | | - Tim Spector
- Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, St Thomas' Campus, London, UK
| | - Aedín Cassidy
- Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
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Boyle R, Knight SP, De Looze C, Carey D, Scarlett S, Stern Y, Robertson IH, Kenny RA, Whelan R. Verbal intelligence is a more robust cross-sectional measure of cognitive reserve than level of education in healthy older adults. Alzheimers Res Ther 2021; 13:128. [PMID: 34253231 PMCID: PMC8276413 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-021-00870-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive reserve is most commonly measured using socio-behavioural proxy variables. These variables are easy to collect, have a straightforward interpretation, and are widely associated with reduced risk of dementia and cognitive decline in epidemiological studies. However, the specific proxies vary across studies and have rarely been assessed in complete models of cognitive reserve (i.e. alongside both a measure of cognitive outcome and a measure of brain structure). Complete models can test independent associations between proxies and cognitive function in addition to the moderation effect of proxies on the brain-cognition relationship. Consequently, there is insufficient empirical evidence guiding the choice of proxy measures of cognitive reserve and poor comparability across studies. METHOD In a cross-sectional study, we assessed the validity of 5 common proxies (education, occupational complexity, verbal intelligence, leisure activities, and exercise) and all possible combinations of these proxies in 2 separate community-dwelling older adult cohorts: The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA; N = 313, mean age = 68.9 years, range = 54-88) and the Cognitive Reserve/Reference Ability Neural Network Study (CR/RANN; N = 234, mean age = 64.49 years, range = 50-80). Fifteen models were created with 3 brain structure variables (grey matter volume, hippocampal volume, and mean cortical thickness) and 5 cognitive variables (verbal fluency, processing speed, executive function, episodic memory, and global cognition). RESULTS No moderation effects were observed. There were robust positive associations with cognitive function, independent of brain structure, for 2 individual proxies (verbal intelligence and education) and 16 composites (i.e. combinations of proxies). Verbal intelligence was statistically significant in all models. Education was significant only in models with executive function as the cognitive outcome variable. Three robust composites were observed in more than two-thirds of brain-cognition models: the composites of (1) occupational complexity and verbal intelligence, (2) education and verbal intelligence, and (3) education, occupational complexity, and verbal intelligence. However, no composite had larger average effects nor was more robust than verbal intelligence alone. CONCLUSION These results support the use of verbal intelligence as a proxy measure of CR in cross-sectional studies of cognitively healthy older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Boyle
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - S P Knight
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - C De Looze
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - D Carey
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - S Scarlett
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Y Stern
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York City, USA
| | - I H Robertson
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - R A Kenny
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Mercer's Institute for Successful Ageing, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - R Whelan
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
- Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
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Nigam R, Kar BR. Conflict monitoring and adaptation to affective stimuli as a function of ageing. Cogn Process 2021; 22:675-690. [PMID: 34212253 DOI: 10.1007/s10339-021-01042-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The current study investigated whether preference for positive affect would be observed in the context of a higher order control process with increasing age given the premise of affective prioritization with ageing. The study examined how affect interacted with cognitive control mechanisms across young, middle-aged and older adults. Conflict monitoring and adaptation for affective stimuli was examined with a face-word Stroop task using happy and fearful facial expressions. The participants' task was to detect the emotional expression (Happy or Fear) of the face shown with a distractor word (Happy or Fear) written across the face. Reaction time and accuracy data was analysed to compare adaptation effect and Stroop interference as a function of age, valence and previous trial congruence. The results demonstrated a stronger adaptation effect for negative affect in young adults and for positive affect in middle-aged adults and older adults. These results can be explained in terms of the socio-emotional selectivity theory of affective bias in the elderly and the involvement of attentional control mechanisms. This study empirically demonstrates shifts in affective bias towards positive affect with ageing through the implicit recruitment of cognitive control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richa Nigam
- Centre of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, 211002, India
| | - Bhoomika Rastogi Kar
- Centre of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, 211002, India.
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13
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Feinkohl I, Kozma P, Borchers F, van Montfort SJT, Kruppa J, Winterer G, Spies C, Pischon T. Contribution of IQ in young adulthood to the associations of education and occupation with cognitive ability in older age. BMC Geriatr 2021; 21:346. [PMID: 34090365 PMCID: PMC8180039 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-021-02290-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Studies suggest that a higher education and occupation are each associated with a higher late-life cognitive ability, but their inter-relationships in their association with cognitive ability and the contribution of peak IQ in young adulthood (‘pre-morbid IQ’) often remain unclear. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of 623 participants aged ≥65 years of the BioCog study. Education was coded according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED; range 1 to 6). Occupation was coded as ‘semi/unskilled’, ‘skilled manual’, ‘skilled non-manual’, ‘managerial’, ‘professional’. A summary score of global ability (‘g’) was constructed from six cognitive tests. Pre-morbid IQ was estimated from vocabulary. The Geriatric Depression Scale assessed symptoms of depression. Age- and sex-adjusted analyses of covariance were performed. Results Education (partial eta2 0.076; p < 0.001) and occupation (partial eta2 = 0.037; p < 0.001) were each significantly associated with g. For education, the association was attenuated but remained statistically significant when pre-morbid IQ was controlled for (partial eta2 0.036; p < 0.001) and was unchanged with additional adjustment for depression (partial eta2 0.037; p < 0.001). For occupation, the association with g was no longer significant when pre-morbid IQ (partial eta2 = 0.015; p = 0.06) and depression (partial eta2 = 0.011; p = 0.18) were entered as covariates in separate steps. When education and occupation were entered concurrently into the fully adjusted model, only education was independently associated with g (partial eta2 0.030; p < 0.001; occupation, p = 0.93). Conclusion While a higher education and a higher occupation were each associated with a higher late-life cognitive ability, only for education some unique contribution to cognitive ability remained over and above its relationship with pre-morbid IQ, depression, and occupation. Further research is needed to address whether a longer time spent in education may promote late-life cognitive ability. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-021-02290-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Insa Feinkohl
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Molecular Epidemiology Research Group, Robert-Rössle Str. 10, 13092, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Petra Kozma
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Friedrich Borchers
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Jochen Kruppa
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Medical Informatics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Georg Winterer
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia Spies
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Pischon
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Molecular Epidemiology Research Group, Robert-Rössle Str. 10, 13092, Berlin, Germany.,Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Biobank Technology Platform, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Core Facility Biobank, Berlin, Germany
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14
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Boyle R, Jollans L, Rueda-Delgado LM, Rizzo R, Yener GG, McMorrow JP, Knight SP, Carey D, Robertson IH, Emek-Savaş DD, Stern Y, Kenny RA, Whelan R. Brain-predicted age difference score is related to specific cognitive functions: a multi-site replication analysis. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 15:327-345. [PMID: 32141032 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-020-00260-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Brain-predicted age difference scores are calculated by subtracting chronological age from 'brain' age, which is estimated using neuroimaging data. Positive scores reflect accelerated ageing and are associated with increased mortality risk and poorer physical function. To date, however, the relationship between brain-predicted age difference scores and specific cognitive functions has not been systematically examined using appropriate statistical methods. First, applying machine learning to 1359 T1-weighted MRI scans, we predicted the relationship between chronological age and voxel-wise grey matter data. This model was then applied to MRI data from three independent datasets, significantly predicting chronological age in each dataset: Dokuz Eylül University (n = 175), the Cognitive Reserve/Reference Ability Neural Network study (n = 380), and The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (n = 487). Each independent dataset had rich neuropsychological data. Brain-predicted age difference scores were significantly negatively correlated with performance on measures of general cognitive status (two datasets); processing speed, visual attention, and cognitive flexibility (three datasets); visual attention and cognitive flexibility (two datasets); and semantic verbal fluency (two datasets). As such, there is firm evidence of correlations between increased brain-predicted age differences and reduced cognitive function in some domains that are implicated in cognitive ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory Boyle
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Lloyd Building, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Lee Jollans
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, München, Germany
| | - Laura M Rueda-Delgado
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Lloyd Building, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Rossella Rizzo
- Physics Department, University of Calabria, Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Görsev G Yener
- Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Health Sciences, Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
- Department of Neurology, Dokuz Eylul University Medical School, İzmir, Turkey
- Brain Dynamics Multidisciplinary Research Center, Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Jason P McMorrow
- Centre for Advanced Medical Imaging, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
- School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Silvin P Knight
- School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Daniel Carey
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
- Department of Medical Gerontology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Ian H Robertson
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Lloyd Building, Dublin 2, Ireland
- Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Lloyd Building, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Derya D Emek-Savaş
- Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Health Sciences, Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
- Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Lloyd Building, Dublin 2, Ireland
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Letters, Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Yaakov Stern
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rose Anne Kenny
- School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
- Mercer's Institute for Successful Ageing, St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
| | - Robert Whelan
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Lloyd Building, Dublin 2, Ireland.
- Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Lloyd Building, Dublin 2, Ireland.
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15
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Blodgett JM, Cooper R, Davis DHJ, Kuh D, Hardy R. Bidirectional associations between word memory and one-legged balance performance in mid and later life. Exp Gerontol 2021; 144:111176. [PMID: 33279666 PMCID: PMC7840581 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2020.111176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Age-related changes in cognitive and balance capabilities are well-established, as is their correlation with one another. Given limited evidence regarding the directionality of associations, we aimed to explore the direction and potential explanations of associations between word memory and one-legged balance performance in mid-later life. METHODS A total of 3062 participants in the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development, a British birth cohort study, were included. One-legged balance times (eyes closed) were measured at ages 53, 60-64 and 69 years. Word memory was assessed at ages 43, 53, 60-64 and 69 with three 15-item word-recall trials. Autoregressive cross-lagged and dual change score models assessed bidirectional associations between word memory and balance. Random-effects models quantified the extent to which these associations were explained by adjustment for anthropometric, socioeconomic, behavioural and health status indicators. RESULTS Autoregressive cross-lagged and dual change score models suggested a unidirectional association between word memory and subsequent balance performance. In a sex-adjusted random-effects model, 1 standard deviation increase in word memory was associated with 9% (7,12%) higher balance performance at age 53. This association decreased with age (-0.4% /year (-0.6,-0.1%). Education partially attenuated the association, although it remained in the fully-adjusted model (3% (0.1,6%)). CONCLUSIONS There was consistent evidence that word memory is associated with subsequent balance performance but no evidence of the reverse association. Cognitive processing plays an important role in the balance process, with educational attainment providing some contribution. These findings have important implications for understanding cognitive-motor associations and for interventions aimed at improving cognitive and physical capability in the ageing population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel Cooper
- Musculoskeletal Science and Sports Medicine Research Centre, Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Diana Kuh
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, London, UK
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16
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Bradfield NI, Ellis KA, Savage G, Maruff P, Burnham S, Darby D, Lautenschlager NT, Martins RN, Masters CL, Rainey-Smith SR, Robertson J, Rowe C, Woodward M, Ames D. Aggregation of Abnormal Memory Scores and Risk of Incident Alzheimer's Disease Dementia: A Measure of Objective Memory Impairment in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2021; 27:146-57. [PMID: 32772959 DOI: 10.1017/S135561772000079X] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The criteria for objective memory impairment in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are vaguely defined. Aggregating the number of abnormal memory scores (NAMS) is one way to operationalise memory impairment, which we hypothesised would predict progression to Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. METHODS As part of the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle Flagship Study of Ageing, 896 older adults who did not have dementia were administered a psychometric battery including three neuropsychological tests of memory, yielding 10 indices of memory. We calculated the number of memory scores corresponding to z ≤ -1.5 (i.e., NAMS) for each participant. Incident diagnosis of AD dementia was established by consensus of an expert panel after 3 years. RESULTS Of the 722 (80.6%) participants who were followed up, 54 (7.5%) developed AD dementia. There was a strong correlation between NAMS and probability of developing AD dementia (r = .91, p = .0003). Each abnormal memory score conferred an additional 9.8% risk of progressing to AD dementia. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for NAMS was 0.87 [95% confidence interval (CI) .81-.93, p < .01]. The odds ratio for NAMS was 1.67 (95% CI 1.40-2.01, p < .01) after correcting for age, sex, education, estimated intelligence quotient, subjective memory complaint, Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) score and apolipoprotein E ϵ4 status. CONCLUSIONS Aggregation of abnormal memory scores may be a useful way of operationalising objective memory impairment, predicting incident AD dementia and providing prognostic stratification for individuals with MCI.
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17
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Verheggen ICM, de Jong JJA, van Boxtel MPJ, Postma AA, Jansen JFA, Verhey FRJ, Backes WH. Imaging the role of blood-brain barrier disruption in normal cognitive ageing. GeroScience 2020; 42:1751-1764. [PMID: 33025410 PMCID: PMC7732959 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-020-00282-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate whether blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption is a potential mechanism of usual age-related cognitive decline, we conducted dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI to measure BBB leakage in a healthy sample, and investigated the association with longitudinal cognitive decline. In a sample of neurologically and cognitively healthy, older individuals, BBB leakage rate in the white and grey matter and hippocampus was measured using DCE MRI with pharmacokinetic modelling. Regression analysis was performed to investigate whether the leakage rate was associated with decline in cognitive performance (memory encoding, memory retrieval, executive functioning and processing speed) over 12 years. White and grey matter BBB leakages were significantly associated with decline in memory retrieval. No significant relations were found between hippocampal BBB leakage and cognitive performance. BBB disruption already being associated with usual cognitive ageing, supports that this neurovascular alteration is a possible explanation for the cognitive decline inherent to the ageing process. More insight into BBB leakage during the normal ageing process could improve estimation and interpretation of leakage rate in pathological conditions. The current results might also stimulate the search for strategies to maintain BBB integrity and help increase the proportion people experiencing successful ageing. Netherlands Trial Register number: NL6358, date of registration: 2017-03-24.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inge C M Verheggen
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
- Alzheimer Center Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Joost J A de Jong
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Martin P J van Boxtel
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Alzheimer Center Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Alida A Postma
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jacobus F A Jansen
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Frans R J Verhey
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Alzheimer Center Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Walter H Backes
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- School for Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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18
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Zhao S, Li L, Chang M, Wang J, Paterson KB. A further look at ageing and word predictability effects in Chinese reading: Evidence from one-character words. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2020; 74:68-76. [PMID: 32749198 PMCID: PMC7745612 DOI: 10.1177/1747021820951131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Older adults are thought to compensate for slower lexical processing by making greater use of contextual knowledge, relative to young adults, to predict words in sentences. Accordingly, compared to young adults, older adults should produce larger contextual predictability effects in reading times and skipping rates for words. Empirical support for this account is nevertheless scarce. Perhaps the clearest evidence to date comes from a recent Chinese study showing larger word predictability effects for older adults in reading times but not skipping rates for two-character words. However, one possibility is that the absence of a word-skipping effect in this experiment was due to the older readers skipping words infrequently because of difficulty processing two-character words parafoveally. We therefore took a further look at this issue, using one-character target words to boost word-skipping. Young (18–30 years) and older (65+ years) adults read sentences containing a target word that was either highly predictable or less predictable from the prior sentence context. Our results replicate the finding that older adults produce larger word predictability effects in reading times but not word-skipping, despite high skipping rates. We discuss these findings in relation to ageing effects on reading in different writing systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sainan Zhao
- Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lin Li
- Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Min Chang
- Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jingxin Wang
- Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China
| | - Kevin B Paterson
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behavior, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
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Abstract
Episodic memory performance declines with increasing age. It has sometimes been reported that this decline is more marked when episodic recollection is estimated by "objective" measures such as source memory performance than when it is estimated by "subjective" measures such as the "Remember/Know" procedure. Here, our main goal was to directly contrast recollection estimates derived from these procedures in the same samples of young and older participants (24 adults per age group, within-subjects manipulation of test procedure). Following identical study phases in which words were paired with either faces or scenes, participants' memories were assessed in separate test blocks using either Remember/Know or source memory procedures. Contrary to several prior reports, the deleterious effects of age on recollection estimates did not differ according to test type. Thus, we found no evidence that age differentially impacts subjective and objective recollection estimates. Additionally, and consistent with prior findings, effects of age on estimates of familiarity-driven recognition were small and non-significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saad A Alghamdi
- Center for Vital Longevity, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.,School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA.,Department of Psychology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Michael D Rugg
- Center for Vital Longevity, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.,School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,School of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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20
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Flanagan E, Lamport D, Brennan L, Burnet P, Calabrese V, Cunnane SC, de Wilde MC, Dye L, Farrimond JA, Emerson Lombardo N, Hartmann T, Hartung T, Kalliomäki M, Kuhnle GG, La Fata G, Sala-Vila A, Samieri C, Smith AD, Spencer JP, Thuret S, Tuohy K, Turroni S, Vanden Berghe W, Verkuijl M, Verzijden K, Yannakoulia M, Geurts L, Vauzour D. Nutrition and the ageing brain: Moving towards clinical applications. Ageing Res Rev 2020; 62:101079. [PMID: 32461136 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2020.101079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The global increases in life expectancy and population have resulted in a growing ageing population and with it a growing number of people living with age-related neurodegenerative conditions and dementia, shifting focus towards methods of prevention, with lifestyle approaches such as nutrition representing a promising avenue for further development. This overview summarises the main themes discussed during the 3rd Symposium on "Nutrition for the Ageing Brain: Moving Towards Clinical Applications" held in Madrid in August 2018, enlarged with the current state of knowledge on how nutrition influences healthy ageing and gives recommendations regarding how the critical field of nutrition and neurodegeneration research should move forward into the future. Specific nutrients are discussed as well as the impact of multi-nutrient and whole diet approaches, showing particular promise to combatting the growing burden of age-related cognitive decline. The emergence of new avenues for exploring the role of diet in healthy ageing, such as the impact of the gut microbiome and development of new techniques (imaging measures of brain metabolism, metabolomics, biomarkers) are enabling researchers to approach finding answers to these questions. But the translation of these findings into clinical and public health contexts remains an obstacle due to significant shortcomings in nutrition research or pressure on the scientific community to communicate recommendations to the general public in a convincing and accessible way. Some promising programs exist but further investigation to improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which nutrition can improve brain health across the human lifespan is still required.
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21
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Romero Starke K, Seidler A, Hegewald J, Klimova A, Palmer K. Retirement and decline in episodic memory: analysis from a prospective study of adults in England. Int J Epidemiol 2020; 48:1925-1936. [PMID: 31280313 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyz135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Work has been associated with cognitive health. We examined whether retirement from work is associated with a decrease in episodic memory and whether this effect differs when considering workers' occupational class. METHODS In this prospective study using the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), we examined 1629 persons aged 50-75 years who were in paid work at baseline. A two-slope random effects linear regression centred at retirement was used to study the effect of retirement on episodic memory. The potential effect modification by occupational class was examined. RESULTS While memory trajectories show slightly decreasing memory scores before and afterretirement, the decreasing rates for both periods were similar [episodic memory β2b-β2a= -0.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.08, 0.02]. When stratifying by occupational class, there was also no substantial difference in episodic memory trajectories before and after retirement. However, the lower occupational class showed a clear decline in episodic memory with time (pre-retirement β2a = -0.11, 95% CI -0.19, -0.03; post-retirement β2b = -0.13, 95% CI -0.19, -0.07) which was not evident for the higher occupational classes. CONCLUSIONS Our results show no observable difference in trajectories of change in episodic memory before and after retirement. However, the steeper memory decline in workers belonging to the lower occupational class may limit their prospect of prolonging their working lives. Hence enrichment programmes for the prevention of memory decline for these workers should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Romero Starke
- Institute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine (IPAS), Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andreas Seidler
- Institute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine (IPAS), Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Janice Hegewald
- Institute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine (IPAS), Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anna Klimova
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Institute for Medical Informatics and Biometry, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Katie Palmer
- Department of Geriatrics, Centro Medicina dell'Invecchiamento, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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Hodges EL, Marshall JP, Ashpole NM. Age-dependent hormesis-like effects of the synthetic cannabinoid CP55940 in C57BL/6 mice. NPJ Aging Mech Dis 2020; 6:7. [PMID: 32655880 PMCID: PMC7338393 DOI: 10.1038/s41514-020-0045-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Use of cannabis and cannabinoid-containing substances is increasing among geriatric patients, despite relatively sparse preclinical evidence in aged models. To better understand the effects of exogenous cannabinoids on aging male and female rodents, we compared the age- and dose-dependent physiological and behavioral effects of the synthetic cannabinoid CP55940 in young-adult and aged C57BL/6 mice. Locomotion, body temperature, thermal nociception, and fecal output were measured following CP55940 administration. Our findings indicate that CP55940 is more potent and efficacious in older mice, evidenced by exaggerated antinociception and locomotor inhibition when compared to younger adult mice. In addition, we report that low doses of CP55940 paradoxically stimulate locomotion in young-adult (4 m) mice; however, this hormesis-like response is not as evident in aged animals (21-24 m). These bidirectional effects appear to be mediated via the endocannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik L. Hodges
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, Pharmacology Division, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, University, Oxford, MS USA
| | - Jessica P. Marshall
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, Pharmacology Division, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, University, Oxford, MS USA
| | - Nicole M. Ashpole
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, Pharmacology Division, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, University, Oxford, MS USA
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, University, Oxford, MS USA
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Jamadar SD. The CRUNCH model does not account for load-dependent changes in visuospatial working memory in older adults. Neuropsychologia 2020; 142:107446. [PMID: 32234498 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Numerous neuroimaging studies have shown that older adults tend to activate the brain to a greater extent than younger adults during the performance of a task. This is typically interpreted as evidence for cognitive compensation. The Compensation-Related Utilisation of Neural Circuits Hypothesis (CRUNCH) model is a highly influential model of compensation, and states that increased functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activity in older adults compared to younger adults should reverse at higher levels of task difficulty. Here, the CRUNCH model was tested using a visuospatial working memory paradigm. fMRI activity in older vs. younger adults was in the opposite direction to that predicted by the model. Given that the CRUNCH model is the predominant model of compensation, this result was surprising. These results were followed up with a systematic review of the CRUNCH in healthy ageing literature. A surprisingly small number of published studies (4) have tested the predictions of the CRUNCH model. Further experimental work is required to validate the CRUNCH model in cognitive ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharna D Jamadar
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Wellington Rd, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia; Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, 770 Blackburn Rd, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia.
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McGrattan AM, McGuinness B, McKinley MC, Kee F, Passmore P, Woodside JV, McEvoy CT. Diet and Inflammation in Cognitive Ageing and Alzheimer's Disease. Curr Nutr Rep 2019; 8:53-65. [PMID: 30949921 DOI: 10.1007/s13668-019-0271-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Nutrition is known to modulate the immune system and may alter neuroinflammatory processes implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and progression of neurodegeneration. Here, we review the evidence for healthy dietary patterns and age-related cognition and discuss potential neuroinflammatory actions of diet on cognitive function. Recent Findings Anti-inflammatory dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet (MD) and dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) may be neuroprotective. Several dietary components consumed in the MD and DASH (omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and polyphenols) can inhibit neuroinflammation associated with AD. Anti-inflammatory diets may also attenuate neuroinflammation via indirect immune pathways from the gut microbiome and systemic circulation. Summary Diet may influence cognitive ageing via several inflammatory pathways. However, data from human studies are lacking and the exact mechanisms linking diet to cognitive function remain elusive. Further dietary intervention studies are required to investigate diet-associated neurological change from the earliest through to latest stages of cognitive decline. Furthermore, incorporation of neuroimaging measures in intervention studies would advance current understanding of the mechanistic effects of dietary modification on neuroinflammation in the ageing brain.
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Feinkohl I, Borchers F, Burkhardt S, Krampe H, Kraft A, Speidel S, Kant IMJ, van Montfort SJT, Aarts E, Kruppa J, Slooter A, Winterer G, Pischon T, Spies C. Stability of neuropsychological test performance in older adults serving as normative controls for a study on postoperative cognitive dysfunction. BMC Res Notes 2020; 13:55. [PMID: 32019577 PMCID: PMC7001199 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-020-4919-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Studies of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) rely on repeat neuropsychological testing. The stability of the applied instruments, which are affected by natural variability in performance and measurement imprecision, is often unclear. We determined the stability of a neuropsychological test battery using a sample of older adults from the general population. Forty-five participants aged 65 to 89 years performed six computerized and non-computerized neuropsychological tests at baseline and again at 7 day and 3 months follow-up sessions. Mean scores on each test were compared across time points using repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVA) with pairwise comparison. Two-way mixed effects, absolute agreement analyses of variance intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) determined test-retest reliability. RESULTS All tests had moderate to excellent test-retest reliability during 7-day (ICC range 0.63 to 0.94; all p < 0.01) and 3-month intervals (ICC range 0.60 to 0.92; all p < 0.01) though confidence intervals of ICC estimates were large throughout. Practice effects apparent at 7 days eased off by 3 months. No substantial differences between computerized and non-computerized tests were observed. We conclude that the present six-test neuropsychological test battery is appropriate for use in POCD research though small sample size of our study needs to be recognized as a limitation. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02265263 (15th October 2014).
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Affiliation(s)
- Insa Feinkohl
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Roessle-Str. 10, 13092, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Friedrich Borchers
- Department of Anesthesiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarah Burkhardt
- Faculty of Psychology, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Henning Krampe
- Department of Anesthesiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Antje Kraft
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric University Hospital St. Hedwig, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Saya Speidel
- Department of Anesthesiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ilse M J Kant
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Simone J T van Montfort
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ellen Aarts
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jochen Kruppa
- Institute of Biometry and Clinical Epidemiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Arjen Slooter
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Georg Winterer
- Pharmaimage Biomarker Solutions GmbH, Berlin, Germany.,Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tobias Pischon
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Robert-Roessle-Str. 10, 13092, Berlin, Germany.,Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,MDC/BIH Biobank, Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), and Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia Spies
- Department of Anesthesiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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Marr C, Vaportzis E, Dewar M, Gow AJ. Investigating associations between personality and the efficacy of interventions for cognitive ageing: A systematic review. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2019; 87:103992. [PMID: 31835190 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2019.103992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The personal and societal impact of age-related cognitive decline supports the development of effective interventions. While some strategies, such as cognitive training, exercise or socio-intellectual engagement, appear beneficial, few studies have examined the association between personality and intervention efficacy. A systematic review was therefore conducted to summarise and synthesise the literature regarding the influence of personality traits on the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for cognitive ageing. A systematic search of PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science was carried out. Of the 2100 papers identified by the search strategy, 10 studies were retained that met the relevant criteria (e.g., intervention studies with one or more cognitive outcomes and a measure of personality). Of these, two studies reported that higher levels of Openness to Experience were associated with greater improvement in memory performance after cognitive training interventions. Another found a positive association between Openness and improvement in divergent thinking following a novel group-based problem solving programme. One social intervention study reported positive moderating effects of Conscientiousness and Agreeableness, and mixed effects of Extraversion. Mixed evidence was also found regarding Need for Cognition, with one study reporting a positive association with memory improvement and another reporting less improvement in divergent thinking. Others found no evidence of personality influencing intervention outcomes. Due to the relatively small and heterogeneous sample of studies identified, any conclusions should currently be considered preliminary. These findings highlight the need for further research exploring the role of personality in intervention efficacy, so that interventions might be better tailored to individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calum Marr
- Department of Psychology, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Eleftheria Vaportzis
- Department of Psychology, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK; Division of Psychology, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
| | - Michaela Dewar
- Department of Psychology, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK; Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alan J Gow
- Department of Psychology, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK; Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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Van Egroo M, Narbutas J, Chylinski D, Villar González P, Ghaemmaghami P, Muto V, Schmidt C, Gaggioni G, Besson G, Pépin X, Tezel E, Marzoli D, Le Goff C, Cavalier E, Luxen A, Salmon E, Maquet P, Bahri MA, Phillips C, Bastin C, Collette F, Vandewalle G. Preserved wake-dependent cortical excitability dynamics predict cognitive fitness beyond age-related brain alterations. Commun Biol 2019; 2:449. [PMID: 31815203 PMCID: PMC6890637 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0693-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related cognitive decline arises from alterations in brain structure as well as in sleep-wake regulation. Here, we investigated whether preserved wake-dependent regulation of cortical function could represent a positive factor for cognitive fitness in aging. We quantified cortical excitability dynamics during prolonged wakefulness as a sensitive marker of age-related alteration in sleep-wake regulation in 60 healthy older individuals (50-69 y; 42 women). Brain structural integrity was assessed with amyloid-beta- and tau-PET, and with MRI. Participants' cognition was investigated using an extensive neuropsychological task battery. We show that individuals with preserved wake-dependent cortical excitability dynamics exhibit better cognitive performance, particularly in the executive domain which is essential to successful cognitive aging. Critically, this association remained significant after accounting for brain structural integrity measures. Preserved dynamics of basic brain function during wakefulness could therefore be essential to cognitive fitness in aging, independently from age-related brain structural modifications that can ultimately lead to dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Van Egroo
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Justinas Narbutas
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Daphne Chylinski
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | | | - Pouya Ghaemmaghami
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Vincenzo Muto
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Christina Schmidt
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Giulia Gaggioni
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Gabriel Besson
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Xavier Pépin
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Elif Tezel
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Davide Marzoli
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Caroline Le Goff
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Etienne Cavalier
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - André Luxen
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Eric Salmon
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Pierre Maquet
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Mohamed Ali Bahri
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Christophe Phillips
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- GIGA-In Silico Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Christine Bastin
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Fabienne Collette
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience Research Unit, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Gilles Vandewalle
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre-In Vivo Imaging, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
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John A, James SN, Rusted J, Richards M, Gaysina D. Effects of affective symptoms in adolescence and adulthood on trajectories of cognitive function from middle to late adulthood. J Affect Disord 2019; 259:424-431. [PMID: 31610999 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the link between affective symptoms and cognitive function across the life course. This study aims to investigate whether affective symptoms in adolescence and adulthood predict trajectories of cognitive function from middle to late-adulthood. METHODS Data from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD), a cohort of 5362 individuals born in mainland UK in 1946, were utilised. Linear mixed models were used to model cognitive trajectories (memory and processing speed) over a three-decade period (from 43 to 69) and to test effects of affective symptoms in adolescence (ages 13-15) and adulthood (ages 36 and 43) on cognitive function at first testing (age 43) and decline in cognitive function (from 43 to 69). Models were adjusted for sex, childhood cognition, childhood socioeconomic position, and education. RESULTS A quadratic model best fitted memory and processing speed data. Models revealed that adolescent affective symptoms were associated with lower memory (b = -1.11, SE = 0.53, p = .04) and processing speed (b = -18.17, SE = 7.53, p = .02) at first cognitive testing, but not with rates of decline from 43 to 69. There were no significant associations between adult affective symptoms and cognitive trajectories. LIMITATIONS Missing data is a potential limitation of this study. This was dealt with using maximum likelihood estimation and multiple imputation. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that adolescent, but not adult, affective symptoms are important predictors of cognitive function in midlife, but not rate of cognitive decline. This highlights the importance of early intervention to manage mental health in adolescence to protect later cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber John
- EDGE Lab, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Pevensey 1 2C8, Brighton, United Kingdom.
| | - Sarah-Naomi James
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer Rusted
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Marcus Richards
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Darya Gaysina
- EDGE Lab, School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Pevensey 1 2C8, Brighton, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Research into strategies that can combat episodic memory decline in healthy older adults has gained widespread attention over the years. Evidence suggests that a short period of rest immediately after learning can enhance memory consolidation, as compared to engaging in cognitive tasks. However, a recent study in younger adults has shown that post-encoding engagement in a working memory task leads to the same degree of memory consolidation as from post-encoding rest. Here, we tested whether this finding can be extended to older adults. Using a delayed recognition test, we compared the memory consolidation of word–picture pairs learned prior to 9 min of rest or a 2-Back working memory task, and examined its relationship with executive functioning and mindwandering propensity. Our results show that (1) similar to younger adults, memory for the word–picture associations did not differ when encoding was followed by post-encoding rest or 2-Back task and (2) older adults with higher mindwandering propensity retained more word–picture associations encoded prior to rest relative to those encoded prior to the 2-Back task, whereas participants with lower mindwandering propensity had better memory performance for the pairs encoded prior to the 2-Back task. Overall, our results indicate that the degree of episodic memory consolidation during both active and passive post-encoding periods depends on individual mindwandering tendency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samarth Varma
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Atsuko Takashima
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Li Fu
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Roy P C Kessels
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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30
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James SN, Wong A, Tillin T, Hardy R, Chaturvedi N, Richards M. The effect of mid-life insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes on older-age cognitive state: the explanatory role of early-life advantage. Diabetologia 2019; 62:1891-1900. [PMID: 31359084 PMCID: PMC6731197 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-019-4949-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS Type 2 diabetes, hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance are associated with cognitive impairment and dementia, but causal inference studies using Mendelian randomisation do not confirm this. We hypothesised that early-life cognition and social/educational advantage may confound the relationship. METHODS From the population-based British 1946 birth cohort, a maximum number of 1780 participants had metabolic variables (type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance [HOMA2-IR] and HbA1c) assessed at age 60-64 years, and cognitive state (Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III [ACE-III]) and verbal memory assessed at age 69 years. Earlier-life measures included socioeconomic position (SEP), cognition at age 8 years and educational attainment. Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for type 2 diabetes were calculated. We first used a PRS approach with multivariable linear regression to estimate associations between PRSs and metabolic traits and later-life cognitive state. Second, using a path model approach, we estimated the interrelationships between earlier-life measures, features of mid-life type 2 diabetes and cognitive state at age 69 years. All models were adjusted for sex. RESULTS The externally weighted PRS for type 2 diabetes was associated with mid-life metabolic traits (e.g. HOMA2-IR β = 0.08 [95% CI 0.02, 0.16]), but not with ACE-III (β = 0.04 [-0.02, 0.90]) or other cognitive outcomes. While there was an association between HOMA2-IR and subsequent ACE-III (β = -0.09 [-0.15, -0.03]), path modelling showed no direct effect (β = -0.01 [-0.06, 0.03]) after accounting for the association between childhood SEP and education with HOMA2-IR. The same pattern was observed for later-life verbal memory. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION Associations between type 2 diabetes and mid-life metabolic traits with subsequent cognitive state do not appear causal, and instead they may be explained by SEP in early life, childhood cognition and educational attainment. Therefore, glucose-lowering medication may be unlikely to combat cognitive impairment in older age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah-Naomi James
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.
| | - Andrew Wong
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK
| | - Therese Tillin
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK
| | - Rebecca Hardy
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK
| | - Nishi Chaturvedi
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK
| | - Marcus Richards
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK
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Fallon SJ, Gowell M, Maio MR, Husain M. Dopamine affects short-term memory corruption over time in Parkinson's disease. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2019; 5:16. [PMID: 31396548 PMCID: PMC6683156 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-019-0088-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive deficits are a recognised component of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, particularly within the domain of short-term memory, it is unclear whether these impairments are masked, or caused, by patients' dopaminergic medication. The effect of medication on pure maintenance in PD patients has rarely been explored, with most assessments examining maintenance intercalated between other executive tasks. Moreover, few studies have utilised methods that can measure the quality of mental representations, which can enable the decomposition of recall errors into their underlying neurocognitive components. Here, we fill this gap by examining pure maintenance in PD patients in high and low dopaminergic states. Participants had to encode the orientation of two stimuli and reproduce these orientations after a short (2 s) or long (8 s) delay. In addition, we also examined the performance of healthy, age-matched older adults to contextualise these effects and determine whether PD represents an exacerbation of the normal ageing process. Patients showed improved recall OFF compared to ON their dopaminergic medication, but only for long-duration trials. Moreover, PD patients OFF their medication actually performed at a level superior to age-matched controls, indicative of a paradoxical enhancement of memory in the low dopaminergic state. The application of a probabilistic model of response selection suggested that PD patients made fewer misbinding errors in the low, compared with high, dopaminergic state for longer-delay trials. Thus, unexpectedly, the mechanisms that prevent memoranda from being corrupted by misbinding over time appear to be enhanced in PD patients OFF dopaminergic medication. Possible explanations for this paradoxical effect are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean James Fallon
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- National Institute for Health Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Matthew Gowell
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Maria Raquel Maio
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Masud Husain
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
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Vaportzis E, Niechcial MA, Gow AJ. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of real-world interventions for cognitive ageing in healthy older adults. Ageing Res Rev 2019; 50:110-130. [PMID: 30707947 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2019.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Activities running in community-based-settings offer a method of delivering multimodal interventions to older adults beyond cognitive training programmes. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the impact of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of 'real-world' interventions on the cognitive abilities of healthy older adults. Database searches were performed between October 2016 and September 2018. Forty-three RCTs were eligible for inclusion with 2826 intervention participants and 2234 controls. Interventions to enhance cognitive ability consisted of participation in activities that were physical (25 studies), cognitive (9 studies), or mixed (i.e., physical and cognitive; 7 studies), and two studies used other interventions that included older adults assisting schoolchildren and engagement via social network sites. Meta-analysis revealed that Trail Making Test (TMT) A, p = 0.05, M = 0.43, 95% CI [-0.00, 0.86], digit symbol substitution, p = 0.05, M = 0.30, 95% CI [0.00, 0.59], and verbal fluency, p = 0.04, M = 0.31, 95% CI [0.02, 0.61], improved after specific types of interventions versus the control groups (which were either active, wait-list or passive controls). When comparing physical activity interventions against all control groups, TMT A, p = 0.04, M = 0.25, 95% CI [0.01, 0.48], and digit span forward, p = 0.05, M = 0.91, 95% CI [-0.00, 1.82], significantly improved. Results remained non-significant for all outcomes when comparing cognitive activity interventions against all control groups. Results therefore suggest that healthy older adults are more likely to see cognitive improvements when involved in physical activity interventions. In addition, TMT A was the only measure that consistently showed significant improvements following physical activity interventions. Visuospatial abilities (as measured by TMT A) may be more susceptible to improvement following physical activity-based interventions, and TMT A may be a useful tool for detecting differences in that domain.
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Alenius M, Koskinen S, Hallikainen I, Ngandu T, Lipsanen J, Sainio P, Tuulio-Henriksson A, Hänninen T. Cognitive Performance among Cognitively Healthy Adults Aged 30-100 Years. Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra 2019; 9:11-23. [PMID: 31043960 PMCID: PMC6477494 DOI: 10.1159/000495657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Aims To detect cognitive decline in older adults, measures of verbal fluency and verbal memory are widely used. Less is known about performance in these measures in younger persons or according to education level and gender. We investigated cognitive performance according to age, education and gender among cognitively healthy adults aged 30–100 years. Methods The study population comprised 4,174 cognitively healthy persons participating in the nationally representative Finnish Health 2011 survey. Cognitive assessment included verbal fluency, word list memory, word list recall and word list savings from the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease neuropsychological battery. Results Total variance in the cognitive test performance explained by age, education and gender varied from 12.3 to 31.2%. A decreasing trend in cognitive performance existed in all subtests by advancing age, with differences appearing between 50 and 55 years. Persons with the highest-education level performed best for all measures. For the participants < 55 years, education explained part of the variance, while age and gender did not. Conclusions When assessing cognition, age and education should be accounted for in more detail in research and clinical practice. Additionally, the cohort effect and its potential impact on the renewal cycle of future normative values for cognitive tests should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minna Alenius
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sanna Koskinen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ilona Hallikainen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine/Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Tiia Ngandu
- Public Health Promotion Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jari Lipsanen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Päivi Sainio
- Aging, Disability and Functioning Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Annamari Tuulio-Henriksson
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland.,Research Department, Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tuomo Hänninen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine/Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Neurology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
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34
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Abstract
Older adults have been argued to have impoverished inhibitory control compared to younger adults. However, these effects of age may depend on processing speed and their manifestation may furthermore depend on the type of inhibitory control task that is used. We present two experiments that examine age effects on inhibition across three tasks: a Simon arrow, static flanker and motion flanker task. The results showed overall slower reaction times (RTs) for older adults on all three tasks. However, effects of age on inhibition costs were only found for the Simon task, but not for the two flanker tasks. The motion flanker task furthermore showed an effect of baseline processing speed on the relation between age and inhibition costs. Older adults with slower baseline responses showed smaller inhibition costs, suggesting they were affected less by the flanker items than faster older adults. These findings suggest that effects of age on inhibition are task dependent and can be modulated by task-specific features such as the type of interference, type of stimuli and processing speed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela de Bruin
- 1 Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychology Department, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,2 Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language, Donostia, Spain
| | - Sergio Della Sala
- 1 Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Psychology Department, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,3 Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Psychology Department, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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35
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Abstract
In the face of shifting demographics and an increase in human longevity, it is important to examine carefully what is known about cognitive ageing, and to identify and promote possibly malleable lifestyle and health-related factors that might mitigate age-associated cognitive decline. The Lothian Birth Cohorts of 1921 (LBC1921, n = 550) and 1936 (LBC1936, n = 1091) are longitudinal studies of cognitive and brain ageing based in Scotland. Childhood IQ data are available for these participants, who were recruited in later life and then followed up regularly. This overview summarises some of the main LBC findings to date, illustrating the possible genetic and environmental contributions to cognitive function (level and change) and brain imaging biomarkers in later life. Key associations include genetic variation, health and fitness, psychosocial and lifestyle factors, and aspects of the brain's structure. It addresses some key methodological issues such as confounding by early-life intelligence and social factors and emphasises areas requiring further investigation. Overall, the findings that have emerged from the LBC studies highlight that there are multiple correlates of cognitive ability level in later life, many of which have small effects, that there are as yet few reliable predictors of cognitive change, and that not all of the correlates have independent additive associations. The concept of marginal gains, whereby there might be a cumulative effect of small incremental improvements across a wide range of lifestyle and health-related factors, may offer a useful way to think about and promote a multivariate recipe for healthy cognitive and brain ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Corley
- Department of Psychology,The University of Edinburgh,Edinburgh,UK
| | - S R Cox
- Department of Psychology,The University of Edinburgh,Edinburgh,UK
| | - I J Deary
- Department of Psychology,The University of Edinburgh,Edinburgh,UK
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36
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Bharath S, Sadanand S, Kumar KJ, Balachandar R, Joshi H, Varghese M. Clinical and neuropsychological profile of persons with mild cognitive impairment, a hospital based study from a lower and middle income country. Asian J Psychiatr 2017; 30:185-189. [PMID: 29096387 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2017.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Revised: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Mild Cognitive impairment (MCI) is an important pre-dementia stage to be identified towards prevention. We screened a large number of older adults seeking help at hospital and community towards a diagnosis of MCI and this study describe their clinical and neuropsychological profile. Older adults aged 60 years & above seeking help at NIMHANS outpatient & community services were screened for early cognitive deficits. Persons were diagnosed to have MCI according to Petersen's criteria, after detailed clinical and neuropsychological assessments. Age, gender and education matched healthy controls were recruited for comparison. A total of 7469 older adults were screened during the study period (July 2012-December 2014). Less than 1% (n=56) were diagnosed with MCI. Majority were males, from urban background with an average of 13 years of education. They presented mainly with memory disturbances, more than 75% (n=43) were found to have amnestic type of MCI (aMCI). Of the aMCI subjects, majority (80%) had deficits in more than one cognitive domain. They performed significantly worse (p<0.001) on tests of episodic memory, logical memory, attention and executive functions. Neuropsychiatric symptoms were prevalent in 55% of MCI group and influenced their cognitive scores. The findings suggest that persons with MCI perform worse not only on memory tasks but also on some of the attention and executive functions tasks. As observed in earlier studies, amnestic multiple-domain MCI was the most common type of MCI in this study population. Indigenous assessment tools were of significant value in distinguishing MCI from normal ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srikala Bharath
- Geriatric Clinic & Services, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
| | - Shilpa Sadanand
- Geriatric Clinic & Services, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
| | - Keshav J Kumar
- Geriatric Clinic & Services, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
| | - Rakesh Balachandar
- Geriatric Clinic & Services, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
| | - Himanshu Joshi
- Geriatric Clinic & Services, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
| | - Mathew Varghese
- Geriatric Clinic & Services, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, India.
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37
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Cherrie MPC, Shortt NK, Mitchell RJ, Taylor AM, Redmond P, Thompson CW, Starr JM, Deary IJ, Pearce JR. Green space and cognitive ageing: A retrospective life course analysis in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936. Soc Sci Med 2017; 196:56-65. [PMID: 29128786 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.10.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
International evidence suggests that green space has beneficial effects on general and mental health but little is known about how lifetime exposure to green space influences cognitive ageing. Employing a novel longitudinal life course approach, we examined the association between lifetime availability of public parks and cognitive ageing. Lifetime residential information was gathered from the participants of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 using a "life-grid" questionnaire at age 78 years. Parks information from 1949, 1969 and 2009 was used to determine a percentage of parks within a 1500 m buffer zone surrounding residence for childhood, adulthood, and later adulthood periods. Linear regressions were undertaken to test for association with age-standardised, residualised change in cognitive function (Moray House Test score) from age 11 to 70 years, and from age 70 to 76 (n = 281). The most appropriate model was selected using the results of a partial F-test, and then stratified by demographic, genetic and socioeconomic factors. The local provision of park space in childhood and adulthood were both important in explaining the change in cognitive function in later life. The association between childhood and adulthood park availability and change in the Moray House Test Score from age 70 to 76 was strongest for women, those without an APOE e4 allele (a genetic risk factor), and those in the lowest socioeconomic groups. Greater neighbourhood provision of public parks from childhood through to adulthood may help to slow down the rate of cognitive decline in later life, recognising that such environmental associations are always sensitive to individual characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P C Cherrie
- Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health (CRESH), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland EH8 9XP, UK.
| | - Niamh K Shortt
- Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health (CRESH), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland EH8 9XP, UK
| | - Richard J Mitchell
- Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health (CRESH), University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland G12 8RZ, UK
| | - Adele M Taylor
- Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Paul Redmond
- Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK
| | | | - John M Starr
- Geriatric Medicine Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, and Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ian J Deary
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jamie R Pearce
- Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health (CRESH), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland EH8 9XP, UK
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38
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Elovainio M, Sommerlad A, Hakulinen C, Pulkki-Råback L, Virtanen M, Kivimäki M, Singh-Manoux A. Structural social relations and cognitive ageing trajectories: evidence from the Whitehall II cohort study. Int J Epidemiol 2017; 47:701-708. [PMID: 29121238 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyx209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social relations are important for health, particularly at older ages. We examined the salience of frequency of social contacts and marital status for cognitive ageing trajectories over 21 years, from midlife to early old age. METHODS Data are from the Whitehall II cohort study, including 4290 men and 1776 women aged 35-55 years at baseline (1985-88). Frequency of social contacts and marital status were measured in 1985-88 and 1989-90. Assessment of cognitive function on five occasions (1991-94, 1997-99, 2003-04, 2007-09 and 2012-13) included the following tests: short-term memory, inductive reasoning, verbal fluency (phonemic and semantic) and a combined global score. Cognitive trajectories over the study period were analysed using longitudinal latent growth class analyses, and the associations of these latent classes (trajectory memberships) with social relations were analysed using multinominal logistic regression. RESULTS More frequent social contacts [relative risk (RRR) 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94 - 0.98] and being married (RRR 0.70, 95% CI 0.58 - 0.84) were associated with lower probability of being on a low rather than high cognitive performance trajectory over the subsequent 21 years. These associations persisted after adjustment for covariates. Of the sub-tests, social relations variables had the strongest association with phonemic fluency (RRR 0.95, 95% CI 0.94 - 0.97 for frequent contact; RRR 0.59, 95% CI 0.48 - 0.71 for being married). CONCLUSIONS More frequent social contacts and having a spouse were associated with more favourable cognitive ageing trajectories. Further studies are needed to examine whether interventions designed to improve social connections affect cognitive ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Elovainio
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Christian Hakulinen
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Laura Pulkki-Råback
- Department of Psychology and Logopedics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Mika Kivimäki
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.,Clinicum and Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Archana Singh-Manoux
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.,INSERM U1018, Hôpital Paul Brousse, Villejuif, France
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Stacey D, Ciobanu LG, Baune BT. A systematic review on the association between inflammatory genes and cognitive decline in non-demented elderly individuals. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2017; 27:568-88. [PMID: 26718789 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2015.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Revised: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive impairment, or decline, is not only a feature of Alzheimer׳s disease and other forms of dementia but also normal ageing. Abundant evidence from epidemiological studies points towards perturbed inflammatory mechanisms in aged individuals, though the cause-effect nature of this apparent relationship is difficult to establish. Genetic association studies focusing on polymorphism in and around inflammatory genes represent a viable approach to establish whether inflammatory mechanisms might play a causal role in cognitive decline, whilst also enabling the identification of specific genes potentially influencing specific cognitive facets. Thus, here we provide a review of published genetic association studies investigating inflammatory genes in the context of cognitive decline in elderly, non-demented, samples. Numerous candidate gene association studies have been performed to date, focusing almost exclusively on genes encoding major cytokines. Some of these studies report significant cognitive domain-specific associations implicating Interleukin 1β (IL1β) (rs16944), Tumour Necrosis Factor α (TNFα) (rs1800629) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in various domains of cognitive function. However, the majority of these studies are lacking in statistical power and have other methodological limitations, suggesting some of them may have yielded false positive results. Genome-wide association studies have implicated less direct and less obvious regulators of inflammatory processes (i.e., PDE7A, HS3ST4, SPOCK3), indicating that a shift away from the major cytokine-encoding genes in future studies will be important. Furthermore, better cohesion across studies with regards to the cognitive test batteries administered to participants along with the continued application of longitudinal designs will be vital.
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40
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Iveson MH, Della Sala S, Anderson M, MacPherson SE. Goal neglect, fluid intelligence and processing speed: Manipulating instruction load and inter-stimulus interval. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2017; 176:1-10. [PMID: 28315594 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2017.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Revised: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Goal maintenance is the process where task rules and instructions are kept active to exert their control on behavior. When this process fails, an individual may ignore a rule while performing the task, despite being able to describe it after task completion. Previous research has suggested that the goal maintenance system is limited by the number of concurrent rules which can be maintained during a task, and that this limit is dependent on an individual's level of fluid intelligence. However, the speed at which an individual can process information may also limit their ability to use task rules when the task demands them. In the present study, four experiments manipulated the number of instructions to be maintained by younger and older adults and examined whether performance on a rapid letter-monitoring task was predicted by individual differences in fluid intelligence or processing speed. Fluid intelligence played little role in determining how frequently rules were ignored during the task, regardless of the number of rules to be maintained. In contrast, processing speed predicted the rate of goal neglect in older adults, where increasing the presentation rate of the letter-monitoring task increased goal neglect. These findings suggest that goal maintenance may be limited by the speed at which it can operate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew H Iveson
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, UK; Laboratory of Experimental Psychology, Suor Orsola Benincasa University, Italy.
| | - Sergio Della Sala
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mike Anderson
- School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Australia
| | - Sarah E MacPherson
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, UK
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41
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Vauzour D, Camprubi-Robles M, Miquel-Kergoat S, Andres-Lacueva C, Bánáti D, Barberger-Gateau P, Bowman GL, Caberlotto L, Clarke R, Hogervorst E, Kiliaan AJ, Lucca U, Manach C, Minihane AM, Mitchell ES, Perneczky R, Perry H, Roussel AM, Schuermans J, Sijben J, Spencer JPE, Thuret S, van de Rest O, Vandewoude M, Wesnes K, Williams RJ, Williams RSB, Ramirez M. Nutrition for the ageing brain: Towards evidence for an optimal diet. Ageing Res Rev 2017; 35:222-240. [PMID: 27713095 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2016.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Revised: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
As people age they become increasingly susceptible to chronic and extremely debilitating brain diseases. The precise cause of the neuronal degeneration underlying these disorders, and indeed normal brain ageing remains however elusive. Considering the limits of existing preventive methods, there is a desire to develop effective and safe strategies. Growing preclinical and clinical research in healthy individuals or at the early stage of cognitive decline has demonstrated the beneficial impact of nutrition on cognitive functions. The present review is the most recent in a series produced by the Nutrition and Mental Performance Task Force under the auspice of the International Life Sciences Institute Europe (ILSI Europe). The latest scientific advances specific to how dietary nutrients and non-nutrient may affect cognitive ageing are presented. Furthermore, several key points related to mechanisms contributing to brain ageing, pathological conditions affecting brain function, and brain biomarkers are also discussed. Overall, findings are inconsistent and fragmented and more research is warranted to determine the underlying mechanisms and to establish dose-response relationships for optimal brain maintenance in different population subgroups. Such approaches are likely to provide the necessary evidence to develop research portfolios that will inform about new dietary recommendations on how to prevent cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Vauzour
- University of East Anglia, Norwich Medical School, Norwich NR4 7UQ, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Camprubi-Robles
- Abbott Nutrition R&D, Abbott Laboratories, Camino de Purchil 68, 18004 Granada, Spain
| | | | | | - Diána Bánáti
- International Life Sciences Institute, Europe (ILSI Europe), Av E. Mounier 83, Box 6, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Gene L Bowman
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, EPFL Innovation Park, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laura Caberlotto
- The Microsoft Research-University of Trento, Centre for Computational and Systems Biology (COSBI), Piazza Manifattura 1, 38068 Rovereto, TN, Italy
| | - Robert Clarke
- Oxford University, Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, OX3 7LF Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Eef Hogervorst
- Loughborough University, Brockington Building, Asby Road, LE11 3TU Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda J Kiliaan
- Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ugo Lucca
- IRCCS-Instituto di Richerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Via G. La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Claudine Manach
- INRA, UMR 1019, Human Nutrition Unit, CRNH Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Anne-Marie Minihane
- University of East Anglia, Norwich Medical School, Norwich NR4 7UQ, United Kingdom
| | | | - Robert Perneczky
- Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ London, United Kingdom
| | - Hugh Perry
- University of Southampton, Tremona Road, SO16 6YD Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Anne-Marie Roussel
- Joseph Fourier University, Domaine de la Merci, 38706 La Tronche, France
| | - Jeroen Schuermans
- International Life Sciences Institute, Europe (ILSI Europe), Av E. Mounier 83, Box 6, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - John Sijben
- Nutricia Research, Nutricia Advances Medical Nutrition, P.O. Box 80141, 3508TC Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jeremy P E Spencer
- University of Reading, Whiteknights, P.O. Box 217, RG6 6AH Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Sandrine Thuret
- King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, 125 Coldharbour Lane, SE5 9NU London, United Kingdom
| | - Ondine van de Rest
- Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Keith Wesnes
- Wesnes Cognition Ltd., Little Paddock, Streatley on Thames RG8 9RD, United Kingdom; Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle, United Kingdom; Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia; Medicinal Plant Research Group, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
| | | | - Robin S B Williams
- Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, TW20 0EX Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Ramirez
- Abbott Nutrition R&D, Abbott Laboratories, Camino de Purchil 68, 18004 Granada, Spain
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Zajac IT, Nettelbeck T. Auditory speed tasks as potential candidates for the study of cognitive ageing. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn 2016; 25:167-185. [PMID: 28019125 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2016.1272671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Speed of information processing is an important cognitive ability. It facilitates the efficient operation of higher order cognitive functions, such as reasoning, and is implicated in various models of cognitive decline. The present study considers the potential benefits of expanding the measurement of processing speed to include the auditory modality. It examines the reliability and factorial structure of a variety of auditory and visual speed tasks in a sample of N = 138 older adults aged between 51 and 82 years. Our findings demonstrate that auditory measures can be used to assess processing speed as indexed by existing widely used tests of this ability. Moreover, the inclusion of auditory tasks significantly increases the relationship between processing speed and general cognitive ability. This novel research provides strong evidence of the suitability of auditory speed tasks for the study of cognitive function in older people, and demonstrates the importance of expanding cognitive measurement to include alternate modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian T Zajac
- a Health & Biosecurity , Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) , Adelaide , Australia
| | - Ted Nettelbeck
- b School of Psychology , University of Adelaide , Adelaide , Australia
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43
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Ritchie SJ, Tucker-Drob EM, Cox SR, Corley J, Dykiert D, Redmond P, Pattie A, Taylor AM, Sibbett R, Starr JM, Deary IJ. Predictors of ageing-related decline across multiple cognitive functions. Intelligence 2016; 59:115-126. [PMID: 27932854 PMCID: PMC5127886 DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2016.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
It is critical to discover why some people's cognitive abilities age better than others'. We applied multivariate growth curve models to data from a narrow-age cohort measured on a multi-domain IQ measure at age 11 years and a comprehensive battery of thirteen measures of visuospatial, memory, crystallized, and processing speed abilities at ages 70, 73, and 76 years (n = 1091 at age 70). We found that 48% of the variance in change in performance on the thirteen cognitive measures was shared across all measures, an additional 26% was specific to the four ability domains, and 26% was test-specific. We tested the association of a wide variety of sociodemographic, fitness, health, and genetic variables with each of these cognitive change factors. Models that simultaneously included all covariates accounted for appreciable proportions of variance in the cognitive change factors (e.g. approximately one third of the variance in general cognitive change). However, beyond physical fitness and possession of the APOE e4 allele, very few predictors were incrementally associated with cognitive change at statistically significant levels. The results highlight a small number of factors that predict differences in cognitive ageing, and underscore that correlates of cognitive level are not necessarily predictors of decline. Even larger samples will likely be required to identify additional variables with more modest associations with normal-range heterogeneity in aging-related cognitive declines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart J Ritchie
- Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom; Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom
| | | | - Simon R Cox
- Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom; Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom
| | - Janie Corley
- Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom
| | - Dominika Dykiert
- Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom; Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Redmond
- Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom
| | - Alison Pattie
- Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom
| | - Adele M Taylor
- Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth Sibbett
- Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom; Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom; Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom
| | - John M Starr
- Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom; Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom; Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom
| | - Ian J Deary
- Department of Psychology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom; Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, United Kingdom
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Gallais B, Gagnon C, Mathieu J, Richer L. Cognitive decline over time in adults with myotonic dystrophy type 1: A 9-year longitudinal study. Neuromuscul Disord 2016; 27:61-72. [PMID: 27919548 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2016.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2016] [Revised: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is an inherited neuromuscular disease with multisystemic involvement including the central nervous system. The evolution of the cognitive profile is a matter of debate, whether an eventual decline could be global or process-specific. Study aims are to describe, compare and document the clinical relevance of the progression of cognitive abilities in DM1 patients with adult and late-onset phenotypes. A total of 115 DM1 patients (90 adult; 25 late-onset) were assessed twice within a 9-year period on cognitive abilities (language, memory, visual attention, processing speed, visuoconstructive abilities and executive functions) and intellectual functioning (WAIS-R 7). A significant worsening over time was observed for verbal memory, visual attention, and processing speed. The progression in cognitive scores correlated with age and disease duration, but not with nCTG, muscular impairment nor education at baseline. Intellectual functioning remained stable. The rate of decline was higher among the late-onset phenotype than in the adult phenotype. Results showed that executive functions, language, and visual memory are impaired earlier in adult life, while verbal memory, visual attention, and processing speed decline later. Globally, results suggest an early and accelerated normal ageing process. This longitudinal study was based on the largest sample and the longest time period studied to date. These findings are highly relevant for clinical practice and genetic counselling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Gallais
- Groupe de Recherche Interdisciplinaire sur les Maladies Neuromusculaires (GRIMN), Jonquière, Québec, Canada; Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.
| | - Cynthia Gagnon
- Groupe de Recherche Interdisciplinaire sur les Maladies Neuromusculaires (GRIMN), Jonquière, Québec, Canada; Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Jean Mathieu
- Groupe de Recherche Interdisciplinaire sur les Maladies Neuromusculaires (GRIMN), Jonquière, Québec, Canada; Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Louis Richer
- Groupe de Recherche Interdisciplinaire sur les Maladies Neuromusculaires (GRIMN), Jonquière, Québec, Canada; Département des Sciences de la Santé, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, Québec, Canada
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45
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Kievit RA, Davis SW, Griffiths J, Correia MM, Cam-Can, Henson RN. A watershed model of individual differences in fluid intelligence. Neuropsychologia 2016; 91:186-198. [PMID: 27520470 PMCID: PMC5081064 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Revised: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Fluid intelligence is a crucial cognitive ability that predicts key life outcomes across the lifespan. Strong empirical links exist between fluid intelligence and processing speed on the one hand, and white matter integrity and processing speed on the other. We propose a watershed model that integrates these three explanatory levels in a principled manner in a single statistical model, with processing speed and white matter figuring as intermediate endophenotypes. We fit this model in a large (N=555) adult lifespan cohort from the Cambridge Centre for Ageing and Neuroscience (Cam-CAN) using multiple measures of processing speed, white matter health and fluid intelligence. The model fit the data well, outperforming competing models and providing evidence for a many-to-one mapping between white matter integrity, processing speed and fluid intelligence. The model can be naturally extended to integrate other cognitive domains, endophenotypes and genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rogier A Kievit
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Rd, Cambridge CB2 7EF, United Kingdom.
| | - Simon W Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom; Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States
| | - John Griffiths
- Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EB, United Kingdom; Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6A 2E1
| | - Marta M Correia
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Rd, Cambridge CB2 7EF, United Kingdom
| | - Cam-Can
- Cambridge Centre for Ageing and Neuroscience (Cam-CAN), University of Cambridge and MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Richard N Henson
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Rd, Cambridge CB2 7EF, United Kingdom
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Harris SE, Marioni RE, Martin-Ruiz C, Pattie A, Gow AJ, Cox SR, Corley J, von Zglinicki T, Starr JM, Deary IJ. Longitudinal telomere length shortening and cognitive and physical decline in later life: The Lothian Birth Cohorts 1936 and 1921. Mech Ageing Dev 2016; 154:43-8. [PMID: 26876762 PMCID: PMC4798845 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2016.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Revised: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length is hypothesised to be a biological marker of both cognitive and physical ageing. Here we measure telomere length, and cognitive and physical abilities at mean ages 70, 73 and 76 years in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 (LBC1936), and at mean ages 79, 87, 90 and 92 years in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1921 (LBC1921). We investigate whether telomere length change predicts change in cognitive and physical abilities. In LBC1936 telomere length decreased by an average of 65 base pairs per year and in LBC1921 by 69 base pairs per year. However, change in telomere length did not predict change in cognitive or physical abilities. This study shows that, although cognitive ability, walking speed, lung function and grip strength all decline with age, they do so independently of telomere length shortening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Harris
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK; Medical Genetics Section, University of Edinburgh Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine and MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK.
| | - Riccardo E Marioni
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK; Medical Genetics Section, University of Edinburgh Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine and MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK; Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, QLD, Australia
| | - Carmen Martin-Ruiz
- Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5PL, UK
| | - Alison Pattie
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Alan J Gow
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK; Department of Psychology, School of Life Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
| | - Simon R Cox
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK; Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Janie Corley
- Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Thomas von Zglinicki
- Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5PL, UK
| | - John M Starr
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK; Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Ian J Deary
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK; Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK
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Breuer LE, Boon P, Bergmans JW, Mess WH, Besseling RM, de Louw A, Tijhuis AG, Zinger S, Bernas A, Klooster DC, Aldenkamp AP. Cognitive deterioration in adult epilepsy: Does accelerated cognitive ageing exist? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 64:1-11. [PMID: 26900650 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2015] [Revised: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A long-standing concern has been whether epilepsy contributes to cognitive decline or so-called 'epileptic dementia'. Although global cognitive decline is generally reported in the context of chronic refractory epilepsy, it is largely unknown what percentage of patients is at risk for decline. This review is focused on the identification of risk factors and characterization of aberrant cognitive trajectories in epilepsy. Evidence is found that the cognitive trajectory of patients with epilepsy over time differs from processes of cognitive ageing in healthy people, especially in adulthood-onset epilepsy. Cognitive deterioration in these patients seems to develop in a 'second hit model' and occurs when epilepsy hits on a brain that is already vulnerable or vice versa when comorbid problems develop in a person with epilepsy. Processes of ageing may be accelerated due to loss of brain plasticity and cognitive reserve capacity for which we coin the term 'accelerated cognitive ageing'. We believe that the concept of accelerated cognitive ageing can be helpful in providing a framework understanding global cognitive deterioration in epilepsy.
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Thomas KR, Marsiske M. Age trajectories of everyday cognition in African American and White older adults under prompted and unprompted conditions. Neuropsychol Rehabil 2015; 27:522-539. [PMID: 26480946 DOI: 10.1080/09602011.2015.1092453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
We investigated how race and verbal prompting interacted with age to predict age trajectories on a performance-based measure of everyday cognition. African American (n = 727) and White (n = 2052) older adults from the ACTIVE clinical trial were given the Observed Tasks of Daily Living (OTDL; a performance-based measure of medication management/finances/telephone use) at baseline and 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year follow-ups. When participants said "I don't know" or did not respond, they received a standardised verbal prompt, which served only as a cue to initiate the first step. At each occasion, unprompted (sum of items correct without prompting) and prompted (sum of correct prompted and unprompted items) scores were derived for each participant. Mixed effects models for change were used to determine the age trajectories of OTDL performance by race. When not prompted, African Americans demonstrated more rapid decline in OTDL performance than Whites, especially after age 80. When prompted, both groups had improved performance and evinced shallower decline, although African Americans continued to demonstrate a slightly more rapid decline. Simple prompting attenuated age-related changes of African Americans and Whites on a measure of everyday cognition. Prompting may be especially helpful for older African Americans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey R Thomas
- a Department of Clinical and Health Psychology , University of Florida , Gainesville , USA
| | - Michael Marsiske
- a Department of Clinical and Health Psychology , University of Florida , Gainesville , USA
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Zahodne LB, Manly JJ, Brickman AM, Narkhede A, Griffith EY, Guzman VA, Schupf N, Stern Y. Is residual memory variance a valid method for quantifying cognitive reserve? A longitudinal application. Neuropsychologia 2015; 77:260-6. [PMID: 26348002 PMCID: PMC4778075 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Revised: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive reserve describes the mismatch between brain integrity and cognitive performance. Older adults with high cognitive reserve are more resilient to age-related brain pathology. Traditionally, cognitive reserve is indexed indirectly via static proxy variables (e.g., years of education). More recently, cross-sectional studies have suggested that reserve can be expressed as residual variance in episodic memory performance that remains after accounting for demographic factors and brain pathology (whole brain, hippocampal, and white matter hyperintensity volumes). The present study extends these methods to a longitudinal framework in a community-based cohort of 244 older adults who underwent two comprehensive neuropsychological and structural magnetic resonance imaging sessions over 4.6 years. On average, residual memory variance decreased over time, consistent with the idea that cognitive reserve is depleted over time. Individual differences in change in residual memory variance predicted incident dementia, independent of baseline residual memory variance. Multiple-group latent difference score models revealed tighter coupling between brain and language changes among individuals with decreasing residual memory variance. These results suggest that changes in residual memory variance may capture a dynamic aspect of cognitive reserve and could be a useful way to summarize individual cognitive responses to brain changes. Change in residual memory variance among initially non-demented older adults was a better predictor of incident dementia than residual memory variance measured at one time-point.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura B Zahodne
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology and Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and The Aging Brain, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States.
| | - Jennifer J Manly
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology and Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and The Aging Brain, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States
| | - Adam M Brickman
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology and Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and The Aging Brain, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States
| | - Atul Narkhede
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology and Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and The Aging Brain, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States
| | - Erica Y Griffith
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology and Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and The Aging Brain, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States
| | - Vanessa A Guzman
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Nicole Schupf
- Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center and Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and The Aging Brain, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States
| | - Yaakov Stern
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology and Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and The Aging Brain, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States
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50
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Yamada Y, Denkinger MD, Onder G, Henrard JC, van der Roest HG, Finne-Soveri H, Richter T, Vlachova M, Bernabei R, Topinkova E. Dual Sensory Impairment and Cognitive Decline: The Results From the Shelter Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2015; 71:117-23. [PMID: 25869524 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glv036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine whether nursing home residents with concurrent vision and hearing impairment, dual sensory impairment (DSI), have a greater cognitive decline over time than do those without sensory impairment and whether social engagement modifies this association. METHODS Based on the Services and Health for Elderly in Long TERm Care study, 1,989 nursing home residents who were assessed using the interRAI LTCF at 6-month intervals over 1 year were included. Multivariate linear regression models with time-variant exposure variables of sensory impairment and social engagement using generalized estimating equations were performed to predict cognitive function measured by the Cognitive Performance Scale (range 0-6). RESULTS Residents with DSI had a greater cognitive decline [changes in Cognitive Performance Scale over 1 year = 1.12 (95% confidence interval = 0.81:1.42)] compared to those with either vision or hearing impairment [0.67 (0.53:0.64)] and those without sensory impairment [0.56 (0.48:0.64)]. A lower level of social engagement was also associated with a greater cognitive decline. The combined exposure variable of sensory impairment and social engagement revealed the greatest cognitive decline for socially disengaged residents with DSI [1.87 (1.24:2.51)] and the potential effect modification of social engagement on the association between DSI and cognitive decline; DSI was not associated with a greater cognitive decline among socially engaged residents, while it was associated among socially disengaged residents DISCUSSION Cognitive function declines faster in nursing home residents with DSI only when residents were not socially engaged. Therefore, residents with DSI might cognitively benefit from interventions to improve involvement in social life at nursing homes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukari Yamada
- Department of Geriatrics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Palacky Univestiy, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
| | - Michael D Denkinger
- AGAPLESION Bethesda Clinic, Competence Centre of Geriatrics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Graziano Onder
- Center on Aging, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Jean-Claude Henrard
- Research Unit Health-Environment-Ageing, Versailles- Saint-Quentin en Yvelines University, Paris, France
| | - Henriëtte G van der Roest
- EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Elderly Care Research Unit at LUCAS and Center for Sociological Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Tomas Richter
- Department of Geriatrics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Vlachova
- Department of Geriatrics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Roberto Bernabei
- Center on Aging, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Eva Topinkova
- Department of Geriatrics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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