Cerebrospinal Fluid tau/β-Amyloid42 Ratio as a Prediction of Cognitive Decline in Nondemented Older Adults

Abstract Objective Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma neurofilament light (NFL) concentrations were assessed in relation to longitudinal objective and subjective cognitive outcomes in older adults ranging from normal cognition to mild cognitive impairment. Interactive effects were assessed for apolipoprotein E ϵ4 (APOE4) carriership, a strong genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and molecular moderator of vascular disease. Method Vanderbilt Memory & Aging Project participants (CSF n = 149, 72 ± 6 years; plasma n = 333, 73 ± 7 years) underwent fasting blood draw and lumbar puncture at baseline for NFL quantification. Serial neuropsychological assessments and subjective cognitive decline (SCD) questionnaires were completed at 18-month increments. Linear mixed effects regression models adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, APOE4 carriership (for main effect models), and depressed mood. NFL x APOE4 interaction terms were used as predictors in follow-up models. Results CSF NFL predicted steeper declines in an executive functioning composite score (β = −0.0001, p = 0.001) and WAIS-IV Coding (β = −0.001, p = 0.001). An APOE4 interaction was present for executive functioning (β = −0.0002, p = 0.005) such that CSF NFL associations with longitudinal decline were stronger among APOE4+ participants. Plasma NFL predicted worsening SCD (β = 0.27, p = 0.002) and objective cognitive decline across all domains (p-values <0.05), with multiple APOE4 interactions (p-values <0.05) suggesting stronger associations with objective cognitive decline among APOE4+ participants. Conclusions Both CSF and plasma NFL detect neuropathology associated with cognitive decline among non-demented older adults, especially among APOE4 carriers. Findings further support the value of SCD as reflecting neurodegenerative changes associated with accelerated cognitive aging.

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Activity Engagement in Cognitive Aging: A Review of the Evidence

Perspectives on Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders ◽

10.1044/nnsld23.1.35 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yvonne Rogalski ◽

Muriel Quintana

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Cognitive Aging ◽

Social Activity ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Neuroprotective Effects ◽

Activity Engagement ◽

Age Related ◽

Age Related Cognitive Decline

The population of older adults is rapidly increasing, as is the number and type of products and interventions proposed to prevent or reduce the risk of age-related cognitive decline. Advocacy and prevention are part of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA’s) scope of practice documents, and speech-language pathologists must have basic awareness of the evidence contributing to healthy cognitive aging. In this article, we provide a brief overview outlining the evidence on activity engagement and its effects on cognition in older adults. We explore the current evidence around the activities of eating and drinking with a discussion on the potential benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, alcohol, and coffee. We investigate the evidence on the hypothesized neuroprotective effects of social activity, the evidence on computerized cognitive training, and the emerging behavioral and neuroimaging evidence on physical activity. We conclude that actively aging using a combination of several strategies may be our best line of defense against cognitive decline.

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Cognitive Flexibility Difficulties Predict Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e637822010-001 ◽

2010 ◽

Author(s):

Lindsay R. Clark ◽

Eric M. Fine ◽

Gali H. Weissberger ◽

David P. Salmon ◽

Dean C. Delis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Cognitive Flexibility

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Investigating the Influence of Cognitive Decline on the Quality of Financial Decision-Making in Older Adults: The Case of Self-Managed Superannuation Funds

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.2261105 ◽

2013 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Joanne K Earl ◽

Paul Gerrans ◽

Anthony Asher ◽

Julie Woodside

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Decision Making ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Financial Decision Making ◽

Financial Decision

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A Game a Day Keeps Cognitive Decline Away? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Commercially-Available Brain Training Programs in Healthy and Cognitively Impaired Older Adults

Neuropsychology Review ◽

10.1007/s11065-021-09515-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lan Nguyen ◽

Karen Murphy ◽

Glenda Andrews

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Training Programs ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cognitively Impaired ◽

Brain Training

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Social isolation, rather than loneliness, is associated with cognitive decline in older adults: the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291720001026 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Bin Yu ◽

Andrew Steptoe ◽

Yongjie Chen ◽

Xiaohua Jia

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Mental Status ◽

Chinese Older Adults ◽

Confounding Variables

Abstract Background Social isolation and loneliness have each been associated with cognitive decline, but most previous research is limited to Western populations. This study examined the relationships of social isolation and loneliness on cognitive function among Chinese older adults. Methods This study used two waves of data (2011 and 2015) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and analyses were restricted to those respondents aged 50 and older. Social isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function were measured at baseline. Follow-up measures on cognitive function were obtained for 7761 participants (mean age = 60.97, s.d. = 7.31; male, 50.8%). Lagged dependent variable models adjusted for confounding factors were used to evaluate the association between baseline isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function at follow-up. Results Loneliness was significantly associated with the cognitive decline at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.03, p < 0.01; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) in the partially adjusted models. These associations became insignificant after additional confounding variables (chronic diseases, health behaviors, disabilities, and depressive symptoms) were taken into account (all p > 0.05). By contrast, social isolation was significantly associated with decreases in all cognitive function measures at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.05, p < 0.001; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) even after controlling for loneliness and all confounding variables. Conclusions Social isolation is associated with cognitive decline in Chinese older adults, and the relationships are independent of loneliness. These findings expand our knowledge about the links between social relationships and the cognitive function in non-Western populations.

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A Novel Touch-Screen, Dual-Language Intervention Program for Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1839 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 559-559

Author(s):

W Quin Yow ◽

Hui-Ching Chen ◽

Tharshini Lokanathan ◽

Attila Achenbach ◽

Lucienne Blessing

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Semantic Memory ◽

Cognitive Training ◽

Dual Language ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Verbal Learning ◽

Verbal Working Memory ◽

Touch Screen ◽

Language Intervention

Abstract Although cognitive training in healthy older adults (OA) has been controversial, specific and isolated cognitive skills such as semantic memory can be improved with appropriate designs. Semantic memory has been considered as a clinical marker for cognitive decline in dementia. The current study, as part of a larger touch-screen dual-language intervention program with cognitive training tools, aims to slow down the rate of cognitive decline in OA with dementia (OwD). A set of neuropsychological tests was conducted before and after the training program. After 24 training sessions over 8-12 weeks, OwD (11 females, 1 male, mean=85.8yo) improved significantly in their verbal working memory (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; RAVLT) while performance of the cognitive-healthy OA (5 females, 3 males, mean=76.3yo) remained the same post-intervention. Our findings suggest that touch-screen technology can help OwD improve their semantic memory. The strengths and limitations of our game design and intervention will be discussed. Part of a symposium sponsored by Technology and Aging Interest Group.

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