Age‐related differences in self‐report and objective measures of cognitive function in older patients prior to chemotherapy

Introduction: Control beliefs can protect against age-related declines in functioning. It is unclear whether neighborhood characteristics shape how much control people perceive over their life. This article studies associations of neighborhood characteristics with control beliefs of residents of a diverse metropolitan area (Berlin, Germany). Methods: We combine self-report data about perceptions of control obtained from participants in the Berlin Aging Study II (N = 507, 60–87 years, 51% women) with multisource geo-referenced indicators of neighborhood characteristics using linear regression models. Results: Findings indicate that objective neighborhood characteristics (i.e., unemployment rate) are indeed tied to perceptions of control, in particular, how much control participants feel others have over their lives. Including neighborhood characteristics in part doubled the amount of explained variance compared with a reference model covarying for demographic characteristics only (from R2 = 0.017 to R2 = 0.030 for internal control beliefs; R2 = 0.056 to R2 = 0.102 for external control beliefs in chance; R2 = 0.006 to R2 = 0.030 for external control beliefs in powerful others). Discussion/Conclusion: Findings highlight the importance of access to neighborhood resources for control beliefs across old age and can inform interventions to build up neighborhood characteristics which might be especially helpful in residential areas with high unemployment.

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Perilla Seed Oil Enhances Cognitive Function and Mental Health in Healthy Elderly Japanese Individuals by Enhancing the Biological Antioxidant Potential

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10051130 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 1130

Author(s):

Michio Hashimoto ◽

Kentaro Matsuzaki ◽

Shahdat Hossain ◽

Tomoko Ito ◽

Harumi Wakatsuki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Plasma Membranes ◽

Seed Oil ◽

Antioxidant Potential ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Elderly ◽

Age Related ◽

Elderly Japanese ◽

Perilla Seed

Oxidative stress plays an important role in age-associated cognitive decline. We recently reported that dietary intake of perilla seed oil (PO), a rich source of α-linolenic acid (LNA, C18:3, ω-3), helps in maintaining good mental health in adults. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of dietary PO intake on cognitive functions and mental health in healthy, elderly Japanese individuals. Seventy-five healthy volunteers aged 64–84 years were randomly divided into two groups: a control group and a PO-administered group. At baseline and at 12 months of intervention, cognitive function, mental health condition, fatty acid profile of the red blood cell plasma membranes (RBC-PM), and serum biochemical parameters were evaluated. Results showed that serum biological antioxidant potential and LNA levels in the RBC-PM at 12 months after the trial were significantly higher in the PO group compared to the control group. Further, both the cognitive function measures, as evaluated by the Frontal Assessment Battery test and the apathy scores, tended to be improved after 12 months in the PO group. Our results demonstrate that dietary PO intake enhances the antioxidant potential and prevents the age-related cognitive and mental decline in healthy elderly individuals by enhancing the blood LNA levels.

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Age-related differences in affective and cognitive empathy: self-report and performance-based evidence

Aging Neuropsychology and Cognition ◽

10.1080/13825585.2017.1360835 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (5) ◽

pp. 655-672 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Binghai Sun ◽

Zhenbing Luo ◽

Wenwen Zhang ◽

Weijian Li ◽

Xinyu Li

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Empathy ◽

Self Report ◽

Age Related ◽

And Performance

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Age-Related Effects on Interoceptive Accuracy, General Interoceptive Sensibility, and Specific Interoceptive Sensibility

European Journal of Health Psychology ◽

10.1027/2512-8442/a000060 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 154-170 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

L. Nusser ◽

O. Pollatos ◽

D. Zimprich

Keyword(s):

Structural Equation ◽

Empirical Support ◽

Self Report ◽

Three Dimensions ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Adult Lifespan ◽

Age Related ◽

Physical Diseases ◽

Interoceptive Accuracy ◽

Subjective Belief

Abstract. Background: The current research into interoception distinguishes between interoceptive accuracy (IAcc), the accurate detection of internal sensations (e.g., heartbeats) as measured by performance on objective IAcc tasks, and interoceptive sensibility (IS), the subjective belief concerning one’s own experience of internal sensations as measured either through self-report questionnaires or through one’s confidence in the accuracy during an IAcc task. Aims: As the two measures of IS, however, are usually uncorrelated and show differential relationships to IAcc, we suggest different types of IS, a general IS and a specific IS. Further, based on a growing body of research linking IAcc and IS to physical and mental diseases, the development of interoception across the adult lifespan is of importance. Methods: Using Structural Equation Modeling the present paper investigates the relationships among IAcc assessed by a heartbeat counting task, and the two proposed dimensions of IS in 138 participants ( Mage = 42.67, SDage = 18.77). Furthermore, we examine age-related differences in IAcc, as well as in general and specific IS. Results: In terms of the relationship between the three dimensions, general and specific IS were weakly correlated and exhibited different relationships to IAcc. Further, we found different age effects on the three interoceptive dimensions. Whereas IAcc decreased with age, specific IS tend to increase with age, and general IS remained unaffected by age. Conclusion: The findings provide further empirical support for a dissociation between general and specific IS and raised important questions concerning the relation between interoceptive accuracy and the emergence of physical diseases in older age.

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Behavioral interventions to benefit cognition (Intervenciones cognitivas para beneficiar la cognición)

Retos ◽

10.47197/retos.v0i27.34377 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 197-202

Author(s):

Jennifer L. Etnier ◽

Chia-Hao Shih ◽

Aaron Piepmeier

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Behavioral Interventions ◽

Animal Studies ◽

Exercise Intervention ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Future Research ◽

Dietary Interventions ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Age Related

With the growing population of older adults, the identification of treatment strategies to prevent or ameliorate age-related cognitive decline has been an important topic in recent years. After reviewing cross-sectional, longitudinal, and experimentally designed studies, as well as evidence from narrative and meta-analytic reviews, the authors concluded that behavioral approaches such as physical activity, cognitive training, and dietary interventions show promising results. In addition, given the likelihood that multiple underlying mechanisms support cognitive function, research is currently focusing on how to combine lifestyle factors into multi-component interventions to generate greater and more meaningful effects. Though evidence for these enhanced benefits exists from animal studies, few multi-component studies have been performed with humans. However, the findings from these studies are promising and a continued pursuit of multi-component behavioral interventions to benefit cognitive performance is warranted. Given the world’s aging population and accompanying age-related health issues such as cognitive decline and dementia, future research should focus on understanding the biological mechanisms responsible for these effects in order to allow for the development of behavioral lifestyle prescriptions to benefit cognitive performance.Keywords. aging, cognitive function, exercise intervention, oxidative stress, cognitive engagement.Resumen. Con la creciente población de adultos mayores, la identificación de las estrategias de tratamiento para prevenir o mejorar el deterioro cognitivo relacionado con la edad ha sido un tema importante en los últimos años. Después de revisar estudios con diseños transversales, longitudinales y experimentales, así como la evidencia de revisiones de literatura narrativa y meta-analítica, los autores concluyen que los enfoques conductuales como la actividad física, el entrenamiento cognitivo y las intervenciones dietéticas muestran resultados prometedores. Además, dada la probabilidad de que múltiples mecanismos subyacentes apoyan la función cognitiva, las investigaciones se enfocan actualmente en la manera de cómo combinar factores del estilo de vida en las intervenciones con múltiples componentes para generar efectos mayores y más significativos. Aunque existe evidencia de estos beneficios a partir de estudios en animales, se han realizado pocos estudios de componentes múltiples en humanos. Sin embargo, los resultados de estos estudios son prometedores y se garantiza un seguimiento continuo de las intervenciones conductuales de componentes múltiples para beneficiar el rendimiento cognitivo. Teniendo en cuenta el envejecimiento de la población mundial y los problemas de salud relacionados con la edad que la acompañan, tales como el deterioro cognitivo y la demencia, la investigación futura debería centrarse en la comprensión de los mecanismos biológicos responsables de estos efectos con el fin de permitir el desarrollo de las prescripciones de comportamiento de estilo de vida para beneficiar el rendimiento cognitivo.Palabras claves. envejecimiento, funcionamiento cognitivo, intervención con ejercicio, estrés oxidativo, participación cognitiva.

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Effects of Reallocating Time Spent in Different Physical Activity Intensities on Sarcopenia Risk in Older Adults: An Isotemporal Substitution Analysis

Biology ◽

10.3390/biology11010111 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 111

Author(s):

Jort Veen ◽

Diego Montiel-Rojas ◽

Fawzi Kadi ◽

Andreas Nilsson

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Protein Intake ◽

Handgrip Strength ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Self Report ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Age Related ◽

Muscle Health ◽

The Impact

The role of daily time spent sedentary and in different intensities of physical activity (PA) for the maintenance of muscle health currently remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the impact of reallocating time spent in different PA intensities on sarcopenia risk in older adults, while considering PA type (muscle strengthening activities, MSA) and protein intake. In a sample of 235 community-dwelling older adults (65–70 years), a sarcopenia risk score (SRS) was created based on muscle mass assessed by bioimpedance, together with handgrip strength and performance on the five times sit-to-stand (5-STS) test assessed by standardized procedures. Time spent in light-intensity PA (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and being sedentary was assessed by accelerometry, and PA type (MSA) by self-report. Linear regression models based on isotemporal substitution were employed. Reallocating sedentary time to at least LPA was significantly (p < 0.05) related to a lower SRS, which remained evident after adjustment by PA type (MSA) and protein intake. Similarly, reallocating time in LPA by MVPA was related to a significantly (p < 0.05) lower SRS. Our results emphasize the importance of displacing sedentary behaviours for more active pursuits, where PA of even light intensities may alleviate age-related deteriorations of muscle health in older adults.

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Vaping and subsequent comorbidities potentially associated with increased mortality and more severe illness in COVID-19: a narrative review

10.22514/sv.2021.113 ◽

2021 ◽

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cigarette Smoking ◽

Health Risks ◽

Older Patients ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Self Report ◽

Severe Illness ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Cigarette Use

Introduction: COVID-19 (or COVID) is a highly virulent viral disease which more frequently presents severe infection in specific populations, such as the elderly, patients with hypertension, patients with respiratory disease, and patients who smoke. The effects vaping (i.e., an electronic cigarette or JUUL device) has on COVID progression remains unclear, because there is an information paucity correlating e-cigarette use and COVID. This review sought to identify links between vape use and COVID severity via literature review. Additionally, because there is more widespread information about cigarette smoking than about vaping, this review sought to illustrate commonalities between smoking and vaping. If smoking and vaping are deemed near-identical practices, then it is possible the effects of smoking on human health and on COVID disease could be comparable in vaping. Methods: Several searches were performed on PubMed with MeSH headings and JSTOR between 17 December 2020 and 22 December 2020. Search results were excluded if they were not trials or controlled clinical trials, if the articles were not about COVID, if the articles were about smoking behaviors or habits, or if the articles were not related to vaping or smoking. Key findings were summarized and tabled based on relevance, substantiability, and applicability to COVID. Results: Multiple sources viewed smoking and vaping as equal risk factors for COVID disease, whereas other sources viewed the two as unique risk factors. Because of this controversy, it is challenging to view the two practices as similar enough to pose equivalent risks for COVID. Both practices pose significant health risks to its users, but these health risks are unique to each practice. Discussion: There are several limitations which exacerbate ambiguity—(1) it is unclear how harmful smoking is for COVID patients, because several publications found smoking may have protective effects; (2) few older patients vape, but yet most severe COVID cases occur in older populations; (3) older patients and impoverished patients show a statistically significant risk for severe COVID disease independent of other factors; (4) vaping is a relatively new practice, and there are few patients who self-report long-term e-cigarette use or long-term adverse effects as a result thereof. Conclusion: Although vaping may present serious health risks, clinically, it is uncertain how significantly vaping affects COVID disease, especially when compared against cigarette smoking. More research is needed on both the effects of vaping on COVID and the likeness of vaping versus smoking.

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Elevated HDL Levels Linked to Poorer Cognitive Ability in Females With Parkinson’s Disease

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnagi.2021.656623 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

Author(s):

Megan C. Bakeberg ◽

Anastazja M. Gorecki ◽

Jade E. Kenna ◽

Alexa Jefferson ◽

Michelle Byrnes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Linear Models ◽

Low Density Lipoprotein ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Cognitive Status ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Age Related

IntroductionCholesterol levels have been associated with age-related cognitive decline, however, such an association has not been comprehensively explored in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). To address this uncertainty, the current cross-sectional study examined the cholesterol profile and cognitive performance in a cohort of PD patients.MethodsCognitive function was evaluated using two validated assessments (ACE-R and SCOPA-COG) in 182 people with PD from the Australian Parkinson’s Disease Registry. Total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and Triglyceride (TRG) levels were examined within this cohort. The influence of individual lipid subfractions on domain-specific cognitive performance was investigated using covariate-adjusted generalised linear models.ResultsFemales with PD exhibited significantly higher lipid subfraction levels (TC, HDL, and LDL) when compared to male counterparts. While accounting for covariates, HDL levels were strongly associated with poorer performance across multiple cognitive domains in females but not males. Conversely, TC and LDL levels were not associated with cognitive status in people with PD.ConclusionHigher serum HDL associates with poorer cognitive function in females with PD and presents a sex-specific biomarker for cognitive impairment in PD.

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