Fermented milk of Lactobacillus helveticus IDCC3801 improves cognitive functioning during cognitive fatigue tests in healthy older adults

Long-term supplementation with folic acid may improve cognitive performance in older individuals. The relationship between folate status and cognitive performance might be mediated by changes in methylation capacity, as methylation reactions are important for normal functioning of the brain. Although aberrant DNA methylation has been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders, the relationship between DNA methylation status and non-pathological cognitive functioning in human subjects has not yet been investigated. The present study investigated the associations between global DNA methylation and key domains of cognitive functioning in healthy older adults. Global DNA methylation, defined as the percentage of methylated cytosine to total cytosine, was measured in leucocytes by liquid chromatography–MS/MS, in 215 men and women, aged 50–70 years, who participated in the Folic Acid and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (FACIT) study (clinical trial registration number NCT00110604). Cognitive performance was assessed by means of the Visual Verbal Word Learning Task, the Stroop Colour-Word Interference Test, the Concept Shifting Test, the Letter–Digit Substitution Test and the Verbal Fluency Test. Using hierarchical linear regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, level of education, alcohol consumption, smoking status, physical activity, erythrocyte folate concentration and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 C → T genotype, we found that global DNA methylation was not related to cognitive performance on any of the domains measured. The present study results do not support the hypothesis that global DNA methylation, as measured in leucocytes, might be associated with cognitive functioning in healthy older individuals.

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Cognitive Functioning in Healthy Older Adults Aged 64–81: A Cohort Study into the Effects of Age, Sex, and Education

Aging Neuropsychology and Cognition ◽

10.1080/138255890969483 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 40-54 ◽

Cited By ~ 159

Author(s):

S. A. H. van Hooren ◽

A. M. Valentijn ◽

H. Bosma ◽

R. W. H. M. Ponds ◽

M. P. J. van Boxtel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Healthy Older Adults

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A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS OF COGNITIVE TRAINING INTERVENTIONS IN OLDER ADULTS

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2434 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S657-S657

Author(s):

Ayse Malatyali ◽

Carol Reive ◽

Christine Williams

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Cognitive Training ◽

Brain Networks ◽

Potential Effect ◽

Attention And Memory ◽

Significant Activity ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Training Interventions ◽

Speed Training

Abstract There has been a growing interest in cognitive training interventions for their potential effect of maintaining and promoting cognitive functioning in older adults. Rapid and significant changes in technology has had a significant impact on the design and assessment methods of cognitive training interventions. Investigating changes in brain networks and blood markers are relatively new approaches and sparsely examined in the literature. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to analyze the effect of cognitive training interventions on brain networks, blood markers and associated cognitive performance of healthy older adults. We conducted a comprehensive literature search on four databases, following PRISMA guidelines. Initially, 2426 citations were retrieved, and 251 full-text publications were evaluated in detail for eligibility. Fourteen randomized control trials were included in this review. Functional imaging analysis of brain networks showed significant activity changes primarily in the Default Mode Network. These changes were associated with improvement in memory, learning, attention, and affective performances. Also, there were activity changes in the Central Executive Network that were associated with improvement in reasoning, attentional control, innovative thinking, and processing speed. Training-induced changes have been observed in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and the markers of antioxidative and anti-inflammatory regulatory mechanisms. Improvement in attention and memory performances were significantly related to these changes. Limitations of the studies included methodological inconsistencies, sampling issues, and the lack of long-term follow up assessment. Cognitive training appears to promote improvement and maintenance of cognitive functioning in healthy older adults.

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Associations between Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Gastro-Intestinal Microbiota, Diet, and Cognitive Functioning in Dutch Healthy Older Adults: The NU-AGE Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12113471 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 3471

Author(s):

Annick P. M. van Soest ◽

Gerben D. A. Hermes ◽

Agnes A. M. Berendsen ◽

Ondine van de Rest ◽

Erwin G. Zoetendal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Alpha Diversity ◽

Cognitive Test ◽

Processed Meat ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Age Related ◽

Anti Inflammatory

Dietary modulation of the gastro-intestinal microbiota is a potential target in improving healthy ageing and age-related functional outcomes, including cognitive decline. We explored the association between diet, gastro-intestinal microbiota and cognition in Dutch healthy older adults of the ‘New dietary strategies addressing the specific needs of the elderly population for healthy aging in Europe’ (NU-AGE) study. The microbiota profile of 452 fecal samples from 226 subjects was determined using a 16S ribosomal RNA gene-targeted microarray. Dietary intake was assessed by 7-day food records. Cognitive functioning was measured with an extensive cognitive test battery. We observed a dietary and microbial pro- to anti-inflammatory gradient associated with diets richer in animal- or plant-based foods. Fresh fruits, nuts, seeds and peanuts, red and processed meat and grain products were most strongly associated to microbiota composition. Plant-rich diets containing fresh fruits, nuts, seeds and peanuts were positively correlated with alpha-diversity, various taxa from the Bacteroidetes phylum and anti-inflammatory species, including those related to Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Eubacterium rectale and E. biforme. Animal product-rich diets associated with pro-inflammatory species, including those related to Ruminococcus gnavus and Collinsella spp.. Cognition was neither associated with microbiota composition nor alpha-diversity. In conclusion, diets richer in animal- and plant-based foods were related to a pro- and anti-inflammatory microbial profile, while cognition was associated with neither.

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Measuring Fluid Intelligence in Healthy Older Adults

Journal of Aging Research ◽

10.1155/2017/8514582 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Mohammed K. Shakeel ◽

Vina M. Goghari

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Fluid Intelligence ◽

Digit Span ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Cognitive Measures ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Subjective Perceptions ◽

Flexibility Design ◽

Design Fluency

The present study evaluated subjective and objective cognitive measures as predictors of fluid intelligence in healthy older adults. We hypothesized that objective cognitive measures would predict fluid intelligence to a greater degree than self-reported cognitive functioning. Ninety-three healthy older (>65 years old) community-dwelling adults participated. Raven’s Advanced Progressive Matrices (RAPM) were used to measure fluid intelligence, Digit Span Sequencing (DSS) was used to measure working memory, Trail Making Test (TMT) was used to measure cognitive flexibility, Design Fluency Test (DFT) was used to measure creativity, and Tower Test (TT) was used to measure planning. The Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) was used to measure subjective perceptions of cognitive functioning. RAPM was correlated with DSS, TT, and DFT. When CFQ was the only predictor, the regression model predicting fluid intelligence was not significant. When DSS, TMT, DFT, and TT were included in the model, there was a significant change in the model and the final model was also significant, with DFT as the only significant predictor. The model accounted for approximately 20% of the variability in fluid intelligence. Our findings suggest that the most reliable means of assessing fluid intelligence is to assess it directly.

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