Cognitive reserve predicts future executive function decline in older adults with Alzheimer's disease pathology but not age-associated pathology

2020 ◽  
Vol 88 ◽  
pp. 119-127
Author(s):  
Cathryn McKenzie ◽  
Romola S. Bucks ◽  
Michael Weinborn ◽  
Pierrick Bourgeat ◽  
Olivier Salvado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Reserve

scholarly journals Neuropsychological Test Performance and Cognitive Reserve in Healthy Aging and the Alzheimer's Disease Spectrum: A Theoretically Driven Factor Analysis

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 1071-1080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan B. Mitchell ◽  
Lynn W. Shaughnessy ◽  
Steven D. Shirk ◽  
Frances M. Yang ◽  
Alireza Atri
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Cognitive Change ◽  
Control Group

AbstractAccurate measurement of cognitive function is critical for understanding the disease course of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Detecting cognitive change over time can be confounded by level of premorbid intellectual function or cognitive reserve and lead to under- or over-diagnosis of cognitive impairment and AD. Statistical models of cognitive performance that include cognitive reserve can improve sensitivity to change and clinical efficacy. We used confirmatory factor analysis to test a four-factor model composed of memory/language, processing speed/executive function, attention, and cognitive reserve factors in a group of cognitively healthy older adults and a group of participants along the spectrum of amnestic mild cognitive impairment to AD (aMCI-AD). The model showed excellent fit for the control group (χ2 = 100; df = 78; CFI = .962; RMSEA = .049) and adequate fit for the aMCI-AD group (χ2 = 1750; df = 78; CFI = .932; RMSEA = .085). Although strict invariance criteria were not met, invariance testing to determine if factor structures are similar across groups yielded acceptable absolute model fits and provide evidence in support of configural, metric, and scalar invariance. These results provide further support for the construct validity of cognitive reserve in healthy and memory impaired older adults. (JINS, 2012, 18, 1–10)

scholarly journals 402 - Cognitive reserve and linguistic skills in Spanish older adults with Alzheimer’s disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (S1) ◽  
pp. 118-118
Author(s):  
Cristina G. Dumitrache ◽  
Laura Rubio ◽  
Nuria Calet ◽  
José Andrés González ◽  
Ian C. Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Semantic Fluency ◽  
Global Deterioration Scale ◽  
Age Related

Background:Cognitive reserve, or the extent to which brain can cope with damage, is associated with extended healthy aging and with slow age-related cognitive decline, as well as a lower number of dementia-associated clinical cognitive signs. Thus, understanding how cognitive reserve might affect different cognitive abilities is important. This study aims at investigating the associations between cognitive reserve and linguistic abilities in a group of Spanish older adults with Alzheimer’s disease.Method:The sample comprised 25 older adults with a clinical diagnostic of AD with mild to moderate dementia, and 25 controls who were residing in care homes from the province of Granada and with ages between 52 and 92 years old (M= 83.40, SD= 7.18). The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Global Deterioration Scale, the Cognitive Reserve Questionnaire, and the Short Form of the Boston Naming Test for Individuals with Aphasia were used to collect data. Correlations and regression analysis were performed.Results:Results showed that cognitive reserve positively and significantly correlated with naming and with phonological fluency but not with semantic fluency word or sentence repetitions or with the global cognitive functioning and the severity of cognitive impairment. The regression analysis showed that cognitive reserve explained 24.7% of the variance in spontaneous naming (F=3.764, p=.039). On the contrary cognitive reserve did not predict verbal fluency.Conclusions:People with higher cognitive reserve score obtained higher scores in phonological fluency and in spontaneous naming and in naming after a semantic clue. Thus, cognitive reserve is linked with better linguistic abilities in AD patients and therefore it should be considered when designing speech therapy interventions for these patients.

scholarly journals Partial Least Squares Analysis of Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers, Modifiable Health Variables, and Cognition in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Jessica Stark ◽  
Daniela J. Palombo ◽  
Jasmeet P. Hayes ◽  
Kelly J. Hiersche ◽  
Alexander N. Hasselbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Growth Factors ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Partial Least Squares Analysis

ABSTRACT Objectives: To identify novel associations between modifiable physical and health variables, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarkers, and cognitive function in a cohort of older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Methods: Metrics of cardiometabolic risk, stress, inflammation, neurotrophic/growth factors, AD, and cognition were assessed in 154 MCI participants (Mean age = 74.1 years) from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Partial Least Squares analysis was employed to examine associations among these physiological variables and cognition. Results: Latent variable 1 revealed a unique combination of AD biomarkers, neurotrophic/growth factors, education, and stress that were significantly associated with specific domains of cognitive function, including episodic memory, executive function, processing speed, and language, representing 45.2% of the cross-block covariance in the data. Age, body mass index, and metrics tapping basic attention or premorbid IQ were not significant. Conclusions: Our data-driven analysis highlights the significant relationships between metrics associated with AD pathology, neuroprotection, and neuroplasticity, primarily with tasks tapping episodic memory, executive function, processing speed, and verbal fluency rather than more basic tasks that do not require mental manipulation (basic attention and vocabulary). These data also indicate that biological metrics are more strongly associated with episodic memory, executive function, and processing speed than chronological age in older adults with MCI.

Temporal Dynamic Changes of Intrinsic Brain Activity Associated with Cognitive Reserve in Prodromal Alzheimer’s Disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Yajie Lin ◽  
Qingze Zeng ◽  
MengJie Hu ◽  
Guoping Peng ◽  
Benyan Luo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Education Group ◽  
The Right

Background: Cognitive reserve (CR) is an important protective factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), yet its mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Objective: To explore the effect of CR on resting and dynamic brain intrinsic activity in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: 65 amyloid-β PET-negative (Aβ-) normal controls (NC) and 30 amyloid-β PET-positive (Aβ+) MCI patients underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging were included from Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. According to the years of education, the subjects were divided into high education group and low education group. A two-way analysis of variance was employed for the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) and dynamic fALFF (dfALFF) comparisons among the four groups. Moreover, the interaction effect of neuroimaging×pathology on clinical cognitive function was tested with linear regression analysis. Results: The value of fALFF in the left prefrontal lobe was increased in Aβ+ MCI patients compared to Aβ- NC. The significant interactive effect between disease state and education (binary factor) was observed in the right parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) for fALFF, the right PHG and the right inferior parietal lobule for dfALFF. While no significant results between education (continuous factor) and brain activity was found in voxel-by-voxel analysis. For MCI patients, a significant fluorodeoxyglucose hypometabolic convergence index×right PHG dfALFF interaction was found, indicating the maintenance of executive function at higher levels of dfALFF in the right PHG. Conclusion: High CR can alleviate the impairment of hypometabolism on executive function in MCI patients, which is partially achieved by regulating the dynamic brain activity in the right PHG.

scholarly journals Neuropsychological Profiles and Trajectories in Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 693-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean K. Ho ◽  
Daniel A. Nation ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Semantic Fluency ◽  
Cognitively Normal

AbstractObjectives: The present study investigated the independent and synergistic effects of amyloid beta (Aβ1-42) and phosphorylated tau (Ptau) pathologies on neuropsychological profiles and trajectories in cognitively normal older adults. Methods: Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative participants identified as cognitively normal at baseline underwent longitudinal assessment (N=518; 0, 12, 24, 36 months), baseline lumbar puncture and follow-up cognitive exams. Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) biomarker profiles (Aβ-Ptau-, Aβ+Ptau-, Aβ-Ptau+, Aβ+Ptau+) were compared on baseline profiles and trajectories for memory (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test), attention/executive function (Trail Making Test, A and B), language (Animal Fluency, Vegetable Fluency, Boston Naming Test) and processing speed (Digit Symbol) using multilevel models. Results: The Aβ+Ptau+ group exhibited significantly worse baseline performance on tests of memory and executive function relative to the Aβ-Ptau+ and Aβ-Ptau- groups. The Aβ+Ptau- group fell between the Aβ+Ptau+ participants and the Aβ-Ptau- and Aβ-Ptau+ groups on all three cognitive domains and exhibited worse baseline executive function. The Aβ-Ptau+ group performed worse than Aβ-Ptau- participants on processing speed. Over 36-month follow-up, the Aβ+Ptau+ group exhibited the greatest declines in memory and semantic fluency compared to all other groups. Conclusions: Cognitively normal older adults with both Aβ and Ptau pathology exhibited the weakest profile, marked by the worst memory decline compared to the other groups. Other subtle changes in this group included declines in executive function and semantic fluency. Those with Ptau pathology alone showed slowed processing speed, and those with Aβ pathology alone showed worse attention and executive function compared to biomarker negative participants. (JINS, 2018, 24, 1–10)

scholarly journals A social dancing pilot intervention for older adults at high risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 183-194
Author(s):  
Helena M Blumen ◽  
Emmeline Ayers ◽  
Cuiling Wang ◽  
Anne F Ambrose ◽  
Joe Verghese
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Digit Symbol ◽  
Digit Symbol Substitution ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Symbol Substitution ◽  
Flanker Interference

Close to 6 million older US adults have Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, yet there is currently no cure or effective treatment. This single-blind randomized controlled trial (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03475316) aims to establish feasibility, and explore the relative efficacy, of a 6-month social ballroom dancing intervention versus a 6-month active control intervention (treadmill walking) for improving executive function in 32 older adults at increased risk for Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. Dementia-at-risk status is determined with cut-scores on the memory impairment screen (≥3 to ≤6) and/or the AD8 Dementia Screening Interview (≥1). The primary outcome is a composite executive function score from digit-symbol substitution, flanker interference and walking-while-talking tasks. The secondary outcome is functional neuroplasticity during fMRI-adapted versions of digit-symbol substitution, flanker interference and walking-while-talking.

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