scholarly journals Higher circulating α-carotene was associated with better cognitive function: an evaluation among the MIND trial participants

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoran Liu ◽  
Klodian Dhana ◽  
Jeremy D. Furtado ◽  
Puja Agarwal ◽  
Neelum T. Aggarwal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Semantic Memory ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Population At Risk ◽  
Global Cognition ◽  
The Mind

Abstract There is emerging evidence linking fruit and vegetable consumption and cognitive function. However, studies focusing on the nutrients underlying this relationship are lacking. We aim to examine the association between plasma nutrients and cognition in a population at risk for cognitive decline with a suboptimal diet. The Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) trial is a randomized controlled intervention that examines the effects of the MIND diet to prevent cognitive decline. The primary outcome is global cognition. A multivariate linear model was used to investigate the association between blood nutrients and global and/or domain-specific cognition. The model was adjusted for age, sex, education, study site, smoking status, cognitive activities and physical activities. High plasma α-carotene was associated with better global cognition. Participants in the highest tertile of plasma α-carotene had a higher global cognition z score of 0⋅17 when compared with individuals in the lowest tertile (P 0⋅002). Circulating α-carotene levels were also associated with higher semantic memory scores (P for trend 0⋅007). Lutein and zeaxanthin (combined) was positively associated with higher semantic memory scores (P for trend 0⋅009). Our study demonstrated that higher α-carotene levels in blood were associated with higher global cognition scores in a US population at risk for cognitive decline. The higher α-carotene levels in blood reflected greater intakes of fruits, other types of vegetables and lesser intakes of butter and margarine and meat. The higher circulating levels of lutein plus zeaxanthin reflected a dietary pattern with high intakes of fruits, green leafy, other vegetables and cheese, and low consumption of fried foods. Objective nutrient markers in the blood can better characterize dietary intake, which may facilitate the implementation of a tailored dietary intervention for the prevention of cognitive decline.

scholarly journals Higher Plasma α-Carotene Was Associated With Better Cognitive Function: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation Among the MIND Trial Participants

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 32-32
Author(s):  
Xiaoran Liu ◽  
Klodian Dhana ◽  
Jeremy Furtado ◽  
Puja Agarwal ◽  
Neelum Aggarwal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
High Plasma ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Population At Risk ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Global Cognition ◽  
The Mind

Abstract Objectives There is emerging evidence linking fruit and vegetable consumption and cognitive function. However, mechanistic evidence underlying this relationship is lacking. We aim to examine the association between plasma carotenoids and cognition in a population at risk for cognitive decline. Methods The Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) trial (R01 AG052583) is an ongoing randomized controlled intervention on the effects of the MIND diet in preventing cognitive decline. The primary outcome is global cognition assessed using a battery of 12 cognitive tests. Plasma carotenoid levels were measured in 295 participants. Multivariate linear regression models were used to examine the association between blood nutrients and global and domain-specific cognition. Model was adjusted for age, sex, education, study site, smoking status, and frequency of cognitive and physical activities. The Benjamini-Hochberg method with a false discovery rate of 0.25 was used for multiple testing. Results Participants are predominantly Caucasian females (68%) with obesity (BMI 33.6) and a mean age of 69.8 years. High plasma α-carotene was associated with higher average scores for a global measure of cognition. Individuals in the highest tertile of plasma α-carotene levels (tertile median: 155.8 mcg/L) had a higher average score of 0.17 for global cognition compared to those in the lowest tertile (tertile median: 34.9 mcg/L, P = 0.002). Individuals with high plasma α-carotene levels had a dietary pattern that featured high consumption of vegetables other than green leafy vegetables (i.e., carrots, corn, beets, green beans, and onions), and fruits, as well as, lower consumption of butter, margarine, and fried foods. Plasma levels of α-carotene (p for trend 0.007) and lutein plus zeaxanthin (p for trend 0.009) were also associated with higher mean scores for semantic memory. Conclusions Higher circulating levels of specific forms of carotenoids i.e., α-carotene, lutein plus zeaxanthin was associated with higher scores of global and domain-specific cognitive function in a US population at risk for cognitive decline. Funding Sources Funding: R01 AG052583

Arterial Stiffness Is Associated with White Matter Disruption and Cognitive Impairment: A Community-Based Cohort Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 567-576
Author(s):  
Fei Han ◽  
Fei-Fei Zhai ◽  
Ming-Li Li ◽  
Li-Xin Zhou ◽  
Jun Ni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Arterial Stiffness ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Mean Diffusivity ◽  
White Matter Injury ◽  
White Matter Integrity ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: Mechanisms through which arterial stiffness impacts cognitive function are crucial for devising better strategies to prevent cognitive decline. Objective: To examine the associations of arterial stiffness with white matter integrity and cognition in community dwellings, and to investigate whether white matter injury was the intermediate of the associations between arterial stiffness and cognition. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional analysis on 952 subjects (aged 55.5±9.1 years) who underwent diffusion tensor imaging and measurement of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Both linear regression and tract-based spatial statistics were used to investigate the association between baPWV and white matter integrity. The association between baPWV and global cognitive function, measured as the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) was evaluated. Mediation analysis was performed to assess the influence of white matter integrity on the association of baPWV with MMSE. Results: Increased baPWV was significantly associated with lower mean global fractional anisotropy (β= –0.118, p < 0.001), higher mean diffusivity (β= 0.161, p < 0.001), axial diffusivity (β= 0.160, p < 0.001), and radial diffusivity (β= 0.147, p < 0.001) after adjustment of age, sex, and hypertension, which were measures having a direct effect on arterial stiffness and white matter integrity. After adjustment of age, sex, education, apolipoprotein E ɛ4, cardiovascular risk factors, and brain atrophy, we found an association of increased baPWV with worse performance on MMSE (β= –0.093, p = 0.011). White matter disruption partially mediated the effect of baPWV on MMSE. Conclusion: Arterial stiffness is associated with white matter disruption and cognitive decline. Reduced white matter integrity partially explained the effect of arterial stiffness on cognition.

Long-Term Cognitive Decline After Stroke: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis

Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica W. Lo ◽  
John D. Crawford ◽  
David W. Desmond ◽  
Hee-Joon Bae ◽  
Jae-Sung Lim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Recurrent Stroke ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Individual Participant Data ◽  
Individual Participant ◽  
Global Cognition

Background and Purpose: Poststroke cognitive impairment is common, but the trajectory and magnitude of cognitive decline after stroke is unclear. We examined the course and determinants of cognitive change after stroke using individual participant data from the Stroke and Cognition Consortium. Methods: Nine longitudinal hospital-based cohorts from 7 countries were included. Neuropsychological test scores and normative data were used to calculate standardized scores for global cognition and 5 cognitive domains. One-step individual participant data meta-analysis was used to examine the rate of change in cognitive function and risk factors for cognitive decline after stroke. Stroke-free controls were included to examine rate differences. Based on the literature and our own data that showed short-term improvement in cognitive function after stroke, key analyses were restricted to the period beginning 1-year poststroke to focus on its long-term effects. Results: A total of 1488 patients (mean age, 66.3 years; SD, 11.1; 98% ischemic stroke) were followed for a median of 2.68 years (25th–75th percentile: 1.21–4.14 years). After an initial period of improvement through up to 1-year poststroke, decline was seen in global cognition and all domains except executive function after adjusting for age, sex, education, vascular risk factors, and stroke characteristics (−0.053 SD/year [95% CI, −0.073 to −0.033]; P <0.001 for global cognition). Recurrent stroke and older age were associated with faster decline. Decline was significantly faster in patients with stroke compared with controls (difference=−0.078 SD/year [95% CI, −0.11 to −0.045]; P <0.001 for global cognition in a subgroup analysis). Conclusions: Patients with stroke experience cognitive decline that is faster than that of stroke-free controls from 1 to 3 years after onset. An increased rate of decline is associated with older age and recurrent stroke.

Abstract MP88: Fetuin-A, a Vascular Biomarker of Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 129 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail A Laughlin ◽  
Linda K McEvoy ◽  
Elizabeth Barrett-Connor ◽  
Lori B Daniels ◽  
Joachim H Ix
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Vascular Disease ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Fetuin A ◽  
High Functioning ◽  
Age Related

Objectives: The contribution of vascular disease to neurocognitive decline is now widely recognized. Fetuin-A is an abundant plasma protein known to predict vascular disease. Prior studies have shown that fetuin-A levels are lower in patients with Alzheimer’s disease in direct proportion to the severity of cognitive impairment; however, their association with normal cognitive aging is unknown. We evaluated the association of serum fetuin-A levels with cognitive function in relatively high-functioning, community-dwelling older adults from the Rancho Bernardo Study. Methods: This is a population-based study of 1382 older adults (median age 75) who had plasma fetuin-A levels and cognitive function evaluated in 1992-96; 855 had repeat cognitive function assessment a median of 4 years later. Results: Adjusting for age, sex, education, and depression, higher levels of fetuin-A were associated with better baseline performance on the Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) (P=0.012) and a tendency for better Trails Making B scores (P=0.066). In longitudinal analyses, the likelihood of a major decline (highest decile of change) in Trails B was 29% lower (P=0.010) for each SD higher baseline fetuin-A level; odds of major decline in MMSE was 42% lower (P=0.005) per SD higher fetuin-A for individuals with no known CVD, but were not related to fetuin-A in those with CVD (P=0.33). Fetuin-A was not related to Category Fluency performance. Results did not vary by sex and were not explained by numerous vascular risk factors and comorbidities. Conclusions: Higher plasma fetuin-A concentrations are associated with better performance on tests of global cognitive function and executive function and with reduced likelihood of major decline in these cognitive abilities over a 4-year period. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that higher fetuin-A protects against cognitive decline in relatively high functioning older adults, although this may be less apparent in those with established vascular disease. Fetuin-A may serve as a biological link between vascular disease and normal age-related cognitive decline.

Abstract WMP115: The Metabolic Syndrome Components and Cognitive Decline: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Stroke ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L Dearborn ◽  
David Knopman ◽  
Richey Sharrett ◽  
Andrea L Schneider ◽  
Clifford Jack ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Cognitive Change ◽  
Word Recall ◽  
Digit Symbol Substitution Test ◽  
The Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Aric Study

Background: Midlife obesity is associated with dementia in later life, but how the metabolic syndrome (MetS) relates to cognitive change is less understood. We hypothesized that MetS would be more predictive of 6-year cognitive decline than its individual components in a large biethnic cohort (the ARIC study) and that combinations of risk factors would further increase likelihood of change. Methods: The MetS was defined in 1987-89 on 10,687 participants with two cognitive assessments at two time points. In subjects aged 44 to 66, obesity measures included body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WTHR). The main outcome measure was change in 1990-92 to 96-99 of three cognitive tests: Delayed Word Recall (DWR), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), and Word Fluency Test (WFT). Linear and logistic regressions were all adjusted for age, combined race-center, sex, education, smoking, drinking, coronary artery disease and prior stroke. Change was measured as the difference divided by the number of years between visits. Results: At baseline, the prevalence of MetS was 22% (mean age 54 years, 27% black, 55% female, and 28% BMI>30 kg/m2). Subjects with MetS performed in the lowest test quintile (adjusted ORs: DWR 1.3 95% CI 1.1-1.4) in 1996-99, and much of this effect size was explained by an elevated WTHR (DWR OR 1.3 CI 1.1-1.5) and diabetes (DWR OR 1.4 CI 1.2-1.7). MetS was not associated with annual cognitive change, and diabetes was the only significant component associated with change (adjusted beta: DWR 0.03 p=.01, DSST 0.2 p<.001, WFT 0.09 p=.01). Conclusion: MetS at ages 44 to 66 was associated with worse cognitive function at follow-up, but not with annual cognitive decline over several years. Elevated WTHR and diabetes explained most of the association of MetS with cognitive function measures, and diabetes with cognitive decline. Until we have a definition of the MetS more based on pathophysiology, the components of the MetS should be the focus of analysis in future studies.

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