scholarly journals Self-reported memory impairment and brain PET of amyloid and tau in middle-aged and older adults without dementia

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 1076-1084 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Merrill ◽  
Prabha Siddarth ◽  
Nathan Y. Saito ◽  
Linda M. Ercoli ◽  
Alison C. Burggren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Item Analysis ◽  
Normal Aging ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Brain Pathology ◽  
Factor Scores ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Positron Emission

ABSTRACTBackground: Whether perceived changes in memory parallel changes in brain pathology is uncertain. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans using 2-(1-{6-[(2-[F-18]fluoroethyl)(methyl)amino]-2-naphthyl}ethylidene)malononitrile (FDDNP) can measure levels of amyloid plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles in vivo. Here we investigate whether degree of self-reported memory impairment is associated with FDDNP-PET binding levels in persons without dementia.Methods: Fifty-seven middle-aged and older adults without dementia (mean age ±standard deviation = 66.3 ± 10.6 years), including 25 with normal aging and 32 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), were assessed. The outcome measures were the four factor scores of the Memory Functioning Questionnaire (MFQ) (frequency of forgetting, seriousness of forgetting, retrospective functioning, and mnemonics use) and FDDNP-PET binding levels in medial temporal, lateral temporal, posterior cingulate, parietal, frontal, and global (overall average) regions of interest.Results: After controlling for age, higher reported frequency of forgetting was associated with greater medial temporal (r = −0.29, p = 0.05), parietal (r = −0.30, p = 0.03), frontal (r = −0.35, p = 0.01), and global FDDNP-PET binding levels (r = −0.33, p = 0.02). The remaining MFQ factor scores were not significantly associated with FDDNP-PET binding levels, and no significant differences were found between normal aging and MCI subjects. Item analysis of the frequency of forgetting factor revealed five questions that yielded similar results as the full 32-question scale (r = −0.52, p = 0.0002).Conclusions: These findings suggest that some forms of memory self-awareness, in particular the reported frequency of forgetting, may reflect the extent of cerebral amyloid and tau brain pathology.

scholarly journals Computed Tomography and Positron Emission Transaxial Tomography Evaluations of Normal Aging and Alzheimer's Disease

1983 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mony J. de Leon ◽  
Steven H. Ferris ◽  
Ajax E. George ◽  
Barry Reisberg ◽  
David R. Christman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Senile Dementia ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Normal Aging ◽  
Biochemical Changes ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
Glucose Metabolic Rate ◽  
Brain Changes ◽  
In Vivo Diagnosis

Young normal subjects, old normal subjects, and patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type (SDAT) were studied with both computed tomography (CT) and positron emission transaxial tomography (PETT). Increases in ventricular size with both aging and disease were measured. Regional glucose metabolic rate was not affected by age, but was markedly reduced in SDAT patients. These data indicate that in normal aging, structural brain changes may be more salient than biochemical changes. Although both structural and biochemical changes occur in SDAT, the biochemical changes are more marked. The results suggest that PETT is potentially more useful than CT in the in vivo diagnosis of SDAT.

scholarly journals A-163 APOE ε4 Alters Self-Awareness of Executive Function in Cognitively Intact Middle Aged and Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 957-957
Author(s):  
Evans S ◽  
Paitel E ◽  
Gregg T ◽  
Ballard Z ◽  
Otteman C ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Apoe Ε4 ◽  
Trail Making ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Cognitively Intact

Abstract Objective Subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) may be an early indicator of future cognitive decline. Although early executive function (EF) decline in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may be a sensitive predictor, the predicative utility of SCCs specific to EF is unknown. Thus, this study examined whether EF performance predicts SCCs of EF in healthy, well-educated middle aged and older adults, and whether carrying of APOE ε4 alters that prediction. Method Fifty-five cognitively intact middle aged to older adults (Mage = 64.1, range = 48–84, 19 e4+) completed the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe) Executive Dysfunction Scale (EXECDYS) to measure SCCs and an EF battery (Trail-making A&B, Symbol-digit Modalities Test, verbal fluency (letter, category), which principal components analysis (varimax rotation) reduced to a single EF factor. We examined whether SCCs (EXECDYS) were predicted by EF performance (age, depression covaried), and whether ε4 moderated that prediction (PROCESS 3.0). Results The model was significant (R2 = 0.31; p = 0.002), with a significant EXECDYS X ε4 interaction (ß = 4.24, t(55) = 2.37; p = .02), indicating that EF performance predicted EXECDYS, but in ε4-carriers only, those with poorer EF were less aware of that dysfunction. Conclusions Amongst APOE ε4-carriers, a group with high risk for AD, those with poorer EF had less accurate self-awareness of their EF, suggesting earlier formal assessment is needed in ε4-carriers to detect decline. Furthermore, as our study examined healthy, well-educated, cognitively intact adults from middle age, these findings suggest ε4-carriers are at particularly high risk for AD if their self-awareness and performance of EF are both low. Combining EF assessment with self-appraisal of EF may aid AD diagnostics.

scholarly journals In Vivo Fibrillar β-Amyloid Detected Using [11C]PiB Positron Emission Tomography and Neuropathologic Assessment in Older Adults

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jitka Sojkova ◽  
Ira Driscoll ◽  
Diego Iacono ◽  
Yun Zhou ◽  
Kari-Elise Codispoti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Positron Emission Tomography ◽  
Emission Tomography ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
Β Amyloid

scholarly journals In Vivo Cortical Microstructure - A Proxy for Tauopathy & Cognitive Impairment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A.E. Anderson ◽  
Christin Schifani ◽  
Arash Nazeri ◽  
Aristotle N. Voineskos
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Free Water ◽  
Multiple Factor Analysis ◽  
Mediation Analyses ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
Proxy Measure ◽  
The Impact

Aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein is currently one of the most reliable indicators of Alzheimer's pathology and cognitive impairment in older adults. However, it would be useful to have a non-invasive, accessible proxy measure that does not rely on Positron Emission Tomography (PET). We used data from multi-shell diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to assess indices from the Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI) model to determine possible proxies for tau and relationship with cognitive impairment. After controlling for age, sex, and the time difference between the scan acquisitions (DWI vs. PET), we used multiple factor analysis (MFA) to assess the fit between NODDI indices (orientation dispersion [ODI], neurite density [NDI], and free-water [fISO]), cortical thickness, and tau binding (via PET). We used data from 80 participants from the ADNI-3 sample who had a multi-shell DWI and an [18F]AV-1451 (tau) PET scan. Of these 80, 49 individuals were considered cognitively normal older adults (age ~74 years), 26 individuals had a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (age ~75 years), and five individuals had Alzheimer's dementia (age ~78 years). fISO and tau shared a large amount of spatial overlap, and both strongly correlated with the first MFA dimension. Macrostructural features (such as cortical thickness and subcortical volume) introduced in a follow-up analysis were less related to this first MFA dimension than fISO and eight percent less than tau. Subsequent mediation analyses demonstrated that fISO mediated the relationship between cortical thickness and tau, explaining all of the variance. Microstructural features derived from advanced DWI acquisitions such as fISO may be useful proxies for tau. Cortical fISO, rather than cortical thickness, may represent the impact of tau on the brain (and, by extension, cognition).

Visual Memory Deficits in Middle-Aged APOE ɛ4 Homozygotes Detected Using Unsupervised Cognitive Assessments

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 1563-1573
Author(s):  
Yen Ying Lim ◽  
Matthew P. Pase ◽  
Rachel F. Buckley ◽  
Nawaf Yassi ◽  
Lisa Bransby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Saliva Sample ◽  
Imaging Biomarkers ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Cognitive Assessments ◽  
Subjective Cognitive Function ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

Background: The apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ4 allele is associated with dose-response effects on cognitive dysfunction and dementia risk in older adults. However, its effects on cognition in middle-aged adults remains unclear. Objective: We examined effects of ɛ4 heterozygosity and homozygosity on objective and subjective cognition in middle-aged adults enrolled in the Healthy Brain Project (HBP) and in older adults from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) study. Methods: HBP participants (1,000 non-carriers; 450 ɛ4 heterozygotes; 50 ɛ4 homozygotes) completed unsupervised assessments of the Cogstate Brief Battery (CBB), ratings of subjective cognitive function and provided a saliva sample. AIBL cognitively normal participants (650 non-carriers; 204 ɛ4 heterozygotes; 31 ɛ4 homozygotes) completed in-person assessments of the CBB, ratings of subjective cognitive function and provided a blood sample. Results: Greater memory impairment was observed in middle-aged ɛ4 homozygotes compared with ɛ4 heterozygotes and non-carriers. When data from middle-aged (HBP) and older (AIBL) adults were pooled, the effect of ɛ4 homozygosity and memory impairment increased with age. In both middle-aged and older adults, ɛ4 heterozygotes did not differ from non-carriers on any measure of objective or subjective cognition. Conclusion: Memory impairment in ɛ4 homozygotes is evident in adults aged 50-60 years, and this can be detected through unsupervised cognitive assessments. The effect of ɛ4 homozygosity increases with older age. APOE ɛ4 homozygosity has a negative impact on memory as early as midlife, but due to the subtle magnitude of effect, our findings support the necessity of online platforms in large cohorts to assess these complex relationships.

scholarly journals Sleep quality, neurocognitive performance, and memory self-appraisal in middle-aged and older adults with memory complaints

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Prabha Siddarth ◽  
Kitikan Thana-udom ◽  
Rashi Ojha ◽  
David Merrill ◽  
Joseph M. Dzierzewski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Objective Measures ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Neurocognitive Performance ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Memory Complaints ◽  
Subjective Cognitive Function

ABSTRACT Objective: Because of inconsistent findings regarding the relationship between sleep quality and cognitive function in people with age-related memory complaints, we examined how self-reports of sleep quality were related to multiple domains of both objective and subjective cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults. Design: A cross-sectional study involving analysis of baseline data, collected as part of a clinical trial. Measurements: Two hundred and three participants (mean age = 60.4 [6.5] years, 69.0% female) with mild memory complaints were asked to rate their sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and their memory performance using the Memory Functioning Questionnaire (MFQ), which measures self-awareness of memory ability. Neurocognitive performance was evaluated using the Continuous Performance Test (CPT), Trail Making Test, Buschke Selective Reminding Test, and the Brief Visuospatial Test – Revised (BVMT-R). Results: Total PSQI scores were significantly associated with objective measures of sustained attention (CPT hit reaction time by block and standard error by block) and subjective memory loss (MFQ frequency and seriousness of forgetting). The PSQI components of (poorer) sleep quality and (greater) sleep disturbance were related to (worse) sustained attention scores while increased sleep latency and daytime sleepiness were associated with greater frequency and seriousness of forgetting. Conclusions: Sleep quality is related to both objective measures of sustained attention and self-awareness of memory decline. These findings suggest that interventions for improving sleep quality may contribute not only to improving the ability to focus on a particular task but also in reducing memory complaints in middle-aged and older adults.

scholarly journals Testing enhances subsequent learning in older adults

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard Pastötter ◽  
Karl-Heinz T. Bäuml
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Proactive Interference ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Recall Test ◽  
Retrieval Practice ◽  
Initial Study ◽  
Developmental Trajectory ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Prior List

Interference susceptibility has been suggested to be a major factor for episodic memory impairment in healthy older adults. Previous work has shown that retrieval practice can reduce proactive interference and thus enhance learning and memory in younger adults, a finding referred to as the forward effect of testing in the literature. This study examined the late developmental trajectory of the forward effect in middle-aged and older adults (40 to 79 years of age). Participants studied three lists of items in anticipation of a final cumulative recall test. In the testing condition, participants were tested immediately on lists 1 and 2 after initial study, whereas in the restudy condition, they restudied lists 1 and 2. In both conditions, participants were tested immediately on list 3. The results of the immediate list 3 recall test showed a reliable forward effect of testing, with interim testing of lists 1 and 2 enhancing list 3 recall and reducing the number of prior-list intrusions. Importantly, this effect of testing was found independent of participants’ age. These results suggest that retrieval practice can reduce proactive interference in middle-aged and older adults. Together with recent findings on the presence of the backward effect of testing in older adults – that is, improved recall of studied material after retrieval versus restudy –, these findings indicate that retrieval practice can be a very powerful tool to delimit memory impairment in older age.

Mild memory impairment in healthy older adults is distinct from normal aging

2006 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Weaver Cargin ◽  
P. Maruff ◽  
A. Collie ◽  
C. Masters
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Normal Aging ◽  
Healthy Older Adults

scholarly journals Changes in cytoplasmic and extracellular neuromelanin in human substantia nigra with normal aging

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (s1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitrii E. Korzhevskii ◽  
Olga V. Kirik ◽  
Valeriia V. Guselnikova ◽  
Darya L. Tsyba ◽  
Elena A. Fedorova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Substantia Nigra ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Dopaminergic Neurons ◽  
Normal Aging ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Catecholaminergic Neurons ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Middle Aged Adults ◽  
The Brain

Neuromelanin (NM) is a dark polymer pigment produced in certain populations of catecholaminergic neurons in the brain. It is present in various areas of the human brain, most often in the substantia nigra (SN) pars compacta and the locus coeruleus, the main centers of dopaminergic and noradrenergic innervation, respectively. Interest in NM has revived in recent years due to the alleged link between NM and the particular vulnerability of neuromelanin-containing neurons to neurodegeneration. The aim of this work was to study the structural, cytochemical, and localization features of cytoplasmic and extracellular neuromelanin in the human SN pars compacta during normal aging. Sections of human SN from young/middle-aged adults (25 to 51 years old, n=7) and older adults (60 to 78 years old, n=5), all of which had no neurological disorders, were stained histochemically for metals (Perls’ reaction, Mayer's hematoxylin) and immunohistochemically for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and Iba-1. It was shown that dopaminergic neurons in SN pars compacta differ in the amount of neuromelanin and the intensity of TH-immunoreactivity. The number of neuromelanin-containing neurons with decreased TH-immunoreactivity positively correlates with age. Extracellular NM is present in SN pars compacta in both young/middle-aged and older adults. The number of extracellular NM accumulations increases with aging. Cytoplasmic and extracellular NM are predominantly not stained using histochemical methods for detecting metals in people of all ages. We did not detect the appearance of amoeboid microglia in human SN pars compacta with aging, but we found an age-related increase in microglial phagocytic activity. The absence of pronounced microgliosis, as well as a pronounced loss of neuromelanin-containing neurons, indicate the absence of neuroinflammation in human SN pars compacta during normal aging.

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