Worth the Wait: Delayed Recall after 1 Week Predicts Cognitive and Medial Temporal Lobe Trajectories in Older Adults

Abstract Objective: We evaluated whether memory recall following an extended (1 week) delay predicts cognitive and brain structural trajectories in older adults. Method: Clinically normal older adults (52–92 years old) were followed longitudinally for up to 8 years after completing a memory paradigm at baseline [Story Recall Test (SRT)] that assessed delayed recall at 30 min and 1 week. Subsets of the cohort underwent neuroimaging (N = 134, mean age = 75) and neuropsychological testing (N = 178–207, mean ages = 74–76) at annual study visits occurring approximately 15–18 months apart. Mixed-effects regression models evaluated if baseline SRT performance predicted longitudinal changes in gray matter volumes and cognitive composite scores, controlling for demographics. Results: Worse SRT 1-week recall was associated with more precipitous rates of longitudinal decline in medial temporal lobe volumes (p = .037), episodic memory (p = .003), and executive functioning (p = .011), but not occipital lobe or total gray matter volumes (demonstrating neuroanatomical specificity; p > .58). By contrast, SRT 30-min recall was only associated with longitudinal decline in executive functioning (p = .044). Conclusions: Memory paradigms that capture longer-term recall may be particularly sensitive to age-related medial temporal lobe changes and neurodegenerative disease trajectories.

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Accelerometer Physical Activity is Associated with Greater Gray Matter Volumes in Older Adults Without Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gby010 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 74 (7) ◽

pp. 1142-1151 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Shannon Halloway ◽

Konstantinos Arfanakis ◽

JoEllen Wilbur ◽

Michael E Schoeny ◽

Susan J Pressler

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Gray Matter Atrophy ◽

Age Related ◽

Gray Matter Volumes

Abstract Objectives Physical activity (PA) is a modifiable health behavior that can protect against age-related gray matter atrophy and cognitive dysfunction. Current studies of PA and gray matter failed to utilize device measures of PA and do not focus on adults >80 years. Thus, the purpose of this secondary analysis was to examine cross-sectional associations between accelerometer lifestyle PA and (a) gray matter volumes and (b) cognitive function, controlling for demographics, and health status. Method Participants were 262 older adults without dementia or mild cognitive impairment from Rush Memory and Aging Project, an epidemiological cohort study. Participants wore an accelerometer to assess total daily lifestyle PA, and completed anatomical magnetic resonance imaging to assess gray matter volumes and a neurocognitive test battery to assess cognitive function. Results Multivariate linear regression indicated that higher levels of total daily lifestyle PA was significantly related to larger gray matter volumes, F(2, 215) = 3.61, p = .027, including subcortical gray matter (β = 0.17, p = .007) and total gray matter (β = 0.11, p = .049), with no significant associations between lifestyle PA and cognitive function. Discussion These findings may inform future lifestyle PA interventions in order to attenuate age-related gray matter atrophy.

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Performance on a 1-week delayed recall task is associated with medial temporal lobe structures in neurologically normal older adults

The Clinical Neuropsychologist ◽

10.1080/13854046.2017.1370134 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 456-467 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

R. Saloner ◽

K. B. Casaletto ◽

G. Marx ◽

S. Dutt ◽

A. B. Vanden Bussche ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Temporal Lobe ◽

Medial Temporal Lobe ◽

Recall Task ◽

Delayed Recall ◽

Neurologically Normal

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Spontaneous Eye Blinks Predict Executive Functioning in Seniors

Journal of Cognitive Enhancement ◽

10.1007/s41465-021-00217-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jessika I. V. Buitenweg ◽

Jaap M. J. Murre ◽

K. Richard Ridderinkhof

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Working Memory ◽

Executive Functioning ◽

Cognitive Training ◽

Functional Decline ◽

Future Research ◽

Blink Rate ◽

Memory Updating ◽

Age Related ◽

Working Memory Updating

AbstractAs the world’s population is aging rapidly, cognitive training is an extensively used approach to attempt improvement of age-related cognitive functioning. With increasing numbers of older adults required to remain in the workforce, it is important to be able to reliably predict future functional decline, as well as the individual advantages of cognitive training. Given the correlation between age-related decline and striatal dopaminergic function, we investigated whether eye blink rate (EBR), a non-invasive, indirect indicator of dopaminergic activity, could predict executive functioning (response inhibition, switching and working memory updating) as well as trainability of executive functioning in older adults. EBR was collected before and after a cognitive flexibility training, cognitive training without flexibility, or a mock training. EBR predicted working memory updating performance on two measures of updating, as well as trainability of working memory updating, whereas performance and trainability in inhibition and switching tasks could not be predicted by EBR. Our findings tentatively indicate that EBR permits prediction of working memory performance in older adults. To fully interpret the relationship with executive functioning, we suggest future research should assess both EBR and dopamine receptor availability among seniors.

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The Relations Between Physical Activity Level, Executive Function, and White Matter Microstructure in Older Adults

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2021-0012 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Marissa A. Gogniat ◽

Catherine M. Mewborn ◽

Talia L. Robinson ◽

Kharine R. Jean ◽

L. Stephen Miller

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Executive Function ◽

White Matter ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Neuropsychological Testing ◽

Activity Level ◽

Average Intensity ◽

Age Related

The population of older adults is increasing, indicating a need to examine factors that may prevent or mitigate age-related cognitive decline. The current study examined whether microstructural white matter characteristics mediated the relation between physical activity and executive function in older adults without any self-reported psychiatric and neurological disorders or cognitive impairment (N = 43, mean age = 73 y). Physical activity was measured by average intensity and number of steps via accelerometry. Diffusion tensor imaging was used to examine microstructural white matter characteristics, and neuropsychological testing was used to examine executive functioning. Parallel mediation models were analyzed using microstructural white matter regions of interest as mediators of the association between physical activity and executive function. Results indicated that average steps was significantly related to executive function (β = 0.0003, t = 2.829, P = .007), while moderate to vigorous physical activity was not (β = 0.0007, t = 1.772, P = .08). White matter metrics did not mediate any associations. This suggests that microstructural white matter characteristics alone may not be the mechanism by which physical activity impacts executive function in aging.

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Online social networking and cognitive performance in older adults: A Greek-Canadian study

Psychology: the Journal of the Hellenic Psychological Society ◽

10.12681/psy_hps.23254 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 43

Author(s):

Stephanie Hatzifilalithis ◽

Elisavet Chrysochoou ◽

George Pavlidis ◽

Ana B. Vivas

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Older Adults ◽

Executive Functioning ◽

Social Networking ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Online Social Networking ◽

Delayed Recall ◽

The Social ◽

Gender Education ◽

The Relationship

The present study examined the relation between cognitive performance and social networking in older adults from Canada and Greece. The two groups were matched on age, gender, education level, and MMSE scores. Participants reported the amount of both off-line and online networking, as well as the social support received in these contexts. Immediate and delayed recall, speed of processing, and executive functioning were also assessed. Online networking was associated with executive functioning. Interestingly, country context didn’t moderate the relationship, despite differences observed between Greeks and Canadians in executive functioning and online networking. Our findings suggest that online social participation could serve both as a source of social support and as cognitive training, benefiting older adults’ cognitive vitality. The findings are discussed in relation to the characteristics of the specific countries, stressing the need to explore the effects of online social networking and participation on cognitive function in the aging population.

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Leisure Activity Variety and Brain Volume Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Analysis of the Neuron to Environmental Impact Across Generations Study Data

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnagi.2021.758562 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

Author(s):

Ai Iizuka ◽

Hiroshi Murayama ◽

Masaki Machida ◽

Shiho Amagasa ◽

Shigeru Inoue ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Environmental Impact ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Brain Volume ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Leisure Activity ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Wide Range ◽

Gray Matter Volumes ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Background: Recent findings indicate that leisure activity (LA) delays cognitive decline and reduces the risk of dementia. However, the association between LA and brain volume remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the association between LA variety and brain volume with a focus on the hippocampus and gray matter.Methods: Data were obtained from the baseline survey of the Neuron to Environmental Impact across Generations study, which had targeted community-dwelling older adults living in Niigata, Japan. We divided LAs into 10 categories, and counted the number of categories of activities in which the participants engaged. We classified them as follows: 0 (i.e., no activity), 1, 2, or ≥ 3 types. Brain volume was assessed through magnetic resonance imaging, and hippocampal and gray matter volumes were ascertained.Results: The sample size was 482. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that hippocampal and gray matter volumes were significantly greater among participants with ≥ 3 types of LAs than among their no-activity counterparts. Hippocampal volume was significantly greater among those who engaged in one type of LA than among those who engaged in no such activity. Sex-stratified analysis revealed that hippocampal volumes were significantly greater among males who engaged in ≥ 3 types of LAs and one type of LA. However, no such association was found among females.Conclusion: The present findings suggest that engaging in a wide range of LAs is related to hippocampal and gray matter volumes. Furthermore, there was a sex difference in the association between LA variety and brain volume.

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Sedentary behavior associated with reduced medial temporal lobe thickness in middle-aged and older adults

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0195549 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. e0195549 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Prabha Siddarth ◽

Alison C. Burggren ◽

Harris A. Eyre ◽

Gary W. Small ◽

David A. Merrill

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Temporal Lobe ◽

Medial Temporal Lobe ◽

Middle Aged

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Association of Sleep, Neuropsychological Performance, and Gray Matter Volume With Glymphatic Function in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0000000000013215 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000013215

Author(s):

Tiing Yee Siow ◽

Cheng Hong Toh ◽

Jung-Lung Hsu ◽

Geng-Hao Liu ◽

Shwu-Hua Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Gray Matter Volume ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Intracranial Volume ◽

Waste Products ◽

Glymphatic System ◽

Matter Volume ◽

Gray Matter Volumes ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Background and Objectives:The glymphatic system, which is robustly enabled during some stages of sleep, is a fluid-transport pathway that clears cerebral waste products. Most contemporary knowledge regarding glymphatic system is inferred from rodent experiments and human research is limited. The objective of the research is to explore the associations between human glymphatic function, sleep, neuropsychological performances, and cerebral gray matter volumes.Methods:This cross-sectional study included individuals 60 years or older who had participated in the Integrating Systemic Data of Geriatric Medicine to Explore the Solution for Health Aging study between September 2019 and October 2020. Community-dwelling older adults were enrolled at 2 different sites. Participants with dementia, major depressive disorders, and other major organ system abnormalities were excluded. Sleep profile was accessed using questionnaires and polysomnography. Administered neuropsychological test batteries included Everyday Cognition (ECog) and the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease Neuropsychological Battery (CERAD-NB). Gray matter volumes were estimated based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Diffusion tensor imaging-analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index was used as the MRI marker of glymphatic function.Results:A total of 84 participants (mean [SD] age, 73.3 [7.1] years, 47 [56.0%] women) were analyzed. Multivariate linear regression model determined that age (unstandardized β, -0.0025 [SE, 0.0001]; P = 0.02), N2 sleep duration (unstandardized β, 0.0002 [SE, 0.0001]; P = 0.04), and the apnea-hypopnea index (unstandardized β, -0.0011 [SE, 0.0005]; P = 0.03) were independently associated with DTI-ALPS. Higher DTI-ALPS was associated with better ECog language scores (unstandardized β, -0.59 [SE, 0.28]; P = 0.04) and better CERAD-NB word-list-learning delayed recall subtest scores (unstandardized β, 6.17 [SE, 2.31]; P = 0.009) after co-varying for age and education. Higher DTI-ALPS was also associated with higher gray matter volume (unstandardized β, 107.00 [SE, 43.65]; P = 0.02) after controlling for age, gender, and total intracranial volume.Discussion:Significant associations were identified between glymphatic function and sleep stressing the importance of sleep for brain health. This study also revealed associations between DTI-ALPS, neuropsychological performances, and cerebral gray matter volumes suggesting the potential of DTI-ALPS as a biomarker for cognitive disorders.

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Atrophy and cognitive profiles in older adults with temporal lobe epilepsy are similar to mild cognitive impairment

Brain ◽

10.1093/brain/awaa397 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Erik Kaestner ◽

Anny Reyes ◽

Austin Chen ◽

Jun Rao ◽

Anna Christina Macari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Older Adults ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy ◽

Temporal Lobe ◽

Medial Temporal Lobe ◽

Late Onset ◽

Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract Epilepsy incidence and prevalence peaks in older adults yet systematic studies of brain ageing and cognition in older adults with epilepsy remain limited. Here, we characterize patterns of cortical atrophy and cognitive impairment in 73 older adults with temporal lobe epilepsy (>55 years) and compare these patterns to those observed in 70 healthy controls and 79 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment, the prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease. Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy were recruited from four tertiary epilepsy surgical centres; amnestic mild cognitive impairment and control subjects were obtained from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database. Whole brain and region of interest analyses were conducted between patient groups and controls, as well as between temporal lobe epilepsy patients with early-onset (age of onset <50 years) and late-onset (>50 years) seizures. Older adults with temporal lobe epilepsy demonstrated a similar pattern and magnitude of medial temporal lobe atrophy to amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Region of interest analyses revealed pronounced medial temporal lobe thinning in both patient groups in bilateral entorhinal, temporal pole, and fusiform regions (all P < 0.05). Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy demonstrated thinner left entorhinal cortex compared to amnestic mild cognitive impairment (P = 0.02). Patients with late-onset temporal lobe epilepsy had a more consistent pattern of cortical thinning than patients with early-onset epilepsy, demonstrating decreased cortical thickness extending into the bilateral fusiform (both P < 0.01). Both temporal lobe epilepsy and amnestic mild cognitive impairment groups showed significant memory and language impairment relative to healthy control subjects. However, despite similar performances in language and memory encoding, patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment demonstrated poorer delayed memory performances relative to both early and late-onset temporal lobe epilepsy. Medial temporal lobe atrophy and cognitive impairment overlap between older adults with temporal lobe epilepsy and amnestic mild cognitive impairment highlights the risks of growing old with epilepsy. Concerns regarding accelerated ageing and Alzheimer’s disease co-morbidity in older adults with temporal lobe epilepsy suggests an urgent need for translational research aimed at identifying common mechanisms and/or targeting symptoms shared across a broad neurological disease spectrum.

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