The Relationship Between Midlife and Late Life Alcohol Consumption, APOE e4 and the Decline in Learning and Memory Among Older Adults

AbstractThis brief report provides an introduction to the topic of cognitive functioning in late-life depression (LLD). In addition to providing a review of the literature, we present a framework for understanding the heterogeneity of cognitive outcomes in this highly prevalent disorder. In addition, we discuss the relationship between LLD and dementia, and highlight the importance of regularly assessing cognitive functioning in older adults who present with depressive symptoms. If cognitive deficits are discovered during a neuropsychological assessment, we recommend referral to a geriatric psychiatrist or cognitive neurologist, for evaluation and treatment of the patient’s symptoms. (JINS, 2014, 20, 1–7)

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BROODING MODERATES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CEREBROVASCULAR BURDEN AND VASCULAR DEPRESSION

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.3216 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S877-S878

Author(s):

Manuel Herrera Legon ◽

Daniel Paulson

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptomatology ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Late Life ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Self Report ◽

Future Research ◽

Late Life Depression ◽

Vascular Depression ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Objective: The vascular depression hypothesis posits that cerebrovascular burden confers risk for late-life depression. Though neuroanatomical correlates of vascular depression (prefrontal white matter hyperintensities) are well established, little is known about cognitive correlates; the identification of which may suggest therapeutic targets. Aims of this study are to examine the hypothesis that the relationship between cerebrovascular burden and depressive symptoms is moderated by brooding, a type of rumination. Method: A sample of 52 community-dwelling, stroke-free, individuals over the age of 70, without history of severe mental illness or dementia completed the Ruminative Responses Scale, and provided self-report (cardiac disease, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol) CVB data. The Geriatric Depression Scale was used to assess depressive symptomatology. Results: Results of a bootstrapped model were that self-reported measures of CVB predicted depressive symptomatology. This relationship was significantly moderated by brooding. Among older adults, those who self-reported high CVB and medium to elevated levels of rumination experienced disproportionately more depressive symptomatology. Conclusions: These findings suggest that brooding rumination may be one correlate of the vascular depression syndrome. Future research should examine neuroanatomical correlates of rumination among older adults, and further explore brooding as a therapeutic target for those with late-life depression.

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A-016 The Relationship between Visual Memory and Performance in Virtual Reality Among Older Adults

Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology ◽

10.1093/arclin/acaa068.016 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

pp. 806-806

Author(s):

Flores E ◽

Gutierrez R ◽

Shorter S ◽

Mollenkopf K ◽

Childers L ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Virtual Reality ◽

Learning And Memory ◽

Visual Memory ◽

Procedural Learning ◽

Virtual Reality Environment ◽

Meal Preparation ◽

Immediate Recall ◽

And Performance ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Objective Over the past fifty years, many traditional paper-and-pencil neuropsychological tests have been translated to new computerized devices (Canini et al., 2014). Virtual reality offers neuropsychologists an opportunity to observe patients’ neurocognitive functioning in an immersive, lifelike environment, rich in visual stimuli (Morganti, 2004), yet relatively little is known about the relationship between visual memory and performance on learning and memory tasks in virtual reality environments. The purpose of this study was to investigate, among older adults, the relationship between visual memory, as measured by a traditional paper-and-pencil test, and procedural learning and memory performance in a virtual reality environment simulating meal preparation tasks. Methods Older adults (N = 73) ages 55-90 (M = 72.77, SD = 7.87) were administered the Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WMS-IV) Visual Reproduction Immediate Recall and the Virtual Kitchen Protocol (VPK), a virtual reality-based measure of learning and memory for meal preparation tasks. Results Participants performance on the immediate portion of WMS-IV, visual reproduction, correlated with their performance on the VPK teaching trial (r = .65, p = 0.01), immediate recall (r = .51, p = 0.01), delayed recall (r = .58, p = 0.01), and forced choice recognition ( r = ..54, p = 0.01) of Job Sim. Conclusion Results suggest that visual memory aids healthy older adults in procedural learning and memory tasks in the Virtual Kitchen Protocol, a virtual reality environment simulating meal preparation tasks. These results suggest that visual memory ability is germane to performance in virtual reality environments that are rich in visual stimuli.

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Alcohol consumption and cognitive impairment among Korean older adults: does gender matter?

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610213001919 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 335-340 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jiyoung Lyu ◽

Seungah Hannah Lee

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Gender Differences ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Service Providers ◽

Cognitively Impaired ◽

Heavy Drinkers ◽

Prevention And Treatment ◽

Using Data ◽

The Relationship

ABSTRACTBackground:This study investigated gender differences in the relationship between alcohol consumption and cognitive impairment among older adults in South Korea.Methods:Using data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing, 2,471 females and 1,657 males were analyzed separately. Cognitive impairment was measured based on the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Exam score. Logistic regression was conducted to examine the relationship between alcohol consumption and cognitive impairment among Korean older adults.Results:Multivariate analysis showed that compared to moderate drinkers, past drinkers were more likely to be cognitively impaired for women, while heavy drinkers were more likely to be cognitively impaired for men.Conclusions:Findings suggest that the relationship between alcohol consumption and cognition varies with gender. Clinicians and service providers should consider gender differences when developing strategies for the prevention and treatment of alcohol-related cognitive decline among older adults.

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P1-090: The relationship between massed vs. spaced visuospatial and verbal learning and memory, and PiB binding status, in cognitively healthy older adults

Alzheimer s & Dementia ◽

10.1016/j.jalz.2011.05.369 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. S138-S139

Author(s):

Colleen E. Jackson ◽

David Darby ◽

Peter Snyder ◽

Paul Maruff ◽

Julia Fredrickson

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Learning And Memory ◽

Verbal Learning ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

The Relationship

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A comparison of neurocognitive impairment in younger and older adults with major depression

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291708004042 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 39 (5) ◽

pp. 725-733 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

A. J. Thomas ◽

P. Gallagher ◽

L. J. Robinson ◽

R. J. Porter ◽

A. H. Young ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Executive Function ◽

Learning And Memory ◽

Verbal Learning ◽

Late Life ◽

Neurocognitive Impairment ◽

Control Group ◽

Motor Speed ◽

Late Life Depression ◽

Depression Group

BackgroundNeurocognitive impairment is a well-recognized feature of depression that has been reported in younger and older adults. Similar deficits occur with ageing and it is unclear whether the greater deficits in late-life depression are an ageing-related phenomenon or due to a difference in the nature of late-life depression itself. We hypothesized that ageing alone would not fully explain the increased neurocognitive impairment in late-life depression but that differences in the illness explain the greater decrements in memory and executive function.MethodComparison of the neuropsychological performance of younger (<60 years) and older (⩾60 years) adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy comparison subjects. Scores for each depression group were normalized against their respective age-matched control group and the primary comparisons were on four neurocognitive domains: (i) attention and executive function; (ii) verbal learning and memory; (iii) visuospatial learning and memory; and (iv) motor speed.ResultsWe recruited 75 subjects with MDD [<60 years (n=44), ⩾60 years (n=31)] and 82 psychiatrically healthy comparison subjects [<60 years (n=42), ⩾60 years (n=40)]. The late-life depression group had greater impairment in verbal learning and memory and motor speed but not in executive function. The two depressed groups did not differ in depression severity, global cognitive function, intelligence or education.ConclusionsLate-life depression is associated with more severe impairment in verbal learning and memory and motor speed than depression in earlier adult life and this is not due to ageing alone.

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Depression Mediates the Association Between Occupational Complexity and Late-Life Cognition in Hispanics

Journal of Alzheimer s Disease Reports ◽

10.3233/adr-210040 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Camilo Posada Rodríguez ◽

Sofía Rodríguez-Araña ◽

Diana C. Oviedo ◽

María B. Carreira ◽

Julio Flores-Cuadra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Functional Outcomes ◽

Late Life ◽

Cognitive Assessments ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Mediation Analyses ◽

Occupational Complexity ◽

The Relationship ◽

Daily Function

There is a dearth of research in Latin America regarding risk and protective factors affecting older adults’ cognition. This study aimed to investigate the factors mediating the association between occupational complexity and late-life cognition and daily function in a sample of Hispanic older adults. Participants (n = 588) aged 65 years and older underwent clinical, functional, and cognitive assessments. Mediation analyses revealed that depressive symptoms mediated the relationship between occupational complexity and cognitive as well as functional outcomes. Results provide evidence that depression may act as a risk factor for worse outcomes, even if older adults had a cognitively demanding occupation.

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Association between late-life hypercholesterolemia and progression of dementia severity among older adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.3238 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 876-876

Author(s):

Mo-kyung Sin ◽

Yan Cheng ◽

Ali Ahmed ◽

Edward Zamrini

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Late Life ◽

Clinical Dementia Rating ◽

Future Studies ◽

Dementia Severity ◽

Kaplan Meier ◽

Point Increase ◽

Race Ethnicity ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Progression of dementia severity varies widely by individuals and multiple factors might influence the progression. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between late-life hypercholesterolemia and progression of dementia severity in older adults. We used prospectively collected longitudinal data from 2,686 adults aged ≥65 years in the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center. Progression of dementia severity was measured using both Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) - Sum of Boxes (SOB) and Global scores. Kaplan Meier curves were plotted to estimate the association between hypercholesterolemia and progression of dementia severity. We also conducted multivariate Cox regression models to estimate the association of hypercholesterolemia with the outcomes adjusting for age, gender, race, ethnicity, marital status, living status, education, smoking, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, blood pressure, and diabetes. Hypercholesterolemia had significant association with CDR-SOB ≥ 1 point increase (unadjusted HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.13-1.35; p<0.001; adjusted HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.07-1.28; p<0.001). In addition, hypercholesterolemia had significant association with CDR-Global ≥ 0.5 point increase (unadjusted HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.04-1.25; p<0.001; adjusted HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.22 p=0.036). If these findings can be replicated in future studies, future studies need to examine if proper management of cholesterol may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s dementia in late-life older adults.

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Association Between Late-Life Hypertension and Resilience to Alzheimer Dementia Among Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.1180 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 304-305

Author(s):

Mo-kyung Sin ◽

Yan Cheng

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Late Life ◽

Braak Stage ◽

Clinical Dementia Rating ◽

Chi Square ◽

Alzheimer Dementia ◽

Student’S T ◽

The Relationship ◽

Untreated Hypertension

Abstract While midlife hypertension is known as one contributing factor for cognitive impairment and Alzheimer dementia in late-life older adults, less is known about the role of late-life hypertension in resilience to Alzheimer dementia. We examined the relationship between late-life hypertension and Alzheimer dementia resilience among older adults using the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center data from 2005-2020 (n=3,170). Hypertension, captured within 5 years prior to death, was defined as blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140/90 mmHg in at least two visits and/or ever treated with anti-hypertensive agents. Resilience was defined as positive Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology (CERAD score moderate or severe and BRAAK stage V or VI) from autopsy and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) - Sum of Boxes (SOB): 0.5-2.5 or CDR global (0-0.5) from last data point before autopsy. Student’s t-tests and Chi-square tests were conducted to compare patients with and without resilience. A multivariate logistic regression was conducted to estimate the association between late-life hypertension and resilience, adjusting for covariates of demographics and neuropathological characteristics. We had 55 resilient cases among 1,195 positive AD pathology cases. Those resilient were older (88±6.7) and had higher systolic BP (136 ± 18.2 mmHg) than non-resilient (82±7.9 years old, 130±20 mmHg. Untreated hypertension had a protective effect on resilience (adjusted OR: 3.69 (1.10-13.5, p=0.05). Patients with a systolic BP in the range of 135-145 mmHg and a diastolic BP in the range of 65-75 mmHg had the highest resilience possibility. Unlike midlife hypertension, late-life hypertension may have different effect on dementia, prompting further studies.

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