scholarly journals Superior Memory Reduces 8-year Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia But Not Amyloid β-Associated Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 585-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christa Dang ◽  
Karra D Harrington ◽  
Yen Ying Lim ◽  
David Ames ◽  
Jason Hassenstab ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Clinical Progression ◽  
Age Related

Abstract Objective To prospectively examine 8-year risk of clinical disease progression to mild cognitive impairment (MCI)/dementia in older adults ≥60 with superior episodic memory (SuperAgers) compared to those cognitively normal for their age (CNFA). Additionally, to determine the extent to which SuperAgers were resilient to the negative effects of elevated amyloid-beta (Aβ+) on cognition. Method Participants were classified as SuperAgers based on episodic memory performance consistent with younger adults aged 30–44 and no impairment on non-memory tests (n = 179), and were matched with CNFA on age, sex, education, and follow-up time (n = 179). Subdistribution hazard models examined risk of clinical progression to MCI/dementia. Linear mixed models assessed the effect of Aβ on cognition over time. Results Prevalence of Aβ+ and APOE ε4 was equivalent between SuperAgers and CNFA. SuperAgers had 69%–73% reduced risk of clinical progression to MCI/dementia compared to CNFA (HR: 0.27–0.31, 95% CI: 0.11–0.73, p < .001). Aβ+ was associated with cognitive decline in verbal memory and executive function, regardless of SuperAger/CNFA classification. In the absence of Aβ+, equivalent age-related changes in cognition were observed between SuperAgers and CNFA. Conclusions SuperAgers displayed resilience against clinical progression to MCI/dementia compared to CNFA despite equivalent risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, SuperAgers had no greater protection from Aβ+ than CNFA. The deleterious effects of Aβ on cognition persist regardless of baseline cognitive ability. Thus, superior cognitive performance does not reflect resistance against the neuropathological processes associated with AD, and the observed resilience for SuperAgers may instead reflect neuropsychological criteria for cognitive impairment.

scholarly journals Cognitive training in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Impact on cognitive and functional performance

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Schimidt Brum ◽  
Orestes Vicente Forlenza ◽  
Mônica Sanches Yassuda
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Functional Performance ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Aging is associated with cognitive decline, yet this does not prevent older adults from finding ways to compensate for age-related deficits. Earlier studies have shown that cognitively unimpaired older adults can benefit from training programs. The efficacy of cognitive interventions among older adults without dementia but with cognitive decline (mild cognitive impairment, MCI) has not yet been widely tested. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of 8-session cognitive training on the cognitive and functional performance of older adults with MCI. Methods: 16 older adults diagnosed with MCI received cognitive training (18 participated as controls). All participants were assessed pre and post intervention using the Short Cognitive Test (SKT), Direct Assessment of Functional Scale Revised (DAFS-R), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and Clock Drawing Test (CDT). Results: A significant improvement was observed in the study group between pre and post-test in attention (SKT), time orientation, shopping skills and dealing with finances (DAFS-R) along with reduced depressive symptoms (GDS). Conclusion: These results indicate the importance of non-pharmacological interventions for older adults with MCI to help compensate for cognitive decline.

scholarly journals p-tau/Aβ42 Ratio Associates with Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruchika Shaurya Prakash ◽  
Michael R. McKenna ◽  
Oyetunde Gbadeyan ◽  
Rebecca Andridge ◽  
Douglas W. Scharre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
The Impact

AbstractINTRODUCTIONThe most well-studied biomarkers in AD are CSF amyloid beta-42 (Aβ42), tau, p-tau, and the ratio p-tau/Aβ42. The ratiometric measure of p-tau/Aβ42 shows the best diagnostic accuracy, and correlates reliably with metrics of cognition in unimpaired participants. However, no study has examined the impact of the CSF p-tau/Aβ42 ratio in predicting cognitive decline in both healthy and AD individuals in one sample. The goal of this study was to examine whether CSF-based p-tau/Aβ42 predicts changes in global cognitive functioning, episodic memory, and executive functioning over a two-year period in cognitively impaired older adults (CU), and in individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).METHODSThis study involves secondary analysis of data from 1215 older adults available in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Neuropsychological variables, collected at baseline, 6-month, 12-month, and 24-month follow-ups, included the Preclinical Alzheimer’s Cognitive Composite (PACC) to assess global cognitive functioning, ADNI-MEM to assess episodic memory functioning, and ADNI-EF to assess executive functioning. Linear mixed models were constructed to examine the effect of CSF p-tau/Aβ42, diagnostic group, and change over time (baseline, 6-month, 12-month, and 24-month) on cognitive scores.RESULTSCSF p-tau/Aβ42 ratios predicted worsening cognitive impairment, both on global cognition and episodic memory in individuals with MCI and AD, but not in CU older adults and predicted decline in executive functioning for all three diagnostic groups.DISCUSSIONOur study, including CU, MCI, and AD individuals, provides evidence for differential cognitive consequences of accumulated AD pathology based on diagnostic groups.

Elevated Inflammatory Markers and Arterial Stiffening Exacerbate Tau but Not Amyloid Pathology in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Alexandra L. Clark ◽  
Alexandra J. Weigand ◽  
Kelsey R. Thomas ◽  
Seraphina K. Solders ◽  
Lisa Delano-Wood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Inflammatory Markers ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Cognitive Testing ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Protein Biomarkers ◽  
Age Related ◽  
T Tau

Background: Age-related cerebrovascular and neuroinflammatory processes have been independently identified as key mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), although their interactive effects have yet to be fully examined. Objective: The current study examined 1) the influence of pulse pressure (PP) and inflammatory markers on AD protein levels and 2) links between protein biomarkers and cognitive function in older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: This study included 218 ADNI (81 cognitively normal [CN], 137 MCI) participants who underwent lumbar punctures, apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping, and cognitive testing. Cerebrospinal (CSF) levels of eight pro-inflammatory markers were used to create an inflammation composite, and amyloid-beta 1–42 (Aβ 42), phosphorylated tau (p-tau), and total tau (t-tau) were quantified. Results: Multiple regression analyses controlling for age, education, and APOE ɛ4 genotype revealed significant PP x inflammation interactions for t-tau (B = 0.88, p = 0.01) and p-tau (B = 0.84, p = 0.02); higher inflammation was associated with higher levels of tau within the MCI group. However, within the CN group, analyses revealed a significant PP x inflammation interaction for Aβ 42 (B = –1.01, p = 0.02); greater inflammation was associated with higher levels of Aβ 42 (indicative of lower cerebral amyloid burden) in those with lower PP. Finally, higher levels of tau were associated with poorer memory performance within the MCI group only (p s <  0.05). Conclusion: PP and inflammation exert differential effects on AD CSF proteins and provide evidence that vascular risk is associated with greater AD pathology across our sample of CN and MCI older adults.

scholarly journals Multimodal measurement approach to identify individuals with mild cognitive impairment: study protocol for a cross-sectional trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e046879
Author(s):  
Bernhard Grässler ◽  
Fabian Herold ◽  
Milos Dordevic ◽  
Tariq Ali Gujar ◽  
Sabine Darius ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Classification Accuracy ◽  
Multimodal Approach ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Related Cognitive Decline

IntroductionThe diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), that is, the transitory phase between normal age-related cognitive decline and dementia, remains a challenging task. It was observed that a multimodal approach (simultaneous analysis of several complementary modalities) can improve the classification accuracy. We will combine three noninvasive measurement modalities: functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), electroencephalography and heart rate variability via ECG. Our aim is to explore neurophysiological correlates of cognitive performance and whether our multimodal approach can aid in early identification of individuals with MCI.Methods and analysisThis study will be a cross-sectional with patients with MCI and healthy controls (HC). The neurophysiological signals will be measured during rest and while performing cognitive tasks: (1) Stroop, (2) N-back and (3) verbal fluency test (VFT). Main aims of statistical analysis are to (1) determine the differences in neurophysiological responses of HC and MCI, (2) investigate relationships between measures of cognitive performance and neurophysiological responses and (3) investigate whether the classification accuracy can be improved by using our multimodal approach. To meet these targets, statistical analysis will include machine learning approaches.This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first study that applies simultaneously these three modalities in MCI and HC. We hypothesise that the multimodal approach improves the classification accuracy between HC and MCI as compared with a unimodal approach. If our hypothesis is verified, this study paves the way for additional research on multimodal approaches for dementia research and fosters the exploration of new biomarkers for an early detection of nonphysiological age-related cognitive decline.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was obtained from the local Ethics Committee (reference: 83/19). Data will be shared with the scientific community no more than 1 year following completion of study and data assembly.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04427436, registered on 10 June 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT04427436.

Is the Discrimination of Subjective Cognitive Decline from Cognitively Healthy Adulthood and Mild Cognitive Impairment Possible? A Pilot Study Utilizing the R4Alz Battery

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 715-732
Author(s):  
Eleni Poptsi ◽  
Despina Moraitou ◽  
Emmanouil Tsardoulias ◽  
Andreas L. Symeonidisd ◽  
Magda Tsolaki
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Neurocognitive Disorders ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Subjective Cognitive Decline ◽  
Working Memory Updating

Background: The early diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders before the symptoms’ onset is the ultimate goal of the scientific community. REMEDES for Alzheimer (R4Alz) is a battery, designed for assessing cognitive control abilities in people with minor and major neurocognitive disorders. Objective: To investigate whether the R4Alz battery’s tasks differentiate subjective cognitive decline (SCD) from cognitively healthy adults (CHA) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: The R4Alz battery was administered to 175 Greek adults, categorized in five groups a) healthy young adults (HYA; n = 42), b) healthy middle-aged adults (HMaA; n = 33), c) healthy older adults (HOA; n = 14), d) community-dwelling older adults with SCD (n = 34), and e) people with MCI (n = 52). Results: Between the seven R4Alz subtasks, four showcased the best results for differentiating HOA from SCD: the working memory updating (WMCUT-S3), the inhibition and switching subtask (ICT/RST-S1&S2), the failure sets (FS) of the ICT/RST-S1&S2, and the cognitive flexibility subtask (ICT/RST-S3). The total score of the four R4Alz subtasks (R4AlzTot4) leads to an excellent discrimination among SCD and healthy adulthood, and to fare discrimination among SCD and MCI. Conclusion: The R4Alz battery is a novel approach regarding the neuropsychological assessment of people with SCD, since it can very well assist toward discriminating SCD from HOA. The R4Alz is able to measure decline of specific cognitive control abilities - namely of working memory updating, and complex executive functions - which seem to be the neuropsychological substrate of cognitive complaints in community dwelling adults of advancing age.

scholarly journals Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Dementia and Cognitive Decline Among Older Adults With or Without Mild Cognitive Impairment

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (9) ◽  
pp. e1910319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manja Koch ◽  
Annette L. Fitzpatrick ◽  
Stephen R. Rapp ◽  
Richard L. Nahin ◽  
Jeff D. Williamson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Cognitive Decline

scholarly journals ATTITUDES AND PREFERENCES FOR ROBOT-LED PIANO COGNITIVE TRAINING: FEASIBILITY IN MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S946-S946
Author(s):  
George Mois ◽  
Bailley Collette ◽  
Lisa M Renzi-Hammond ◽  
Laura Boccanfuso ◽  
Aditi Ramachandran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Neural Plasticity ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Cognitive Domain ◽  
Assistive Robots

Abstract Cognitive training has been shown to improve neural plasticity, increase cognitive reserve and reduce the risk of dementia in older adults. Specifically, learning to play the piano has been shown to be an engaging, multimodal form of cognitive training. However, accessing this form of cognitive training can pose a challenge for older adults. Socially assistive robots present a unique opportunity to increase access to user-tailored piano learning cognitive training. The present study utilized a robot-led four-week piano lesson feasibility intervention for older adults with mild cognitive impairment (N = 11; M= 74.64 ± 6.02 years of age; 72.72% female; 90.1% White/Caucasian). Cognitive Status was assessed during screening via the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status, and after screening via the Mini-Mental State Exam and the CNS Vital Signs computerized test suite to measure cognitive domain-specific functioning. Perceptions and acceptance of the robot were measured using the Robotic Social Attributes Scale (RoSAS) and Technology Acceptance Scale. Cognitive function improved after four weeks of training in the verbal memory, executive function, reaction time and cognitive flexibility domains, and in the computed neurocognitive index score (p&lt;0.05). Survey data and qualitative interviews show that participants perceived the robot instructor as socially engaging, competent, useful, and easy to use. These results provide insight into the potential of SARs to facilitate cognitive training in the form of piano lessons, as well as recommendations for creating a suitable robot instructor for this application.

scholarly journals Prediction of Cognitive Decline in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Mild Cognitive Impairment by EEG, MRI, and Neuropsychology

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Yvonne Höller ◽  
Kevin H. G. Butz ◽  
Aljoscha C. Thomschewski ◽  
Elisabeth V. Schmid ◽  
Christoph D. Hofer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Temporal Lobe Epilepsy ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Temporal Lobe ◽  
Divided Attention ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Feature Subset Selection ◽  
Wavelet Features

Cognitive decline is a severe concern of patients with mild cognitive impairment. Also, in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, memory problems are a frequently encountered problem with potential progression. On the background of a unifying hypothesis for cognitive decline, we merged knowledge from dementia and epilepsy research in order to identify biomarkers with a high predictive value for cognitive decline across and beyond these groups that can be fed into intelligent systems. We prospectively assessed patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (N = 9), mild cognitive impairment (N = 19), and subjective cognitive complaints (N = 4) and healthy controls (N = 18). All had structural cerebral MRI, EEG at rest and during declarative verbal memory performance, and a neuropsychological assessment which was repeated after 18 months. Cognitive decline was defined as significant change on neuropsychological subscales. We extracted volumetric and shape features from MRI and brain network measures from EEG and fed these features alongside a baseline testing in neuropsychology into a machine learning framework with feature subset selection and 5-fold cross validation. Out of 50 patients, 27 had a decline over time in executive functions, 23 in visual-verbal memory, 23 in divided attention, and 7 patients had an increase in depression scores. The best sensitivity/specificity for decline was 72%/82% for executive functions based on a feature combination from MRI volumetry and EEG partial coherence during recall of memories; 95%/74% for visual-verbal memory by combination of MRI-wavelet features and neuropsychology; 84%/76% for divided attention by combination of MRI-wavelet features and neuropsychology; and 81%/90% for increase of depression by combination of EEG partial directed coherence factor at rest and neuropsychology. Combining information from EEG, MRI, and neuropsychology in order to predict neuropsychological changes in a heterogeneous population could create a more general model of cognitive performance decline.

Effects of virtual reality-based spatial cognitive training on hippocampal function of older adults with mild cognitive impairment

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Jin-Hyuck Park
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Spatial Cognition ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Verbal Learning ◽  
Cognitive Intervention ◽  
Hippocampal Function

ABSTRACT Background: To date, there is a controversy on effects of cognitive intervention to maintain or improve hippocampal function for older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Objective: The main objective of this study was to exam effects of virtual reality-based spatial cognitive training (VR-SCT) using VR on hippocampal function of older adults with MCI. Method: Fifty-six older adults with MCI were randomly allocated to the experimental group (EG) that received the VR-SCT or the waitlist control group (CG) for a total of 24 sessions. To investigate effects of the VR-SCT on spatial cognition and episodic memory, the Weschsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised Block Design Test (WAIS-BDT) and the Seoul Verbal Learning Test (SVLT) were used. Results: During the sessions, the training performances gradually increased (p < .001). After the intervention, the EG showed significant greater improvements in the WAIS-BDT (p < .001, η2 = .667) and recall of the SVLT (p < .05, η2 =.094) compared to the CG but in recognition of the SVLT (p > .05, η2 =.001). Conclusion: These results suggest that the VR-SCT might be clinically beneficial to enhance spatial cognition and episodic memory of older adults with MCI.

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