scholarly journals Thalamic Volume Mediates Associations Between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Memory in People With Parkinson’s

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 501-502
Author(s):  
Andrew Petkus ◽  
Megan Gomez ◽  
Dawn Schiehser ◽  
Vincent Filoteo ◽  
Jennifer Hui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Intracranial Volume ◽  
Vo2 Max ◽  
Basal Ganglia Structures

Abstract Cognitive deficits occur in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with both current and future cognitive decline in this disease. The underlying neurobiological factors explaining this relationship, however, are not well known. In this cross-sectional study we examined the associations between CRF and cognitive performance and whether such associations were mediated by grey matter volumes of basal ganglia structures. A total of 33 individuals with PD underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), CRF evaluation (VO2max), and neuropsychological assessment. Composite scores of episodic memory, executive functioning, attention, language, and visuospatial functioning were generated. Brain MRI morphological measurements was performed with the Freesurfer image analysis suite. Structural equation models were constructed to examine whether sMRI volume estimates of basal ganglia structures, specifically the thalamus and pallidum, mediated associations between VO2 max and cognitive performance while adjusting for age, education, PD disease duration, sex, and intracranial volume. Higher VO2max was associated with better episodic memory (Standardized β=0.390; p=0.009), executive functioning (Standardized β=0.263; p=0.021), and visuospatial performance (β=0.408; p=0.004). Higher VO2max was associated with larger thalamic (Standardized β=0.602; p<0.001) and pallidum (Standardized β=0.539; p<0.001) volumes. Thalamic volume significantly mediated the association between higher VO2max and better episodic memory (indirect effect=0.209) and visuospatial ability (indirect effect=0.178) performance (p<.05). The pallidum did not significantly mediate associations between VO2 max and cognitive outcomes. These results suggest the thalamus plays an important role in the association between CRF episodic memory and visuospatial functioning in individuals with PD.

scholarly journals Disparity in Educational Attainment Partially Explains Cognitive Gender Differences in Older Rural South Africans

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (7) ◽  
pp. e161-e173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meagan T Farrell ◽  
Lindsay C Kobayashi ◽  
Livia Montana ◽  
Ryan G Wagner ◽  
Nele Demeyere ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Gender Effects ◽  
Rural South ◽  
Visual Spatial

Abstract Objectives Direction and magnitude of gender differences in late-life cognitive function are inextricably tied to sociocultural context. Our study evaluates education and literacy as primary drivers of gender equality in cognitive performance among middle-aged and older adults in rural South Africa. Method Data were collected on 1,938 participants aged 40–79 from Agincourt, South Africa. Cognitive function was measured via the Oxford Cognitive Screen-Plus, a tablet-based assessment with low literacy demands. Four cognitive domains were derived through confirmatory factor analysis: episodic memory, executive function, visual spatial, and language. Structural equation models tested domain-specific gender effects, incrementally controlling for demographic, education, health, and socioeconomic variables. Results In the model adjusting only for demographic factors, men outperformed women on executive function and visual-spatial domains. Adding education and literacy to the model revealed a robust female advantage in episodic memory, and reduced the magnitude of male advantage in executive function and visual and spatial by 47% and 42%, respectively. Health and socioeconomic factors did not alter patterns of gender associations in subsequent models. Discussion In this older South African cohort, gender inequality in cognitive performance was partially attributable to educational differences. Understanding biopsychosocial mechanisms that promote cognitive resilience in older women is critically important given the predominantly female composition of aging populations worldwide.

The trajectory of cognitive decline in the pre-dementia phase in memory clinic visitors: findings from the 4C-MCI study

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (7) ◽  
pp. 1509-1519 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Hamel ◽  
S. Köhler ◽  
N. Sistermans ◽  
T. Koene ◽  
Y. Pijnenburg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Memory Clinic ◽  
Information Processing Speed ◽  
Memory Decline ◽  
Memory Clinics

BackgroundWe investigated the course of decline in multiple cognitive domains in non-demented subjects from a memory clinic setting, and compared pattern, onset and magnitude of decline between subjects who progressed to Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia at follow-up and subjects who did not progress.MethodIn this retrospective cohort study 819 consecutive non-demented patients who visited the memory clinics in Maastricht or Amsterdam between 1987 and 2010 were followed until they became demented or for a maximum of 10 years (range 0.5–10 years). Differences in trajectories of episodic memory, executive functioning, verbal fluency, and information processing speed/attention between converters to AD dementia and subjects remaining non-demented were compared by means of random effects modelling.ResultsThe cognitive performance of converters and non-converters could already be differentiated seven (episodic memory) to three (verbal fluency and executive functioning) years prior to dementia diagnosis. Converters declined in these three domains, while non-converters remained stable on episodic memory and executive functioning and showed modest decline in verbal fluency. There was no evidence of decline in information processing speed/attention in either group.ConclusionsDifferences in cognitive performance between converters to AD dementia and subjects remaining non-demented could be established 7 years prior to diagnosis for episodic memory, with verbal fluency and executive functioning following several years later. Therefore, in addition to early episodic memory decline, decline in executive functions may also flag incident AD dementia. By contrast, change in information processing speed/attention seems less informative.

Echogenicity of basal ganglia structures in different phenotypes of Huntington's disease

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Krogias ◽  
R Hoffmann ◽  
K Straßburger-Krogias ◽  
P Klotz ◽  
G Ellrichmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Huntington's Disease ◽  
Huntington’S Disease ◽  
Basal Ganglia Structures

scholarly journals Social stress and risk of declining cognition: a longitudinal study of men and women in the United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jutta Lindert ◽  
Kimberley C. Paul ◽  
E. Lachman Margie ◽  
Beate Ritz ◽  
Teresa Seeman
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Social Status ◽  
Social Stress ◽  
The United States ◽  
Subjective Social Status ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Men And Women

AbstractLimited research is available on the relationship between social stress and risk of declining cognition. We sought to examine whether social stress has adverse effects on risk of declining episodic memory and executive functioning in aging individuals. We used data from the MIDUS study, a national probability sample of non-institutionalized, English speaking respondents aged 25–74 living in the 48 contiguous states of the United States. The initial wave (1995) included 4963 non-institutionalized adults aged 32–84 (M = 55, SD = 12.4). We used an analytic sample from MIDUS-II (1996/1997) and MIDUS-III (2013) (n = 1821). The dependent variables are episodic memory and executive functioning, which were assessed with the Brief Test for Cognition (BTACT). The independent variables were social stress variables (subjective social status, family and marital stress, work stress and discrimination). To evaluate episodic memory and executive functioning changes over a time period of 10 years, we estimated adjusted linear regression models. Women report significantly lower subjective social status and more discrimination stress than men across all age groups. Controlling for education and income, age, and baseline episodic memory and executive functioning, lower subjective social status had additional adverse effects on declines in episodic memory in men and women. Marital risk had adverse effects on episodic memory in men but not in women. Daily discrimination had adverse effects on executive functioning on all individuals. Public health strategies should focus on reducing social stress in a socio-ecological perspective. Especially, subjective social status and discrimination stress might be a target for prevention efforts.

scholarly journals VAMP-2 is a surrogate cerebrospinal fluid marker of Alzheimer-related cognitive impairment in adults with Down syndrome

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Lleó ◽  
Maria Carmona-Iragui ◽  
Laura Videla ◽  
Susana Fernández ◽  
Bessy Benejam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Synaptic Proteins ◽  
Selected Reaction Monitoring ◽  
Synaptic Protein ◽  
Csf Levels ◽  
Syntaxin 1B

Abstract Background There is an urgent need for objective markers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related cognitive impairment in people with Down syndrome (DS) to improve diagnosis, monitor disease progression, and assess response to disease-modifying therapies. Previously, GluA4 and neuronal pentraxin 2 (NPTX2) showed limited potential as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers of cognitive impairment in adults with DS. Here, we compare the CSF profile of a panel of synaptic proteins (Calsyntenin-1, Neuroligin-2, Neurexin-2A, Neurexin-3A, Syntaxin-1B, Thy-1, VAMP-2) to that of NPTX2 and GluA4 in a large cohort of subjects with DS across the preclinical and clinical AD continuum and explore their correlation with cognitive impairment. Methods We quantified the synaptic panel proteins by selected reaction monitoring in CSF from 20 non-trisomic cognitively normal controls (mean age 44) and 80 adults with DS grouped according to clinical AD diagnosis (asymptomatic, prodromal AD or AD dementia). We used regression analyses to determine CSF changes across the AD continuum and explored correlations with age, global cognitive performance (CAMCOG), episodic memory (modified cued-recall test; mCRT) and CSF biomarkers, CSF Aβ42:40 ratio, CSF Aβ1-42, CSF p-tau, and CSF NFL. P values were adjusted for multiple testing. Results In adults with DS, VAMP-2 was the only synaptic protein to correlate with episodic memory (delayed recall adj.p = .04) and age (adj.p = .0008) and was the best correlate of CSF Aβ42:40 (adj.p = .0001), p-tau (adj.p < .0001), and NFL (adj.p < .0001). Compared to controls, mean VAMP-2 levels were lower in asymptomatic adults with DS only (adj.p = .02). CSF levels of Neurexin-3A, Thy-1, Neurexin-2A, Calysntenin-1, Neuroligin-2, GluA4, and Syntaxin-1B all strongly correlated with NPTX2 (p < .0001), which was the only synaptic protein to show reduced CSF levels in DS at all AD stages compared to controls (adj.p < .002). Conclusion These data show proof-of-concept for CSF VAMP-2 as a potential marker of synapse degeneration that correlates with CSF AD and axonal degeneration markers and cognitive performance.

Lower cerebral oxygen utilization is associated with Alzheimer’s disease-related neurodegeneration and poorer cognitive performance among apolipoprotein E ε4 carriers

2021 ◽  
pp. 0271678X2110563
Author(s):  
W Hudson Robb ◽  
Omair A Khan ◽  
Humza A Ahmed ◽  
Judy Li ◽  
Elizabeth E Moore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Apolipoprotein E ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Lateral Ventricle ◽  
Oxygen Metabolism ◽  
Cerebral Oxygen ◽  
P Values ◽  
Apoe Ε4

Oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) are markers of cerebral oxygen homeostasis and metabolism that may offer insights into abnormal changes in brain aging. The present study cross-sectionally related OEF and CMRO2 to cognitive performance and structural neuroimaging variables among older adults (n = 246, 74 ± 7 years, 37% female) and tested whether apolipoprotein E ( APOE)-ε4 status modified these associations. Main effects of OEF and CMRO2 were null (p-values >0.06), and OEF interactions with APOE-ε4 status on cognitive and structural imaging outcomes were null (p-values >0.06). However, CMRO2 interacted with APOE-ε4 status on language (p = 0.002), executive function (p = 0.03), visuospatial (p = 0.005), and episodic memory performances (p = 0.03), and on hippocampal (p = 0.006) and inferior lateral ventricle volumes (p = 0.02). In stratified analyses, lower oxygen metabolism related to worse language (p = 0.02) and episodic memory performance (p = 0.03) among APOE-ε4 carriers only. Associations between CMRO2 and cognitive performance were primarily driven by APOE-ε4 carriers with existing cognitive impairment. Congruence across language and episodic memory results as well as hippocampal and inferior lateral ventricle volume findings suggest that APOE-ε4 may interact with cerebral oxygen metabolism in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegeneration.

Considering the Impact of Early Trauma on Coping and Pathology to Predict Posttraumatic Growth Among 9-1-1 Telecommunicators

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (21-22) ◽  
pp. 4709-4731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa J. London ◽  
Mary C. Mercer ◽  
Michelle M. Lilly
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Growth ◽  
Childhood Trauma ◽  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Trauma Exposure ◽  
First Responders ◽  
Lifetime Trauma ◽  
Early Trauma ◽  
The Impact

Recent research has demonstrated that first responders may report posttraumatic growth (PTG), positive psychological changes that arise in the aftermath of a trauma. Less is known regarding the perception of PTG among 9-1-1 telecommunicators, a group of first responders exposed to a high degree of lifetime trauma, including duty-related trauma as well as early and non-duty-related trauma. Moreover, the impact of childhood trauma on the processes involved in the perception of growth is less clear. While some distress is needed to facilitate processes that lead to the perception of PTG, it has been suggested that positive associations between PTG and pathology reflect avoidant coping or represent an illusory component of PTG. Structural equation models were used to examine early trauma exposure, coping, and pathology in predicting PTG among 9-1-1 telecommunicators ( N = 788). In separate models using active and avoidant forms of coping, childhood trauma exposure had an indirect effect on PTG through coping. In a model considering both forms of coping, childhood trauma had an indirect effect on PTG through psychopathology, but not through coping. The results show that early trauma exposure leads to the perception of growth through pathways indicative of both adaptive and maladaptive coping processes.

scholarly journals High-intensity physical activity is not associated with better cognition in the elder: evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyuan Wu ◽  
Haiping Zhang ◽  
Xinlei Miao ◽  
Haibin Li ◽  
Huiying Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Global Cognition

Abstract Background To evaluate the association of physical activity (PA) intensity with cognitive performance at baseline and during follow-up. Methods A total of 4039 participants aged 45 years or above from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were enrolled in visit 1 (2011–2012) and followed for cognitive function in visit 2 (2013–2014), visit 3 (2015–2016), and visit 4 (2017–2018). We analyzed the association of PA intensity with global cognition, episodic memory, and mental intactness at baseline using adjusted regression methods and evaluated the long-term effect of PA intensity using multiple measures of cognition scores by mixed effect model. Results In cross-sectional analysis, mild and moderate PA, rather than vigorous PA, was associated with better cognitive performance. The results remained consistent in multiple sensitivity analyses. During the follow-up, participant with mild PA had a 0.56 (95% CI 0.12–0.99) higher global cognition, 0.23 (95% CI 0.01–0.46) higher episodic memory, and 0.33 (95% CI 0.01–0.64) higher mental intactness, while those with moderate PA had a 0.74 (95% CI 0.32–1.17) higher global score, 0.32 (95% CI 0.09–0.54) higher episodic memory, and 0.43 (95% CI 0.12–0.74) higher mental intactness, compared with individuals without PA. Vigorous PA was not beneficial to the long-term cognitive performance. Conclusions Our study indicates that mild and moderate PA could improve cognitive performance, rather than the vigorous activity. The targeted intensity of PA might be more effective to achieve the greatest cognition improvement considering age and depressive status.

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

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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