scholarly journals Low Cognitive Function Is Associated With Reduced Functional Fitness Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 157-157
Author(s):  
Michelle Gray ◽  
Joshua Gills ◽  
Jordan Glenn ◽  
Erica Madero ◽  
Aidan Hall ◽  
...  

Abstract Among older adults over 70, 22-30% report difficulty performing at least one activity of daily living (ADL). While the precipitants of ADL decline are multifactorial, over 50% of cognitively impaired adults require assistance with ADLs. The exact relationship between cognitive and functional decline remains unknown, but it is important to understand their relationship. Eighty-three older adults (80.9 + 5.4 years) enrolled in this study and completed functional fitness and cognitive assessments. Functional fitness assessments included: Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), 10-meter walk, dual-task, and power chair stand (average and peak). Cognition was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Visual Paired Comparison task (VPC). Categories of low cognitive function (LCF) and high cognitive function (HCF) were determined by VPC scores. SPPB was 10.2% greater among the HCF group. The HCF group walked 12.6% (0.16 m/s) faster than the LCF group. Dual-task (fast) performance was 13.2% faster among the HCF group. Additionally, when rising from a seated position during the average and peak power chair stand task, the HCF group moved 16.7% and 16.1% faster than the LCF group, respectively. MoCA scores were 2.8 points greater among the HCF group. Based on the current results, significant differences exist between cognitive groups suggesting a relationship between functional fitness and cognition. What remains unknown is the ability to influence functional fitness by changing cognition or vice versa. Future research is warranted to determine the relationship of change in either domain over time.

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 879-879
Author(s):  
Michelle Gray ◽  
Sally Paulson ◽  
Joshua Gills ◽  
Erica Madero ◽  
Jennifer Myers ◽  
...  

Abstract In the US, it is not recommended to perform routine screening assessments for cognitive function or impairment among older adults, due to the lack of effective pharmacological treatments. These common practices result in delayed identification and treatments for slowing cognitive decline progression. Thus, the purpose of the present investigation was to determine the ability to predict cognition from common measures of physical function. Seventy-five community-dwelling older adults (80.7±5.4 years) completed physical function and cognitive assessments. Physical function was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), peak velocity during a power sit-to-stand task, and dual-task walking test. Cognition (declarative memory) was assessed using a validated Visual Paired Comparison test. 38% of the variance in cognition was accounted for by the predictor variables (age, sex, education, SPPB, dual-task, peak velocity). Significant predictors included dual-task walking (p = .03), SPPB (p = .02), and education (p = .02). For each 1 second faster during the dual-task performance, cognition increased by 4 percentile units. Likewise, each 1 unit increase in SPPB resulted in an increase of 4 percentile points in cognition. The results indicate more than a third of the variance in declarative memory can be predicted by commonly assessed measures of physical function. This information is useful when identifying older adults that may have cognitive impairment before overt signs are realized. With the lack of recommended cognitive testing, using physical function declines to identify possible cognitive decline is promising. These results are preliminary in nature and longitudinal determination is warranted.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Cristina Udina ◽  
Emmeline Ayers ◽  
Marco Inzitari ◽  
Joe Verghese

Background: Motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) combines slow gait and cognitive complaints and has been proposed as a predementia syndrome. The nature of dual-task performance in MCR has not been established. Objective: To assess differences in dual-task performance between participants with and without MCR and to study the prefrontal cortex (PFC)-based brain activity during dual-task using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Methods: Cohort study of community-dwelling non-demented older adults included in the “Central Control of Mobility in Aging” study. Comprehensive assessment included global cognition and executive function tests along with clinical variables. Dual-task paradigm consisted in walking while reciting alternate letters of the alphabet (WWT) on an electronic walkway. We compared dual-task performance between MCR (n = 60) and No MCR (n = 478) participants and assessed the relationship of dual-task performance with cognitive function. In a subsample, we compared PFC oxygenation during WWT between MCR (n = 32) and No MCR (n = 293). Results: In our sample of 538 high-functioning older adults (76.6±6.5 years), with 11.2% prevalence of MCR, dual-task cost was not significantly different, compared to No MCR participants. Among MCR participants, no significant relationship was found between WWT velocity and cognitive function, whereas No MCR participants with better cognitive function showed faster WWT velocities. PFC oxygenation during WWT was higher in MCR compared to No MCR (1.02±1.25 versus 0.66±0.83, p = 0.03). Conclusion: MCR participants showed no significant differences in the dual-task cost while exhibiting higher PFC oxygenation during dual-task walking. The dual-task performance (WWT velocity) in MCR participants was not related to cognition.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renata V. Pedroso ◽  
Carlos Ayán ◽  
Francisco J. Fraga ◽  
Thays M.V. da Silva ◽  
José M. Cancela ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to verify the effects of functional-task training on cognitive function, activities of daily living (ADL) performance, and functional fitness in community-dwelling older adults with diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A total of 57 participants (22 functional-task training group [FTG], 21 social gathering group [SGG], 14 control group [CG]) were recruited. Participants in both intervention groups carried out three 1-hr sessions per week of a functional-task program and social gathering activities for 12 weeks. Significant improvements were observed in executive functions (TMT, t-test, p = .03) in the SGG and in upper limb strength (arm curl, t-test, p = .01) in the FTG. Functional-task training has no significant effect on cognitive function, ADL, and functional fitness among people with AD, although it may contribute to slowing down the process of deterioration this illness causes.


Author(s):  
M. Chang ◽  
H. Eymundsdottir ◽  
O.G. Geirsdottir ◽  
P.V. Jonsson ◽  
V. Gudnason ◽  
...  

Objective: To investigate the association between 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) and cognitive function with particular consideration of physical activity (PA) in Icelandic older adults. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Iceland. Participants: Old adults aged 65-96. The final analytical sample included 4304 non-demented participants. Measurements: Serum 25OHD was categorized into deficient (≤ 30 nmol/L, 8%), insufficient (31-49 nmol/L, 25%) and normal-high levels (>50 nmol/L, 67%). Cognitive function assessments included measurements of memory function (MF), speed of processing (SP) and executive function (EF) all categorized as low and high (divided by 50th percentile). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for having high cognitive function. Results: Serum 25OHD was positively associated with cognitive function. Adjustment for PA and other potential confounders diminished this association only partially. Compared to participants with normal-high levels of 25OHD, those with deficient levels had decreased odds for high SP (OR: 0.74, CI: 0.57-0.97), high MF (OR: 0.55; CI: 0.43-0.71) and high EF (OR: 0.76, CI: 0.57-1.0). Conclusion: Serum 25OHD below ≤30 nmol/L was associated with decreased odds for high cognitive function among community dwelling old adults as compared to those with 25OHD above > 50 nmol/L. Neither PA nor other potential confounders explained the associations between 25OHD and cognitive function. Future studies should explore mechanisms and the potential clinical relevance of this relationship.


2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeannine S. Skinner ◽  
Willie Mae Abel ◽  
Katryna McCoy ◽  
Conseulo H. Wilkins

<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The obesity paradox has been documented in aged populations, yet it remains unclear if this paradox persists for physical and cognitive outcomes in community- dwelling older adult populations. Our study examines associations between body mass index (BMI) classification, cognitive function, and physical function. We also investigate whether these associations are modified by race or age. <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Cross-sectional study. <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Settings: </strong>Senior residential sites and community centers in Saint Louis, Missouri. </p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>Study participants included 331 adults, aged &gt;55 years. Age was stratified into young-old (aged 55-74 years) and older (aged ≥75 years). <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Outcome Measures: </strong>Physical function was measured using the mini-Physical Performance Test (mini-PPT) and grip strength. Cognitive function was assessed with the Short Blessed Test (SBT) and the Trail Making Tests (TMT-A and TMT-B) performance. <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Older adults who were obese had significantly better cognitive flexibility (TMTB) performance than normal weight older adults (P=.02), and this association was not influenced by age or race. Adiposity was not associated with psychomotor speed (TMTA), general cognition (SBT), or measures of physical function (Ps&gt;.05). <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In a diverse sample of community-dwelling older adults, we found partial support for the controversial obesity paradox. Our results suggest excess adiposity may be protective for executive function processes. Future research is needed to examine the underlying physiological processes linking adiposity to executive function in older adults. <em></em></p><p><em>Ethn Dis. </em>2017;27(4):387-394; doi:10.18865/ed.27.4.387. </p>


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S350-S350
Author(s):  
Darina V Petrovsky ◽  
Bei Wu ◽  
Weiyu Mao ◽  
XinQi Dong

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between tooth/gums symptoms and changes in cognitive function. We used data from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago, a two-wave epidemiological study of 2,713 U.S. Chinese older adults. We selected self-reported oral (tooth and gum) symptoms as independent variables. We measured global function and three cognitive domains: episodic memory, executive function and working memory. Adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related characteristics, participants who reported having teeth symptoms at baseline, experienced their global cognition and episodic memory decrease (both p&lt;0.05). Participants who reported having teeth symptoms at baseline, experienced a faster rate of decline in global cognition for every additional year. However, this effect disappeared once we adjusted for all covariates. We found no significant relationship between baseline gum symptoms and change of cognitive function. Future research directions, clinical and policy implications will be discussed.


Author(s):  
Tran Dai Tri Han ◽  
Keiko Nakamura ◽  
Kaoruko Seino ◽  
Vo Nu Hong Duc ◽  
Thang Van Vo

This study examined the prevalence of cognitive impairment among older adults in central Vietnam and the roles of communication (with or without communication devices) in the association between cognitive impairment and hearing loss. This cross-sectional study was performed on 725 randomly selected community-dwelling older adults aged ≥60 years from Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam. Participants attended a face-to-face survey. Sociodemographic characteristics, social interaction with or without communication devices, health status and cognitive function using the Mini-Mental State Examination were reported. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was performed to quantify the association between hearing loss and cognitive function by frequency of communication with and without devices. Mild and severe cognitive impairment had prevalence rates of 23.6% and 19.3%, respectively. Cognitive impairment was more prevalent among older adults with hearing-loss, vision loss and difficulties with instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). The association between hearing loss and cognitive impairment was not significant when older adults had frequent communication with others using devices. This study presented the relatively high prevalence of cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults in Vietnam. Frequent communication using devices attenuated the association between hearing loss and cognitive impairment.


2021 ◽  
pp. 109980042098389
Author(s):  
Jongmin Park ◽  
Chang Won Won ◽  
Leorey N. Saligan ◽  
Youn-Jung Kim ◽  
Yoonju Kim ◽  
...  

Background: Epigenetic age acceleration has been studied as a promising biomarker of age-related conditions, including cognitive aging. This pilot study aims to explore potential cognitive aging-related biomarkers by investigating the relationship of epigenetic age acceleration and cognitive function and by examining the epigenetic age acceleration differences between successful cognitive aging (SCA) and normal cognitive aging (NCA) among Korean community-dwelling older adults (CDOAs). Methods: We used data and blood samples of Korean CDOAs from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. The participants were classified into two groups, SCA (above the 50th percentile in all domains of cognitive function) and NCA. The genome-wide DNA methylation profiling array using Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip was used to calculate the following: the DNA methylation age, universal epigenetic age acceleration, intrinsic epigenetic age acceleration (IEAA), and extrinsic epigenetic age acceleration (EEAA). We also used Pearson correlation analysis and independent t-tests to analyze the data. Results: Universal age acceleration correlated with the Frontal Assessment Battery test results ( r = −0.42, p = 0.025); the EEAA correlated with the Word List Recognition test results ( r = −0.41, p = 0.027). There was a significant difference between SCA and NCA groups in IEAA ( p = 0.041, Cohen’s d = 0.82) and EEAA ( p = 0.042, Cohen’s d = 0.78). Conclusions: Epigenetic age acceleration can be used as a biomarker for early detection of cognitive decline in Korean community-dwelling older adults. Large longitudinal studies are warranted.


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