scholarly journals Greater Adolescent Cognitive Ability Is Linked to Lower Risk of Cognitive Impairment in Later Life

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 481-482
Author(s):  
Tara Gruenewald ◽  
Catalina Zavala ◽  
Molli Grossman ◽  
Thalida Arpawong ◽  
Jennifer Manly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Cognitive Assessment ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Positive Screen ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Sibling Models

Abstract There have been few investigations of the role that adolescent cognitive ability plays in predicting later-life cognitive impairment, and the mechanisms, such greater life course educational exposure, that might underlie these connections. This knowledge gap is due, in part, to a lack of cohorts with early-life cognitive assessment who are followed to later adulthood. We capitalized on data from the 1960 Project Talent (PT) high school cohort (n>360,000) and two recent follow-ups, the Project Talent Twin & Sibling (PTTS; n=2,491 in 2014) Study and the Project Talent Aging Study (PTAS; n=6,421 in 2018), to examine these potential links. In 1960, ability was assessed in multiple cognitive domains (e.g., general aptitude, quantitative, reasoning). Participants/proxies reporting 2 or more symptoms of cognitive impairment in 2018 on the AD8 Dementia Screener were classified as having a positive screen. Binary logistic generalized estimating equations with race, sex, and adolescent family SES covariates, indicated that in multiple cognitive domains, higher ability in adolescence predicted lower odds of a positive AD8 screen in later life (ORs of 0.80 - 0.85). The effects were only slightly attenuated with inclusion of life course educational attainment. Sibling models found a similar pattern of associations and effect sizes, indicating that the association is not attributable to shared family and genetic background. These findings indicate that higher cognitive ability as indicated by better performance in multiple cognitive domains in adolescence may be protective against cognitive impairment five decades later and life course educational attainment only partially mediates this association.

scholarly journals Early-life circumstances and the risk of function-limiting long-term conditions in later life

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-180
Author(s):  
Matthew H. Iveson ◽  
Chris Dibben ◽  
Ian J. Deary
Keyword(s):  
Life Course ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Functional Limitation ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Socio Economic Status ◽  
Childhood Cognitive Ability ◽  
The Life Course

Older adults are particularly prone to function-limiting health issues that adversely affect their well-being. Previous work has identified factors from across the life course –childhood socio-economic status, childhood cognitive ability and education – that predict later-life functional outcomes. However, the independence of these contributions is unclear as later-in-the-life-course predictors are themselves affected by earlier ones. The present study capitalised on the recent linkage of the Scottish Mental Survey 1947 with the Scottish Longitudinal Study, using path analyses to examine the direct and indirect associations between life-course predictors and the risk of functional limitation at ages 55 (N = 2,374), 65 (N = 1,971) and 75 (N = 1,534). The odds of reporting a function-limiting long-term condition increased across later life. At age 55, reporting a functional limitation was significantly less likely in those with higher childhood socio-economic status, higher childhood cognitive ability and higher educational attainment; these associations were only partly mediated by other predictors. At age 65, adult socio-economic status emerged as a mediator of several associations, although direct associations with childhood socio-economic status and childhood cognitive ability were still observed. At age 75, only childhood socio-economic status and adult socio-economic status directly predicted the risk of a functional limitation, particularly those associated with disease or illness. A consistent pattern and direction of associations was observed with self-rated health more generally. These results demonstrate that early-life and adult circumstances are associated with functional limitations later in life, but that these associations are partly a product of complex mediation between life-course factors.

scholarly journals Genetic Underpinnings of Increased BMI and Its Association With Late Midlife Cognitive Abilities

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 233372142092526
Author(s):  
Hong Xian ◽  
Brian Boutwell ◽  
Chandra A. Reynolds ◽  
Daphne Lew ◽  
Mark Logue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Memory Processing ◽  
Visual Spatial ◽  
Bmi Trajectories ◽  
Multilevel Linear Regression

Objectives: First, we test for differences in various cognitive abilities across trajectories of body mass index (BMI) over the later life course. Second, we examine whether genetic risk factors for unhealthy BMIs—assessed via polygenic risk scores (PRS)—predict cognitive abilities in late-life. Methods: The study used a longitudinal sample of Vietnam veteran males to explore the associations between BMI trajectories, measured across four time points, and later cognitive abilities. The sample of 977 individuals was drawn from the Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging. Cognitive abilities evaluated included executive function, abstract reasoning, episodic memory, processing speed, verbal fluency, and visual spatial ability. Multilevel linear regression models were used to estimate the associations between BMI trajectories and cognitive abilities. Then, BMI PRS was added to the models to evaluate polygenic associations with cognitive abilities. Results: There were no significant differences in cognitive ability between any of the BMI trajectory groups. There was a significant inverse relationship between BMI-PRS and several cognitive ability measures. Discussion: While no associations emerged for BMI trajectories and cognitive abilities at the phenotypic levels, BMI PRS measures did correlate with key cognitive domains. Our results suggest possible polygenic linkages cutting across key components of the central and peripheral nervous system.

Improving precision in the quantification of cognition using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and the Mini-Mental State Examination

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 1107-1115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Koski ◽  
Haiqun Xie ◽  
Susanna Konsztowicz
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Mental State ◽  
Cognitive Assessment ◽  
Mini Mental State Examination ◽  
Montreal Cognitive Assessment ◽  
Word Repetition ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Changes Over Time ◽  
State Examination

ABSTRACTBackground: The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) can be used to quantify cognitive ability in older persons undergoing screening for cognitive impairment. Although highly sensitive in detecting mild cognitive impairment, its measurement precision is weakest among persons with milder forms of impairment. We sought to overcome this limitation by integrating information from the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) into the calculation of cognitive ability.Methods: Data from 185 geriatric outpatients screened for cognitive impairment with the MoCA and the MMSE were Rasch analyzed to evaluate the extent to which the MMSE items improved measurement precision in the upper ability ranges of the population.Results: Adding information from the MMSE resulted in a 13.8% (13.3–14.3%) reduction in measurement error, with significant improvements in all quartiles of patient ability. The addition of three-word repetition and recall, copy pentagons, repeat sentence, and write sentence improved measurement of cognition in the upper levels of ability.Conclusions: The algorithm presented here maximizes the yield of available clinical data while improving measurement of cognitive ability, which is particularly important for tracking changes over time in patients with milder levels of impairment.

Ten-Year Course of Cosmic Transcendence in Older Adults in the Netherlands

2016 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arjan W. Braam ◽  
Henrike Galenkamp ◽  
Peter Derkx ◽  
Marja J. Aartsen ◽  
Dorly J. H. Deeg
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Longitudinal Aging Study ◽  
Cosmic Transcendence ◽  
Sense Of Mastery

Objectives Gerotranscendence is defined as a transition from a materialistic and rationalistic perspective to a more cosmic and transcendent view of life accompanying the aging process. Would gerotranscendence levels still increase in later life? The current prospective study investigates 10-year trajectories of cosmic transcendence (a core dimension of gerotranscendence). Methods Four interview cycles of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam with 3-year intervals from 1995 to 2006 provide data on cosmic transcendence, demographics (ages 57–85), religiousness, health, sense of mastery, and humor coping. Data are available for 2,257 respondents and 1,533 respondents in multivariate models. Results Latent Class Growth Analysis shows three course trajectories of cosmic transcendence: stable high, intermediate with a decrease, and stable low. Higher levels are predicted by age, importance of prayer, Roman Catholic affiliation, a low sense of mastery, higher cognitive ability, and humor coping. Similar results were obtained for the respondents who died during the study ( N = 378). Discussion Although levels of cosmic transcendence do not show much change during 10 years of follow-up, the oldest respondents nonetheless attain the highest cosmic transcendence levels. An inclination toward relativism and contemplation may facilitate cosmic transcendence. However, lower cognitive ability probably impairs the development toward cosmic transcendence.

scholarly journals Differential impact of educational attainment on later life cognition by race/ethnicity in the Project Talent Aging Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (S10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilyn D Thomas ◽  
Camilla Calmasini ◽  
Dominika Seblova ◽  
Jennifer J Manly ◽  
Susan Lapham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Differential Impact ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Race Ethnicity

scholarly journals Literacy and Cognitive Function in the Context of Marriage: A Study of Older Mexican Couples

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 859-859
Author(s):  
Joseph Saenz
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
General Cognitive Ability ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Aging Study ◽  
Cognitive Benefits ◽  
Important Form

Abstract Many studies have reported that literacy is associated with favorable cognitive outcomes in late-life. Few have evaluated whether the cognitive benefits of literacy extend to a spouse’s cognitive ability. Among married husband-wife dyads from the 2012 Mexican Health and Aging Study (n=4,078 dyads), literacy was assessed as self-reported ability to read and write. General cognitive ability was assessed using performance across several cognitive domains. Approximately 11% and 15% of husbands and wives, respectively, could not read or write. For both husbands and wives, both own literacy, and having a spouse who could read and write were independently associated with better cognitive ability even after accounting for both partners’ education. Literacy may represent an important form of capital that may be beneficial to preserve cognitive function among older adults. Benefits of spousal literacy may operate by facilitating access to resources such as information and cognitive stimulation.

scholarly journals Association of Leisure Activities With Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Older Adults in Colombia: A SABE-Based Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandra Guerrero Barragán ◽  
Diego Lucumí ◽  
Brian Lawlor
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Educational Attainment ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Multinomial Regression ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
State Examination

Observational and interventional studies suggest that participation in leisure activities may help protect against cognitive decline in older people. This study aimed to examine the association between participation in leisure activities and cognitive impairment in older adults in Colombia. Data for this study were derived from the Colombian National Survey of Aging (SABE 2015), a cross-sectional survey with a sample size of 23,694 older adults representing the total population (mean age, 70.8 years; 57.3% females). Cognitive impairment was classified as cognitive impairment without dementia (CIWD) and dementia, according to the revised version of the Folstein Mini-Mental State Examination and the Lawton and Brody functional scale. Leisure activities were evaluated using six items of a questionnaire. Sex-stratified multinomial regression models were used to analyze the association of leisure activities with CIWD and dementia after adjusting for educational attainment, literacy, and other potential confounders. In adjusted models for men, leisure activities in later life were associated with a decreased risk of CIWD (odds ratio [OR], 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.68–0.78) and dementia (OR, 0,52; 95% CI, 0.48–0.58). For women, leisure activities in later life were associated with a decreased risk of CIWD (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.66–0.78) and dementia (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.43–0.53). The findings suggest that greater participation in leisure activities in later life may act as a protective factor against CIWD and dementia among older adults in Colombia, independent of educational attainment and literacy.

scholarly journals Identifying the lifetime cognitive and socioeconomic antecedents of cognitive state: seven decades of follow-up in a British birth cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e024404 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Richards ◽  
Sarah-Naomi James ◽  
Alison Sizer ◽  
Nikhil Sharma ◽  
Mark Rawle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Birth Cohort Study ◽  
Cognitive State ◽  
Occupational Complexity

ObjectivesThe life course determinants of midlife and later life cognitive function have been studied using longitudinal population-based cohort data, but far less is known about whether the pattern of these pathways is similar or distinct for clinically relevant cognitive state. We investigated this for Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination third edition (ACE-III), used in clinical settings to screen for cognitive impairment and dementia.DesignLongitudinal birth cohort study.SettingResidential addresses in England, Wales and Scotland.Participants1762 community-dwelling men and women of European heritage, enrolled since birth in the Medical Research Council (MRC) National Survey of Health and Development (the British 1946 birth cohort).Primary outcomeACE-III.ResultsPath modelling estimated direct and indirect associations between apolipoprotein E (APOE) status, father’s social class, childhood cognition, education, midlife occupational complexity, midlife verbal ability (National Adult Reading Test; NART), and the total ACE-III score. Controlling for sex, there was a direct negative association betweenAPOEε4 and the ACE-III score (β=−0.04 [–0.08 to –0.002], p=0.04), but not betweenAPOEε4 and childhood cognition (β=0.03 [–0.006 to 0.069], p=0.10) or the NART (β=0.0005 [–0.03 to 0.03], p=0.97). The strongest influences on the ACE-III were from childhood cognition (β=0.20 [0.14 to 0.26], p<0.001) and the NART (β=0.35 [0.29 to 0.41], p<0.001); educational attainment and occupational complexity were modestly and independently associated with the ACE-III (β=0.08 [0.03 to 0.14], p=0.002 and β=0.05 [0.01 to 0.10], p=0.02, respectively).ConclusionsThe ACE-III in the general population shows a pattern of life course antecedents that is similar to neuropsychological measures of cognitive function, and may be used to represent normal cognitive ageing as well as a screen for cognitive impairment and dementia.

scholarly journals A study on the characteristics of cognitive function in patients with multiple system atrophy in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nannan Li ◽  
Tianwen Yang ◽  
Weizheng Ran ◽  
Xinning Zhang ◽  
Yao Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Multiple System Atrophy ◽  
Cognitive Assessment ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Nonmotor Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Trial Registry ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Control Study

AbstractNonmotor symptoms in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) have received an increasing amount of attention in recent years, but no research on MSA patients' cognitive characteristics has been conducted in China. To evaluate the cognitive function of MSA patients in China. Using a case–control study design, 256 MSA patients and 64 controls were evaluated by the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) scale to characterize their cognitive function. Like the controls, 60.5% of the patients with MSA had cognitive impairment, but the characteristics of cognitive impairment between the two groups were different. The cognitive impairment in MSA patients was prominent in the cognitive domains of visuospatial/executive functions, naming, attention, and orientation; particularly, the visuospatial/executive functions were the most significantly impaired, while impairment in language function was mainly seen in the controls. Besides, impairments in visuospatial/executive functions, attention, language, and orientation were more prominent in MSA-P (MSA with predominant Parkinsonism) patients than in MSA-C (MSA with predominant cerebellar ataxia). The cognitive impairments were more severe in patients with probable MSA than in patients with possible MSA. In addition, the results showed that the level of cognitive function was negatively correlated with the severity of MSA. This study, which characterized the cognitive function of MSA patients with the largest sample size known so far in China, found that patients with MSA do have cognitive impairment and display specific characteristics. Therefore, the cognitive impairment of MSA should be paid more attention.The study has been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) (Registration No: ChiCTR1900022462).

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