scholarly journals FACTORS INFLUENCING EPISODIC MEMORY IN SUBJECTIVE COGNITIVE DECLINE: AN IMPLICATION FOR DEMENTIA PREVENTION

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S890-S890
Author(s):  
Sangwoo Ahn

Abstract Episodic memory is typically affected early in the process of Alzheimer’s disease. Little is known about factors affecting episodic memory in subjective cognitive decline (SCD). The purpose of this study was to identify vascular and neuropsychiatric risk factors associated with episodic memory changes in older adults with SCD. Using the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center-Uniform Data Set, the relationship between baseline modifiable risk factors and episodic memory changes was analyzed using linear mixed-effects regression models. The study included a total of 1,401 subjects with SCD (mean ages: 74.0±8.2 years, 67.5% females, 84.2% White, mean follow-up period: 4.1±2.4 years). In univariate adjusted model, statistically significant coefficients on main effect or interaction with time were selected and entered into multivariate model, which was adjusted mutually for chosen independent variables and for all covariates. Reference in the final model was subjects without 1) hypercholesterolemia, 2) cigarette smoking history, and 3) depression. Those with hypercholesterolemia and former smokers had 0.024 and 0.035 points higher episodic memory scores than reference at baseline with similar rate of score changes between each group and reference over time, respectively. Current smokers scored 0.081 points lower than reference at baseline with similar rate of change over time between groups. Despite no difference at baseline, the score of depressed subjects decreased by 0.014 points a year compared to reference. It is important to manage current smoking and depression for older adults with SCD. Further research needs to identify which levels of cholesterol and smoking have a protective effect on episodic memory.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Nikki L. Hill ◽  
Sakshi Bhargava ◽  
Emily Bratlee-Whitaker ◽  
Jennifer R. Turner ◽  
Monique J. Brown ◽  
...  

Background: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may be an early indicator of cognitive impairment, but depressive symptoms can confound this relationship. Associations may be influenced by differences between individuals (i.e., between-persons) or how each individual changes in their experiences over time (i.e., within-persons). Objective: We examined depressive symptoms as a mediator of the between- and within-person associations of SCD and objective memory in older adults. Methods: Coordinated analyses were conducted across four datasets drawn from large longitudinal studies. Samples (range: n = 1,889 to n = 15,841) included participants 65 years of age or older with no dementia at baseline. We used multilevel structural equation modeling to examine the mediation of SCD and objective memory through depressive symptoms, as well as direct relationships among SCD, objective memory, and depressive symptoms. Results: Older adults who were more likely to report SCD had lower objective memory on average (between-person associations), and depressive symptoms partially mediated this relationship in three of four datasets. However, changes in depressive symptoms did not mediate the relationship between reports of SCD and declines in objective memory in three of four datasets (within-person associations). Conclusion: Individual differences in depressive symptoms, and not changes in an individual’s depressive symptoms over time, partially explain the link between SCD and objective memory. Older adults with SCD and depressive symptoms may be at greater risk for poor cognitive outcomes. Future research should explore how perceived changes in memory affect other aspects of psychological well-being, and how these relationships influence cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease risk.


2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (7S_Part_9) ◽  
pp. P441-P441
Author(s):  
Rachel F. Buckley ◽  
Paul Maruff ◽  
Kathryn A. Ellis ◽  
Lance Macaulay ◽  
Ralph N. Martins ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinhee Shin ◽  
Eunhee Cho

Abstract Background Dementia prevalence is increasing worldwide, and thus, the global impact of cognitive impairment and dementia has become a priority public health issue. This study aimed to assess the patterns of and risk factors for cognitive decline over time in community-dwelling Korean adults aged ≥ 65 years. Methods Older adults with normal cognitive function at baseline in 2006 were evaluated, and changes in their cognitive function were followed over time. The data were obtained from the 2006–2016 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. Cognitive function in 2016 was classified based on the Korean-Mini-Mental State Examination score as normal, mild dementia, and moderate and severe dementia. The t-test, ANOVA, and linear mixed models were used to analyse the patterns and risk factors f cognitive decline over time. Results Of the 1,262 participants examined, 752 maintained normal cognitive function, 267 older adults showed a change from normal cognitive function to mild dementia, and 243 older adults showed a decline from normal cognitive function to moderate and severe dementia between 2006 and 2016. There were significant differences in cognitive function over time among the three groups, and these were influenced by age, gender, education level, religion, activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, regular exercise, number of meetings with friends, and depression. The differences have gradually increased over 10 years. Conclusions This study identified the patterns of cognitive decline over time and important factors related to cognitive decline. Individualised interventions such as improving physical function through regular exercise, increasing social activity, and managing depression by early detection and treatment may contribute to maintain cognitive function.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S976-S976
Author(s):  
Feng Zhao ◽  
Peter Martin ◽  
Gina Lee

Abstract This study examined the trajectories of depression and cognitive function in the transition to widowhood and investigated the temporal and causal relationship between these two closely related constructs. Respondents were 1,822 widowed adults aged 51 to 91 from a restructured data set (Wave 3 to Wave 12) of the Health and Retirement Study. The results of cross-lagged panel analysis indicated a bidirectional relationship between depressive symptoms and cognition decline, but the effects of cognitive impairment at earlier time points on later depression were larger than the effects of previous depressive symptoms on later cognition. The latent growth curve analysis showed that the cognitive function declined over time, whereas the initial level of depressive symptoms first increased following widowhood and gradually decreased over time. Significant negative associations were found between the initial levels of depression and cognitive function (p < .001) and between the rates of change of these two variables (p = .025). Older adults tended to have lower initial level of cognitive function and they showed faster cognitive decline over time. Female respondents were more likely to report more depressive symptoms and higher cognitive function. White respondents were more likely to report fewer depressive symptoms and higher levels of cognitive function. Higher levels of education were protective for one’s cognitive function but not for depressive symptoms. The study highlighted the reciprocal relationship between depression and cognitive function following widowhood and pointed out that accelerated cognitive decline may precede elevated levels of depression.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Bin Yu ◽  
Andrew Steptoe ◽  
Yongjie Chen ◽  
Xiaohua Jia

Abstract Background Social isolation and loneliness have each been associated with cognitive decline, but most previous research is limited to Western populations. This study examined the relationships of social isolation and loneliness on cognitive function among Chinese older adults. Methods This study used two waves of data (2011 and 2015) from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and analyses were restricted to those respondents aged 50 and older. Social isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function were measured at baseline. Follow-up measures on cognitive function were obtained for 7761 participants (mean age = 60.97, s.d. = 7.31; male, 50.8%). Lagged dependent variable models adjusted for confounding factors were used to evaluate the association between baseline isolation, loneliness, and cognitive function at follow-up. Results Loneliness was significantly associated with the cognitive decline at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.03, p < 0.01; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) in the partially adjusted models. These associations became insignificant after additional confounding variables (chronic diseases, health behaviors, disabilities, and depressive symptoms) were taken into account (all p > 0.05). By contrast, social isolation was significantly associated with decreases in all cognitive function measures at follow-up (episodic memory: β = −0.05, p < 0.001; mental status: β = −0.03, p < 0.01) even after controlling for loneliness and all confounding variables. Conclusions Social isolation is associated with cognitive decline in Chinese older adults, and the relationships are independent of loneliness. These findings expand our knowledge about the links between social relationships and the cognitive function in non-Western populations.


Author(s):  
Iván Galtier ◽  
Antonieta Nieto ◽  
María Mata ◽  
Jesús N. Lorenzo ◽  
José Barroso

ABSTRACT Objective: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) are considered as the risk factors for dementia (PDD). Posterior cortically based functions, such as visuospatial and visuoperceptual (VS-VP) processing, have been described as predictors of PDD. However, no investigations have focused on the qualitative analysis of the Judgment of Line Orientation Test (JLOT) and the Facial Recognition Test (FRT) in PD-SCD and PD-MCI. The aim of this work was to study the VS-VP errors in JLOT and FRT. Moreover, these variables are considered as predictors of PDD. Method: Forty-two PD patients and 19 controls were evaluated with a neuropsychological protocol. Patients were classified as PD-SCD and PD-MCI. Analyses of errors were conducted following the procedure described by Ska, Poissant, and Joanette (1990). Follow-up assessment was conducted to a mean of 7.5 years after the baseline. Results: PD-MCI patients showed a poor performance in JLOT and FRT total score and made a greater proportion of severe intraquadrant (QO2) and interquadrant errors (IQO). PD-SCD showed a poor performance in FRT and made mild errors in JLOT. PD-MCI and QO2/IQO errors were independent risk factors for PDD during the follow-up. Moreover, the combination of both PD-MCI diagnosis and QO2/IQO errors was associated with a greater risk. Conclusions: PD-MCI patients presented a greater alteration in VS-VP processing observable by the presence of severe misjudgments. PD-SCD patients also showed mild difficulties in VS-SP functions. Finally, QO2/IQO errors in PD-MCI are a useful predictor of PDD, more than PD-MCI diagnosis alone.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 410-410
Author(s):  
Vineet Raichur ◽  
Lindsay Ryan ◽  
Richard Gonzalez ◽  
Jacqui Smith

Abstract Cross-sectional analyses of internet use patterns among older adults find that the rate of internet use is less with greater physical and memory difficulties. It is not clear, however, how age-cohorts differ in their internet use as physical and memory difficulties increase over time. In addition to factors such as increasing accessibility (cost) and social influences, the expansion and cognitive complexity of functions performed by the internet-enabled devices over time could influence internet use patterns. In this study, we investigate how the association between internet use and episodic memory difficulties over time varies between cohorts. We analyzed longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (N = 15,703 in 2002; Aged 51 and older) between years 2002-2016 using mixed effects logistic regression models. Immediate and delayed word recall measures were used to assess episodic memory. Rate of internet use in the sample increased from 30% in 2002 to 53% in 2016. Rate of internet use among younger age groups was significantly higher in the baseline year. Younger age groups also showed a significantly higher rate of increase in internet use over time. In general, internet use decreased with episodic memory impairment. In addition to these effects, the effect of episodic memory on the rate of increase in internet use over time is lower in younger cohorts. These results indicate that younger cohorts of older adults are more likely to maintain internet use as they continue to age and therefore could better utilize technology for communication, social interactions and health interventions.


2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 690-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Brailean ◽  
M. J. Aartsen ◽  
G. Muniz-Terrera ◽  
M. Prince ◽  
A. M. Prina ◽  
...  

BackgroundCognitive impairment and depression often co-occur in older adults, but it is not clear whether depression is a risk factor for cognitive decline, a psychological reaction to cognitive decline, or whether changes in depressive symptoms correlate with changes in cognitive performance over time. The co-morbid manifestation of depression and cognitive impairment may reflect either a causal effect or a common cause, depending on the specific symptoms experienced and the cognitive functions affected.MethodThe study sample comprised 1506 community-dwelling older adults aged ⩾65 years from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). We conducted cross-domain latent growth curve analyses to examine longitudinal associations between late-life depression dimensions (i.e. depressed affect, positive affect, and somatic symptoms) and specific domains of cognitive functioning (i.e. processing speed, inductive reasoning, immediate recall, and delayed recall).ResultsPoorer delayed recall performance at baseline predicted a steeper increase in depressed affect over time. Steeper decline in processing speed correlated with a steeper increase in somatic symptoms of depression over time.ConclusionsOur findings suggest a prospective association between memory function and depressed affect, whereby older adults may experience an increase in depressed affect in reaction to poor memory function. Somatic symptoms of depression increased concurrently with declining processing speed, which may reflect common neurodegenerative processes. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that depression symptoms may be a risk factor for cognitive decline in the general population. These findings have potential implications for the treatment of late-life depression and for the prognosis of cognitive outcomes.


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