Dietary Antioxidants and Cognitive Function in a Population-based Sample of Older Persons: The Rotterdam Study

Abstract Seasonal variation in cognitive function and underlying cerebral hemodynamics in humans has been suggested, but not consistently shown in previous studies. We assessed cognitive function in 10,276 participants from the population-based Rotterdam Study, aged 45 years and older without dementia, at baseline and at subsequent visits between 1999 and 2016. Seasonality of five cognitive test scores and of a summary measure of global cognition were determined, as well as of brain perfusion. Using linkage with medical records, we also examined whether a seasonal variation was present in clinical diagnoses of dementia. We found a seasonal variation of global cognition (0.05 standard deviations [95% confidence interval: 0.02–0.08]), the Stroop reading task, the Purdue Pegboard test, and of the delayed world learning test, with the best performance in summer months. In line with these findings, there were fewer dementia diagnoses of dementia in spring and summer than in winter and fall. We found no seasonal variation in brain perfusion. These findings support seasonality of cognition, albeit not explained by brain perfusion.

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Effects of a Group Program to Increase Cognitive Performance Through Cognitively Stimulating Leisure Activities in Healthy Older Subjects

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000035 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 83-92 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Valentina A. Tesky ◽

Christian Thiel ◽

Winfried Banzer ◽

Johannes Pantel

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Older Persons ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Leisure Activities ◽

The Elderly ◽

Cognitive Stimulation ◽

Group Program ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Older Subjects

To investigate the effects of leisure activities on cognitive performance of healthy older subjects, an innovative intervention program was developed. Frequent participation in cognitively stimulating activities (i.e., reading, playing chess, or playing music) is associated with reduced risk of dementia. AKTIVA (active cognitive stimulation – prevention in the elderly) is an intervention program designed to enhance cognitive stimulation in everyday life by increasing cognitive stimulating leisure activities. The present study determines the effects of AKTIVA on cognitive function, mood and attitude toward aging in a sample of older participants from the general population. Several measurement instruments were used including the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-Cog), the Trail-Making Test (TMT), and the Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MAC-Q). Initially, the sample consisted of 307 older persons (170 female, 72 ± 7 years). The intervention was evaluated with a randomized, controlled pre-post follow-up design. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: AKTIVA intervention (n = 126), AKTIVA intervention plus nutrition and exercise counseling (n = 84), no-intervention control group (n = 97). The AKTIVA intervention consisted of 8 weekly sessions and two booster sessions after a break of 4 months. Participation in the group program resulted in positive effects on cognitive function and attitude toward aging for subassembly groups. Older persons (≥ 75 years) showed enhanced speed of information processing (by TMT Version A) (F = 4.17*, p < .05); younger participants (< 75 years) showed an improvement in subjective memory decline (by MAC-Q) (F = 2.55*, p < .05). Additionally, AKTIVA enhanced the frequency of activities for leisure activities for subassembly groups. The results of this study suggest that the AKTIVA program can be used to increase cognitively stimulating leisure activities in the elderly. Further research is necessary to identify the long-term effects of this intervention particularly with respect to the prevention of dementia.

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Factors Affecting Cognitive Function in Older Persons With Hearing Impairment

Journal of speech-language & hearing disorders ◽

10.15724/jslhd.2016.25.4.020 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 263-272

Author(s):

이성은

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Hearing Impairment ◽

Older Persons ◽

Factors Affecting

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Physical activity and cognitive function in older persons

Swiss Sports & Exercise Medicine ◽

10.34045/ssem/2016/8 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 64 (2) ◽

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Executive Functions ◽

Cognitive Aging ◽

Clinical Studies ◽

Older Persons ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Critical Challenge

Strategies to improve cognitive aging are highly needed. Among those, promotion of exercise and physical activity appears as one of the most attractive and beneficial intervention. Indeed, results from basic and clinical studies suggest that exercise and physical activity have positive effects on cognition in older persons without cognitive impairment, as well as in those with dementia. Despite inconsistent results, aerobic exercise appears to have the strongest potential to enhance cognition. However, even limited periods of walking (45 minutes, three times a week, over a 6-month period) have also been shown to enhance cognition, particularly executive functions. Changing long-term lifestyle habits in these older persons remains a critical challenge and attractive programs susceptible to gain adherence are needed to succeed in achieving improved cognitive aging.

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Depressive symptoms prior to and after incident cardiovascular disease and long-term survival. A population-based study of older persons

Depression and Anxiety ◽

10.1002/da.22689 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 18-31 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rosanne Freak-Poli ◽

M. Arfan Ikram ◽

Oscar H Franco ◽

Albert Hofman ◽

Henning Tiemeier

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Older Persons ◽

Population Based ◽

Term Survival ◽

Population Based Study ◽

Long Term Survival ◽

Incident Cardiovascular Disease

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Association between childhood parental involvement and late‐life cognitive function: A population‐based cross‐sectional study among cognitively intact community‐dwelling older adults in Japan

Geriatrics and Gerontology International ◽

10.1111/ggi.14238 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ayako Morita ◽

Takeo Fujiwara

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Parental Involvement ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cognitively Intact ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

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Endogenous subclinical thyroid disorders, physical and cognitive function, depression, and mortality in older individuals

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/eje-11-0430 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 165 (4) ◽

pp. 545-554 ◽

Cited By ~ 95

Author(s):

Renate T de Jongh ◽

Paul Lips ◽

Natasja M van Schoor ◽

Kelly J Rijs ◽

Dorly J H Deeg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Function ◽

Subclinical Hypothyroidism ◽

Population Based ◽

Thyroid Disorders ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Thyroid Medication ◽

Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam ◽

Aging Study ◽

Subclinical Thyroid Disorders

ObjectiveTo what extent endogenous subclinical thyroid disorders contribute to impaired physical and cognitive function, depression, and mortality in older individuals remains a matter of debate.DesignA population-based, prospective cohort of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam.MethodsTSH and, if necessary, thyroxine and triiodothyronine levels were measured in individuals aged 65 years or older. Participants were classified according to clinical categories of thyroid function. Participants with overt thyroid disease or use of thyroid medication were excluded, leaving 1219 participants for analyses. Outcome measures were physical and cognitive function, depressive symptoms (cross-sectional), and mortality (longitudinal)ResultsSixty-four (5.3%) individuals had subclinical hypothyroidism and 34 (2.8%) individuals had subclinical hyperthyroidism. Compared with euthyroidism (n=1121), subclinical hypo-, and hyper-thyroidism were not significantly associated with impairment of physical or cognitive function, or depression. On the contrary, participants with subclinical hypothyroidism did less often report more than one activity limitation (odds ratio 0.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.22–0.86). After a median follow-up of 10.7 years, 601 participants were deceased. Subclinical hypo- and hyper-thyroidism were not associated with increased overall mortality risk (hazard ratio 0.89, 95% CI 0.59–1.35 and 0.69, 95% CI 0.40–1.20 respectively).ConclusionsThis study does not support disadvantageous effects of subclinical thyroid disorders on physical or cognitive function, depression, or mortality in an older population.

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