BDNF Val66Met moderates the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and memory in cognitively normal older adults

AbstractHigher cardiorespiratory fitness has been associated with enhanced cognitive function in older adults; yet, this relationship demonstrates a degree of variability. Thus, it is hypothesised that variation in genetic factors may influence the relationship between fitness and cognitive health. In this study we evaluate whether the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism moderates the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and verbal and visuospatial memory. Data from ninety-nine cognitively normal men and women aged 60 – 80 years were used. Fitness was assessed by peak oxygen consumption, and verbal and visuospatial memory were evaluated using well-validated measures. Participants were categorised into: lower-fit Met carriers, higher-fit Met carriers, lower-fit Val/Val, or higher-fit Val/Val. A significant interaction was observed between BDNF Val66Met and fitness on visuospatial memory performance; whereby lower-fit Met carriers performed 1SD lower than higher-fit Met carriers (p=0.04). We observed higher levels of fitness mitigated the deleterious effect of BDNF Met allele carriage on visuospatial memory. Future intervention studies should evaluate the effect of structured exercise on cognitive health between BDNF Val66Met carriers and Val/Val homozygotes.

Download Full-text

Influence of BDNF Val66Met on the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and memory in cognitively normal older adults

Behavioural Brain Research ◽

10.1016/j.bbr.2019.01.013 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 362 ◽

pp. 103-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Belinda M. Brown ◽

Natalie Castalanelli ◽

Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith ◽

James Doecke ◽

Michael Weinborn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽

Cognitively Normal ◽

The Relationship

Download Full-text

Lower functional hippocampal redundancy in mild cognitive impairment

Translational Psychiatry ◽

10.1038/s41398-020-01166-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Stephanie Langella ◽

◽

Muhammad Usman Sadiq ◽

Peter J. Mucha ◽

Kelly S. Giovanello ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Resting State ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Potential Mechanism ◽

Network Efficiency ◽

Cognitively Normal ◽

Normal Individuals ◽

The Relationship

AbstractWith an increasing prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in response to an aging population, it is critical to identify and understand neuroprotective mechanisms against cognitive decline. One potential mechanism is redundancy: the existence of duplicate elements within a system that provide alternative functionality in case of failure. As the hippocampus is one of the earliest sites affected by AD pathology, we hypothesized that functional hippocampal redundancy is protective against cognitive decline. We compared hippocampal functional redundancy derived from resting-state functional MRI networks in cognitively normal older adults, with individuals with early and late MCI, as well as the relationship between redundancy and cognition. Posterior hippocampal redundancy was reduced between cognitively normal and MCI groups, plateauing across early and late MCI. Higher hippocampal redundancy was related to better memory performance only for cognitively normal individuals. Critically, functional hippocampal redundancy did not come at the expense of network efficiency. Our results provide support that hippocampal redundancy protects against cognitive decline in aging.

Download Full-text

P1-670: BRIDGING POSITIONS IN A SOCIAL NETWORK MODERATES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND EPISODIC MEMORY PERFORMANCE AMONG OLDER ADULTS

Alzheimer s & Dementia ◽

10.1016/j.jalz.2018.06.682 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 14 (7S_Part_11) ◽

pp. P600-P600

Author(s):

Hairin Kim ◽

Seyul Kwak ◽

Jeanyung Chey ◽

Yoosik Youm ◽

Junsol Kim

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Network ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Memory Performance ◽

The Relationship

Download Full-text

ECOLOGICAL MOMENTARY ASSESSMENT OF ASSOCIATIONS AMONG HIGH AND LOW AROUSAL AFFECT AND COGNITIVE HEALTH

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.3491 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S963-S963

Author(s):

Eric S Cerino ◽

Martin Sliwinski

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Working Memory ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Cognitive Resources ◽

Cognitive Health ◽

High Arousal ◽

Affective Influences ◽

Ecological Momentary ◽

The Impact

Abstract Negative affect (NA) and positive affect (PA) vary from moment-to-moment and these variations are associated with cognitive health. Past work has primarily focused on valence (negative/positive), however, largely ignoring the potential import of arousal (high/low). We address this gap by assessing the impact of high and low arousal NA and PA on daily cognition. A sample of 238 older adults (Mage=77.30 years, SD=5.14, Range=70–90) completed mobile surveys up to four times daily for 14 days. Participants reported current levels of high and low arousal NA and PA and performed processing speed and working memory tasks. For processing speed, there were significant within-person affect by age interactions. Moments when low arousal NA was higher than usual were associated with slower processing speed (Est.=0.87, SE=0.44, p<.05), and this effect was amplified in older participants (Est.=1.69, SE=0.60, p<.01). Moments when high arousal PA was higher than usual were associated with faster processing speed (Est.=-0.81, SE=0.40, p<.05), and this effect was amplified in younger participants (Est.=-1.81, SE=0.56, p<.01). For working memory, a significant within-person high arousal PA by age interaction emerged (Est.=0.001, SE=0.00, p=.046) such that moments when high arousal PA was higher than usual were marginally associated with worse working memory performance only among older participants (Est.=0.004, SE=0.002, p=.06). Results suggest momentary increases in low arousal NA and high arousal PA may confer greatest risk to daily cognitive health among older adults with more limited capacity and/or cognitive resources, whereas affective influences may be more facilitative among comparatively younger adults.

Download Full-text

Peripheral Insulin Resistance in Cognitively Normal Older Adults Relates to Poorer Performance on a Test for Speed of Processing

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa040_076 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 76-76

Author(s):

Aaron Smith ◽

Matthew Taylor ◽

Jim Backes ◽

Juleah Littrell ◽

Caitlin Boeckman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Insulin Resistance ◽

Older Adults ◽

Digit Symbol Substitution Test ◽

Digit Symbol ◽

Speed Of Processing ◽

Cognitively Normal ◽

Peripheral Insulin Resistance ◽

Digit Symbol Substitution ◽

Symbol Substitution ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Objectives Peripheral insulin resistance (IR) and impaired glucose metabolism increases the risk for cognitive decline. However, data looking at peripheral IR's relationship with cognition in cognitively normal adults is limited. This study aimed to assess the relationship between peripheral IR and tests of speed of processing (SOP) in cognitively normal older adults using a novel IR measure. Methods Baseline data from 56 cognitively normal older adults participating in a nutrition intervention study (Nutrition Interventions for Cognitive Enhancement study; NICE study) were analyzed. Fasting blood draws were attained, and peripheral IR was measured using Quest Diagnostics’ Cardio IQ Insulin Resistance Panel (Test Code: 36,509). A cognitive battery was conducted by a trained psychometrician. Z-Scores of the Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Stroop Color, Stroop Word, Stroop Interference, and Stroop Letter Number Sequencing and Crossing-Off tests were combined to give a global SOP score. We constructed ordinary least squares regression models to assess IR's relationships with individual SOP tests and global SOP, including age and education as covariates. Statistical analyses were performed using R (v. 3.6.2; R Foundation, Vienna, Austria). Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results Participants were 77% female and had a mean age of 72.1 ± 4.9 years. Higher IR scores were related to poorer performance on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (β = −0.26, P = 0.04). IR scores were not related to other individual cognitive tests: Stroop Color (β = −0.17, P = 0.20), Stroop Word (β = −0.19, P = 0.11), Stroop Interference (β = −0.14, P = 0.28), Stroop Letter Number Sequencing (β = 0.03, P = 0.83), Crossing-Off (β = −0.18, P = 0.15), or Global SOP (β = −0.20, P = 0.11). Conclusions There was a relationship between higher IR scores and poorer performance on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test. Although other SOP tests were not significantly correlated with IR scores, directionality of the relationships indicated trend for higher IR being related to lower SOP. Consequently, maintaining insulin sensitivity with healthy lifestyle choices may be important for healthy aging. Future analyses with a larger sample size will be more informative for understanding the relationship between IR and SOP. Funding Sources National Institute on Aging.

Download Full-text

Structural and functional connectivity uniquely contribute to explained variance in episodic memory performance in cognitively normal older adults

Alzheimer s & Dementia ◽

10.1002/alz.056324 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (S1) ◽

Author(s):

Kylie H. Alm ◽

Anja Soldan ◽

Corinne Pettigrew ◽

Andreia Faria ◽

Xirui Hou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Cognitively Normal ◽

Explained Variance

Download Full-text

SUBJECTIVE MEMORY COMPLAINTS AND COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE: THE MODERATING ROLE OF DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2425 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S654-S654

Author(s):

Elizabeth A Gallagher

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Episodic Memory ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Health Concern ◽

Subjective Memory Complaints ◽

Subjective Memory ◽

Memory Complaints ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Cognitive health is a rising public health concern in the U.S. Currently, approximately 5.7 million older adults suffer from Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and by the year 2050 this number is expected to increase to 14 million. Subjective memory complaints (SMC) are shown to be an early indicator of cognitive decline, and accordingly included as a clinical criterion for diagnoses of MCI, an indicator of pre-dementia states, and a research criterion for AD diagnoses. Among older adults, depressive symptoms hinder the accuracy of memory self-ratings. However, there has yet to be consensus regarding the nature of how depressive symptoms may condition the relationship between SMC and cognitive performance. The aims of the present study are to both investigate whether SMC is related to episodic memory and to determine whether depressive symptoms act as a moderator for the relationship between SMC and episodic memory among older adults. This research used nationally representative sample of 8,123 older adults aged 65 and older who completed the Leave Behind Questionnaire in the 2012 and 2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study. Linear regression was performed and results showed that there was a significant main effect of SMC on episodic memory performance, in that older adults with increased SMC have worse episodic memory. There was also a significant moderating effect of depressive symptoms, in that depressive symptoms cause older adults to underestimate their memory abilities. In order to use SMC as a tool for early detection efforts it is critical to understand these complex relationships.

Download Full-text