Selectively Impaired Associative Learning in Older People with Cognitive Decline

2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 484-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Collie ◽  
Catherine Myers ◽  
Geoffrey Schnirman ◽  
Stephen Wood ◽  
Paul Maruff
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Older People ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Computational Model ◽  
Associative Learning ◽  
Declarative Memory ◽  
Hippocampal Formation ◽  
Impaired Performance ◽  
Experimental Protocols ◽  
Spatial Locations

Older people with declining cognitive function typically display deficits in declarative memory processes, often most evident on tests of associative learning (AL). The hippocampal formation (HF) is thought to be critically involved in the encoding and retrieval of such associations, consistent with neuroimaging findings that the HF is damaged in early stages of neurodegenerative disease and in older people with AL impairments. In the clinic, older people with cognitive decline commonly report difficulties associating names with faces. However, we have observed that such people are particularly impaired on tests requiring the association of novel stimuli. In Experiment 1, a series of AL tasks were administered to older people with cognitive decline to determine whether they were impaired at simply making associations, or at making associations between novel stimuli. In Experiment 2, we measured HF function in these subjects by administering an AL task designed to differentiate between HF-damaged and HF-intact individuals. Our experimental protocols were guided by a computational model of HF function in AL described by Gluck and Myers (1997). Older people with cognitive decline displayed impaired performance on tasks designed to be highly dependent upon intact HF function, including a task in which novel patterns and spatial locations were to be associated. These results suggest that the AL impairments observed in older people with cognitive decline may be due to HF dysfunction.

Structure from Stereo by Associative Learning of the Constraints

Perception ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 767-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice J O'Toole
Keyword(s):  
Visual Field ◽  
Markov Process ◽  
Computational Model ◽  
Associative Learning ◽  
Input Data ◽  
Luminance Change ◽  
Depth Data ◽  
Graded Response ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
Spatial Locations

A computational model of structure from stereo that develops smoothness constraints naturally by associative learning of a large number of example mappings from disparity data to surface depth data is proposed. Banks of disparity-selective graded response units at all spatial locations in the visual field were the input data. These cells responded to matches of luminance change at convergent, divergent, or zero offsets in the left and right ‘retina’ samples. Surfaces were created by means of a pseudo-Markov process. From these surfaces, shaded marked and ummarked surfaces were created, along with random-dot versions of the same surfaces. Learning of these example shaded and shaded marked surfaces allowed the system to solve stereo mappings both for the surfaces it had learned and for surfaces it had not learned but which had been created by the same pseudo-Markov process. Further, the model was able to solve some random-dot versions of the surfaces when the surfaces had been learned as shaded marked surfaces.

scholarly journals Response variability to glucose facilitation of cognitive enhancement

2013 ◽  
Vol 110 (10) ◽  
pp. 1873-1884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Owen ◽  
Andrew Scholey ◽  
Yvonne Finnegan ◽  
Sandra I. Sünram-Lea
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Declarative Memory ◽  
Word Recall ◽  
Oral Glucose ◽  
Glucose Load ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Recall Accuracy ◽  
Impaired Performance

Glucose facilitation of cognitive function has been widely reported in previous studies (including our own). However, several studies have also failed to detect glucose facilitation. There is sparsity of research examining the factors that modify the effect of glucose on cognition. The aims of the present study were to (1) demonstrate the previously observed enhancement of cognition through glucose administration and (2) investigate some of the factors that may exert moderating roles on the behavioural response to glucose, including glucose regulation, body composition (BC) and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis response. A total of twenty-four participants took part in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised, repeated-measures study, which examined the effect of 25 and 60 g glucose compared with placebo on cognitive function. At 1 week before the study commencement, all participants underwent an oral glucose tolerance test. Glucose facilitated performance on tasks of numeric and spatial working memory, verbal declarative memory and speed of recognition. Moderating variables were examined using several indices of glucoregulation and BC. Poorer glucoregulation predicted improved immediate word recall accuracy following the administration of 25 g glucose compared with placebo. Those with better glucoregulation showed performance decrements on word recall accuracy following the administration of 25 g glucose compared with placebo. These findings are in line with accumulating evidence that glucose load may preferentially enhance cognition in those with poorer glucoregulation. Furthermore, the finding that individuals with better glucoregulation may suffer impaired performance following a glucose load is novel and requires further substantiation.

scholarly journals Omega 3 fatty acids and cognitive health in older people

2012 ◽  
Vol 107 (S2) ◽  
pp. S152-S158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan D. Dangour ◽  
Valentina A. Andreeva ◽  
Emma Sydenham ◽  
Ricardo Uauy
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Older People ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Cochrane Review ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Case Control Studies ◽  
Age Related

Oily fish and other sources of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPs) have been proposed as protective against dementia and age related cognitive impairment. The basic mechanisms underlying these proposed benefits have been postulated and experimental studies supporting the plausibility of the putative effects have been published. Observational epidemiological and case control studies also largely support a protective role of fish consumption on cognitive function with advancing age, albeit with important unexplained heterogeneity in findings. In this review we report the findings of the latest Cochrane review on the benefits of n-3 LCP supplementation on cognitive function among cognitively healthy older people and expand the review by including trials conducted with individuals with prevalent poor cognitive function or dementia. We identified seven relevant trials, four among cognitively healthy older people, and three among individuals with pre-existing cognitive decline or dementia, and overall conclude that there is no evidence to support the routine use of n-3 LCPs supplements for the prevention, or amelioration, of cognitive decline in later life. We identified several challenges in the design of intervention studies for the prevention of dementia and cognitive decline in older people that require careful consideration especially in recruitment and retention in long-term trials. Whether the lack of agreement in findings from mechanistic and observational data and from intervention studies reflects a real absence of benefit on cognitive function from n-3 LCP supplementation, or whether it reflects intrinsic limitations in the design of published studies remains open to question.

scholarly journals Is there a bidirectional relationship between depressive symptoms and cognitive ability in older people? A prospective study using the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (10) ◽  
pp. 2057-2069 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Gale ◽  
M. Allerhand ◽  
I. J. Deary
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Older People ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Bidirectional Relationship ◽  
English Longitudinal Study

BackgroundCross-sectional surveys of older people commonly find associations between higher levels of depressive symptoms and poorer cognitive performance, but the direction of effect is unclear. We examined whether there was a bidirectional relationship between depressive symptoms and general cognitive ability in non-demented older people, and explored the role of physical health, smoking, exercise, social class and education as potential confounders of this association and as possible determinants of the rate of change of cognitive decline and depressive symptoms.MethodThe English Longitudinal Study of Ageing consists of people aged 50 years and over. Cognitive function and self-reported depressive symptoms were measured in 2002–2003, 2004–2005, 2006–2007 and 2008–2009. We fitted linear piecewise models with fixed knot positions to allow different slopes for different age groups. Analyses are based on 8611 people.ResultsMean cognitive function declined with age; there was no trend in the trajectory of depressive symptoms. Better cognitive function was associated with less depression up to the age of 80 years. Greater depression was associated with a slightly faster rate of cognitive decline but only in people aged 60–80 years. There were no consistent associations across age groups between sex, smoking, education, social class, exercise or number of chronic physical illnesses and the rate of change of cognitive decline or depressive symptoms.ConclusionsIn this longitudinal study of older people, there was no consistent evidence that being more depressed led to an acceleration in cognitive decline and no support for the hypothesis that there might be reciprocal dynamic influences between cognitive ability and depressive symptoms.

scholarly journals The Association between Social Support Sources and Cognitive Function among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A One-Year Prospective Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (21) ◽  
pp. 4228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taiji Noguchi ◽  
Ippei Nojima ◽  
Tomoe Inoue-Hirakawa ◽  
Hideshi Sugiura
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Older People ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Japanese Version ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
One Year

There is evidence that social relationships may modify cognitive decline in older people. We examined the prospective association between social support and cognitive function among community-dwelling older people. Japanese adults recruited at health checkups in suburban towns were surveyed at baseline and one-year follow-up. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Japanese version (MoCA-J). Social support from coresiding family, non-coresiding family, and neighbors/friends was assessed using self-administered questionnaires. Multivariable linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the effects of social support on MoCA-J scores at follow-up. Data were analyzed from 121 older people (mean age (standard deviation): 73.86 (4.95) years). There was a positive association between social support exchanges with neighbors and friends and MoCA-J scores at follow-up after covariate adjustment (unstandardized β = 1.23, p = 0.006). Social support exchanges with coresiding family and non-coresiding family and relatives were not associated with MoCA-J scores at follow-up (coresiding family: Unstandardized β = 0.28, p = 0.813, non-coresiding family and relatives: Unstandardized β = 0.51, p = 0.238). The provision of emotional support to neighbors and friends had the largest effect on MoCA-J scores. Our findings suggest that social support exchanges with neighbors and friends are protective against cognitive decline.

Neighborhood Environments and Cognitive Decline Among Middle-Aged and Older People in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (7) ◽  
pp. e60-e71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ye Luo ◽  
Lingling Zhang ◽  
Xi Pan
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Older People ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Cognitive Change ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Neighborhood Environments

Abstract Objectives Despite the growing interest in the effects of neighborhood environments on cognitive function, most studies on older people are based on cross-sectional survey data from developed countries. This study examines the relationship between neighborhood environments and decline in cognitive function over time among middle-aged and older people in China and whether this relationship varies between rural and urban residents. Methods The three waves of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS 2011–2015) were used. The sample included 12,131 respondents living in 298 rural villages and 4,059 respondents living in 150 urban communities. Three-level linear growth curve models were estimated to track trajectories of cognitive change over a 4-year period. Results Chinese older people who lived in neighborhoods with more handicap access, more bus lines, employment service, and higher socioeconomic status (SES) had slower cognitive decline. Neighborhood basic infrastructures, number of days that roads were unpassable, outdoor exercise facilities, and average social activity participation were associated with baseline cognitive function in both rural and urban areas, but neighborhood environments had more impact on cognitive decline among rural older adults than urban older adults. Discussions Findings from this study call for increased infrastructure development and community building programs in rural China.

scholarly journals Cognitive function trajectories and their determinants in older people: 8 years of follow-up in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (8) ◽  
pp. 685-694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Zaninotto ◽  
G David Batty ◽  
Michael Allerhand ◽  
Ian J Deary
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Older People ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Physical Function ◽  
Global Cognitive Function ◽  
Growth Curve Modelling ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
English Longitudinal Study

BackgroundMaintaining cognitive function is an important aspect of healthy ageing. In this study, we examined age trajectories of cognitive decline in a large nationally representative sample of older people in England. We explored the factors that influence such decline and whether these differed by gender.MethodsLatent growth curve modelling was used to explore age-specific changes, and influences on them, in an 8-year period in memory, executive function, processing speed and global cognitive function among 10 626 participants in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. We run gender-specific models with the following exposures: age, education, wealth, childhood socioeconomic status, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, physical function, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol, smoking, depression and dementia.ResultsAfter adjustment, women had significantly less decline than men in memory (0.011, SE 0.006), executive function (0.012, SE 0.006) and global cognitive function (0.016, SE 0.004). Increasing age and dementia predicted faster rates of decline in all cognitive function domains. Depression and alcohol consumption predicted decline in some cognitive function domains in men only. Poor physical function, physical inactivity and smoking were associated with faster rates of decline in specific cognitive domains in both men and women. For example, relative to study members who were physically active, the sedentary experienced greater declines in memory (women −0.018, SE 0.009) and global cognitive function (men −0.015, SE 0.007 and women −0.016, SE 0.007).ConclusionsThe potential determinants of cognitive decline identified in this study, in particular modifiable risk factors, should be tested in the context of randomised controlled trials.

scholarly journals Reading activity prevents long-term decline in cognitive function in older people: evidence from a 14-year longitudinal study

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Hung Chang ◽  
I-Chien Wu ◽  
Chao A. Hsiung
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Older People ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Education Levels ◽  
Reading Activity ◽  
Reduced Risk

ABSTRACT Objective: This study examined the effect of daily life reading activity on the risk of cognitive decline and whether the effect differs regarding education levels. Design: A longitudinal study with 6-, 10-, and 14-year follow-up. Setting: Face-to-face interviews with structured questionnaires at home. Participants: A representative sample of 1,962 Taiwanese community-dwelling older persons aged 64 and above, followed up in four waves of surveys over 14 years. Measurements: Baseline reading frequencies were measured based on a scale of leisure activity. The Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire was used to measure cognitive performance. We performed logistic regression to assess associations between baseline reading and later cognitive decline. Interaction terms between reading and education were to compare the reading effects on cognitive decline at different education levels. Results: After adjusting for covariates, those with higher reading frequencies (≥1 time a week) were less likely to have cognitive decline at 6-year (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.54; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.34–0.86), 10-year (AOR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.37–0.92), and 14-year (AOR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.34–0.86); in a 14-year follow-up, a reduced risk of cognitive decline was observed among older people with higher reading frequencies versus lower ones at all educational levels. Conclusions: Reading was protective of cognitive function in later life. Frequent reading activities were associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline for older adults at all levels of education in the long term.

scholarly journals THE COURSE OF DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN OLDER ADULTS RECEIVING IN-HOME CARE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S270-S270
Author(s):  
Anne-Sofie Helvik ◽  
maria Barca ◽  
Sverre Bergh ◽  
Jūratė Šaltytė –Benth ◽  
Tom Borza
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Older People ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cumulative Incidence ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Over Time

Abstract The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence, incidence and persistence of depressive symptoms over a 36-month follow-up period among older people receiving in-home care, and to explore the association between cognitive function and the course of depressive symptoms. In all, 1001 older people (≥ 70 years) receiving in-home care were included in a longitudinal study over 36 months. Depressive symptoms, cognitive function, general medical health, activities of daily living, neuropsychiatric symptoms and use psychotropic drugs were assessed at three assessments. Dementia and mild cognitive impairment were diagnosed at all assessments. Baseline demographic characteristics and information on nursing home residency at follow-up were recorded. Linear mixed models were estimated. We found the prevalence and cumulative incidence of individual depressive symptoms to be higher in those with dementia at baseline than in those without. The persistence of depressive symptoms did not differ between those with or without dementia at baseline. The severity of cognitive decline and mean depressive symptom score assessed simultaneously were positively associated, but the strength of the association changed over time and was not significant at the last assessment. In conclusion: The differences in prevalence and cumulative incidence of depressive symptoms in those with and without dementia at baseline, and the association found between degree of cognitive decline and depressive symptoms over time shows that depression and dementia are interconnected. Nurses and clinicians should pay attention to cognitive status when observing or evaluating depression among older people receiving in-home care.

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