Are Hearing and Visual Dysfunction Associated with Cognitive Impairment? A Population-Based Approach

BackgroundAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often associated with cognitive and/or behavioural impairment. Cognitive reserve (CR) may play a protective role in offsetting cognitive impairment. This study examined the relationship between CR and longitudinal change in cognition in an Irish ALS cohort.MethodsLongitudinal neuropsychological assessment was carried out on 189 patients over 16 months using the Edinburgh cognitive and behavioural ALS screen (ECAS) and an additional battery of neuropsychological tests. CR was measured by combining education, occupation and physical activity data. Joint longitudinal and time-to-event models were fitted to investigate the associations between CR, performance at baseline and decline over time while controlling for non-random drop-out.ResultsCR was a significant predictor of baseline neuropsychological performance, with high CR patients performing better than those with medium or low CR. Better cognitive performance in high CR individuals was maintained longitudinally for ECAS, social cognition, executive functioning and confrontational naming. Patients displayed little cognitive decline over the course of the study, despite controlling for non-random drop-out.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that CR plays a role in the presentation of cognitive impairment at diagnosis but is not protective against cognitive decline. However, further research is needed to examine the interaction between CR and other objective correlates of cognitive impairment in ALS.

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Same-Sex Couples and Cognitive Impairment: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study

The Journals of Gerontology Series B ◽

10.1093/geronb/gbaa202 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hui Liu ◽

Ning Hsieh ◽

Zhenmei Zhang ◽

Yan Zhang ◽

Kenneth M Langa

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

The United States ◽

Population Based ◽

Cognitive Status ◽

Health And Retirement Study ◽

Sex Partners ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Same Sex ◽

Same Sex Couples ◽

Retirement Study

Abstract Objectives We provide the first nationally representative population-based study of cognitive disparities among same-sex and different-sex couples in the United States. Methods We analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study (2000–2016). The sample included 23,669 respondents (196 same-sex partners and 23,473 different-sex partners) aged 50 and older who contributed to 85,117 person-period records (496 from same-sex partners and 84,621 from different-sex partners). Cognitive impairment was assessed using the modified version of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status. Mixed-effects discrete-time hazard regression models were estimated to predict the odds of cognitive impairment. Results The estimated odds of cognitive impairment were 78% (p < .01) higher for same-sex partners than for different-sex partners. This disparity was mainly explained by differences in marital status and, to a much lesser extent, by differences in physical and mental health. Specifically, a significantly higher proportion of same-sex partners than different-sex partners were cohabiting rather than legally married (72.98% vs. 5.42% in the study sample), and cohabitors had a significantly higher risk of cognitive impairment than their married counterparts (odds ratio = 1.53, p < .001). Discussion The findings indicate that designing and implementing public policies and programs that work to eliminate societal homophobia, especially among older adults, is a critical step in reducing the elevated risk of cognitive impairment among older same-sex couples.

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Clinical features of incidental mild cognitive impairment and dementia in a population-based study

Geriatrics and Gerontology International ◽

10.1111/ggi.12778 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 17 (5) ◽

pp. 722-729 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Nozomi Hishikawa ◽

Yusuke Fukui ◽

Kota Sato ◽

Toru Yamashita ◽

Yasuyuki Ohta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Clinical Features ◽

Population Based ◽

Population Based Study

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MRI and MRS predictors of mild cognitive impairment in a population-based sample

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0b013e31829a3329 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 81 (2) ◽

pp. 126-133 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

K. Kantarci ◽

S. D. Weigand ◽

S. A. Przybelski ◽

G. M. Preboske ◽

V. S. Pankratz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Population Based

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The Longitudinal Association of Vision Impairment with Transitions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: Findings from The Aging, Demographics and Memory Study

The Journals of Gerontology Series A ◽

10.1093/gerona/glab157 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Joshua R Ehrlich ◽

Bonnielin K Swenor ◽

Yunshu Zhou ◽

Kenneth M Langa

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Population Based ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Vision Impairment ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards Models ◽

Longitudinal Association

Abstract Background Vision impairment (VI) is associated with incident cognitive decline and dementia. However, it is not known whether VI is associated only with the transition to cognitive impairment, or whether it is also associated with later transitions to dementia. Methods We used data from the population-based Aging, Demographics and Memory Study (ADAMS) to investigate the association of visual acuity impairment (VI; defined as binocular presenting visual acuity <20/40) with transitions from cognitively normal (CN) to cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND) and from CIND to dementia. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models and logistic regression were used to model the association of VI with cognitive transitions, adjusted for covariates. Results There were 351 participants included in this study (weighted percentages: 45% male, 64% age 70-79 years) with a mean follow-up time of 4.1 years. In a multivariable model, the hazard of dementia was elevated among those with VI (HR=1.63, 95%CI=1.04-2.58). Participants with VI had a greater hazard of transitioning from CN to CIND (HR=1.86, 95%CI=1.09-3.18). However, among those with CIND and VI a similar percentage transitioned to dementia (48%) and remained CIND (52%); there was no significant association between VI and transitioning from CIND to dementia (HR=0.94, 95%CI=0.56-1.55). Using logistic regression models, the same associations between VI and cognitive transitions were identified. Conclusions Poor vision is associated with the development of CIND. The association of VI and dementia appears to be due to the higher risk of dementia among individuals with CIND. Findings may inform the design of future interventional studies.

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OBJECTIVE COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AND PROGRESSION TO DEMENTIA IN WOMEN: THE PROSPECTIVE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RISK FACTOR STUDY

Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease ◽

10.14283/jpad.2017.4 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

J. Skov Neergaard ◽

K. Dragsbæk ◽

C. Christiansen ◽

M. Asser Karsdal ◽

S. Brix ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Elderly Women ◽

Population Based ◽

Risk Factor Study ◽

Factor Study ◽

Epidemiological Risk ◽

Epidemiological Risk Factor ◽

History Of

Background: Identification of subjects with a progressive disease phenotype is an urgent need in the pharmaceutical industry where most of the recent clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease have failed. Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify subgroups of individuals with objective cognitive impairment (OCI), who were most likely to progress to dementia and to identify the risk factors associated with progression. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Population-based. Participants: 5,380 elderly women from Denmark. Measurements: The Short Blessed Test and a category fluency test with animal naming, was used to assess cognitive function, and to classify them into different groups of OCI. Results: OCI was identified in 852 subjects at baseline. The risk of dementia was elevated for OCI subjects as compared to subjects with normal cognition (HR 1.46[1.19-1.79]). The courses of OCI were studied in a sub-cohort who completed the cognitive assessment at both the baseline and the follow-up visit (n = 1,933). Of these subjects 203 had OCI at baseline. The multi-domain subtypes of OCI were associated with progressive OCI. Subjects most likely to progress were older, physically inactive, had a higher level of total cholesterol (>6.5 mmol/L) and had a history of depression as compared to subjects with a non-progressive course of OCI. Conclusions: In this cohort we identified a risk profile associated with progression from OCI in older women. The degree of impairment at baseline was an important predictor of conversion to dementia, additionally several modifiable risk factors were associated with progression.

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