scholarly journals The age-related effect on cognitive performance in cognitively healthy elderly is mainly caused by underlying AD pathology or cerebrovascular lesions: implications for cutoffs regarding cognitive impairment

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Borland ◽  
Erik Stomrud ◽  
Danielle van Westen ◽  
Oskar Hansson ◽  
Sebastian Palmqvist
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Cognitive Tests ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Cerebrovascular Lesions ◽  
Cerebrovascular Pathology ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Age Related

Abstract Background As research in treatments for neurocognitive diseases progresses, there is an increasing need to identify cognitive decline in the earliest stages of disease for initiation of treatment in addition to determining the efficacy of treatment. For early identification, accurate cognitive tests cutoff values for cognitive impairment are essential. Methods We conducted a study on 297 cognitively healthy elderly people from the BioFINDER study and created subgroups excluding people with signs of underlying neuropathology, i.e., abnormal cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] β-amyloid or phosphorylated tau, CSF neurofilament light (neurodegeneration), or cerebrovascular pathology. We compared cognitive test results between groups and examined the age effect on cognitive test results. Results In our subcohort without any measurable pathology (n = 120), participants achieved better test scores and significantly stricter cutoffs for cognitive impairment for almost all the examined tests. The age effect in this subcohort disappeared for all cognitive tests, apart from some attention/executive tests, predominantly explained by the exclusion of cerebrovascular pathology. Conclusion Our study illustrates a new approach to establish normative data that could be useful to identify earlier cognitive changes in preclinical dementias. Future studies need to investigate if there is a genuine effect of healthy aging on cognitive tests or if this age effect is a proxy for higher prevalence of preclinical neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals PARASYMPATHETIC INFLUENCE ON COGNITIVE AGING IS MODERATED BY SYMPATHETIC ACTIVITY, ESPECIALLY IN EARLY MIDLIFE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S94-S94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik L Knight ◽  
Ryan Giuliano ◽  
Sean Shank ◽  
Megan Clarke ◽  
David M Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
Cognitive Change ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Age Related

Abstract The two branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) have been individually linked to age-related changes in cognitive functioning: The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is thought to support healthy cognitive aging, whereas the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) has been linked to heightened cognitive decline. Despite these separate findings and despite the integrative nature of the ANS, little work has examined the two branches simultaneously to better understand their interactive effects on age-related cognitive changes. We examined cognitive change in two waves of the MIDUS cognitive project and indexed PNS and SNS activity from heart rate variability and epinephrine levels (respectively) from the MIDUS biomarker project (n = 764, 56% female, mean age = 54.1 years). Our findings indicate that higher PNS levels attenuate cognitive decline, but only among individuals with low SNS levels; at higher SNS levels, the beneficial effects of the PNS are blocked. Further, lower PNS levels can be somewhat compensated for by increased SNS levels. This pattern was most robust among individuals transitioning to mid-life (i.e., 35-40 years old at the initial cognitive test). These results suggest that interventions targeting the ANS as a modifiable factor in cognitive aging should consider both ANS branch’s effects simultaneously, particularly in the early stages of midlife.

P3-492: THE MISINTERPRETED AGE EFFECT ON COGNITIVE TEST RESULTS: A PRESENTATION OF TEST NORMS FROM PERSONS WITHOUT UNDERLYING PATHOLOGIES

2006 ◽  
Vol 14 (7S_Part_24) ◽  
pp. P1310-P1310
Author(s):  
Emma Borland ◽  
Erik Stomrud ◽  
Oskar Hansson ◽  
Sebastian Palmqvist
Keyword(s):  
Age Effect ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Test Norms

scholarly journals The Association between Age-Related Cognitive Changes and Obstacle Avoidance: Focusing on Memory-Guided Limb Movements

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryota Sakurai ◽  
Kentaro Kodama ◽  
Yu Ozawa ◽  
Frederico Pieruccini-Faria ◽  
Kimi Estela Kobayashi-Cuya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Obstacle Avoidance ◽  
Safety Margin ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Limb Movements ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Foot Kinematics ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Difference

Abstract An association between cognitive impairment and tripping over obstacles during locomotion in older adults has been suggested. However, owing to its memory-guided movement, whether this is more pronounced in the trailing limb is poorly known. We examined the age-related changes in stepping-over, focusing on trailing limb movements, and their association with cognitive performance. Age-related change in obstacle avoidance was examined by comparing the foot kinematics of 105 older and 103 younger adults when stepping over an obstacle. The difference in clearance between the leading limb and trailing limb (Δ clearance) was calculated to determine the degree of decrement in the clearance of the trailing limb. A cognitive test battery was used to evaluate cognitive function among older adults for assessing their association with Δ clearance. Older adults showed a significantly lower clearance of the trailing limb than younger adults, resulting in a greater Δ clearance. The significant correlations between greater Δ clearance and scores of Montreal Cognitive Assessment and delayed recall of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised Logical Memory. Our results suggest that memory functions may contribute to the control of trailing limb movements, which can secure a safety margin to avoid stumbling on an obstacle, during obstacle avoidance locomotion.

Kidney–brain axis inflammatory cross-talk: from bench to bedside

2017 ◽  
Vol 131 (11) ◽  
pp. 1093-1105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aline Silva Miranda ◽  
Thiago Macedo Cordeiro ◽  
Thomas Mucida dos Santos Lacerda Soares ◽  
Rodrigo Novaes Ferreira ◽  
Ana Cristina Simões e Silva
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cross Talk ◽  
Renin Angiotensin System ◽  
Trophic Factors ◽  
Local Formation ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Cerebrovascular Lesions ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Pathophysiological Role

Epidemiologic data suggest that individuals at all stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a higher risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders, cognitive impairment, and dementia. This risk is generally explained by the high prevalence of both symptomatic and subclinical ischemic cerebrovascular lesions. However, other potential mechanisms, including cytokine/chemokine release, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), circulating and local formation of trophic factors and of renin–angiotensin system (RAS) molecules, could also be involved, especially in the absence of obvious cerebrovascular disease. In this review, we discuss experimental and clinical evidence for the role of these mechanisms in kidney–brain cross-talk. In addition, we hypothesize potential pathways for the interactions between kidney and brain and their pathophysiological role in neuropsychiatric and cognitive changes found in patients with CKD. Understanding the pathophysiologic interactions between renal impairment and brain function is important in order to minimize the risk for future cognitive impairment and to develop new strategies for innovative pharmacological treatment.

Online Tool (Brain Assessment) for the Detection of Cognitive Function Changes during Aging

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Masayuki Satoh ◽  
Ken-ichi Tabei ◽  
Saiko Fujita ◽  
Yoshinori Ota
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Normal Aging ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Cognitive Tests ◽  
Repeated Testing ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Word Memory ◽  
Lifestyle Related Diseases

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> It is well-known that cognitive function declines with age. In order to detect changes in cognitive function, cognitive tests should be performed repeatedly. Currently existing cognitive tests come in only a single version, so the subject is likely to remember the contents with repeated testing. And, under the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in-person assessment should be avoided. This study was performed to develop a new cognitive test (brain assessment, BA) that has 5 versions and can be performed on a personal computer (PC) through the Internet. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> Five thousand subjects performed the online BA, which consisted of 5 subtests: number memory, word memory, mental rotation test, N-back test, and judgment test. We standardized the raw scores (cognitive scores, CSs) using mean and standard deviation, which were 50 and 10, respectively. Then, we calculated the mean CS for each sex and age, plotted the relationships between ages and mean CSs on figures, and calculated the formula of cognitive changes during normal aging. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The CSs of all subtests decreased with aging. The regression coefficient was from −0.31 to −0.45. It is noteworthy that in most subtests, the CSs started to increase at 85 years of age. <b><i>Discussion:</i></b> Our BA has 5 versions and can be done on a PC using the Internet. We tested the BA in a large number of subjects, and the standard values of CSs were measured in individuals up to 89 years of age. By performing this test repeatedly, subjects can evaluate the degree of their cognitive decline. If the rate of cognitive decline is greater than that predicted using the normalized formula, the subjects can undertake strategies to improve their control of lifestyle-related diseases or other habits of daily living. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The BA can be easily taken online using a PC, and its scores linearly declined with normal aging. The BA will be useful for detecting longitudinal cognitive changes and comparing them to the pattern seen in normal aging.

scholarly journals Reproducibility of the correlative triad among aging, dopamine receptor availability, and cognition

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric J. Juarez ◽  
Jaime J. Castrellon ◽  
Mikella A. Green ◽  
Jennifer L. Crawford ◽  
Kendra L. Seaman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Digit Span ◽  
Age Effect ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Cognitive Measures ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Adult Age ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Human Adults

AbstractThe evidence that dopamine function mediates the association between aging and cognition is one of the most cited findings in the cognitive neuroscience of aging. However, few and relatively small studies have directly examined these associations. Here we examined correlations among adult age, dopamine D2-like receptor (D2R) availability, and cognition in two cross-sectional studies of healthy human adults. Participants completed a short cognitive test battery and, on a separate day, a PET scan with either the high-affinity D2R tracer [18F]Fallypride (Study 1) or [11C]FLB457 (Study 2). Digit span, a measure of short-term memory maintenance and working memory, was the only cognitive test for which dopamine D2R availability partially mediated the age effect on cognition. In Study 1, age was negatively correlated with digit span. Striatal D2R availability was positively correlated with digit span controlling for age. The age effect on digit span was smaller when controlling for striatal D2R availability. Although other cognitive measures used here have individually been associated with age and D2R availability in prior studies, we found no consistent evidence for significant associations between low D2R availability and low cognitive performance on these measures. These results at best only partially supported the correlative triad of age, dopamine D2R availability, and cognition. While a wealth of other research in human and non-human animals demonstrates that dopamine makes critical contributions to cognition, the present studies suggest caution in interpreting PET findings as evidence that dopamine D2R loss is a primary cause of broad age-related declines in fluid cognition.

scholarly journals Age-associated memory impairment and related disorders

1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 279-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
John T. O'Brien
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Progressive Dementia ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Recent Emergence ◽  
Normal Ageing ◽  
Difficult Area

Complaints of poor memory are common in the healthy elderly and to many it may seem unsurprising that cognitive function declines with ‘normal’ ageing. Virtually every biological system alters with age and, just as a 70-year-old cannot run as fast or hear as well as when he or she was 20, it is perhaps inevitable that cognitive function also becomes impaired. However, far from being straightforward, the nature, classification and clinical significance of age-related cognitive changes that fall short of dementia remain a most controversial and difficult area (see O'Brien & Beats, 1994; Dal Forno & Kawas, 1995). The recent emergence of new drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (donepezil and rivastigmine) and related disorders has emphasised the need to study groups with milder degrees of cognitive impairment. It is necessary to determine whether such conditions are benign and non-progressive, or harbingers of progressive dementia and so appropriate conditions to target for early therapeutic intervention. The presence of age-related cognitive changes raises other important issues including why such changes occur, how they should be classified and whether, even if ‘benign’, they can and should be treated.

scholarly journals Cognitive training in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Impact on cognitive and functional performance

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Schimidt Brum ◽  
Orestes Vicente Forlenza ◽  
Mônica Sanches Yassuda
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Functional Performance ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Aging is associated with cognitive decline, yet this does not prevent older adults from finding ways to compensate for age-related deficits. Earlier studies have shown that cognitively unimpaired older adults can benefit from training programs. The efficacy of cognitive interventions among older adults without dementia but with cognitive decline (mild cognitive impairment, MCI) has not yet been widely tested. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of 8-session cognitive training on the cognitive and functional performance of older adults with MCI. Methods: 16 older adults diagnosed with MCI received cognitive training (18 participated as controls). All participants were assessed pre and post intervention using the Short Cognitive Test (SKT), Direct Assessment of Functional Scale Revised (DAFS-R), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and Clock Drawing Test (CDT). Results: A significant improvement was observed in the study group between pre and post-test in attention (SKT), time orientation, shopping skills and dealing with finances (DAFS-R) along with reduced depressive symptoms (GDS). Conclusion: These results indicate the importance of non-pharmacological interventions for older adults with MCI to help compensate for cognitive decline.

scholarly journals Electronic Cognitive Screen Technology for Screening Older Adults With Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment in a Community Setting: Development and Validation Study

10.2196/17332 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. e17332
Author(s):  
Joyce Y C Chan ◽  
Adrian Wong ◽  
Brian Yiu ◽  
Hazel Mok ◽  
Patti Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Predictive Models ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Cognitive Tests ◽  
Derivation Cohort ◽  
Cognitive Screen

Background A digital cognitive test can be a useful and quick tool for the screening of cognitive impairment. Previous studies have shown that the diagnostic performance of digital cognitive tests is comparable with that of conventional paper-and-pencil tests. However, the use of commercially available digital cognitive tests is not common in Hong Kong, which may be due to the high cost of the tests and the language barrier. Thus, we developed a brief and user-friendly digital cognitive test called the Electronic Cognitive Screen (EC-Screen) for the detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia of older adults. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the EC-Screen for the detection of MCI and dementia in older adults. Methods The EC-Screen is a brief digital cognitive test that has been adapted from the Rapid Cognitive Screen test. The EC-Screen uses a cloud-based platform and runs on a tablet. Participants with MCI, dementia, and cognitively healthy controls were recruited from research clinics and the community. The outcomes were the performance of the EC-Screen in distinguishing participants with MCI and dementia from controls, and in distinguishing participants with dementia from those with MCI and controls. The cohort was randomly split into derivation and validation cohorts based on the participants’ disease group. In the derivation cohort, the regression-derived score of the EC-Screen was calculated using binomial logistic regression. Two predictive models were produced. The first model was used to distinguish participants with MCI and dementia from controls, and the second model was used to distinguish participants with dementia from those with MCI and controls. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed and the areas under the curves (AUCs) were calculated. The performances of the two predictive models were tested using the validation cohorts. The relationship between the EC-Screen and paper-and-pencil Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Hong Kong version (HK-MoCA) was evaluated by the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results A total of 126 controls, 54 participants with MCI, and 63 participants with dementia were included in the study. In differentiating participants with MCI and dementia from controls, the AUC of the EC-Screen in the derivation and validation cohorts was 0.87 and 0.84, respectively. The optimal sensitivity and specificity in the derivation cohorts were 0.81 and 0.80, respectively. In differentiating participants with dementia from those with MCI and controls, the AUC of the derivation and validation cohorts was 0.90 and 0.88, respectively. The optimal sensitivity and specificity in the derivation cohort were 0.83 and 0.83, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the EC-Screen and HK-MoCA (r=–0.67, P<.001). Conclusions The EC-Screen is suggested to be a promising tool for the detection of MCI and dementia. This test can be self-administered or assisted by a nonprofessional staff or family member. Therefore, the EC-Screen can be a useful tool for case finding in primary health care and community settings.

scholarly journals Employers ’ Response to Workers With Progressive Cognitive Impairment: A Review of Policy in Canada

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 717-717
Author(s):  
Josephine McMurray ◽  
Kristina Kokorelias ◽  
AnneMarie Levy ◽  
Krista James ◽  
Logan Reis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Case Law ◽  
Professional Organizations ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Early Onset Dementia ◽  
Gig Economy ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Progressive Cognitive Impairment

Abstract Longer lifespans, the gig economy, eligibility for government pensions, and more testing for age-related cognitive changes, increase the potential for workers developing mild cognitive impairment and/or early onset dementia (MCI|EOD) “on the job”. This critical analysis assesses Canada’s policy environment for employers when employees are diagnosed with MCI|EOD. Our search for policy literature included: a scoping review of academic literature involving Canadian-focused articles, and countries where novel or innovative policy had been evaluated and published; a search for Canadian court judgements and tribunal decisions; and a grey literature search in both Canadian and international sources, as innovation will often happen “at the margin” and updated policy may take years to be enacted and formalized. We used participatory research to obtain feedback from a broad group of stakeholders including employers, industry, professional organizations, and government, as well as people living with MCI/dementia, to ensure outputs were reflective of current policy. We found that: 1) Canadian federally-regulated employers are governed by similar Acts & Codes as the provinces and territories, with some notable exceptions, 2) Disability discrimination and accommodation case law in Canada is settled, however there are few cognitive impairment cases to provide specific guidance, 3) Scant empirical research in the scientific literature addresses policy that incents employers to build workspaces for employees with MCI|EOD that help them stay on the job longer. We conclude that engaging with employers to better understand their needs will help policy-makers to support them build workspaces that encourage productive engagement of all workers.

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