scholarly journals Cognitive Reserve in the Healthy Elderly: Cognitive and Psychological Factors

2014 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Age Factors ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Healthy Elderly

Cognitive reserve (CR) helps explain the mismatch between expected cognitive decline and observed maintenance of cognitive functioning in older age. Factors such as education, literacy, lifestyle, and social networking are usually considered to be proxies of CR and its variability between individuals. A more direct approach to examine CR is through the assessment of capacity to gain from practice in a standardized challenging cognitive task that demands activation of cognitive resources. In this study, we applied a testing-the-limits paradigm to a group of 136 healthy elderly subjects (60-75 years) and additionally examined the possible contribution of complex mental activities and quality of sleep to cognitive performance gain. We found a significant, but variable gain and identified verbal memory, cognitive flexibility and problem solving as significant factors. This outcome is in line with our earlier study on CR in healthy mental aging (Zihl et al., 2014). Interestingly and contrary to expectations, our analysis revealed that complex mental activities and sleep quality do not significantly influence CR. Contrasting “high” and ”low” cognitive performers revealed significant differences in verbal memory and cognitive flexibility; again, complex mental activities and sleep quality did not contribute to this measure of CR. In conclusion, the results of this study support and extend previous findings on CR in older age; further they underline the need for improvements in existing protocols for assessing CR in a dynamic manner.

scholarly journals Cognitive Reserve in the Healthy Elderly: Cognitive and Psychological Factors

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zihl Josef ◽  
Nuno Sousa ◽  
Katrin Walther ◽  
Thomas Fink ◽  
Antonia Schmid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Age Factors ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Healthy Elderly

<p>Cognitive reserve (CR) helps explain the mismatch between expected cognitive decline and observed maintenance of cognitive functioning in older age. Factors such as education, literacy, lifestyle, and social networking are usually considered to be proxies of CR and its variability between individuals. A more direct approach to examine CR is through the assessment of capacity to gain from practice in a standardized challenging cognitive task that demands activation of cognitive resources. In this study, we applied a testing-the-limits paradigm to a group of 136 healthy elderly subjects (60&ndash;75 years) and additionally examined the possible contribution of complex mental activities and quality of sleep to cognitive performance gain. We found a significant but variable gain and identified verbal memory, cognitive flexibility, and problem-solving as important factors. This outcome is in line with our earlier study on CR in healthy mental aging. Interestingly and contrary to expectations, our analysis revealed that complex mental activities and sleep quality do not significantly influence CR. Best subset regression showed that better verbal memory and higher cognitive flexibility were related to high CR, which could also be seen when contrasting &ldquo;high&rdquo; and &ldquo;low&rdquo; cognitive performers; again, complex mental activities and sleep quality did not contribute to this measure of CR. In conclusion, the results of this study support and extend previous findings on CR in older age; further, they underline the need for improvements in existing protocols for assessing CR in a dynamic manner.</p>

Analysis of the impact of a cognitive task on the posture of elderly subjects with depression compared with healthy elderly subjects

2016 ◽  
Vol 127 (11) ◽  
pp. 3406-3411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthieu Casteran ◽  
Alain Putot ◽  
François Pfitzenmeyer ◽  
Elizabeth Thomas ◽  
Patrick Manckoundia
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Healthy Elderly Subjects

scholarly journals Verbal and visuospatial executive functions in healthy elderly: The impact of education and frequency of reading and writing

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Damiani Branco ◽  
Charles Cotrena ◽  
Natalie Pereira ◽  
Renata Kochhann ◽  
Rochele Paz Fonseca
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Reading And Writing ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Verbal Tasks ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Participant Education

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the predictive role of education and frequency of reading and writing habits (FRWH) on the cognitive flexibility, inhibition and planning abilities of healthy elderly individuals. Methods: Fifty-seven healthy adults aged between 60 and 75 years with 2 to 23 years of formal education were assessed as to the frequency with which they read and wrote different types of text, as well as their number of years of formal education. Executive functions were evaluated using the Hayling Test and the Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (MWCST). Results: Weak to moderate positive correlations were found between education, FRWH and the number of categories completed in the MWCST, while negative correlations were identified between these variables and the number of perseverative and non-perseverative errors on the task. Only the FRWH was significantly correlated with the number of failures to maintain set. Speed and accuracy on the Hayling Test were only correlated with participant education. Both education and FRWH significantly predicted performance on the MWCST, and the combination of these two variables had a greater predictive impact on performance on this task than either of the two variables alone. Variability in scores on the Hayling Test was best accounted for by participant education. Conclusion: In this sample of elderly subjects, cognitive flexibility was sufficiently preserved to allow for adequate performance on verbal tasks, but may have benefitted from the additional stimulation provided by regular reading and writing habits and by formal education in the performance of more complex non-verbal tasks.

The Role of Environmental Context in Modulating Subjective Sleepiness and Sleep Quality in the Elderly: A Comparison Between Home-Dwelling Subjects and Nursing Home Residents

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-86
Author(s):  
Francesca Conte ◽  
Serena Malloggi ◽  
Benedetta Albinni ◽  
Mariangela Cerasuolo ◽  
Gianluca Ficca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
Environmental Context ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Sleep Habits ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
Subjective Sleep ◽  
Healthy Elderly

This study investigated the role of environmental context in modulating subjective sleep quality and sleepiness in healthy elderlies living at home or in a nursing home. Twenty-five home-dwelling subjects and 18 nursing home residents rated their sleepiness hourly from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. for three nonconsecutive days. Sleep quality, lifestyle, and sleep habits were also evaluated. Compared with home-dwelling subjects, nursing home residents showed a more sedentary lifestyle, advanced bedtime and awakening time, and a relatively stable vigilance level during the waking period. No differences emerged for subjective sleep quality and global vigilance levels between the two groups. Life in a nursing home does not affect sleep quality and global vigilance in healthy elderly subjects, but contributes to flatten their vigilance daily fluctuations. Including nursing home residents in daily activities could be useful to improve their conscious feeling of alertness variations.

Impact of cognitive task on the posture of elderly subjects with Alzheimer's disease compared to healthy elderly subjects

2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 236-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Manckoundia ◽  
Pierre Pfitzenmeyer ◽  
Philippe d'Athis ◽  
Véronique Dubost ◽  
France Mourey
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Healthy Elderly Subjects

scholarly journals Effects of a cognitive training program and sleep hygiene for executive functions and sleep quality in healthy elderly

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Moraes de Almondes ◽  
Maria Emanuela Matos Leonardo ◽  
Ana Maria Souza Moreira
Keyword(s):  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Cognitive Flexibility ◽  
Excessive Daytime Sleepiness ◽  
Verbal Fluency ◽  
Aging Process ◽  
Sleep Hygiene ◽  
Healthy Elderly

ABSTRACT Introduction: The aging process causes changes in the sleep-wake cycle and cognition, especially executive functions. Interventions are required to minimize the impact of the losses caused by the aging process. Objective: To evaluate the effects of a cognitive training program and psychoeducation on sleep hygiene techniques for executive functions and sleep quality in healthy elderly. Methods: The participants were 41 healthy elderly randomized into four groups ([CG] control group, cognitive training group [CTG], sleep hygiene group [SHG] and cognitive training and hygiene group [THG]). The study was conducted in three stages: 1st - assessment of cognition and sleep; 2nd - specific intervention for each group; 3rd - post-intervention assessment. Results: The results showed that the CTG had significant improvements in cognitive flexibility tasks, planning, verbal fluency and episodic memory, gains in sleep quality and decreased excessive daytime sleepiness. The SHG also had improved sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness and significant improvements in insights, planning, attention and episodic memory. The THG had significant gains in cognitive flexibility, problem solving, verbal fluency, attention and episodic memory. Conclusion: Cognitive training and sleep hygiene interventions were useful strategies for improving cognitive performance and sleep quality of healthy elderly, but there was no evidence that sessions combining cognitive training and psychoeducation on sleep hygiene enhanced the gains provided by these interventions applied individually.

scholarly journals Stress and Cognitive Reserve as independent factors of neuropsychological performance in healthy elderly

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3499-3508 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Carlos Centurion Cabral ◽  
Gessyka Wanglon Veleda ◽  
Martina Mazzoleni ◽  
Elton Pinto Colares ◽  
Lucas Neiva-Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Cognitive Reserve ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Neuropsychological Performance ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
And Performance

Abstract Exposure to high levels of cortisol and self-reported stress, as well as cognitive reserve, have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease pathology. However, there are no studies on the interaction of these variables. The present study aims to assess the associations of measures of cortisol, self-reported stress, and cognitive reserve with neuropsychological performance in healthy elderly people; besides, to test the interactions between these variables. Cross-sectional analyzes were conducted using data on stress, cognitive reserve and clinical conditions in 145 healthy elderly adults. A neuropsychological battery was used to assess executive functions, verbal memory and processing speed. Measurement of salivary cortisol at the circadian nadir was taken. A negative association between different stress measures and performance on tasks of memory, executive functions and processing speed was observed. Elderly people with higher cognitive reserve showed superior performance on all neuropsychological measures. No significant interaction between stress and cognitive reserve to neuropsychological performance was observed. These results indicate that older adults with high levels of stress and reduced cognitive reserve may be more susceptible to cognitive impairment.

Psychophysiological Responses to Stress Related to Anxiety in Healthy Aging

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 188-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Adorni ◽  
Agostino Brugnera ◽  
Alessia Gatti ◽  
Giorgio A. Tasca ◽  
Kaoru Sakatani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Stressful Condition ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Situational Stress ◽  
Anxiety Response ◽  
Nirs Signal ◽  
Psychophysiological Correlates

Abstract. The aim of the study was to explore the effects of situational stress and anxiety in a group of healthy elderly, both in terms of psychophysiological correlates and cognitive performance. Eighteen participants ( Mage = 70 ± 6.3; range 60–85) were assessed for anxiety and were instructed to perform a computerized math task, under both a stressful and a control condition, while near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) signal and electrocardiography (ECG) were recorded. NIRS results evidenced an increased activation of right PFC during the entire procedure, even if effect sizes between left and right channels were larger during the experimental condition. The amount of right activation during the stressful condition was positively correlated with anxiety. Response times (RTs) were slower in more anxious than in less anxious individuals, both during the control and stressful conditions. Accuracy was lower in more anxious than in less anxious individuals, only during the stressful condition. Moreover, heart rate (HR) was not modulated by situational stress, nor by anxiety. Overall, the present study suggests that in healthy elderly, anxiety level has a significant impact on cerebral responses, and both on the amount of cognitive resources and the quality of performance in stressful situations.

Quantitative aspects of glucose production and metabolism in healthy elderly subjects

Diabetes ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Robert ◽  
J. C. Cummins ◽  
R. R. Wolfe ◽  
M. Durkot ◽  
D. E. Matthews ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glucose Production ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Healthy Elderly Subjects
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document