scholarly journals Mild Cognitive Decline Is a Risk Factor for Scam Vulnerability in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisuke Ueno ◽  
Yasuhiro Daiku ◽  
Yoko Eguchi ◽  
Minako Iwata ◽  
Shoka Amano ◽  
...  

Research on elderly financial exploitation has mostly focused on financial abuse that occurs in families and other types of trusted relationships. As such, little is known about financial frauds and scams perpetrated by strangers. Financial fraud and scam prevention activities for older adults must be promoted, for which the correlation between the psychological, social, and cognitive characteristics of their vulnerability needs to be determined. The present study aimed to determine whether cognitive decline is a risk factor for scam vulnerability in older adults. Thus, we created a scam vulnerability scale for older adults with cognitive decline and analyzed the data to reveal the correlation between them, including inhibition and executive function. We conducted an interview survey with 50 older adults with cognitive decline (average age: 79.42 years, SD: 5.44) and 51 older adults without cognitive decline (average age: 76.12 years, SD: 5.82). The interview survey included the scam vulnerability scale, psychosocial questionnaires, and neuropsychological tests. The scale included six items with a four-point Likert scale based on a previous study. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that lower scores on the Japanese version of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale–Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Jcog; indicating higher general cognitive function) correlated with higher scam vulnerability in the cognitive decline group (β = −0.46, p < 0.001). In addition, men were found to be more vulnerable in both groups (cognitive decline group: β = −0.29, p = 0.015, cognitive non-decline group; β = −0.32, p = 0.018). Inhibition and executive function were found not to correlate significantly with scam vulnerability. These results suggest that mild cognitive decline correlates with higher scam vulnerability, whereas moderate to severe cognitive decline correlates with lower vulnerability, possibly because it makes understanding the scam attempt itself difficult. Older adults with mild cognitive decline and their families, particularly those visiting elderly care or outpatient facilities, should be notified of the scam vulnerability of older clients using the ADAS-Jcog score as an index to help them avoid victimization.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Samaras ◽  
Steve Makkar ◽  
John D Crawford ◽  
Nicole A Kochan ◽  
Wei Wen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Metformin use in diabetes has been associated with both increased and decreased dementia rates in observational studies of people with diabetes. Objective: To examine changes in global cognition and specific cognitive domains over 6 years in older adults with diabetes treated with metformin, compared to other glucose lowering medications, and to people without diabetes. Methods Data were examined from the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study, a prospective observational study of 6 years duration of 1037 non-demented community-dwelling elderly aged 70-90 at baseline, derived from a compulsory electoral roll. Neuropsychological testing was performed every 2 years with domain measures of memory, executive function, language, visuospatial function, attention and processing speed and a composite of global cognition. Data were analysed by linear mixed modelling, including age, sex, education, body mass index, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, smoking and apolipoprotein E ε4 carriage as covariates. Results: At baseline, 123 participants had diabetes (DM) with 67 receiving metformin (DM+MF) who were similar in demographics to those not receiving metformin (DM-noMF) and those without diabetes (no-DM). Participants with diabetes had higher BMI, lower HDL- and LDL-cholesterol and more prevalent heart disease, hypertension and smoking, compared to no-DM. Over 6-years, DM+MF participants had significantly slower rates of decline in global cognition and executive function, compared to DM-noMF, adjusted for covariates. The rate of decline for each cognitive domain was similar between DM+MF and controls. No impact was found in analyses examining interactions with sex, ApoEε4 carriage or hyperlipidemia. No difference was found in the rate of decline in brain volumes between the groups over 2 years. Incident dementia was significantly higher in DM-noMF, compared to DM+MF (adjusted OR 5.29 [95% CI 1.17-23.88], p,0.05), whereas risk of incident dementia was similar between DM+MF and participants without diabetes. Conclusions: In older people with diabetes receiving metformin, rates of cognitive decline and dementia were similar to that found in people without diabetes and significantly less than that found in people with diabetes not receiving metformin. Large randomized studies in people with and without diabetes are required to determine whether these associations can be attributed to metformin alone or if other factors explain these observations. Future studies will clarify if this cheap and safe medication can be repurposed for prevention of cognitive decline in older people.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (06) ◽  
pp. 779-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonya Kaur ◽  
Nikhil Banerjee ◽  
Michelle Miranda ◽  
Mitchell Slugh ◽  
Ni Sun-Suslow ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTObjectives:Frailty is associated with cognitive decline in older adults. However, the mechanisms explaining this relationship are poorly understood. We hypothesized that sleep quality may mediate the relationship between frailty and cognition.Participants:154 participants aged between 50-90 years (mean = 69.1 years, SD = 9.2 years) from the McKnight Brain Registry were included.Measurements:Participants underwent a full neuropsychological evaluation, frailty and subjective sleep quality assessments. Direct relationships between frailty and cognitive function were assessed using linear regression models. Statistical mediation of these relationships by sleep quality was assessed using nonparametric bootstrapping procedures.Results:Frailty severity predicted weaker executive function (B = −2.77, β = −0.30, 95% CI = −4.05 – −1.29) and processing speed (B = −1.57, β = −0.17, 95% CI = −3.10 – −0.16). Poor sleep quality predicted poorer executive function (B = −0.47, β = −0.21, 95% CI = −0.79 – −0.08), processing speed (B = −0.64, β = −0.28, 95% CI = −0.98 – −0.31), learning (B = −0.42, β = −0.19, 95% CI = −0.76 – −0.05) and delayed recall (B = −0.41, β = −0.16, 95% CI = −0.80 – −0.31). Poor sleep quality mediated the relationships between frailty severity and executive function (B = −0.66, β = −0.07, 95% CI = −1.48 – −0.39), learning (B = −0.85, β = −0.07, 95% CI = −1.85 – −0.12), delayed recall (B = −0.47, β = −0.08, 95% CI = −2.12 – −0.39) and processing speed (B = −0.90, β = −0.09, 95% CI = −1.85 – −0.20).Conclusions:Relationships between frailty severity and several cognitive outcomes were significantly mediated by poor sleep quality. Interventions to improve sleep quality may be promising avenues to prevent cognitive decline in frail older adults.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 698-699
Author(s):  
Yoshinori Fujiwara ◽  
Kazushige Ihara ◽  
Mitsugu Hachisu ◽  
Hiroyuki Suzuki ◽  
Hisashi Kawai ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction There has been growing interest in the use of circulating levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the blood as a biomarker in the context of patients with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. Prospective data on cognitive decline in the broad older population, however, remain limited. We assessed the relationship of serum BDNF levels with short-term decline in cognitive functioning of community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Prospective study of 405 adults 65-84 years old without dementia in Tokyo, Japan. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Japanese version (MoCA-J) and its subscales were used. Linear regression assessed standardized differences in test score differences between baseline (2011) and follow-up (2013) visits, according to baseline serum BDNF quartiles, with adjustment for baseline demographics, disease indicators, and cognitive scores. Results Among participants who performed on the MoCA-J at baseline (scores in bottom quartile), cognitive decline was .65 (95% CI: .08 - 1.2; p=.025) standard deviations (SD) more pronounced in those with lowest than highest BDNF levels. Decline in executive function, but not in other subdomains, was also most pronounced in those with lowest baseline serum BDNF levels (difference: .32 SD; 95%CI: .08-.55; p=.007) Conclusion Lower serum BDNF levels were associated with greater 2-year cognitive decline in community-dwelling older Japanese adults. Decline varied among cognitive subdomains, and baseline cognition. Research seeking to evaluate the added-value of serum BDNF for screening and/or health promotion initiatives involving physical activity, which has been linked to increment in BDNF levels, is warranted.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 778-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Su Hyun Shin ◽  
Giyeon Kim ◽  
Soohyun Park

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S815-S815
Author(s):  
Yingxiao Hua ◽  
Yingxiao Hua ◽  
Dexia Kong ◽  
XinQi Dong

Abstract Body composition has been proposed as an important modifiable risk factor of cognitive decline in multiple epidemiological studies. However, the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and cognitive function remains controversial and conflicting in diverse populations. This study aims to investigate the association between BMI and cognitive decline in U.S. Chinese older adults. Classifications of BMI are based on Asian criteria recommended by WHO (underweight: BMI<18.5, normal weight: 18.5≤BMI<23, overweight: 23≤bmi<27.5, obesity: bmi≥27.5). Logistic regression models were conducted. Compared with normal-weight participants, underweight participants were more likely to experience decline in episodic memory (OR=1.68, p=0.002) and work memory (OR=1.38, p=0.05). Being overweight and obesity were not associated with cognitive function decline. The findings indicate that underweight could potentially be a risk factor of cognitive function decline among U.S. Chinese older adults. Perspective studies may further investigate the association between weight loss and cognitive decline for the development of prevention strategies.


2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay R. Clark ◽  
Dawn M. Schiehser ◽  
Gali H. Weissberger ◽  
David P. Salmon ◽  
Dean C. Delis ◽  
...  

AbstractDecline in executive function has been noted in the prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may presage more global cognitive declines. In this prospective longitudinal study, five measures of executive function were used to predict subsequent global cognitive decline in initially nondemented older adults. Of 71 participants, 15 demonstrated significant decline over a 1-year period on the Dementia Rating Scale (Mattis, 1988) and the remaining participants remained stable. In the year before decline, the decline group performed significantly worse than the no-decline group on two measures of executive function: the Color-Word Interference Test (CWIT; inhibition/switching condition) and Verbal Fluency (VF; switching condition). In contrast, decliners and non-decliners performed similarly on measures of spatial fluency (Design Fluency switching condition), spatial planning (Tower Test), and number-letter switching (Trail Making Test switching condition). Furthermore, the CWIT inhibition-switching measure significantly improved the prediction of decline and no-decline group classification beyond that of learning and memory measures. These findings suggest that some executive function measures requiring inhibition and switching provide predictive utility of subsequent global cognitive decline independent of episodic memory and may further facilitate early detection of dementia. (JINS, 2012, 18, 118–127)


SLEEP ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. A273-A274
Author(s):  
O M BUBU ◽  
A Andrade ◽  
M M Hogan ◽  
O Q Umasabor-Bubu ◽  
F Mukhtar ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra Morrison ◽  
Mahsa Dadar ◽  
Neda Shafiee ◽  
Sylvia Villeneuve ◽  
D. Louis Collins ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundPeople with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may be at increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, not all studies have observed this increased risk. Inconsistencies may be related to different methods used to define SCD. The current project examined whether four methods of defining SCD (applied to the same sample) results in different patterns of atrophy and future cognitive decline between cognitively normal older adults with (SCD+) and without SCD (SCD-).MethodsMRI scans and questionnaire data for 273 cognitively normal older adults from Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative were examined. To operationalize SCD we used four common methods: Cognitive Change Index (CCI), Everyday Cognition Scale (ECog), ECog + Worry, and Worry only. A previously validated MRI analysis method (SNIPE) was used to measure hippocampal volume and grading. Deformation-based morphometry was performed to examine volume at regions known to be vulnerable to AD. Logistic regressions were completed to determine whether diagnostic method was associated with volume differences between SCD- and SCD+. Linear mixed effects models were performed to examine the relationship between the definitions of SCD and future cognitive decline.ResultsResults varied between the four methods of defining SCD. Left hippocampal grading was lower in SCD+ than SCD-when using the CCI (p=.041) and Worry (p=.021) definitions. The right (p=.008) and left (p=.003) superior temporal regions were smaller in SCD+ than SCD-, but only with the ECog. SCD+ was associated with greater future cognitive decline measured by Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale, but only with the CCI definition. In contrast, only the ECog definition of SCD was associated with future decline on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.ConclusionThe current findings suggest that the various methods used to differentiate between SCD- and SCD+ influence whether volume differences and findings of cognitive decline are observed between groups in this retrospective analysis.


2008 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine C. Price ◽  
Cynthia W. Garvan ◽  
Terri G. Monk

Background The authors investigated type and severity of cognitive decline in older adults immediately and 3 months after noncardiac surgery. Changes in instrumental activities of daily living were examined relative to type of cognitive decline. Methods Of the initial 417 older adults enrolled in the study, 337 surgery patients and 60 controls completed baseline, discharge, and/or 3-month postoperative cognitive and instrumental activities of daily living measures. Reliable change methods were used to examine three types of cognitive decline: memory, executive function, and combined executive function/memory. SD cutoffs were used to grade severity of change as mild, moderate or severe. Results At discharge, 186 (56%) patients experienced cognitive decline, with an equal distribution in type and severity. At 3 months after surgery, 231 patients (75.1%) experienced no cognitive decline, 42 (13.6%) showed only memory decline, 26 (8.4%) showed only executive function decline, and 9 (2.9%) showed decline in both executive and memory domains. Of those with cognitive decline, 36 (46.8%) had mild, 25 (32.5%) had moderate, and 16 (20.8%) had severe decline. The combined group had more severe impairment. Executive function or combined (memory and executive) deficits involved greater levels of functional (i.e., instrumental activities of daily living) impairment. The combined group was less educated than the unimpaired and memory groups. Conclusion Postsurgical cognitive presentation varies with time of testing. At 3 months after surgery, more older adults experienced memory decline, but only those with executive or combined cognitive decline had functional limitations. The findings have relevance for patients and caregivers. Future research should examine how perioperative factors influence neuronal systems.


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