Age-Related Cognitive Decline May Be Moderated by Frequency of Specific Food Products Consumption

Our study aimed to evaluate whether the type of food products and the frequency of their consumption are associated with cognitive functioning in younger and older adults. The impact of diets that are high in added sugars and saturated fat on cognitive functioning, especially on memory, was at the center of our interest. Participants in the study were 204 healthy adults (aged 20–55) who performed a multitasking cognitive test and completed dietary and psychological questionnaires. Stepwise regression analysis with age and food consumption patterns as predictors, and the cognitive task performance as a dependent variable, revealed that cognitive task performance worsened with age. However, we found that the frequency of consuming different types of foods (healthy versus unhealthy dietary patterns) moderates the effects of age on cognitive functioning. Red meat and animal fat consumption were negatively correlated with cognitive performance, and this relation was dependent on the age of our participants. Conversely, white meat and fish consumption were positively related to memory. Different indices of dietary patterns (both positive and negative) were stronger predictors of cognitive performance in the older adult group. We interpret our results as evidence that diet may be a protective (or worsening) factor in age-related cognitive decline.

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Age-Related Differences in Motivational Integration and Cognitive Control

10.31234/osf.io/a96nw ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Debbie Marianne Yee ◽

Sarah L Adams ◽

Asad Beck ◽

Todd Samuel Braver

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Decision Making ◽

Cognitive Control ◽

Task Performance ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Monetary Reward ◽

Potential Candidate ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Age Related ◽

Cognitive Task Performance

Motivational incentives play an influential role in value-based decision-making and cognitive control. A compelling hypothesis in the literature suggests that the brain integrates the motivational value of diverse incentives (e.g., motivational integration) into a common currency value signal that influences decision-making and behavior. To investigate whether motivational integration processes change during healthy aging, we tested older (N=44) and younger (N=54) adults in an innovative incentive integration task paradigm that establishes dissociable and additive effects of liquid (e.g., juice, neutral, saltwater) and monetary incentives on cognitive task performance. The results reveal that motivational incentives improve cognitive task performance in both older and younger adults, providing novel evidence demonstrating that age-related cognitive control deficits can be ameliorated with sufficient incentive motivation. Additional analyses revealed clear age-related differences in motivational integration. Younger adult task performance was modulated by both monetary and liquid incentives, whereas monetary reward effects were more gradual in older adults and more strongly impacted by trial-by-trial performance feedback. A surprising discovery was that older adults shifted attention from liquid valence toward monetary reward throughout task performance, but younger adults shifted attention from monetary reward toward integrating both monetary reward and liquid valence by the end of the task, suggesting differential strategic utilization of incentives. Together these data suggest that older adults may have impairments in incentive integration, and employ different motivational strategies to improve cognitive task performance. The findings suggest potential candidate neural mechanisms that may serve as the locus of age-related change, providing targets for future cognitive neuroscience investigations.

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Multimodal measurement approach to identify individuals with mild cognitive impairment: study protocol for a cross-sectional trial

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046879 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. e046879

Author(s):

Bernhard Grässler ◽

Fabian Herold ◽

Milos Dordevic ◽

Tariq Ali Gujar ◽

Sabine Darius ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Statistical Analysis ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Classification Accuracy ◽

Multimodal Approach ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Age Related ◽

Age Related Cognitive Decline

IntroductionThe diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), that is, the transitory phase between normal age-related cognitive decline and dementia, remains a challenging task. It was observed that a multimodal approach (simultaneous analysis of several complementary modalities) can improve the classification accuracy. We will combine three noninvasive measurement modalities: functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), electroencephalography and heart rate variability via ECG. Our aim is to explore neurophysiological correlates of cognitive performance and whether our multimodal approach can aid in early identification of individuals with MCI.Methods and analysisThis study will be a cross-sectional with patients with MCI and healthy controls (HC). The neurophysiological signals will be measured during rest and while performing cognitive tasks: (1) Stroop, (2) N-back and (3) verbal fluency test (VFT). Main aims of statistical analysis are to (1) determine the differences in neurophysiological responses of HC and MCI, (2) investigate relationships between measures of cognitive performance and neurophysiological responses and (3) investigate whether the classification accuracy can be improved by using our multimodal approach. To meet these targets, statistical analysis will include machine learning approaches.This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first study that applies simultaneously these three modalities in MCI and HC. We hypothesise that the multimodal approach improves the classification accuracy between HC and MCI as compared with a unimodal approach. If our hypothesis is verified, this study paves the way for additional research on multimodal approaches for dementia research and fosters the exploration of new biomarkers for an early detection of nonphysiological age-related cognitive decline.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was obtained from the local Ethics Committee (reference: 83/19). Data will be shared with the scientific community no more than 1 year following completion of study and data assembly.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04427436, registered on 10 June 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT04427436.

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Individual variation in brain microstructural-cognition relationships in aging

10.1101/2021.02.19.431732 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Raihaan Patel ◽

Clare E. Mackay ◽

Michelle G. Jansen ◽

Gabriel A. Devenyi ◽

M. Clare O’Donoghue ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Decline ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Late Life ◽

Older Age ◽

Data Driven ◽

Semantic Fluency ◽

Cognitive Domains ◽

Age Related ◽

Brain Microstructure ◽

Age Related Cognitive Decline

AbstractWhile all individuals are susceptible to age-related cognitive decline, significant inter- and intra-individual variability exists. However, the sources of this variation remain poorly understood. Here, we examined the association between 30-year trajectories of cognitive decline and multimodal indices of brain microstructure and morphology in older age. We used the Whitehall II Study, an extensively characterised cohort using 3T brain magnetic resonance images acquired at older age (mean age = 69.52 ± 4.9) and 5 repeated cognitive performance assessments between mid-life (mean age = 53.2 ± 4.9 years) and late-life (mean age = 67.7 ± 4.9). Using non-negative matrix factorization, we identified 10 brain microstructural components that integrate measures of cortical thickness, surface area, fractional anisotropy, and mean and radial diffusivities. We observed two modes of variance that describe the association between cognition and brain microstructure. The first describes variations in 5 microstructural components associated with low mid-life performance across multiple cognitive domains, decline in reasoning abilities, but a relative maintenance of lexical and semantic fluency from mid-to-late life. The second describes variations in 5 microstructural components that are associated with low mid-life performance in lexical fluency, semantic fluency and short-term memory performance, but a retention of abilities in multiple domains from mid-to-late life. The extent to which a subject loads onto a latent variables predicts their future cognitive performance 3.2 years later (mean age = 70.87 ± 4.9). This data-driven approach highlights a complex pattern of brain-behavior relationships, wherein the same individuals express both decline and maintenance in function across cognitive domains and in brain structural features.Significance StatementAlthough declines in cognitive performance are an established aspect of aging, inter- and intra-individual variation exists. Nevertheless, the sources of this variation remain unclear. We analyse a unique sample to examine associations between 30-year trajectories of cognitive decline and multimodal indices of brain anatomy in older age. Using data-driven techniques, we find that age-related cognitive decline is not uniform. Instead, each individual expresses a mixture of maintenance and decline across cognitive domains, that are associated with a mixture of preservation and degeneration of brain structure. Further, we find the primary determinants of late-life cognitive performance are mid-life performance and higher brain surface area. These results suggest that early and mid-life preventative measures may be needed to reduce age-related cognitive decline.

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Plant-Based Dietary Patterns, Plant Foods, and Age-Related Cognitive Decline

Advances in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/advances/nmz081 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (Supplement_4) ◽

pp. S422-S436 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Sujatha Rajaram ◽

Julie Jones ◽

Grace J Lee

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Dietary Patterns ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Unsaturated Fatty Acids ◽

Well Being ◽

Neuroprotective Effects ◽

Plant Foods ◽

Age Related ◽

Age Related Cognitive Decline

ABSTRACT The aging population is expanding, as is the prevalence of age-related cognitive decline (ARCD). Of the several risk factors that predict the onset and progression of ARCD, 2 important modifiable risk factors are diet and physical activity. Dietary patterns that emphasize plant foods can exert neuroprotective effects. In this comprehensive review, we examine studies in humans of plant-based dietary patterns and polyphenol-rich plant foods and their role in either preventing ARCD and/or improving cognitive function. As yet, there is no direct evidence to support the benefits of a vegetarian diet in preventing cognitive decline. However, there is emerging evidence for brain-health–promoting effects of several plant foods rich in polyphenols, anti-inflammatory dietary patterns, and plant-based dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet that include a variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and whole grains. The bioactive compounds present in these dietary patterns include antioxidant vitamins, polyphenols, other phytochemicals, and unsaturated fatty acids. In animal models these nutrients and non-nutrients have been shown to enhance neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal survival by reducing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. In this review, we summarize the mounting evidence in favor of plant-centered dietary patterns, inclusive of polyphenol-rich foods for cognitive well-being. Randomized clinical trials support the role of plant foods (citrus fruits, grapes, berries, cocoa, nuts, green tea, and coffee) in improving specific domains of cognition, most notably frontal executive function. We also identify knowledge gaps and recommend future studies to identify whether plant-exclusive diets have an added cognitive advantage compared with plant-centered diets with fish and/or small amounts of animal foods.

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Do Professors Better Maintain Cognitive Functioning in Older Age?

GeroPsych ◽

10.1024/1662-9647/a000201 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 5-17

Author(s):

Damaris Aschwanden ◽

Vera Schumacher ◽

Kathrin Zimmermann ◽

Christina Werner ◽

Mathias Allemand ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Decline ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Cognitive Aging ◽

Protective Factor ◽

Perceptual Speed ◽

Highly Educated ◽

Intellectual Engagement ◽

Age Related ◽

Average Education ◽

Age Related Cognitive Decline

Abstract. Research on cognitive aging demonstrates age-related cognitive decline. Education is a protective factor against cognitive decline, but few studies have examined the cognitive development of highly educated individuals. This study compared the cognitive performance and intellectual engagement of retired professors ( N = 47, Mage = 72.9) and individuals with average education ( N = 236, Mage = 72.7) over 5 years. Although the highly educated sample showed better performance in perceptual speed and working memory, cognitive performance was rather stable over time in both samples. Interestingly, high intellectual engagement enabled individuals with average education to keep up with the performance of the highly educated sample on perceptual speed. These findings raise the question whether intellectual engagement is more beneficial than years of education in perceptual speed.

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Age-related neural correlates of cognitive task performance under increased postural load

AGE ◽

10.1007/s11357-012-9499-2 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

pp. 2111-2124 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

A. Van Impe ◽

S. M. Bruijn ◽

J. P. Coxon ◽

N. Wenderoth ◽

S. Sunaert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Task Performance ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Neural Correlates ◽

Age Related ◽

Cognitive Task Performance ◽

Postural Load

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Metacognitive knowledge and experience across multiple cognitive domains in euthymic bipolar disorder

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.31 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 64 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ivan J. Torres ◽

Ceren Hidiroglu ◽

Sylvia A. Mackala ◽

Sharon Ahn ◽

Lakshmi N. Yatham ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Cognitive Functioning ◽

Task Performance ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Metacognitive Knowledge ◽

Cognitive Domains ◽

Cognitive Task Performance ◽

Metacognitive Experience

Abstract Background Metacognitive knowledge (MK; general awareness of cognitive functioning) and metacognitive experience (ME; awareness of cognitive performance on a specific cognitive task) represent two facets of metacognition that are critical for daily functioning, but are understudied in bipolar disorder. This study was conducted to evaluate MK and ME across multiple cognitive domains in individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder and unaffected volunteers, and to investigate the association between metacognition and quality of life (QoL). Methods Fifty-seven euthymic participants with bipolar disorder and 55 demographically similar unaffected volunteers provided prediction and postdiction ratings of cognitive task performance across multiple cognitive domains. Self-ratings were compared to objective task performance, and indices of MK and ME accuracy were generated and compared between groups. Participants rated QoL on the Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorder Scale (QoL.BD). Results Metacognitive inaccuracies in both MK and ME were observed in participants with bipolar disorder, but only in select cognitive domains. Furthermore, most metacognitive inaccuracies involved underestimation of cognitive ability. Metacognitive indices were minimally associated with medication variables and mood symptoms, but several indices were related to QoL. Conclusions Individuals with bipolar disorder demonstrate inaccuracies in rating their cognitive functioning and in rating their online cognitive task performance, but only on select cognitive functions. The tendency to underestimate performance may reflect a negative information processing bias characteristic of mood disorders. Metacognitive variables were also predictive of QoL, indicating that further understanding of cognitive self-appraisals in persons with bipolar disorder has significant clinical relevance.

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Effects of Estradiol on Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Neurons and Their Impact on Cognitive Performance and Age-Related Cognitive Decline

Estrogens and Memory ◽

10.1093/oso/9780190645908.003.0017 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 282-302

Author(s):

Robert B. Gibbs

Keyword(s):

Estrogen Receptor ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Basal Forebrain ◽

Essential Role ◽

Cholinergic Neurons ◽

Age Related ◽

Estrogen Effects ◽

Age Related Cognitive Decline ◽

Cholinergic Projections

Cholinergic neurons in the basal forebrain play an important role in modulating wakefulness, alertness, and selective attention and contribute significantly to learning and memory processes. These neurons also are affected by estrogens. Loss of circulating estrogens negatively impacts the functionality of cholinergic projections to the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, resulting in impaired cognitive performance. These effects can be reversed by appropriate estrogen treatment or treatment with selective estrogen receptor agonists. Evidence also suggests that the cholinergic neurons play an essential role in enabling effects of estrogens on synaptic plasticity, which benefit cognitive performance. This chapter summarizes evidence for estrogen effects on basal forebrain cholinergic projections and the relevance of these findings to the maintenance of cognitive performance and to the prevention of age- and disease-related cognitive decline in women.

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