Inflammatory biomarkers and motoric cognitive risk syndrome: Multicohort survey

Elevated Blood Homocysteine Increases the Risk of Incident Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome: A Two-Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Motoric Cognitive Risk (MCR) syndrome, a predementia syndrome characterized by cognitive complaints and slow gait, may have an underlying vascular etiology. Elevated blood levels of homocysteine, a known vascular risk factor, have been linked to physical and cognitive decline in older adults, though the relationship with MCR is unknown. We aimed to identify the association between homocysteine and MCR risk.

METHODS

We examined the association between baseline homocysteine levels and incident MCR using Cox proportional hazard models in 1826 community-dwelling older adults (55% women) from 2 cohorts (Einstein Aging Study [EAS] and Quebec Longitudinal Study on Nutrition and Successful Aging [NuAge]). We calculated hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), for each cohort as well as stratified by sex and vascular disease/risk factors.

RESULTS

Median follow-up time was 2.2 years in EAS and 3.0 years in NuAge. Individuals with elevated baseline homocysteine levels (>14 µmol/L) had a significantly higher risk of incident MCR compared to those with normal levels in NuAge (HR 1.41, 95% CI: 1.01-1.97, p = .04), after adjusting for covariates. Our exploratory stratified analyses found that these associations were significant only in men with vascular disease/risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher blood homocysteine levels are associated with an increased risk of developing MCR in older adults, particularly in men with vascular disease or vascular risk factors.

Association of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine with motoric cognitive risk in elderly Chinese people: RUGAO longevity and aging cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Motor cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) represents a critical pre-dementia and disability state characterized by a combination of objectively measured slow walking speed and subjective memory complaints (SMCs). This study aims to identify risk factors for MCR and investigate the relationship between plasma levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and MCR among Chinese community-dwelling elderly populations.

METHODS

A total of 1312 participants were involved in this study based on the data of the Rugao Longevity and Aging Study (RuLAS). The MCR was characterized by SMCs and slow walking speed. The SCCs were defined as a positive answer to the question 'Do you feel you have more problems with memory than most?' in a 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale. Slow walking speed was determined by one standard deviation or more below the mean value of the patient's age and gender group. The plasma of 8-OHdG were measured by a technician in the biochemistry laboratory of the Rugao People's Hospital during the morning of the survey.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MCR was found to be 7.9%. After adjusting for covariates, significant associations with MCR were observed in older age (OR 1.057; p = 0.018), history of cerebrovascular disease (OR 2.155; p = 0.010), and elevated 8-OHdG levels (OR 1.007; p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicated the elevated plasma 8-OHdG is significantly associated with increased MCR risk in the elderly, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for early detection and intervention in MCR. This finding underscores the importance of monitoring oxidative DNA damage markers in predicting cognitive and motor function declines, offering new avenues for research and preventive strategies in aging populations.

Social frailty and the incidence of motoric cognitive risk syndrome in older adults

INTRODUCTION

Various associations between social factors and motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) have been reported. However, whether social frailty (integrated from multiple social factors) is associated with MCR is still unclear.

METHODS

We included 4657 individuals without MCR at Round 1 of the NHATS as the discovery sample, and 3075 newly recruited individuals from Round 5 of the NHATS as the independent validation sample. Social frailty was assessed by five social items. MCR was defined as the presence of both subjective cognitive complaints and slow gait speed in individuals without dementia or mobility disability.

RESULTS

Compared with normal individuals, those with social frailty had higher risk of incident MCR (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.57, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.34-1.84). Each additional unfavorable social item was associated with an increased risk of MCR (HR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.22-1.43).

DISCUSSION

Social frailty was associated with an increased risk of incident MCR in older adults.

HIGHLIGHTS

Various associations between social factors and motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) have been reported. Social frailty that integrated from multiple social factors was associated with an increased risk of incident MCR. Social frailty should be included in the early screening of individuals to identify those at higher risk of MCR.

Association of multimorbidity patterns with motoric cognitive risk syndrome among older adults: Evidence from a China longitudinal study

OBJECTIVES

Motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR), a pre-dementia syndrome, is characterized by slow gait and subjective cognitive complaints among older adults. This study assessed the relationship between multimorbidity, its patterns, and MCR.

METHODS

Data for this study were obtained from three waves (2011, 2013, and 2015) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Participants who were aged 60 years and older and had complete data at baseline as well as complete data about MCR at follow-up were selected. Patients without MCR at baseline were selected for further analyses. Longitudinal associations between multimorbidity, its patterns, and MCR were examined using a Cox proportional hazards model. Multimorbidity patterns were classified using latent class analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 4923 respondents were included at baseline, 43.47% of whom had multimorbidity. Additionally, the prevalence of MCR at baseline was 12.61%. After adjusting for covariates, multimorbidity was positively associated with MCR (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06-1.68). A higher number of multimorbidity was also significantly associated with an increased risk of developing MCR (HR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.02-1.19). Three multimorbidity patterns were selected: relatively healthy pattern, respiratory pattern, and cardiovascular pattern. Older adults with the cardiovascular pattern were 1.57 times more likely to develop MCR than those with the relatively healthy pattern (HR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.16-2.13). There was no significant difference between the relatively healthy pattern and the respiratory pattern (HR = 1.31, 95% CI = 0.91-1.92).

CONCLUSIONS

MCR is highly prevalent among older Chinese adults. MCR may be exacerbated by multimorbidity. For older adults with multimorbidity (especially cardiovascular multimorbidity), attention should be paid to MCR to achieve early detection, diagnosis, and treatment.

Association of cardiometabolic multimorbidity with motoric cognitive risk syndrome in older adults

INTRODUCTION

Motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) is a predementia syndrome that is characterized by cognitive complaints and slow gait. Cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) is associated with an increased risk of dementia. However, the relationship between CMM and MCR is still unclear.

METHODS

We included 4744 participants (aged 65+ years) without MCR at baseline from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), who were followed-up from 2011 to 2018. CMM was defined as the presence of two or more cardiometabolic diseases (including diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and stroke).

RESULTS

CMM was significantly associated with an increased risk of MCR (hazard ratio [HR] 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-1.75) in fully adjusted models. Consistent results were observed from stratified analyses of different subgroups. Increasing numbers of cardiometabolic diseases were dose-dependently associated with increased MCR risk (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.20-1.48).

DISCUSSION

CMM is associated with an increased risk of MCR in older adults.

HIGHLIGHTS

Motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) is a predementia syndrome characterized by slow gait speed and cognitive complaints.Cardiometabolic multimorbidity was associated with an increased MCR risk.An increased number of cardiometabolic diseases were dose-dependently associated with increased MCR risk.

Visual-somatosensory integration (VSI) as a novel marker of Alzheimer’s disease: A comprehensive overview of the VSI study

Identification of novel, non-invasive, non-cognitive based markers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias are a global priority. Growing evidence suggests that Alzheimer’s pathology manifests in sensory association areas well before appearing in neural regions involved in higher-order cognitive functions, such as memory. Previous investigations have not comprehensively examined the interplay of sensory, cognitive, and motor dysfunction with relation to AD progression. The ability to successfully integrate multisensory information across multiple sensory modalities is a vital aspect of everyday functioning and mobility. Our research suggests that multisensory integration, specifically visual-somatosensory integration (VSI), could be used as a novel marker for preclinical AD given previously reported associations with important motor (balance, gait, and falls) and cognitive (attention) outcomes in aging. While the adverse effect of dementia and cognitive impairment on the relationship between multisensory functioning and motor outcomes has been highlighted, the underlying functional and neuroanatomical networks are still unknown. In what follows we detail the protocol for our study, named The VSI Study, which is strategically designed to determine whether preclinical AD is associated with neural disruptions in subcortical and cortical areas that concurrently modulate multisensory, cognitive, and motor functions resulting in mobility decline. In this longitudinal observational study, a total of 208 community-dwelling older adults with and without preclinical AD will be recruited and monitored yearly. Our experimental design affords assessment of multisensory integration as a new behavioral marker for preclinical AD; identification of functional neural networks involved in the intersection of sensory, motor, and cognitive functioning; and determination of the impact of early AD on future mobility declines, including incident falls. Results of The VSI Study will guide future development of innovative multisensory-based interventions aimed at preventing disability and optimizing independence in pathological aging.