A Tutorial for Speech-Language Pathologists: Physical Activity and Social Engagement to Prevent or Slow Cognitive Decline in Older Adults

Self-Report of Changes in Cognitive-Communication Function and Social Engagement Among Adults With Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment

PURPOSE

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of cognitive-communication deficits in adult cancer survivors who reported experiencing cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). The study also aimed to determine how these problems impact their ability to engage socially and find satisfaction in their social roles.

METHOD

This study employed a cross-sectional survey to collect data from adult cancer survivors. The survey included questions on demographic characteristics, self-perceived cognitive-communication abilities, social engagement, and satisfaction with social participation. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Spearman rank-order correlation, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Kruskal-Wallis H tests.

RESULTS

Of 172 participants, 78% completed the survey, with 109 self-reporting CRCI. The participants predominantly had breast cancer, and most were diagnosed with Stage II cancers. The results indicated self-perceived impairment in various cognitive-communication domains, with functional daily communication being the most affected. Participants reported more difficulty participating in social roles and activities than their overall satisfaction with social participation. This study explored the relationships between cognitive-communication scores and social engagement, considering variables such as education, cancer type, stage, age, and treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This study underscores the multidimensional nature of CRCI, emphasizing the importance of addressing both cognitive-communication and social aspects in interventions and support services. It highlights the clinical implications for speech-language pathology, suggesting a potential role in identifying and addressing cognitive-communication deficits. Future research needs are discussed.

Risk Polymorphisms of FNDC5, BDNF, and NTRK2 and Poor Education Interact and Aggravate Age-Related Cognitive Decline

Cognitive abilities tend to decline with aging, with variation between individuals, and many studies seek to identify genetic biomarkers that more accurately anticipate risks related to pathological aging. We investigated the influence of BDNF, NTRK2, and FNDC5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the cognitive performance of young and older adults with contrasting educational backgrounds. We addressed three questions: (1) Is education associated with reduced age-related cognitive decline? (2) Does the presence of SNPs explain the variation in cognitive performance observed late in life? (3) Is education differentially associated with cognition based on the presence of BDNF, NTRK2, or FNDC5 polymorphisms? We measured the cognitive functions of young and older participants, with lower and higher education, using specific and sensitive tests of the Cambridge Automated Neuropsychological Test Assessment Battery. A three-way ANOVA revealed that SNPs were associated with differential performances in executive functions, episodic memory, sustained attention, mental and motor response speed, and visual recognition memory and that higher educational levels improved the affected cognitive functions. The results revealed that distinct SNPs affect cognition late in life differentially, suggesting their utility as potential biomarkers and emphasizing the importance of cognitive stimulation that advanced education early in life provides.

The NeuroBel: A Screening Test for Verbal Language Impairment in Spanish-Speaking Elderly People With Cognitive Decline

PURPOSE

The NeuroBel is a short test that can detect cognitive decline using language tasks. This study replicated previous research using larger clinical samples from three Spanish-speaking countries.

METHOD

Eight tasks were used to analyze verbal language functioning using a psycholinguistic approach. A total of 232 elderly, monolingual Spanish speakers from Spain, Cuba, and Colombia participated in this study. Of these, 76 had Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the initial phase, 75 had mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 81 did not exhibit cognitive impairment (healthy controls).

RESULTS

Significant differences were observed among the three clinical groups. The participants with AD and the participants with MCI had significantly lower NeuroBel scores than the control group on most of the tasks. However, repetition (in AD vs. MCI) and auditory lexical decision (in MCI vs. control) tasks were not significant in Tukey's post hoc tests. Discriminant analysis showed that 80.6% of the participants were correctly classified into the original groups and revealed the tasks that were the best and worst for differentiating among groups. The receiver-operating characteristic curves showed high sensitivity for AD and MCI. The area under the curve was .97 in the contrast of AD versus MCI + controls, .96 in the determination of overall cognitive decline (AD + MCI vs. controls), and .93 in the contrast of MCI and control groups.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed that the NeuroBel is a suitable test for detecting cognitive decline based on language impairment in Spanish-speaking elderly people.

Association between Loneliness and Memory Function through White Matter Hyperintensities in Older Adults: The Moderating Role of Gender

Loneliness has an important impact on memory function in late life. However, the neural mechanism by which loneliness detrimentally influences memory function remains elusive. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether the association between loneliness and memory function varies by gender. The current study aimed to investigate the neural mechanism underlying the association between loneliness and episodic memory function and explore whether it varies with gender among cognitively normal older adults. A total of 173 community-dwelling adults aged 60 years or older from the Korean Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (KSHAP) study (mean age = 71.87) underwent an assessment of loneliness, neuropsychological testing, and structural magnetic resonance imaging. The association between loneliness and episodic memory function was mediated by the volume of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), but not by hippocampal or gray matter volumes. In addition, the association between loneliness and memory function through WMHs was significantly moderated by gender; specifically, the indirect effect was significant among men but not among women. The study suggests that WMHs may be a potential neurological mechanism that causes late-life memory dysfunction associated with loneliness in older men. The findings underscore the need for gender-specific interventions to mitigate memory impairment associated with late-life loneliness, with significant public health implications.