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Luna MG, Pahlen S, Corley RP, Wadsworth SJ, Reynolds CA. Frailty and Processing Speed Performance at the Cusp of Midlife in CATSLife. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2023; 78:1834-1842. [PMID: 37480567 PMCID: PMC10645312 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbad102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 07/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Frailty is not an end state of aging, but rather represents physiological vulnerability across multiple systems that unfolds across adulthood. However, examinations of frailty at the midlife transition, and how frailty may impact other age-sensitive traits, such as processing speed (PS), remain scarce. Our research aims were to examine frailty and frailty-speed associations before midlife, a ripe developmental period for healthy aging interventions. METHODS Using data from the Colorado Adoption/Twin Study of Lifespan behavioral development and cognitive aging (N = 1,215; Mage = 33.23 years; standard deviation = 4.98), we constructed 25-item (FI25) and 30-item (FI30) frailty indices. PS was measured using the Colorado Perceptual Speed task and WAIS-III Digit Symbol (DS) subtest. Multilevel models accounted for clustering among siblings and adjusted for sex, race, ethnicity, adoption status, educational attainment, and age. RESULTS Reliability of FI measures was apparent from strong intraclass correlations (ICCs) among identical twin siblings, although ICC patterns across all siblings suggested that FI variability may include nonadditive genetic contributions. Higher FI was associated with poorer PS performance but was significant for DS only (BFI25 = -1.17, p = .001, d = -0.12; BFI30 = -1.21, p = .001, d = -0.12). Furthermore, the negative frailty-DS association was moderated by age (BFI25×age = -0.14, p = .042; BFI30×age=-0.19, p = .008) where increasingly worse performance with higher frailty emerged at older ages. DISCUSSION Frailty is evident before midlife and associated with poorer PS, an association that magnifies with age. These findings help elucidate the interrelationship between indicators of frailty and cognitive performance for adults approaching midlife, an understudied period within life-span development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria G Luna
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Shandell Pahlen
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Robin P Corley
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Sally J Wadsworth
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Chandra A Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
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2
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Blackwood J, Amini R, Conti G, Counseller Q, Taylor R, Fayyad D. Balance performance and grip strength as predictors of cognitive function among community-dwelling older adults in the USA. J Frailty Sarcopenia Falls 2023; 8:23-31. [PMID: 36873827 PMCID: PMC9975970 DOI: 10.22540/jfsf-08-023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives To investigate how balance and grip strength predicts the probability of cognitive function impairment (i.e., executive function: mild and mild-to-moderate impairment, and delayed recall) over eight years in community-dwelling older adults in the US, controlling for sex and race/ethnicity. Methods The National Health and Aging Trends Study dataset (2011 - 2018) was employed. Dependent variables included the Clock Drawing Test (Executive Function) and Delayed Word Recall Test. Longitudinal ordered logistic regression examined the association between cognitive function and predictors (i.e., balance and grip strength) over eight waves (n=9800, 1,225 per wave). Results Those who could complete side-by-side standing and semi-tandem tasks were 33% and 38% less likely to have mild or mild-to-moderate executive function impairment, respectively, relative to those who could not complete these tests. One score decrease in grip strength increased the executive function impairment risk by 13% (Odds Ratio: 0.87, CI: 0.79-0.95). Those who completed the side-by-side tasks were 35% (Odds Ratio: 0.65, CI: 0.44-0.95) less likely to experience delayed recall impairments than those who could not complete this test. With one score decrease in grip strength, the risk of delayed recall impairment was increased by 11% (OR: 0.89, CI: 0.80-1.00). Conclusions A combination of these two simple tests (i.e., semi-tandem stance and grip strength) can screen for cognitive impairment among community-dwelling older adults to identify people with mild and mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Blackwood
- Physical Therapy Department, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan, USA
| | - Reza Amini
- Department of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan, USA
| | - Gerry Conti
- Occupational Therapy Department, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan, USA
| | - Quinn Counseller
- Occupational Therapy Department, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan, USA
| | - Rebekah Taylor
- Occupational Therapy Department, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan, USA
| | - Deena Fayyad
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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3
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Handing EP, Hayden KM, Leng XI, Kritchevsky SB. Predictors of cognitive and physical decline: Results from the Health Aging and Body Composition Study. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1122421. [PMID: 36891556 PMCID: PMC9986301 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1122421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Risk factors for cognitive decline and physical decline have been studied independently, however older adults might experience decline in both areas i.e., dual decline. Risk factors associated with dual decline are largely unknown and have significant implications on health outcomes. The aim of this study is to explore risk factors associated with dual decline. Methods Using data from the Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) study, a longitudinal prospective cohort study, we examined trajectories of decline based on repeated measures of the Modified Mini-Mental State Exam (3MSE) and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) across 6 years (n=1,552). We calculated four mutually exclusive trajectories of decline and explored predictors of decline: cognitive decline (n = 306) = lowest quartile of slope on the 3MSE or 1.5 SD below mean at baseline, physical decline (n = 231) = lowest quartile of slope on the SPPB or 1.5 SD below mean at baseline, dual decline (n = 110) = lowest quartile in both measures or 1.5 SD below mean in both measures at baseline. Individuals who did not meet criteria for one of the decline groups were classified as the reference group. (n= 905). Results Multinomial logistic regression tested the association of 17 baseline risk factors with decline. Odds of dual decline where significantly higher for individuals at baseline with depressive symptoms (CES-D >16) (Odds Ratio (OR)=2.49, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.05-6.29), ApoE-ε4 carrier (OR= 2.09, 95% CI: 1.06-1.95), or if individuals had lost 5+lbs in past year (OR=1.79, 95% CI: 1.13-2.84). Odds were significantly lower for individuals with a higher score on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test per standard deviation (OR per SD: 0.47, 95% CI 0.36-0.62) and faster 400-meter gait (OR per SD= 0.49, 95% CI: 0.37-0.64). Conclusion Among predictors, depressive symptoms at baseline significantly increased the odds of developing dual decline but was not associated with decline in the exclusively cognitive or physical decline groups. APOE-ε4 status increased the odds for cognitive decline and dual decline but not physical decline. More research on dual decline is needed because this group represents a high risk, vulnerable subset of older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth P. Handing
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Kathleen M. Hayden
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Xiaoyan Iris Leng
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Stephen B. Kritchevsky
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer’s Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
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4
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Predictors of cognitive functioning trajectories among older Americans: A new investigation covering 20 years of age- and non-age-related cognitive change. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281139. [PMID: 36753483 PMCID: PMC9907834 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the extensive study of predictors of cognitive decline in older age, a key uncertainty is how much these predictors explain both the intercept and age- and non-age-related change in cognitive functioning (CF). We examined the contribution of a broad range of life course determinants to CF trajectories. Data came from 7,068 participants in the 1996-2016 Health and Retirement Study. CF was measured as a summary score on a 27-point cognitive battery of items. We estimated multilevel growth curve models to examine the CF trajectories in individuals ages 54-85. We found that the variation in CF level at age 54 was three times as much as the variation in age slope. All the observed individual predictors explained 38% of the variation in CF at age 54. Personal education was the most important predictor (25%), followed by race, household wealth and income, parental education, occupation, and depression. The contributions of activity limitations, chronic diseases, health behaviors (obesity, smoking, vigorous activity), childhood conditions (childhood health, nutrition, financial situation), gender, marital status, and religion were rather small (<5%). Even though the age slope varied with many adulthood factors, they only explained 5.6% of the between-person variation in age slope. Moreover, age explained 23% of within-person variation in CF from age 54 to 85. The rest non-age-related within-person variation could not be explained by the observed time-varying factors. These findings suggest that future research is urgently needed to discover the main determinants of the slope of cognitive decline to slow down the progression of cognitive impairment and dementia.
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Niarchou M, Gustavson DE, Sathirapongsasuti JF, Anglada-Tort M, Eising E, Bell E, McArthur E, Straub P, McAuley JD, Capra JA, Ullén F, Creanza N, Mosing MA, Hinds DA, Davis LK, Jacoby N, Gordon RL. Genome-wide association study of musical beat synchronization demonstrates high polygenicity. Nat Hum Behav 2022; 6:1292-1309. [PMID: 35710621 PMCID: PMC9489530 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-022-01359-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Moving in synchrony to the beat is a fundamental component of musicality. Here we conducted a genome-wide association study to identify common genetic variants associated with beat synchronization in 606,825 individuals. Beat synchronization exhibited a highly polygenic architecture, with 69 loci reaching genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10-8) and single-nucleotide-polymorphism-based heritability (on the liability scale) of 13%-16%. Heritability was enriched for genes expressed in brain tissues and for fetal and adult brain-specific gene regulatory elements, underscoring the role of central-nervous-system-expressed genes linked to the genetic basis of the trait. We performed validations of the self-report phenotype (through separate experiments) and of the genome-wide association study (polygenic scores for beat synchronization were associated with patients algorithmically classified as musicians in medical records of a separate biobank). Genetic correlations with breathing function, motor function, processing speed and chronotype suggest shared genetic architecture with beat synchronization and provide avenues for new phenotypic and genetic explorations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Niarchou
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Daniel E Gustavson
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | - Manuel Anglada-Tort
- Computational Auditory Perception Group, Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Else Eising
- Department of Language and Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Eamonn Bell
- Department of Music, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Durham University, Durham, UK
| | - Evonne McArthur
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Peter Straub
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - J Devin McAuley
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - John A Capra
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Fredrik Ullén
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Cognitive Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Nicole Creanza
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Evolutionary Studies Initiative, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Miriam A Mosing
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Cognitive Neuropsychology, Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Lea K Davis
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Nori Jacoby
- Computational Auditory Perception Group, Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Reyna L Gordon
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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6
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Blodgett JM, Cooper R, Davis DHJ, Kuh D, Hardy R. Associations of Word Memory, Verbal Fluency, Processing Speed, and Crystallized Cognitive Ability With One-Legged Balance Performance in Mid- and Later Life. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2022; 77:807-816. [PMID: 34125203 PMCID: PMC8974350 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glab168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive integration of sensory input and motor output plays an important role in balance. Despite this, it is not clear if specific cognitive processes are associated with balance and how these associations change with age. We examined longitudinal associations of word memory, verbal fluency, search speed, and reading ability with repeated measures of one-legged balance performance. METHOD Up to 2 934 participants in the MRC National Survey of Health and Development, a British birth cohort study, were included. At age 53, word memory, verbal fluency, search speed, and reading ability were assessed. One-legged balance times (eyes closed) were measured at ages 53, 60-64, and 69 years. Associations between each cognitive measure and balance time were assessed using random-effects models. Adjustments were made for sex, death, attrition, height, body mass index, health conditions, health behaviors, education, and occupational class. RESULTS In sex-adjusted models, 1 SD higher scores in word memory, search speed, and verbal fluency were associated with 14.1% (95% CI: 11.3, 16.8), 7.2% (4.4, 9.9), and 10.3% (7.5, 13.0) better balance times at age 53, respectively. Higher reading scores were associated with better balance, although this association plateaued. Associations were partially attenuated in mutually adjusted models and effect sizes were smaller at ages 60-64 and 69. In fully adjusted models, associations were largely explained by education, although remained for word memory and search speed. CONCLUSIONS Higher cognitive performance across all measures was independently associated with better balance performance in midlife. Identification of individual cognitive mechanisms involved in balance could lead to opportunities for targeted interventions in midlife.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel Cooper
- Musculoskeletal Science and Sports Medicine Research Centre, Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
| | | | - Diana Kuh
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, London, UK
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7
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Luo J, Zhang B, Estabrook R, Graham EK, Driver CC, Schalet BD, Turiano NA, Spiro A, Mroczek DK. Personality and health: Disentangling their between-person and within-person relationship in three longitudinal studies. J Pers Soc Psychol 2022; 122:493-522. [PMID: 35157486 PMCID: PMC8867777 DOI: 10.1037/pspp0000399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Personality traits and physical health both change over the life span. Theoretical models and empirical evidence suggest that these changes are related. The current study investigated the dynamic relations between personality traits and physical health at both the between-person and the within-person levels. Data were drawn from three longitudinal studies: the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study (NAS; N = 1,734), the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences (LISS; N = 13,559), and the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging (SATSA, N = 2,209). Using random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPMs) and the continuous time (CT) models, after controlling the between-person variance, generally, evidence was found for bidirectional associations between changes in neuroticism and extraversion and changes in self-rated health and general disease level. Bidirectional associations between changes in neuroticism and change in cardiovascular diseases and central nervous system diseases were observed only when time was modeled as continuous. We also found within-person associations between changes in neuroticism and extraversion and changes in performance-based ratings of motor functioning impairment. According to the current findings, the dynamic within-person relations between personality traits and health outcomes were largely in the direction consistent with their between-person connections, although the within-person relationships were substantially smaller in strength when compared their between-person counterparts. Findings from the current study highlight the importance of distinguishing between-person and within-person effects when examining the longitudinal relationship between personality traits and health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Luo
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 625 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611 USA
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4235 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843 USA
| | - Ryne Estabrook
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1007 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607 USA
| | - Eileen K. Graham
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 625 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611 USA
| | - Charles C. Driver
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Humboldt University, Lentzeallee 94, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Benjamin D. Schalet
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 625 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611 USA
| | - Nicholas A. Turiano
- Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, 1124 Life Sciences Building, Morgantown, WV 26506 USA
| | - Avron Spiro
- Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research & Information Center (MAVERIC), VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 S. Huntington Ave., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118 USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 720 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118 USA
| | - Daniel K. Mroczek
- Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 625 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611 USA.,Department of Psychology, Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences, Northwestern University, 2029 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208 USA
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8
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Statsenko Y, Habuza T, Gorkom KNV, Zaki N, Almansoori TM, Al Zahmi F, Ljubisavljevic MR, Belghali M. Proportional Changes in Cognitive Subdomains During Normal Brain Aging. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:673469. [PMID: 34867263 PMCID: PMC8634589 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.673469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Neuroscience lacks a reliable method of screening the early stages of dementia. Objective: To improve the diagnostics of age-related cognitive functions by developing insight into the proportionality of age-related changes in cognitive subdomains. Materials and Methods: We composed a battery of psychophysiological tests and collected an open-access psychophysiological outcomes of brain atrophy (POBA) dataset by testing individuals without dementia. To extend the utility of machine learning (ML) classification in cognitive studies, we proposed estimates of the disproportional changes in cognitive functions: an index of simple reaction time to decision-making time (ISD), ISD with the accuracy performance (ISDA), and an index of performance in simple and complex visual-motor reaction with account for accuracy (ISCA). Studying the distribution of the values of the indices over age allowed us to verify whether diverse cognitive functions decline equally throughout life or there is a divergence in age-related cognitive changes. Results: Unsupervised ML clustering shows that the optimal number of homogeneous age groups is four. The sample is segregated into the following age-groups: Adolescents ∈ [0, 20), Young adults ∈ [20, 40), Midlife adults ∈ [40, 60) and Older adults ≥60 year of age. For ISD, ISDA, and ISCA values, only the median of the Adolescents group is different from that of the other three age-groups sharing a similar distribution pattern (p > 0.01). After neurodevelopment and maturation, the indices preserve almost constant values with a slight trend toward functional decline. The reaction to a moving object (RMO) test results (RMO_mean) follow another tendency. The Midlife adults group's median significantly differs from the remaining three age subsamples (p < 0.01). No general trend in age-related changes of this dependent variable is observed. For all the data (ISD, ISDA, ISCA, and RMO_mean), Levene's test reveals no significant changes of the variances in age-groups (p > 0.05). Homoscedasticity also supports our assumption about a linear dependency between the observed features and age. Conclusion: In healthy brain aging, there are proportional age-related changes in the time estimates of information processing speed and inhibitory control in task switching. Future studies should test patients with dementia to determine whether the changes of the aforementioned indicators follow different patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yauhen Statsenko
- Department of Radiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.,Big Data Analytics Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Tetiana Habuza
- Big Data Analytics Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.,Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, College of Information Technology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Klaus Neidl-Van Gorkom
- Department of Radiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nazar Zaki
- Big Data Analytics Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.,Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, College of Information Technology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Taleb M Almansoori
- Department of Radiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Fatmah Al Zahmi
- Department of Neurology, Mediclinic Middle East Parkview Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.,Department of Clinical Science, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Milos R Ljubisavljevic
- Department of Radiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Maroua Belghali
- College of Education, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
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9
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Frye BM, Craft S, Latimer CS, Keene CD, Montine TJ, Register TC, Orr ME, Kavanagh K, Macauley SL, Shively CA. Aging-related Alzheimer's disease-like neuropathology and functional decline in captive vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus). Am J Primatol 2021; 83:e23260. [PMID: 33818801 PMCID: PMC8626867 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Age-related neurodegeneration characteristic of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) begins in middle age, well before symptoms. Translational models to identify modifiable risk factors are needed to understand etiology and identify therapeutic targets. Here, we outline the evidence supporting the vervet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus) as a model of aging-related AD-like neuropathology and associated phenotypes including cognitive function, physical function, glucose handling, intestinal physiology, and CSF, blood, and neuroimaging biomarkers. This review provides the most comprehensive multisystem description of aging in vervets to date. This review synthesizes a large body of evidence that suggests that aging vervets exhibit a coordinated suite of traits consistent with early AD and provide a powerful, naturally occurring model for LOAD. Notably, relationships are identified between AD-like neuropathology and modifiable risk factors. Gaps in knowledge and key limitations are provided to shape future studies to illuminate mechanisms underlying divergent neurocognitive aging trajectories and to develop interventions that increase resilience to aging-associated chronic disease, particularly, LOAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett M. Frye
- Department of Pathology/Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine
| | - Suzanne Craft
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine
- Wake Forest Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
- J. Paul Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer’s Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine
| | - Caitlin S. Latimer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington-Seattle
| | - C. Dirk Keene
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington-Seattle
| | | | - Thomas C. Register
- Department of Pathology/Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine
- Wake Forest Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
- J. Paul Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer’s Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine
| | - Miranda E. Orr
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine
| | - Kylie Kavanagh
- Department of Pathology/Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine
| | - Shannon L. Macauley
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine
- Wake Forest Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
| | - Carol A. Shively
- Department of Pathology/Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine
- Wake Forest Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
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10
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Meunier CC, Smit E, Fitzpatrick AL, Odden MC. Balance and cognitive decline in older adults in the cardiovascular health study. Age Ageing 2021; 50:1342-1348. [PMID: 33693525 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afab038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have demonstrated an association between gait speed and cognitive function. However, the relationship between balance and cognition remains less well explored. This study examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship of balance and cognitive decline in older adults. METHODS A cohort of 4,811 adults, aged ≥65 years, participating in the Cardiovascular Health Study was followed for 6 years. Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MSE) and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) were used to measure cognition. Tandem balance measures were used to evaluate balance. Regression models were adjusted for demographics, behavioural and disease factors. RESULTS Worse balance was independently associated with worse cognition in cross-sectional analysis. Longitudinally, participants aged ≥76 years with poorer balance had a faster rate of decline after adjustment for co-variates: -0.97 points faster decline in 3MSE per year (95% confidence interval (CI): -1.32, -0.63) compared to the participants with good balance. There was no association of balance and change in 3MSE among adults aged <76 years (P value for balance and age interaction < 0.0001). DSST scores reflected -0.21 (95% CI: -0.37, -0.05) points greater decline when adjusted for co-variates. In Cox proportional hazard models, participants with worse balance had a higher risk of being cognitively impaired over the 6 years of follow-up visits (adjusted HR:1.72, 95% CI: 1.30, 2.29). CONCLUSIONS Future studies should evaluate standing balance as a potential screening technique to identify individuals at risk of cognitive decline. Furthermore, a better understanding of the pathophysiological link between balance and cognition may inform strategies to prevent cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire C Meunier
- School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Ellen Smit
- School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Annette L Fitzpatrick
- Departments of Family Medicine, Epidemiology, and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michelle C Odden
- School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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11
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Frye BM, Valure PM, Craft S, Baxter MG, Scott C, Wise-Walden S, Bissinger DW, Register HM, Copeland C, Jorgensen MJ, Justice JN, Kritchevsky SB, Register TC, Shively CA. Temporal emergence of age-associated changes in cognitive and physical function in vervets (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus). GeroScience 2021; 43:1303-1315. [PMID: 33611720 PMCID: PMC8190425 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-021-00338-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Dual declines in gait speed and cognitive performance are associated with increased risk of developing dementia. Characterizing the patterns of such impairments therefore is paramount to distinguishing healthy from pathological aging. Nonhuman primates such as vervet/African green monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus) are important models of human neurocognitive aging, yet the trajectory of dual decline has not been characterized. We therefore (1) assessed whether cognitive and physical performance (i.e., gait speed) are lower in older aged animals; (2) explored the relationship between performance in a novel task of executive function (Wake Forest Maze Task-WFMT) and a well-established assessment of working memory (delayed response task-DR task); and (3) examined the association between baseline gait speed with executive function and working memory at 1-year follow-up. We found (1) physical and cognitive declines with age; (2) strong agreement between performance in the novel WFMT and DR task; and (3) that slow gait is associated with poor cognitive performance in both domains. Our results suggest that older aged vervets exhibit a coordinated suite of traits consistent with human aging and that slow gait may be a biomarker of cognitive decline. This integrative approach provides evidence that gait speed and cognitive function differ across the lifespan in female vervet monkeys, which advances them as a model that could be used to dissect relationships between trajectories of dual decline over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett M Frye
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd Winston-Salem, NC, 27157-1040, USA
- Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer's Prevention, Department of Internal Medicine - Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, USA
| | - Payton M Valure
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd Winston-Salem, NC, 27157-1040, USA
| | - Suzanne Craft
- Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer's Prevention, Department of Internal Medicine - Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, USA
- Wake Forest Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Winston-Salem, USA
| | - Mark G Baxter
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, IW, New York, USA
| | - Christie Scott
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd Winston-Salem, NC, 27157-1040, USA
| | - Shanna Wise-Walden
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd Winston-Salem, NC, 27157-1040, USA
| | - David W Bissinger
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd Winston-Salem, NC, 27157-1040, USA
| | - Hannah M Register
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd Winston-Salem, NC, 27157-1040, USA
| | - Carson Copeland
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd Winston-Salem, NC, 27157-1040, USA
| | - Matthew J Jorgensen
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd Winston-Salem, NC, 27157-1040, USA
| | - Jamie N Justice
- Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer's Prevention, Department of Internal Medicine - Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, USA
| | - Stephen B Kritchevsky
- Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer's Prevention, Department of Internal Medicine - Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, USA
| | - Thomas C Register
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd Winston-Salem, NC, 27157-1040, USA
- Wake Forest Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Winston-Salem, USA
| | - Carol A Shively
- Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd Winston-Salem, NC, 27157-1040, USA.
- Wake Forest Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Winston-Salem, USA.
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12
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Blodgett JM, Cooper R, Davis DHJ, Kuh D, Hardy R. Bidirectional associations between word memory and one-legged balance performance in mid and later life. Exp Gerontol 2021; 144:111176. [PMID: 33279666 PMCID: PMC7840581 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2020.111176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Age-related changes in cognitive and balance capabilities are well-established, as is their correlation with one another. Given limited evidence regarding the directionality of associations, we aimed to explore the direction and potential explanations of associations between word memory and one-legged balance performance in mid-later life. METHODS A total of 3062 participants in the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development, a British birth cohort study, were included. One-legged balance times (eyes closed) were measured at ages 53, 60-64 and 69 years. Word memory was assessed at ages 43, 53, 60-64 and 69 with three 15-item word-recall trials. Autoregressive cross-lagged and dual change score models assessed bidirectional associations between word memory and balance. Random-effects models quantified the extent to which these associations were explained by adjustment for anthropometric, socioeconomic, behavioural and health status indicators. RESULTS Autoregressive cross-lagged and dual change score models suggested a unidirectional association between word memory and subsequent balance performance. In a sex-adjusted random-effects model, 1 standard deviation increase in word memory was associated with 9% (7,12%) higher balance performance at age 53. This association decreased with age (-0.4% /year (-0.6,-0.1%). Education partially attenuated the association, although it remained in the fully-adjusted model (3% (0.1,6%)). CONCLUSIONS There was consistent evidence that word memory is associated with subsequent balance performance but no evidence of the reverse association. Cognitive processing plays an important role in the balance process, with educational attainment providing some contribution. These findings have important implications for understanding cognitive-motor associations and for interventions aimed at improving cognitive and physical capability in the ageing population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel Cooper
- Musculoskeletal Science and Sports Medicine Research Centre, Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
| | | | - Diana Kuh
- MRC Unit for Lifelong Health and Ageing at UCL, London, UK
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13
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Vázquez-Hernández N, Martínez-Torres NI, González-Burgos I. Plastic changes to dendritic spines in the cerebellar and prefrontal cortices underlie the decline in motor coordination and working memory during successful aging. Behav Brain Res 2020; 400:113014. [PMID: 33309738 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.113014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Old age is the last stage of life and by taking a multidimensional view of aging, Neuroscientists have been able to characterize pathological or successful aging. Psychomotor and cognitive performance are recognized as two major domains of successful aging, with a loss of motor coordination and working memory deficits two of the most characteristic features of elderly people. Dendritic spines in both the cerebellar and prefrontal cortices diminish in aging, yet the plastic changes in dendritic spines have not been related to behavioral performance neither the changes in the cerebellar or prefrontal cortices. As such, motor coordination and visuospatial working memory (vsWM) was evaluated here in aged, 22-month-old rats, calculating the density of spines and the proportion of the different types of spines. These animals performed erratically and slowly in a motor coordination-related paradigm, and the vsWM was resolved deficiently. Spine density was reduced in aged animals, and the proportional density of each of the spine types studied diminished in both the brain regions studied. The loss of dendritic spines and particularly, the changes in the proportional density of the different spine types could underlie, at least in part, the behavioral deficits observed during aging. To our knowledge, this is the first study of the plastic changes in different dendritic spine types that might underlie the behavioral alterations in motor and cognitive abilities associated with aging. Further neurochemical and molecular studies will help better understand the functional significance of the plastic changes to dendritic spines in both successful and pathological aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Vázquez-Hernández
- División de Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, IMSS, Guadalajara, Jal, Mexico
| | - N I Martínez-Torres
- División de Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, IMSS, Guadalajara, Jal, Mexico; Centro Universitario del Norte, Universidad de Guadalajara, Colotlán, Jal, Mexico
| | - I González-Burgos
- División de Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, IMSS, Guadalajara, Jal, Mexico.
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14
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Finkel D, Ernsth Bravell M, Pedersen NL. Role of motor function and lung function in pathways to ageing and decline. Aging Clin Exp Res 2020; 32:2479-2487. [PMID: 32056153 PMCID: PMC7680325 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-020-01494-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Background Extensive research has investigated the association between age changes in various domains, including lung function and motor function. However, a few analyses have tested models that incorporate bidirectional longitudinal influences between lung and motor function to test the temporal chain of events in the disability process. Dual change score models (DCSM) assist with identification of leading indicators of change by leveraging longitudinal data to examine the extent to which changes in one variable influence subsequent changes in a second variable, and vice versa. Aims The purpose of the current-analysis study was to apply DCSM to data from the Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of ageing to examine the nature of the longitudinal relationship between motor functioning and lung function. Methods Three motor functioning factors were created from 20 performance measures, including measures of balance, flexibility, and fine motor skills. Peak expiratory flow measured lung function. Participants were 829 adults aged 50–88 at the first of 9 waves of testing covering a 27-year follow-up period; 80% participated in at least three waves. Results Model comparisons indicated that decline in lung function preceded and contributed to subsequent decline in motor function. Discussion Combined with previous results, these results suggest that declining lung function results in increasing difficulties in motor function, which contribute to subsequent declines in multiple domains. Conclusion Understanding the cascade of events that can lead to dependence can help in the development of interventions targeted early in the disablement process. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s40520-020-01494-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Finkel
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany, IN, USA.
- School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden.
| | | | - Nancy L Pedersen
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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15
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Wettstein M, Spuling SM, Cengia A, Nowossadeck S, Tesarz J. Associations of Age and Pain With 9-Year Functional Health Trajectories. GEROPSYCH 2020. [DOI: 10.1024/1662-9647/a000221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. We investigated whether information-processing speed and accommodative coping moderate associations of age and pain with 9-year functional health trajectories. Our sample consisted of 5,254 participants of the German Ageing Survey aged 40 years and older ( M = 62.33 years) who participated in up to four measurement occasions. After controlling for sex, chronic diseases, and education, our longitudinal multilevel regression models revealed that the association of older age and higher pain severity with lower functional health was weaker in individuals with higher processing speed. The relationship between pain and functional health was weaker in individuals with higher scores on accommodative coping. Our findings suggest that processing speed and accommodative coping may be important compensatory resources buffering negative associations of age and pain with functional health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anja Cengia
- German Centre of Gerontology, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Jonas Tesarz
- Medical Hospital, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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16
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Handing EP, Leng XI, Kritchevsky SB, Craft S. Association Between Physical Performance and Cognitive Function in Older Adults Across Multiple Studies: A Pooled Analysis Study. Innov Aging 2020; 4:igaa050. [PMID: 33241126 PMCID: PMC7679973 DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igaa050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives While several studies have examined the association between cognitive and physical function, the consistency of these associations across functional contexts is unclear. The consistency of the association between cognitive and physical function performance was examined at baseline across 17 clinical studies with diverse and heterogeneous conditions such as overweight/obese, sedentary, at risk for a mobility disability, osteoarthritis, low vitamin D, or had signs of cognitive impairment. Research Design and Methods Data are from 1,388 adults 50 years and older who completed a cognitive and physical function assessment as part of a research study at the Wake Forest Alzheimer's Disease Research Center or the Wake Forest Older Americans Independence Center. Linear regression models were used to relate cognitive measures (Mini-Mental Status Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and the Digit Symbol Substitution Task) and physical measures (the Short Physical Performance Battery and hand grip strength) for the whole sample and treat each study as a fixed effect. All models controlled for age, sex, race, and body mass index. Results Overall, there was a significant association between higher scores on the Mini-Mental Status Examination (per standard deviation) and better physical function performance (Short Physical Performance Battery score b = 0.24, p < .001) and its components (gait speed, chair rise, and standing balance; ps < .05). Higher scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment produced similar results (Short Physical Performance Battery score b = 0.31, p ≤ .001), and higher scores on the Digit Symbol Substitution Task were also significantly associated with a better Short Physical Performance Battery score (b = 0.75, p < .001). The relationship between Digit Symbol Substitution Task and physical function performance demonstrated a stronger magnitude of association compared to the Mini-Mental Status Examination or Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Discussion and Implications Older adults with heterogeneous health conditions showed a consistent pattern between better cognitive function and better physical function performance with the strongest association among Digit Symbol Substitution Task scores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth P Handing
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Xiaoyan Iris Leng
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Stephen B Kritchevsky
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Suzanne Craft
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
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17
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Okely JA, Deary IJ. Associations Between Declining Physical and Cognitive Functions in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2020; 75:1393-1402. [PMID: 31957799 PMCID: PMC7447860 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glaa023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ageing process is characterized by declines in physical and cognitive function. However, the relationship between these trajectories remains a topic of investigation. METHODS Using four data waves collected triennially between ages 70 and 79, we tested for associations between multiple cognitive ability domains (verbal memory, processing speed, and visuospatial ability) and physical functions (walking speed, grip strength, and lung function). We first tested for associations between linear declines in physical and cognitive functions over the entire 9-year study period, and then, for lead-lag coupling effects between 3-year changes in cognitive and physical functions. RESULTS Steeper linear decline in walking speed was moderately correlated with steeper linear declines in each cognitive domain. Steeper linear decline in grip strength was moderately correlated with steeper linear declines in verbal memory and processing speed. Lead-lag coupling models showed that decline in verbal memory was preceded by declines in walking speed and grip strength. By contrast, decline in grip strength was preceded by declines in processing speed and visuospatial ability, and decline in walking speed was preceded by decline in visuospatial ability. Following additional adjustment for covariates, only coupling effects from earlier decline in processing speed to later decline in grip strength remained significant (β = 0.545, p = .006). CONCLUSION Our findings provide further evidence of an association between cognitive and physical declines and point to the potential order in which these changes occur. Decline in processing speed in particular may serve as a unique early marker of declining upper body strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith A Okely
- Lothian Birth Cohort Studies, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ian J Deary
- Lothian Birth Cohort Studies, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, UK
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18
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Xu H, Vorderstrasse AA, McConnell ES, Dupre ME, Østbye T, Wu B. Migration and cognitive function: a conceptual framework for Global Health Research. Glob Health Res Policy 2018; 3:34. [PMID: 30519639 PMCID: PMC6267896 DOI: 10.1186/s41256-018-0088-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Migration is a fundamental demographic process that has been observed globally. It is suggested that migration is an issue of global health importance that can have an immediate and lasting impact on an individual's health and well-being. There is now an increasing body of evidence linking migration with cognitive function in older adults. In this paper, we synthesized the current evidence to develop a general conceptual framework to understand the factors contributing to the association between migration and cognitive function. METHODS A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted on the associations between migration and cognition among middle-aged and older adults. RESULTS Five potential mechanisms were identified from the literature: 1) socioeconomic status-including education, occupation, and income; 2) psychosocial factors-including social networks, social support, social stressors, and discrimination; 3) behavioral factors-including smoking, drinking, and health service utilization; 4) physical and psychological health status-including chronic conditions, physical function, and depression; and 5) environmental factors-including both physical and social environment. Several underlying factors were also identified-including early-life conditions, gender, and genetic factors. CONCLUSIONS The factors linking migration and cognitive function are multidimensional and complex. This conceptual framework highlights potential implications for global health policies and planning on healthy aging and migrant health. Additional studies are needed to further examine these mechanisms to extend and refine our general conceptual framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanzhang Xu
- 1School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
- 2Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | | | - Eleanor S McConnell
- 1School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
- 4Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Durham, NC USA
| | - Matthew E Dupre
- 5Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
- 6Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
- 7Department of Sociology, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Truls Østbye
- 1School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
- 2Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
- 6Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
- 8Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
| | - Bei Wu
- 3New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York, NY USA
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19
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Zaninotto P, Batty GD, Allerhand M, Deary IJ. Cognitive function trajectories and their determinants in older people: 8 years of follow-up in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. J Epidemiol Community Health 2018; 72:685-694. [PMID: 29691286 PMCID: PMC6204948 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2017-210116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Revised: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Background Maintaining cognitive function is an important aspect of healthy ageing. In this study, we examined age trajectories of cognitive decline in a large nationally representative sample of older people in England. We explored the factors that influence such decline and whether these differed by gender. Methods Latent growth curve modelling was used to explore age-specific changes, and influences on them, in an 8-year period in memory, executive function, processing speed and global cognitive function among 10 626 participants in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. We run gender-specific models with the following exposures: age, education, wealth, childhood socioeconomic status, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, physical function, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol, smoking, depression and dementia. Results After adjustment, women had significantly less decline than men in memory (0.011, SE 0.006), executive function (0.012, SE 0.006) and global cognitive function (0.016, SE 0.004). Increasing age and dementia predicted faster rates of decline in all cognitive function domains. Depression and alcohol consumption predicted decline in some cognitive function domains in men only. Poor physical function, physical inactivity and smoking were associated with faster rates of decline in specific cognitive domains in both men and women. For example, relative to study members who were physically active, the sedentary experienced greater declines in memory (women −0.018, SE 0.009) and global cognitive function (men −0.015, SE 0.007 and women −0.016, SE 0.007). Conclusions The potential determinants of cognitive decline identified in this study, in particular modifiable risk factors, should be tested in the context of randomised controlled trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Zaninotto
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - G David Batty
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.,Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Michael Allerhand
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ian J Deary
- Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology, Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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20
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Spedden ME, Malling ASB, Andersen KK, Jensen BR. Association Between Gross-Motor and Executive Function Depends on Age and Motor Task Complexity. Dev Neuropsychol 2017; 42:495-506. [PMID: 29161178 DOI: 10.1080/87565641.2017.1399129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The objective was to examine associations between motor and executive function across the adult lifespan and to investigate the role of motor complexity in these associations. Young, middle-aged and older adults (n = 82; 19-83y) performed two gross-motor tasks with different levels of complexity and a Stroop-like computer task. Performance was decreased in older adults. The association between motor and cognitive performance was significant for older adults in the complex motor task (p = 0.03, rs = -0.41), whereas no significant associations were found for young or middle-aged groups, suggesting that the link between gross-motor and executive function emerges with age and depends on motor complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meaghan E Spedden
- a Section of Integrated Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark.,b Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital , University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark
| | - Anne Sofie B Malling
- b Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital , University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark.,c Department of Clinical Research , University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark
| | - Ken K Andersen
- a Section of Integrated Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Bente R Jensen
- a Section of Integrated Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark.,b Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital , University of Southern Denmark , Odense , Denmark
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21
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Xu H, Dupre ME, Gu D, Wu B. The impact of residential status on cognitive decline among older adults in China: Results from a longitudinal study. BMC Geriatr 2017; 17:107. [PMID: 28506252 PMCID: PMC5430605 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-017-0501-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Residential status has been linked to numerous determinants of health and well-being. However, the influence of residential status on cognitive decline remains unclear. The purpose of this research was to assess the changes of cognitive function among older adults with different residential status (urban residents, rural-to-urban residents, rural residents, and urban-to-rural residents), over a 12-year period. METHODS We used five waves of data (2002, 2005, 2008/2009, 2011/2012, and 2014) from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey with 17,333 older adults age 65 and over who were interviewed up to five times. Cognitive function was measured by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Multilevel models were used regarding the effects of residential status after adjusting for demographic characteristics, socioeconomic factors, family support, health behaviors, and health status. RESULTS After controlling for covariates, significant differences in cognitive function were found across the four groups: rural-to-urban and rural residents had a higher level of cognition than urban residents at baseline. On average, cognitive function decreased over the course of the study period. Rural-to-urban and rural residents demonstrated a faster decline in cognitive function than urban residents. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that residential status has an impact on the rate of changes in cognition among older adults in China. Results from this study provide directions for future research that addresses health disparities, particularly in countries that are undergoing significant socioeconomic transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanzhang Xu
- Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Matthew E. Dupre
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
- Department of Sociology, Duke University, Durham, NC USA
- Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Danan Gu
- United Nations Population Division, New York, NY USA
| | - Bei Wu
- New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York, NY USA
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Motor functioning differentially predicts mortality in men and women. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2017; 72:6-11. [PMID: 28500880 DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Revised: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Research indicates gender differences in functional performance at advanced ages, but little is known about their impact on longevity for men and women. OBJECTIVE To derive a set of motor function factors from a battery of functional performance measures and examine their associations with mortality, incorporating possible gender interactions. METHOD Analyses were performed on the longitudinal Swedish Adoption/Twin Study of Aging (SATSA) including twenty-four assessments of motor function up to six times over a 19-year period. Three motor factors were derived from several factor analyses; fine motor, balance/upper strength, and flexibility. A latent growth curve model was used to capture longitudinal age changes in the motor factors and generated estimates of intercept at age 70 (I), rates of change before (S1) and after age 70 (S2) for each factor. Cox regression models were used to determine how gender in interaction with the motor factors was related to mortality. RESULTS Females demonstrated lower functional performance in all motor functions relative to men. Cox regression survival analyses demonstrated that both balance/upper strength, and fine motor function were significantly related to mortality. Gender specific analyses revealed that this was true for women only. For men, none of the motor factors were related to mortality. CONCLUSION Women demonstrated more difficulties in all functioning facets, and only among women were motor functioning (balance/upper strength and fine motor function) associated with mortality. These results provide evidence for the importance of considering motor functioning, and foremost observed gender differences when planning for individualized treatment and rehabilitation.
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Johnson SA, Turner SM, Santacroce LA, Carty KN, Shafiq L, Bizon JL, Maurer AP, Burke SN. Rodent age-related impairments in discriminating perceptually similar objects parallel those observed in humans. Hippocampus 2017; 27:759-776. [PMID: 28342259 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Revised: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The ability to accurately remember distinct episodes is supported by high-level sensory discrimination. Performance on mnemonic similarity tasks, which test high-level discrimination, declines with advancing age in humans and these deficits have been linked to altered activity in hippocampal CA3 and dentate gyrus. Lesion studies in animal models, however, point to the perirhinal cortex as a brain region critical for sensory discriminations that serve memory. Reconciliation of the contributions of different regions within the cortical-hippocampal circuit requires the development of a discrimination paradigm comparable to the human mnemonic similarity task that can be used in rodents. In the present experiments, young and aged rats were cross-characterized on a spatial water maze task and two variants of an object discrimination task: one in which rats incrementally learned which object of a pair was rewarded and different pairs varied in their similarity (Experiment 1), and a second in which rats were tested on their ability to discriminate a learned target object from multiple lure objects with an increasing degree of feature overlap (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, aged rats required more training than young to correctly discriminate between similar objects. Comparably, in Experiment 2, aged rats were impaired in discriminating a target object from lures when the pair shared more features. Discrimination deficits across experiments were correlated within individual aged rats, though, for the cohort tested, aged rats were not impaired overall in spatial learning and memory. This could suggest discrimination deficits emerging with age precede declines in spatial or episodic memory, an observation that has been made in humans. Findings of robust impairments in object discrimination abilities in the aged rats parallel results from human studies, supporting use of the developed tasks for mechanistic investigation of cortical-hippocampal circuit dysfunction in aging and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Johnson
- Department of Neuroscience, Evelyn F. & William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Sean M Turner
- Department of Neuroscience, Evelyn F. & William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Lindsay A Santacroce
- Department of Neuroscience, Evelyn F. & William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Katelyn N Carty
- Department of Neuroscience, Evelyn F. & William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Leila Shafiq
- Department of Neuroscience, Evelyn F. & William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Jennifer L Bizon
- Department of Neuroscience, Evelyn F. & William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Andrew P Maurer
- Department of Neuroscience, Evelyn F. & William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Sara N Burke
- Department of Neuroscience, Evelyn F. & William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.,Institute on Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
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