Poor Diet, Long Sleep, and Lack of Physical Activity Are Associated with Inflammation among Non-Demented Community-Dwelling Elderly

Inflammation in elderly is associated with physical and cognitive morbidity and mortality. We aimed to explore the association of modifiable lifestyle parameters with inflammation among non-demented, community-dwelling elderly. A sub-sample of 117 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 63) and cognitively non-impaired controls (CNI, n = 54) were recruited from a large, population-based cohort in Crete, Greece, of 3140 elders (>60 years old). All participants underwent assessment of medical history/physical examination, extensive neuropsychiatric/neuropsychological evaluation, diet, three-day 24-h actigraphy, subjective sleep, physical activity, and measurement of IL-6 and TNFα plasma levels. Associations between inflammatory markers and diet, objective sleep duration, subjective sleep quality, and lack of physical activity were assessed using multivariate models. Regression analyses in the total group revealed significant associations between TNF-α and low vegetable consumption (p = 0.003), and marginally with objective long nighttime sleep duration (p = 0.04). In addition, IL-6 was associated with low vegetable consumption (p = 0.001) and lack of physical activity (p = 0.001). Poor diet and lack of physical activity appear to be modifiable risk factors of inflammation, whereas long sleep appears to be a marker of increased inflammatory response in elderly. Our findings may have clinical implications given the association of inflammatory response with morbidity, including cognitive decline, and mortality in elderly.

1120 Inverse U-Curve Association Between Sleep Duration and Cognitive Performance Among Patients with Dementia: Findings From the Cretan Aging Cohort

Introduction

Previous research reports an inverse U-curve association between subjective sleep duration and cognition in elderly, while findings on objective sleep duration are inconsistent. Only one study found weak association between objective short sleep duration and cognition, mainly driven by demented elders. Our aim was to examine the non-linear associations between objective sleep duration and cognitive performance among community-dwelling patients with dementia.

Methods

A sub-sample of 46 patients with mild-to-moderate dementia(AD) [mean age: 80.3 (SD=5.6) years, 40% males] and 85 cognitively intact controls(NI) [mean age: 73.0 (SD=7.4) years, 37% males], were recruited from a large, population-based cohort [Cretan Aging Cohort] in the island of Crete, Greece of 3,140 older adults (≥60yrs). All participants underwent medical history/physical examination, extensive neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological evaluation, and 3-day 24-h actigraphy. Comparisons between AD and NI participants on sleep parameters and neuropsychological performance were made using ANOVA controlling for demographics. Associations between 24-TST, and age- and education-adjusted cognitive scores and Independent Activity of Daily Living Scale (IADL) scores were assessed using hierarchical, non-linear, regression models, controlling for confounders.

Results

Dementia patients had significantly longer 24-h total sleep time (24h-TST) (491.2±107.1 min vs. 444.6±88.5 min, respectively, p=0.027), as well as lower cognitive/IADL sores as compared to the NI group. Significant associations between objective sleep and various cognitive /IADL scores were found only among patients with dementia. Specifically, we found a negative curvilinear association between 24-h TST and IADL, episodic memory indices (AVLT Retention, autobiographic memory) and visuomotor coordination speed (Trail Making Test, Part A).

Conclusion

Our study showed an inverse U-curve association between objective sleep duration and daily function, memory, and executive function in patients with dementia. Possibly, sleep loss may lead to cognitive impairment, whereas, prolonged sleep may be an indicator of worse cognitive performance among patients with dementia.

Support

National Strategic Reference Framework (ESPA) 2007-2013, Program: THALES, University of Crete, title: “A multi-disciplinary network for the study of Alzheimer’s Disease” (Grant: MIS 377299).

1130 Insomnia Short Sleep Phenotype is Associated With Frailty in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

Introduction

Insomnia short sleep phenotype is associated with cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality and neuropsychological impairment. In elderly untreated insomnia is associated with worse cognitive performance. The goal of the study was to examine the association between insomnia, objective sleep duration and physical and mental health in elderly patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

Methods

A sub-sample of 105 patients with MCI (mean age: 75.9 years, males 36%) were recruited from a large population-based cohort (Cretan Aging Cohort) in the island of Crete, Greece of 3,140 elders (≥ 60yrs). All participants underwent a complete medical history/ physical examination, extensive neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological evaluation and 3-day 24hr actigraphy. Insomnia was defined based on a question “do you have insomnia for more than a year”. Frailty was assessed with the Simple “Frail” Questionnaire Screening Tool. Comparisons between patients with insomnia and without insomnia were made using ANOVA controlling for age, gender and BMI.

Results

MCI patients with insomnia (n=23) compared to those without insomnia (n=82), had significantly shorter objective total sleep time (TST: 377 vs. 410 min, p=0.05) and significantly higher scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Hospital Anxiety Scale (both p <0.001). Furthermore, total frailty score, as well as scores in individual items, were significantly lower in MCI patients with insomnia (p<0.01). This association remained significant after controlling for demographics, depression and anxiety. Finally, there was a statistical trend of association between insomnia and hypertension (p= 0.1).

Conclusion

In MCI patients, insomnia is associated with objective short sleep duration, and frailty. Improving insomnia and lengthening sleep duration may decrease frailty, a major problem associated with morbidity, disability and mortality in elders with cognitive decline.

Support

National Strategic Reference Framework (ESPA) 2007-2013, Program: THALES, University of Crete, title: “A multi-disciplinary network for the study of Alzheimer’s Disease” (Grant: MIS 377299).

The P274S Mutation of Lecithin-Cholesterol Acyltransferase (LCAT) and Its Clinical Manifestations in a Large Kindred

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE

Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) catalyzes the maturation of high-density lipoprotein. Homozygosity for loss-of-function mutations causes familial LCAT deficiency (FLD), characterized by corneal opacities, anemia, and renal involvement. This study sought to characterize kidney biopsy findings and clinical outcomes in a family with FLD.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

2 (related) index patients with clinically apparent FLD were initially identified. 110 of 122 family members who consented to genetic analysis were also studied.

PREDICTORS

Demographic and laboratory parameters (including lipid profiles and LCAT activity) and full sequence analysis of the LCAT gene. Kidney histologic examination was performed with samples from 6 participants.

OUTCOMES

Cardiovascular and renal events during a median follow-up of 12 years. Estimation of annual rate of decline in glomerular filtration rate.

ANALYTICAL APPROACH

Analysis of variance, linear regression analysis, and Fine-Gray competing-risk survival analysis.

RESULTS

9 homozygous, 57 heterozygous, and 44 unaffected family members were identified. In all affected individuals, full sequence analysis of the LCAT gene revealed a mutation (c.820C>T) predicted to cause a proline to serine substitution at amino acid 274 (P274S). Homozygosity caused a complete loss of LCAT activity. Kidney biopsy findings demonstrated lipid deposition causing glomerular basement membrane thickening, mesangial expansion, and "foam-cell" infiltration of kidney tissue. Tubular atrophy, glomerular sclerosis, and complement fixation were associated with worse kidney outcomes. Estimated glomerular filtration rate deteriorated among homozygous family members at an average annual rate of 3.56 mL/min/1.73 m². The incidence of cardiovascular and renal complications was higher among homozygous family members compared with heterozygous and unaffected members. Mild thrombocytopenia was a common finding among homozygous participants.

LIMITATIONS

The presence of cardiovascular disease was mainly based on medical history.

CONCLUSIONS

The P274S LCAT mutation was found to cause FLD with renal involvement. Tubular atrophy, glomerular sclerosis, and complement fixation were associated with a worse renal prognosis.