Prevalance of Behavioral Changes Associated with Age-Related Cognitive Impairment in Geriatric Dogs, Bursa, Turkey

Abstract: Among many other changes, older age is characterized by advanced sleep-wake cycles, changes in the amplitude of various circadian rhythms, as well as reduced entrainment to zeitgebers. These features reveal themselves through early morning awakenings, sleep difficulties at night, and a re-emergence of daytime napping. This review summarizes the observations concerning the biological clock and sleep in the elderly and discusses the documented and theoretical considerations behind these age-related behavioral changes, especially with respect to circadian biology.

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Elevated Inflammatory Markers and Arterial Stiffening Exacerbate Tau but Not Amyloid Pathology in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Journal of Alzheimer s Disease ◽

10.3233/jad-201382 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Alexandra L. Clark ◽

Alexandra J. Weigand ◽

Kelsey R. Thomas ◽

Seraphina K. Solders ◽

Lisa Delano-Wood ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Inflammatory Markers ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Cognitive Testing ◽

Interactive Effects ◽

Protein Biomarkers ◽

Age Related ◽

T Tau

Background: Age-related cerebrovascular and neuroinflammatory processes have been independently identified as key mechanisms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), although their interactive effects have yet to be fully examined. Objective: The current study examined 1) the influence of pulse pressure (PP) and inflammatory markers on AD protein levels and 2) links between protein biomarkers and cognitive function in older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: This study included 218 ADNI (81 cognitively normal [CN], 137 MCI) participants who underwent lumbar punctures, apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping, and cognitive testing. Cerebrospinal (CSF) levels of eight pro-inflammatory markers were used to create an inflammation composite, and amyloid-beta 1–42 (Aβ 42), phosphorylated tau (p-tau), and total tau (t-tau) were quantified. Results: Multiple regression analyses controlling for age, education, and APOE ɛ4 genotype revealed significant PP x inflammation interactions for t-tau (B = 0.88, p = 0.01) and p-tau (B = 0.84, p = 0.02); higher inflammation was associated with higher levels of tau within the MCI group. However, within the CN group, analyses revealed a significant PP x inflammation interaction for Aβ 42 (B = –1.01, p = 0.02); greater inflammation was associated with higher levels of Aβ 42 (indicative of lower cerebral amyloid burden) in those with lower PP. Finally, higher levels of tau were associated with poorer memory performance within the MCI group only (p s < 0.05). Conclusion: PP and inflammation exert differential effects on AD CSF proteins and provide evidence that vascular risk is associated with greater AD pathology across our sample of CN and MCI older adults.

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A Preliminary Analysis of Hearing Loss and Its Association With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1461 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 451-452

Author(s):

Mary Caroline Yuk ◽

Rebecca Allen ◽

Marcia Hay-McCutcheon ◽

Dana Carroll ◽

Anne Halli-Tierney

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Medical Center ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Well Being ◽

Hearing Screening ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Age Related

Abstract Age related hearing loss, or presbycusis, is a global condition that is increasing in its prevalence. Despite being one of the most common chronic conditions among the older population, there is much more to understand about its association with other aspects of physical and emotional health and well-being. Current research is suggesting that hearing loss is more prevalent in those with cognitive impairment compared to those without cognitive impairment. This study analyzed the incidence of hearing loss and its linkage to mild cognitive impairment in a community-dwelling geriatric population. With the increasing prevalence of this condition in both rural and urban communities of Alabama, it becomes a more pressing matter to understand comorbidities and risk factors for future decline in functioning. This study was conducted in an interdisciplinary geriatrics primary care outpatient clinic in a Family, Internal, and Rural Medicine department affiliated with a university medical center in the Deep South. Ninety-one participants completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and a hearing screening. Hearing screenings were conducted in quiet rooms in the medical center using Phonak hearing screening cards. Detection of 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz tones was assessed. Pearson correlation analyses demonstrated an association between hearing loss mild cognitive impairment. Poorer hearing was significantly associated with lower scores on the MoCA. Conducting behavioral health screenings like this in other primary geriatrics clinics and community settings could improve care and identification of patient needs by integrating important data regarding comorbidities and independent living.

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Formaldehyde and De/Methylation in Age-Related Cognitive Impairment

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes12060913 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 913

Author(s):

Ting Li ◽

Yan Wei ◽

Meihua Qu ◽

Lixian Mou ◽

Junye Miao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Cell Proliferation ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Metabolic Pathways ◽

Memory Formation ◽

Epigenetic Alterations ◽

Diagnostic Biomarker ◽

Reactive Substance ◽

Age Related ◽

Novel Therapeutic

Formaldehyde (FA) is a highly reactive substance that is ubiquitous in the environment and is usually considered as a pollutant. In the human body, FA is a product of various metabolic pathways and participates in one-carbon cycle, which provides carbon for the synthesis and modification of bio-compounds, such as DNA, RNA, and amino acids. Endogenous FA plays a role in epigenetic regulation, especially in the methylation and demethylation of DNA, histones, and RNA. Recently, epigenetic alterations associated with FA dysmetabolism have been considered as one of the important features in age-related cognitive impairment (ARCI), suggesting the potential of using FA as a diagnostic biomarker of ARCI. Notably, FA plays multifaceted roles, and, at certain concentrations, it promotes cell proliferation, enhances memory formation, and elongates life span, effects that could also be involved in the aetiology of ARCI. Further investigation of and the regulation of the epigenetics landscape may provide new insights about the aetiology of ARCI and provide novel therapeutic targets.

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Paucity of Entorhinal Cortex Pathology of the Alzheimer’s Type in SuperAgers with Superior Memory Performance

Cerebral Cortex ◽

10.1093/cercor/bhaa409 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tamar Gefen ◽

Allegra Kawles ◽

Beth Makowski-Woidan ◽

Janessa Engelmeyer ◽

Ivan Ayala ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Entorhinal Cortex ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Amyloid Plaques ◽

Memory Capacity ◽

Relative Magnitude ◽

Age Related ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Superior Memory ◽

Normal Controls

Abstract Advancing age is typically associated with declining memory capacity and increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Markers of AD such as amyloid plaques (AP) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are commonly found in the brains of cognitively average elderly but in more limited distribution than in those at the mild cognitive impairment and dementia stages of AD. Cognitive SuperAgers are individuals over age 80 who show superior memory capacity, at a level consistent with individuals 20–30 years their junior. Using a stereological approach, the current study quantitated the presence of AD markers in the memory-associated entorhinal cortex (ERC) of seven SuperAgers compared with six age-matched cognitively average normal control individuals. Amyloid plaques and NFTs were visualized using Thioflavin-S histofluorescence, 6E10, and PHF-1 immunohistochemistry. Unbiased stereological analysis revealed significantly more NFTs in ERC in cognitively average normal controls compared with SuperAgers (P < 0.05) by a difference of ~3-fold. There were no significant differences in plaque density. To highlight relative magnitude, cases with typical amnestic dementia of AD showed nearly 100 times more entorhinal NFTs than SuperAgers. The results suggest that resistance to age-related neurofibrillary degeneration in the ERC may be one factor contributing to preserved memory in SuperAgers.

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Blood Pressure Profiles and Cognitive Function from Adulthood to Old Age: Chasing a Golden Middle Way?

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10153243 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (15) ◽

pp. 3243

Author(s):

Rita Del Pinto ◽

Davide Grassi ◽

Raffaella Bocale ◽

Francesco Carubbi ◽

Claudio Ferri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Neuronal Cell Death ◽

Neuronal Cell ◽

Demographic Shift ◽

Antihypertensive Medications ◽

Microvascular Damage ◽

Middle Way ◽

Alzheimer Type Dementia ◽

Age Related ◽

Pressure Profiles

With the demographic shift toward advanced ages, it is imperative to understand the biological mechanisms behind common, disabling age-related diseases such as cognitive impairment in its mild form to overt dementia. Hypertension, a major cardiovascular risk factor, is epidemiologically linked to vascular and Alzheimer-type dementia, with possible mechanisms being atherosclerotic macro- and microvascular damage leading to neuronal cell death, as well as proinflammatory events responsible for neurodegeneration. Nevertheless, there is currently a knowledge gap as to which population to target, what the diagnostics test, and how to manage early pathogenic events in order to prevent such a dramatic and disabling condition. While clinical trials data support the benefit of active BP control with antihypertensive medications on the risk of future cognitive impairment, hypotension appears to be related to accelerated cognitive decline in both the fit and the cognitively frail elderly. Dedicated, technologically advanced studies assessing the relation of BP with dementia are needed to clarify the pathophysiological mechanisms in the association before a tailored preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic approach to one of the most widespread modern medical challenges becomes a reality.

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

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046879 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. e046879

Author(s):

Bernhard Grässler ◽

Fabian Herold ◽

Milos Dordevic ◽

Tariq Ali Gujar ◽

Sabine Darius ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Statistical Analysis ◽

Cognitive Decline ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Classification Accuracy ◽

Multimodal Approach ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Age Related ◽

Age Related Cognitive Decline

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

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