LETTER TO THE EDITOR: PREVENTING DEMENTIA THROUGH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND ALTRUISTIC BEHAVIORS

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Y. Maki
Keyword(s):  
Standardized Tests ◽  
Community Involvement ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Social Involvement ◽  
Cognitive Tests ◽  
Social Settings ◽  
Dementia Prevention ◽  
Cooperative Behaviors

Population-based studies on dementia prevention have focused on exercise, nutrition, and maintaining social involvement and the effectiveness of these interventions has been determined based on cognitive functions assessed using standardized tests, such as memory function (1, 2). However, the question arises whether all human cognitive functions can be measured with standardized cognitive tests alone. The human brain is assumed to have evolved for cooperation in social settings, and altruistic behaviors and cooperative behaviors have been found mostly in humans. Thus social cognition, which is difficult to be measured with standardized cognitive tests, can be the essence of human cognitive function.

scholarly journals Population-Based Approaches to Dementia Prevention

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (s1) ◽  
pp. S15-S17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire E. Sexton ◽  
Kristine Yaffe
Keyword(s):  
Population Based ◽  
Dementia Prevention

scholarly journals Independent and joint effects of vascular and cardiometabolic risk factor pairs for risk of all-cause dementia: a prospective population-based study

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (10) ◽  
pp. 1421-1432 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Elizabeth Shaaban ◽  
Yichen Jia ◽  
Chung-Chou H. Chang ◽  
Mary Ganguli
Keyword(s):  
Cardiometabolic Risk ◽  
Joint Effect ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cox Models ◽  
Joint Effects ◽  
Synergistic Interactions ◽  
Dementia Risk ◽  
Dementia Prevention ◽  
Adjusted Model

ABSTRACTObjectives:To assess independent and joint effects of pairs of vascular and cardiometabolic risk factors (VCMRFs) in relation to risk of all-cause dementia.Design:Population-based longitudinal cohort study of cognitive impairment. We used an algorithm to select pairs of VCMRFs and tested their joint effects in time-dependent Cox models. We used attributable proportions (AP) to measure the proportion of risk from interactions beyond any additive effect.Setting:Economically depressed small-town population.Participants:Adults age 65+ years with up to 10 yearly study visits (N=1701, median (Q1, Q3) age, 78 (71.0, 83.0), 62.3% female, 94.9% white).Results:Among 1701 participants free from prevalent dementia with at least one follow-up visit, 109 developed incident all-cause dementia. In pairings of APOE*4 with hypertension (HTN) and congestive heart failure (CHF), the variables contributed independently and additively to all-cause dementia risk. In pairings of APOE*4 with stroke and stroke with CHF, the variables demonstrated independent contributions to all-cause dementia risk; their joint effects showed excess detriment demonstrating synergistic interactions (joint HR [95% CI]: 28.33 [6.74, 119.01] and 50.30 [14.57, 173.57] respectively, fully adjusted models). Physical activity (PA) was independently associated with lower all-cause dementia risk when paired with APOE*4, stroke, and CHF in unadjusted models; these associations did not survive covariate adjustment. The joint effect of low PA and APOE*4 was associated with additively increased all-cause dementia risk (joint HR [95% CI]: 4.61 [2.07, 10.23], fully adjusted model).Conclusions:Reduction of VCMRFs, including low PA, could be valuable for dementia prevention, especially among APOE*4 carriers.

scholarly journals Trajectories of Cognitive Function Prior to Cancer Diagnosis: A Population-Based Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 112 (5) ◽  
pp. 480-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly D van der Willik ◽  
Michael Hauptmann ◽  
Katarzyna Jóźwiak ◽  
Elisabeth J Vinke ◽  
Rikje Ruiter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Cognitive Tests ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Nervous System Cancer

Abstract Background An emerging body of research suggests that noncentral nervous system cancer may negatively impact the brain apart from effects of cancer treatment. However, studies assessing cognitive function in newly diagnosed cancer patients cannot exclude selection bias and psychological effects of cancer diagnosis. To overcome these limitations, we investigated trajectories of cognitive function of patients before cancer diagnosis. Methods Between 1989 and 2013, a total of 2059 participants from the population-based Rotterdam Study were diagnosed with noncentral nervous system cancer. Cognitive assessments were performed every 3 to 5 years using a neuropsychological battery. The general cognitive factor was composed of individual cognitive tests to assess global cognition. Using linear mixed models, we compared change in cognitive function of cancer case patients before diagnosis with cognitive change of age-matched cancer-free control subjects (1:2). In addition, we performed sensitivity analyses by discarding assessments of control subjects 5 years before the end of follow-up to exclude effects from potential undiagnosed cancer. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results The Word Learning Test immediate recall declined faster among case patients than among control subjects (−0.05, 95% confidence interval = −0.09 to −0.01 vs 0.01, 95% confidence interval = −0.01 to 0.03; P for difference = .003). However, this difference was not statistically significant in sensitivity analyses. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were observed in change of other individual cognitive tests and of the general cognitive factor. Conclusions In this study, we evaluated cognitive function in a large group of cancer patients prior to diagnosis, thereby excluding the psychological impact of cancer diagnosis and biased patient selection. In contrast to previous studies shortly after cancer diagnosis, we found no difference in change of cognitive function between cancer patients and control subjects.

P2-104: Statins and dementia prevention: A population-based study (FINRISK)

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (4S_Part_10) ◽  
pp. P292-P292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alina Solomon ◽  
Hilkka Soininen ◽  
Tiina Laatikainen ◽  
Jaakko Tuomilehto ◽  
Miia Kivipelto
Keyword(s):  
Population Based ◽  
Population Based Study ◽  
Dementia Prevention

Ecstasy use and higher-level cognitive functions: weak effects of ecstasy after control for potential confounds

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (9) ◽  
pp. 1319-1330 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bedi ◽  
J. Redman
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cohort Design ◽  
Larger Sample

BackgroundAlthough there have been several reports linking ecstasy use with lowered cognitive function, much previous research suffers from substantial methodological limitations. The present study aimed to examine associations between ecstasy use and higher-level cognitive functions, using a larger sample size than most previous research and better controlling for a range of potential confounds.MethodA cross-sectional cohort design assessed 45 currently abstinent ecstasy polydrug users (EP), 48 cannabis polydrug users (CP) and 40 legal drug users (LD). Standardized neuropsychological tests were used to measure attention, verbal, visual and working memory and executive function. Prospective memory function was also assessed.ResultsIt was not possible to discriminate between groups on the basis of the cognitive functions assessed. Regression analyses showed an inverse association between lifetime dose of ecstasy and verbal memory performance. A combination of drug-use variables, including measures of ecstasy use, contributed to prediction of attention/working memory. However, individual associations were small, explaining 1–6% of variance in cognitive scores.ConclusionsAlthough the results suggest that heavy use of ecstasy is associated with some lowering of higher-level cognitive functions, they do not indicate a clinical picture of substantial cognitive dysfunction.

scholarly journals Cohort effects in verbal memory function and practice effects: a population-based study

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroko H Dodge ◽  
Jian Zhu ◽  
Tiffany F. Hughes ◽  
Beth E. Snitz ◽  
Chung-Chou H. Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cohort Effects ◽  
Practice Effects ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Delayed Recall

ABSTRACTBackground:In many developed countries, cognitive functioning (as measured by neuropsychological tests) appears to be improving over time in the population at large, in parallel with the declining age-specific incidence of dementia. Here, we investigated cohort effects in the age-associated trajectories of verbal memory function in older adults. We sought to determine whether they varied by decade of birth and, if so, whether the change would be explained by increasing educational attainment.Methods:Pooling data from two prospective US population-based studies between 1987 and 2015, we identified four birth cohorts born 1902–1911, 1912–1921, 1922–1931, and 1932–1943. Among these cohorts, we compared age-associated trajectories both of performance and of practice effects on immediate and delayed recall of a 10-item Word List. We used mixed effects models, first including birth cohorts and cohort X age interaction terms, and then controlling for education and education X age interaction.Results:We observed significant cohort effects in performance (baseline and age-associated trajectories) in both immediate recall and delayed recall, with function improving between the earliest- and latest-born cohorts. For both tests, we also observed cohort effects on practice effects with the highest levels in the latest-born cohorts. Including education in the models did not attenuate these effects.Conclusions:In this longitudinal population study, across four decade-long birth cohorts, there were significant improvements in test performance and practice effects in verbal memory tests, not explained by education. Whether this reflects declining disease incidence or other secular trends awaits further investigation.

scholarly journals Drinking During Pregnancy Decreases Word Attack and Arithmetic Scores on Standardized Tests: Adolescent Data From a Population-Based Prospective Study

1994 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 248-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann P. Streissguth ◽  
Helen M. Barr ◽  
Heather Carrnichael Olson ◽  
Paul D. Sampson ◽  
Fred L. Bookstein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prospective Study ◽  
Standardized Tests ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Word Attack

scholarly journals Self-Reported Cognitive Functions Predict the Trajectory of Paranoid Ideation Over a 15-Year Prospective Follow-Up

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aino I. L. Saarinen ◽  
Niklas Granö ◽  
Terho Lehtimäki
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Early Interventions ◽  
Task Orientation ◽  
Paranoid Ideation ◽  
Growth Curve Models ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
Young Finns Study

Abstract Background This study investigated whether self-reported cognitive functions (i.e. task orientation, distractibility, persistence, flexibility, and perseverance) predict the trajectory of paranoid ideation over a 15-year prospective follow-up in adulthood. Methods The participants came from the population-based Young Finns study (N = 1210‒1213). Paranoid ideation was assessed with the Paranoid Ideation Scale of the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90R) in 1997, 2001, 2007, and 2012. Self-reported cognitive functions were evaluated in 1997 with the Task orientation, Distractibility, Persistence, and Flexibility scales of the DOTS-R (the Revised Dimensions of Temperament Survey) and the Perseverance scale of the FCB-TI (the Formal Characteristics of Behaviour – Temperament Inventory). The data was analyzed using growth curve models that were adjusted for age, sex, and socioeconomic factors in childhood and adulthood. Results Low self-reported task orientation, low persistence, high distractibility, low flexibility, and high perseverance predicted higher level of paranoid ideation over the 15-year follow-up. Conclusions Self-reported cognitive functions seem to predict paranoid ideation over a long-term follow-up. Promoting cognitive functions in early interventions may have long-term protective influences against the development of paranoid ideation in non-clinical populations.

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