Migliorare la memoria? La medicina della memoria, la demenza e il cervello che invecchia

2012 ◽  
pp. 54-73
Author(s):  
Stephen Katz ◽  
Kevin R. Peters
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cholinesterase Inhibitors ◽  
Aging Brain ◽  
Critical Questions ◽  
The Enlightenment ◽  
Cholinergic Hypothesis ◽  
The Mind ◽  
The Relationship

The study explores the relationship between the neurosciences, aging, anti-aging culture, memory medicine, and the hypercognitive society. The first part traces the discourses of mind from the Enlightenment to contemporary biosocial models where the aging brain has become a social laboratory for research, experimentation, and intervention. The second part explores the Cholinergic Hypothesis, the development of the cholinesterase inhibitors and their recent implementation in cases of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Critical questions are posed about how the mission to optimize aging has affected projects to enhance the mind.

Enhancing the mind? Memory medicine, dementia, and the aging brain

2013 ◽  
pp. 56-76
Author(s):  
Stephen Katz ◽  
Kevin R. Peters
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cholinesterase Inhibitors ◽  
Aging Brain ◽  
Critical Questions ◽  
The Enlightenment ◽  
Cholinergic Hypothesis ◽  
The Mind ◽  
The Relationship

The study explores the relationship between the neurosciences, aging, anti-aging culture, memory medicine, and the hypercognitive society. The first part traces the discourses of mind from the Enlightenment to contemporary biosocial models where the aging brain has become a social laboratory for research, experimentation, and intervention. The second part explores the Cholinergic Hypothesis, the development of the cholinesterase inhibitors and their recent implementation in cases of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Critical questions are posed about how the mission to optimize aging has affected projects to enhance the mind.

scholarly journals The Link between Potassium and Mild Cognitive Impairment in Mexican-Americans

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raul M. Vintimilla ◽  
Stephanie E. Large ◽  
Adriana Gamboa ◽  
Geoffrey D. Rohlfing ◽  
Judith R. O’Jile ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Serum Potassium ◽  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Aging Brain ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Study Support ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Sodium And Potassium ◽  
Normal Controls

Background: Recent evidence suggests that increasing dietary intake of minerals reduces the risk of dementia. This study aimed to examine the relationship between potassium and diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in a sample of older Mexican-Americans from rural and urban populations. Methods: The sample was formed of a total of 139 participants with MCI and 371 normal controls from two independent cohorts: a rural cohort (Facing Rural Obstacles to Healthcare Now through Intervention, Education and Research [Project FRONTIER]) and an urban cohort (the Health and Aging Brain among Latino Elders [HABLE] study). Serum electrolytes examined were sodium and potassium. Age and education were entered in the model as covariates. Results: Across both cohorts, the Project FRONTIER (OR = 3.1; p = 0.01) and the HABLE Project (OR = 2.0; p = 0.04), the results indicated that serum potassium levels significantly increased the risk of diagnosis of MCI. Conclusion: Our finding suggested a link between serum potassium levels and a diagnosis of MCI in Mexican-Americans. The results of this study support a previous research which has suggested that the risk factors for MCI may vary by ethnicity.

scholarly journals Lower functional hippocampal redundancy in mild cognitive impairment

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Langella ◽  
◽  
Muhammad Usman Sadiq ◽  
Peter J. Mucha ◽  
Kelly S. Giovanello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Potential Mechanism ◽  
Network Efficiency ◽  
Cognitively Normal ◽  
Normal Individuals ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractWith an increasing prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in response to an aging population, it is critical to identify and understand neuroprotective mechanisms against cognitive decline. One potential mechanism is redundancy: the existence of duplicate elements within a system that provide alternative functionality in case of failure. As the hippocampus is one of the earliest sites affected by AD pathology, we hypothesized that functional hippocampal redundancy is protective against cognitive decline. We compared hippocampal functional redundancy derived from resting-state functional MRI networks in cognitively normal older adults, with individuals with early and late MCI, as well as the relationship between redundancy and cognition. Posterior hippocampal redundancy was reduced between cognitively normal and MCI groups, plateauing across early and late MCI. Higher hippocampal redundancy was related to better memory performance only for cognitively normal individuals. Critically, functional hippocampal redundancy did not come at the expense of network efficiency. Our results provide support that hippocampal redundancy protects against cognitive decline in aging.

Using Fractional Anisotropy Imaging to Detect Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease among Mexican Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites: A HABLE Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
James R. Hall ◽  
Leigh A. Johnson ◽  
Fan Zhang ◽  
Melissa Petersen ◽  
Arthur W. Toga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Fractional Anisotropy ◽  
Mexican Americans ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Aging Brain ◽  
Community Based

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most frequently occurring neurodegenerative disease; however, little work has been conducted examining biomarkers of AD among Mexican Americans. Here, we examined diffusion tensor MRI marker profiles for detecting mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in a multi-ethnic cohort. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> 3T MRI measures of fractional anisotropy (FA) were examined among 1,636 participants of the ongoing community-based Health &amp; Aging Brain among Latino Elders (HABLE) community-based study (Mexican American <i>n</i> = 851; non-Hispanic white <i>n</i> = 785). <b><i>Results:</i></b> The FA profile was highly accurate in detecting both MCI (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.99) and dementia (AUC = 0.98). However, the FA profile varied significantly not only between diagnostic groups but also between Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Findings suggest that diffusion tensor imaging markers may have a role in the neurodiagnostic process for detecting MCI and dementia among diverse populations.

scholarly journals Treatment for mild cognitive impairment: systematic review

2013 ◽  
Vol 203 (4) ◽  
pp. 255-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Cooper ◽  
Ryan Li ◽  
Constantine Lyketsos ◽  
Gill Livingston
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Cholinesterase Inhibitors ◽  
National Football League ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Jewish Federation ◽  
Incident Dementia ◽  
Randomised Controlled

BackgroundMore people are presenting with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), frequently a precursor to dementia, but we do not know how to reduce deterioration.AimsTo systematically review randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of any intervention for MCI on cognitive, neuropsychiatric, functional, global outcomes, life quality or incident dementia.MethodWe reviewed 41 studies fitting predetermined criteria, assessed validity using a checklist, calculated standardised outcomes and prioritised primary outcome findings in placebo-controlled studies.ResultsThe strongest evidence was that cholinesterase inhibitors did not reduce incident dementia. Cognition improved in single trials of: a heterogeneous psychological group intervention over 6 months; piribedil, a dopamine agonist over 3 months; and donepezil over 48 weeks. Nicotine improved attention over 6 months. There was equivocal evidence that Huannao Yicong improved cognition and social functioning.ConclusionsThere was no replicated evidence that any intervention was effective. Cholinesterase inhibitors and rofecoxib are ineffective in preventing dementia. Further good-quality RCTs are needed and preliminary evidence suggests these should include trials of psychological group interventions and piribedil.Declarations of interestC.L. has received grant support (research or continuing medical education) from NIMH, NIA, Associated Jewish Federation of Baltimore, Weinberg Foundation, Forest, GlaxoSmithKline, Eisai, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Lilly, Ortho-McNeil, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis, National Football League (NFL), Elan, Functional Neuromodulation; and has been a consultant/advisor to AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Eisai, Novartis, Forest, Supernus, Adlyfe, Takeda, Wyeth, Lundbeck, Merz, Lilly, Pfizer, Genentech, Elan, NFL Players Association, NFL Benefits Office, Avanir, Zinfandel, Bristol-Myers Squibb; and received honorarium or travel support from Pfizer, Forest, GlaxoSmithKline, Health Monitor.

Theory of Mind in Mild Cognitive Impairment – Relationship with Limbic Structures and Behavioural Change

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 1023-1034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes C. Michaelian ◽  
Loren Mowszowski ◽  
Adam J. Guastella ◽  
Julie D. Henry ◽  
Shantel Duffy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Hippocampal Volume ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Social Cognitive Deficits ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽  
The Mind

AbstractObjectives:Older adults presenting with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have a higher risk of developing dementia and also demonstrate impairments in social cognition. This study sought to establish whether in people with MCI, poorer theory of mind (ToM) was associated with volumetric changes in the amygdala and hippocampus, as well as early changes in behaviour.Methods:One hundred and fourteen people with MCI and fifty-two older adult controls completed the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), while close informants (e.g., spouse/family member/friend/carer) described any current behavioural changes using the Revised Cambridge Behavioural Inventory (CBI-R). A subsample of participants completed structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Results:The MCI group showed poorer performance on all neuropsychological tests administered, and moderate reductions on the RMET compared to the control group (d = .44), with greater reduction observed in those with amnestic compared to non-amnestic MCI (p = .03). While a robust correlation was identified between poorer RMET performance and smaller hippocampal volume in the control group (ρ = .53, p = .01), this relationship was not apparent in the MCI group (ρ = .21, p = .11). In the MCI group, poorer RMET performance was associated with poorer everyday skills (ρ = −.26, p = .01) assessed by the CBI-R.Conclusions:Our findings cross-validate previous reports that social cognitive deficits in ToM are a feature of MCI and also suggest that disruptions to broader neural networks are likely to be implicated. Furthermore, ToM deficits in MCI are associated with a decline in everyday skills such as writing or paying bills.

scholarly journals Cognitive impairment of workers in a large-scale aluminium factory in China: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. e027154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huaxing Meng ◽  
Shanshan Wang ◽  
Junhong Guo ◽  
Yarong Zhao ◽  
Shuhui Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
High Education ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
High Education Level ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Aluminium Exposure

ObjectivesTo investigate the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment and the relationship with plasma aluminium among aluminium workers.DesignThis was a cross-sectional case-control study in the SH Aluminium Factory, China.SettingThe university and affiliated hospital cooperated in the study.ParticipantsThere were 910 aluminium workers on duty, among whom 853 participated in our study. Participants, such as those with cerebral vascular disease, epilepsy, brain trauma, Parkinson’s and mental diseases, aluminium-containing drug and mental drug use, and any family history of dementia in first-degree relatives were excluded.Primary and secondary outcome measuresBlood samples were collected, and plasma aluminium was measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. For each case, four age-matched controls were evaluated to determine the relationship between aluminium exposure and mild cognitive impairment. Conditional logistic regression was used to explore influential factors in mild cognitive impairment.ResultsAmong 910 workers, 93.74% participated in stage 1; 53 cases were finally diagnosed. The crude prevalence of mild cognitive impairment among aluminium workers on duty was 6.21%. There was a significant difference in plasma aluminium concentration between the two groups. In the multivariate analysis, we found that a higher level of plasma aluminium was associated with a high risk of cognitive impairment when compared with a lower aluminium level (AOR=2.24, 95% CI=1.17 to 4.26), and a high education level was a protective factor (AOR=0.36, 95% CI=0.18 to 0.70). No other factor was statistically significant.ConclusionsMild cognitive impairment is no longer a disease specific to elderly people. High plasma aluminium exposure might be associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment, but a reduced risk was observed with a high education level. The cognitive function of aluminium workers on duty must be considered seriously.

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