We report a case of a 62-year-old man diagnosed as

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Background Epidemiological studies have found frequent consumption of fatty fish is protective against cognitive decline. However, the association between circulating omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels and cognitive functions among the oldest old is not well known. Objective To examine the association between serum PUFA levels and cognitive function among community-dwelling, non-demented elderly aged over 80 years old. Methods The data came from the Keys to Optimal Cognitive Aging (KOCOA) study; an ongoing cohort of relatively healthy volunteers aged over 80 years old, living in Okinawa, Japan. One hundred eighty five participants (mean age 84.1 ± 3.4 years) assessed in 2011 who were free from frank dementia (defined as Clinical Dementia Rating < 1.0) were used for the current cross-sectional study. We examined whether serum omega-3 PUFAs (docosahexaenoic acid [DHA] and eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA]), arachidonic acid (AA), EPA/AA ratio, DHA/AA ratio and DHA+EPA are associated with (1) age and (2) global cognitive function (Japanese MMSE) and executive function (Verbal Fluency Letters). Data was analyzed univariately by t-test and multivariately by cumulative logistic regression models controlling for age, gender, years of education, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Results Serum DHA levels decreased with increasing age (p = 0.04). Higher global cognitive function was associated with higher levels of serum EPA (p = 0.03) and DHA + EPA (p = 0.03) after controlling for confounders. Conclusions Higher serum EPA and DHA + EPA levels were independently associated with better scores on global cognitive function among the oldest old, free from dementia. Longitudinal follow-up studies are warranted.

Background:Cortical gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) deterioration are signals of neurodegeneration and increased dementia risk; however, their specific etiologies in dementia-free aging is unclear.Objective:The objective of this study was to examine potentially modifiable risk factors of GM and WM degeneration in a well-characterized cohort of dementia-free elderly.Methods:96 Okinawan elderly participants (age 83.6) from the Keys to Optimal Cognitive Aging Project (KOCOA) underwent MRI and cognitive evaluation. Serum markers of inflammation (interleukin-6 (IL-6), high sensitivity C-reactive protein), cerebrovascular disease (systolic blood pressure (SBP) 140+, hemoglobin A1C (HgbA1C), total cholesterol), and essential minerals (copper (Cu), magnesium, and calcium) were examined in relation to mean cortical thickness (MCT) and white matter hyperintensities (WMH), adjusting for age and gender. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analyses identified relationships between regional GM density and the above markers.Results:Decreased MCT was associated with SBP 140 + (p = 0.029) and increased serum IL-6 (p = 0.036), HgbA1C (p = 0.002), and Cu (p = 0.025). In VBM analyses, increased IL-6, HgbA1C, and Cu were associated with decreased GM density in temporal lobe regions. HgbA1C (p = 0.004) was associated with greater WMH volume.Conclusions:Peripheral markers of Cu, CVD risk, and inflammation are associated with MRI-markers of decreased brain health in dementia-free Okinawan elderly, with regional cortical thinning in areas involved in early accumulation of Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Results identify potentially modifiable biomarkers as targets in the prevention of dementia in older individuals.

The present results suggest the possibility of anti-gAChR antibodies aiding the diagnostics of SS with autonomic dysfunction.