Cognitive function in a general population of men and women: a cross sectional study in the European Investigation of Cancer–Norfolk cohort (EPIC-Norfolk)

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough ageing is strongly associated with cognitive decline, a wide range of cognitive ability is observed in older populations with varying rates of change across different cognitive domains.MethodsCognitive function was measured as part of the third health examination of the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer in Norfolk (EPIC-Norfolk 3) between 2006 and 2011 (including measures from the pilot phase from 2004 to 2006). This was done using a battery consisting of seven previously validated cognitive function tests assessing both global function and specific domains. The battery included a shortened version of the Extended Mental State Exam (SF-EMSE); letter cancellation task; Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT); Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery Paired Associates Learning Test (CANTAB-PAL); Visual Sensitivity Test (VST); Shortened version of the National Adult Reading Test (Short-NART) and a task to test for prospective memory. We report the distribution of cognitive function in different cognitive domains by age and sex and compare the utility of a number of assessment tests in a general population of older men and women.ResultsCognitive test data were available for 8585 men and women taking part in EPIC-Norfolk 3. Increasing age was generally associated with declining mean cognitive function, but there was a wide range observed within each age group as well as variability across different cognitive domains. Some sex differences were also observed.ConclusionDescriptive data are presented for this general population sample of older men and women. There is a wide range of cognitive performance seen in this population. Though average performance declines with age, there is large individual variability across different cognitive domains. These variations may provide insights into the determinants of cognitive function in later life.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2318-14-142) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Thalamic functional connectivity and its association with behavioral performance in older age

“…Our results highlight that advanced age was associated with poorer performance on a visual–spatial memory task, as has been shown previously (Hayat et al., 2014; Lee, Archer, Wong, Chen, & Qiu, 2013; Rabbitt & Lowe, 2000). In addition, we provide evidence that, although visual–spatial memory performance was not directly correlated with thalamo‐hippocampal FC, older poor memory performers exhibited significantly greater thalamo‐right hippocampal FC compared to both younger adults and older good memory performers.…”

Cross Sectional Associations between Socio-Demographic Factors and Cognitive Performance in an Older British Population: The European Investigation of Cancer in Norfolk (EPIC-Norfolk) Study

“…The data presented here are from the third health examination (3HC or EPIC-Norfolk 3), a face to face assessment conducted between 2006 and 2011 including data from the pilot phase between 2004 and 2006 [16] when the participants were aged 48 to 92 years. Although the EPIC-Norfolk 3 (including the pilot) ran over 7 years, the administration of the health examination remained unchanged with staff tightly following a protocol thus minimizing variation, differences in interpretation and reducing subjectivity [17]. Details on the standardized protocol for both test administration and scoring have been described previously [17].…”

“…Although the EPIC-Norfolk 3 (including the pilot) ran over 7 years, the administration of the health examination remained unchanged with staff tightly following a protocol thus minimizing variation, differences in interpretation and reducing subjectivity [17]. Details on the standardized protocol for both test administration and scoring have been described previously [17]. …”

“…The NART words were presented on a computer screen, but only required a verbal response scored by the researcher as correct or incorrect. The tests as they were used in this population have been described in considerable detail previously [17], and so further details on these tests will not be given here.…”

A short form of the National Adult Reading Test for use in epidemiological surveys

“…This involves giving the full NART only to respondents who correctly pronounce at least 21 of the first 25 words and imputing full scale scores for other respondents using tabulated values derived from regression analysis. This has been used in recent surveys (see, e.g., Hayat et al, 2014) and warrants comparison against the short forms developed here.…”