Cognitive Functioning in Older People. Results of the First Wave of Cognition of Older People, Education, Recreational Activities, Nutrition, Comorbidities, Functional Capacity Studies (COPERNICUS)

Abstract

Background: Cognitive reserve is a way of explaining why some individuals with a high degree of brain pathology are without clinical manifestations. In this study, factors related to systemic diseases, body composition, aerobic capacity, past and current behavior were examined and included as predictors of cognitive function.Materials and Methods: 407 subjects (60–88 years old) underwent physical examination and cognitive function assessment [Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Trail Making Test Part B (TMT B)]. Predictors of cognitive functioning were evaluated: occupational status (OS), diet, mental and touristic activities were assessed using an ad hoc questionnaire. Aerobic capacity was measured using a six-minute walk test (6MWT).Results: With each year of age there is a decrease in MMSE score by 0.18 points. Varicose veins on lower extremities and low OS were also significantly associated with MMSE result. For every year of having hypertension, low OS and not being abroad in the last 3 years, there was 0.17, 0.30, and 0.16 less points, respectively, and 0.15 more point per one additional meter walked in 6MWT in the MoCA score. With each year of age and for low OS there was there were 0.31 and 0.21 s more to complete TMT B, respectively.Conclusion: Education, OS, presence of systemic diseases and social and tourist activities, aerobic capacity and body composition could be considered as factors contributing to cognitive functioning in older people. However, the relationship of above mentioned factors with education level and cognitive function may be not fully orthogonal.

Sex and Age Dependencies of Aqueductal Cerebrospinal Fluid Dynamics Parameters in Healthy Subjects

“…Thus, subjects suffering from mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease could be excluded. However, neuropsychological testing (such as the Mini-Mental State Examination; Kujawski et al, 2018; Herrmann et al, 2019; Hou et al, 2019; Santaella et al, 2019) may have been more reliable in assessing the cognitive status of participants. Therefore, we may have failed to exclude certain patients with mild cognitive impairment thus introducing a bias.…”

Poor oral health conditions and cognitive decline: Studies in humans and rats

“…We used multiple linear regression and stepwise method to analyze the relationship between MMSE scores and potential factors. Based on past research [41,42], we selected the following independent variables: sex, age (years), education level, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hyperlipidemia, prior stroke events, cerebral trauma, smoking, number of missing index teeth, and grouped number of missing index teeth (i.e., 0-6 and 7-10). The dependent variable was MMSE score.…”

Correspondence Between Cognitive and Audiological Evaluations Among the Elderly: A Preliminary Report of an Audiological Screening Model of Subjects at Risk of Cognitive Decline With Slight to Moderate Hearing Loss

“…Age showed the highest negative correlation with cognitive results, but it should be noticed that groups were arbitrarily divided by age and that the MoCA scores were adjusted for years of education. Thus, in higher age groups, the MoCA score could be adjusted for age because after 78 years, participants were unlikely to have been attending educational and recreative programs during childhood, as compared to the new 65-year-old subjects of coming decades (Kujawski et al, 2018). Nevertheless, it should be noticed that the SNR showed the highest negative correlation among the audiological testing results and that the multiple regression analysis reached an R 2 of 0.477.…”

“…In addition, for further analysis, the scores for attention and working memory were set to 4.8 (<5) in the digit span test and MoCA (Moradi et al, 2014;Santangelo et al, 2015), whereas the long-term memory score was set to 2.80 (<3). These scores are the approximate normal/average reference values, reduced by 2 SDs (Moradi et al, 2014;Conti et al, 2015;Davis et al, 2015;Santangelo et al, 2015;Castiglione et al, 2016;Kujawski et al, 2018;Siciliano et al, 2019). Subjects with clinical indications were selected for hearing aid prescription, cochlear implantation surgery, or further cognitive investigations.…”