Head circumference, atrophy, and cognition

Perneczky, Robert; Wagenpfeil, Stefan; Lunetta, Kathryn L.; Cupples, L. Adrienne; Green, R. C.; DeCarli, Charles; Farrer, Lindsay A.; Kurz, Alexander

doi:10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181e7ca97

Cited by 86 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…This may seem inconsistent with the aging/AD literature linking larger head size or ICV to better cognition in elders [6][7][8][9][10] and lower risk of dementia 11,12 ; however, closer examination of these aging/AD studies confirms that larger head size or ICV predicts cognitive efficiency, not memory. 6,8,9 Furthermore, longitudinal studies link age-related brain atrophy to declines in cognitive efficiency, not memory.…”

Section: Cognitive Functioning Cognitive Inefficiency and Memorymentioning

confidence: 69%

Brain reserve and cognitive reserve in multiple sclerosis

et al. 2013

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Objective: We first tested the brain reserve (BR) hypothesis in multiple sclerosis (MS) by examining whether larger maximal lifetime brain volume (MLBV; determined by genetics) protects against disease-related cognitive impairment, and then investigated whether cognitive reserve (CR) gained through life experience (intellectually enriching leisure activities) protects against cognitive decline independently of MLBV (BR).Methods: Sixty-two patients with MS (41 relapsing-remitting MS, 21 secondary progressive MS) received MRIs to estimate BR (MLBV, estimated with intracranial volume [ICV]) and disease burden (T2 lesion load; atrophy of gray matter, white matter, thalamus, and hippocampus). Early-life cognitive leisure was measured as a source of CR. We assessed cognitive status with tasks of cognitive efficiency and memory. Hierarchical regressions were used to investigate whether higher BR (ICV) protects against cognitive impairment, and whether higher CR (leisure) independently protects against cognitive impairment over and above BR. ) showed that leisure independently attenuated the impact of disease burden on cognition. Follow-up analyses revealed that BR protected against cognitive inefficiency, not memory deficits, whereas CR was more protective against memory deficits than cognitive inefficiency. Conclusion:We provide evidence of BR in MS, and show that CR independently protects against disease-related cognitive decline over and above BR. Lifestyle choices protect against cognitive impairment independently of genetic factors outside of one's control.

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Section: Cognitive Functioning Cognitive Inefficiency and Memorymentioning

confidence: 69%

Brain reserve and cognitive reserve in multiple sclerosis

et al. 2013

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“…Accepted for publication Jun 26, 2014 There are several lines of evidence suggesting that early-life influences may be important to consider when identifying risk factors for pathologic brain aging later in life. 1 To date, these early influences have been captured by head size, as an indirect measure of fetal experience, 2,3 and by education, which may not only reflect positive neurotropic effects but also risk factors for dementia such as socioeconomic factors and the load of cardiovascular disease. 4,5 The fetal origins of adult disease hypothesis proposes that abnormal fetal development, deduced from small birth size, may induce permanent changes in the structure, metabolism, and physiology of fetal organs, for example, through epigenetic mechanisms.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Birth Size and Brain Function 75 Years Later

et al. 2014

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BACKGROUND: There are several lines of evidence pointing to fetal and other early origins of diseases of the aging brain, but there are no data directly addressing the hypotheses in an older population. We investigated the association of fetal size to late-age measures of brain structure and function in a large cohort of older men and women and explored the modifying effect of education on these associations. METHODS: Within the AGES (Age Gene/Environment Susceptibility)-Reykjavik population-based cohort (born between 1907 and 1935), archived birth records were abstracted for 1254 men and women who ∼75 years later underwent an examination that included brain MRI and extensive cognitive assessment. RESULTS: Adjustment for intracranial volume, demographic and medical history characteristics, and lower Ponderal index at birth (per kg/m3), an indicator of third-trimester fetal wasting, was significantly associated with smaller volumes of total brain and white matter; βs (95% confidence intervals) were −1.0 (−1.9 to −0.0) and −0.5 (−1.0 to −0.0) mL. Furthermore, lower Ponderal index was associated with slower processing speed and reduced executive functioning but only in those with low education (β [95% confidence interval]: −0.136 [−0.235 to −0.036] and −0.077 [−0.153 to −0.001]). CONCLUSIONS: This first study of its kind provides clinical measures suggesting that smaller birth size, as an indicator of a suboptimal intrauterine environment, is associated with late-life alterations in brain tissue volume and function. In addition, it shows that the effects of a suboptimal intrauterine environment on late-life cognitive function were present only in those with lower educational levels.

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“…The larger brains contain more neurons, synaptic connections and bigger brain size is mostly determined in early childhood. The results suggest that optimal neural development in the first couple of years provides a buffer against cerebral pathology in late life [31]. Although greater premorbid brain size seems to protect against clinical deterioration in AD related brain atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), the protective effects of morphologic reserve seem to be limited to early clinical AD [32].…”

Section: Modifiable Risk Factors Life-course Conceptmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus the circumference of the adult skull reflects the brain size at its peak [30]. The individual capacity to withstand pathological alterations is usually referred to as Brain Reserve (BR) or Cognitive Reserve (CR) [31].…”

Section: Modifiable Risk Factors Life-course Conceptmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…BR is a passive protection against the consequences of brain damage, mediated by larger brain or more neurons and synaptic connections [31]. Epidemiological and clinical studies have consistently shown that at similar levels of AD pathology, higher estimates of BR and greater Intracranial Volume (ICV) were related to less severe symptoms.…”

Section: Modifiable Risk Factors Life-course Conceptmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alzheimer’s Disease: An Epidemiologic Disaster From Nutritional Perspective

Péter

2017

JNHFS

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and over was 5.1%. The estimated ratio of these two age groups in the 28 EU countries for 2040 is 17.9% and 9.9%, and for 2050 it is projected to be 17. 2% and 10.9%, respectively [3] (Figure 1).Based on the data available, LE during the 20 th century increased by more than 30 years. By the year 2040 more than a quarter of the Europeans will be older than 65 years and one in seven will be at least 75 years of age. More importantly, health expectancy on average is 8-11 years shorter than LE and loss of cognitive functions and increase in dementia are major contributors of disability and disease during these last couple years of life [4,5].Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in people aged 60 years or older, representing approximately 60-70% of all cases [6].Currently at least 35 million peopleare affected by AD worldwide and this number is expected to quadruple by the year 2050. Although mortality due to HIV, stroke and heart disease decreased between 2000 and 2013 by 52%, 23% and 14%, respectively, death cases related to AD increased by 71% within the same timeframe, making AD the fourth leading cause of death in developed countries [7].The prevalence of AD increases with age, for example the proportion of people with AD in the US in 2015 was estimated as follows: <65 years: 4%; 65-74 years: 15%; 75-84 years: 43%; 85+ years: 38% [7]. Definition of ADAlois Alzheimer identified the first case of AD in a 51 year old woman, whose brain autopsy showed plaques and tangles that characterize AD [8].AD is a degenerative brain disease of unknown origin, usually developing slowly during the late middle age or in old age and worsens with time. AD results in progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, disorientation, changes in personality and mood. These symptoms are leading to profound decline in AbstractAlzheimer disease (AD) is a progressive, multifactorial, untreatable neurodegenerative disease with worldwide increasing incidence and prevalence in the ageing societies. Besides pharmaceutical drug development there is also a need for alternative solutions for both prevention and treatment. The major objective of this article is to summarize the non-modifiable and some modifiable risk factors of AD, including nutrition and diet, and to discuss different aspects of AD prevention. Optimizing the nutritional status of the general population as a preventive measure may provide additional support to therapeutic concepts as they become available. Already several randomized controlled trials demonstrated promising results for certain nutrients to decrease the risk of developing AD and maintaining cognitive performance. Moreover, symptoms of AD such as neuroinflammation, glucose dysregulation, homocysteine accumulation and neuronal loss can be considerably influenced by nutrition. Thus, lifelong optimal supply of essential micro-and macronutrients may contribute to delay the onset of AD. However, currently the scientific evidence regarding the effects of nutrients on AD is incomplete and there are many...

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Head circumference, atrophy, and cognition

Abstract: This study suggests that larger head circumference is associated with less cognitive impairment in the face of cerebral atrophy. This finding supports the notion that head circumference (and presumably brain size) offers protection against AD symptoms through enhanced brain reserve.

Cited by 86 publications

References 42 publications

Brain reserve and cognitive reserve in multiple sclerosis

Brain reserve and cognitive reserve in multiple sclerosis

Birth Size and Brain Function 75 Years Later

Alzheimer’s Disease: An Epidemiologic Disaster From Nutritional Perspective

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