Online assessment of risk factors for dementia and cognitive function in healthy adults

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Objectives Depressive disorder is commonly associated with impaired cognitive function; however, it is unclear whether the age of onset of the first episode of depression, current depression severity, or historical severity of depressive episodes are associated with cognitive performance. Methods This study examined baseline cross‐sectional data from the ongoing online PROTECT study. A total of 7344 participants, 50 years or older, with a history of depression and no diagnosis of dementia were divided into three groups according to age of onset of their first depressive episode: early‐onset, midlife‐onset, and late‐onset. Performance on measures of visuospatial episodic memory, executive function, verbal working, and visual working memory were evaluated. Demographic and clinical characteristics such as age, education, and severity of symptoms during their worst previous depressive episode and current depression severity were included in multivariate regression models. Results The late‐onset depression group scored significantly lower on the verbal reasoning task than the early‐onset group while there were no significant differences found on the other tasks. Midlife‐onset depression participants performed better in the visual episodic memory task, but worse on the verbal reasoning task, than early‐onset depression participants. Current depression severity was negatively correlated with all four cognitive domains, while historical severity score was found to be significantly associated with cognitive performance on the verbal reasoning and spatial working memory tasks. Conclusions The most important indicator of cognitive performance in depression appears to be current, rather than historic depression severity; however, late‐onset depression may be associated with more executive impairment than an early‐onset depression.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the relationship between age of onset of depressive disorder and cognitive function

Eraydin

Mueller

Corbett

et al. 2018

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“…11,12 This study utilises the PROTECT cohort to examine the association of reported use of word puzzles with cognitive performance. It is a 10-year longitudinal study with annual assessment of cognitive function and other variables, which offers a means of exploring factors which influence cognitive trajectory in later life.…”

Section: Data From the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function Anmentioning

confidence: 99%

An online investigation of the relationship between the frequency of word puzzle use and cognitive function in a large sample of older adults

Brooker

Wesnes

Ballard

et al. 2019

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Objective The identification of modifiable lifestyle factors to preserve cognitive function in older individuals becomes increasingly of importance. This study examines whether word puzzle use is related to cognitive function in older adults. Methods Cognitive data from 19 078 cognitively healthy individuals aged 50 to 93 years enrolled into the online PROTECT study were evaluated for self‐reported frequency of performing word puzzles on a six‐point scale, ranging from “more than once per day” to “never”. Nine cognitive tests covered a range of domains including focussed and sustained attention, information processing, executive function, working memory, and episodic memory. Analyses of covariance were used to determine any differences between the six response groups. Results Each of the 14 cognitive measures analysed showed highly statistically significant main effects of the frequency of performing word puzzles. For each measure, the group who never performed word puzzles performed most poorly, with the group who reported occasional puzzle use also performing more poorly than virtually every other group. Measures of speed provided the greatest discriminations, with a grammatical reasoning score differentiating the two highest frequency groups, performing word puzzles daily or more than once daily. Conclusions The frequency of word puzzle use is directly related to cognitive function in adults aged 50 and over. Future work needs to determine whether engaging in such puzzles can favourably influence cognitive trajectory with age.

“…9,11,13 The outcome measure of each task is the total score of correct responses, which is corrected for errors made. The PCTB assesses aspects of attention and working memory and takes 10 minutes to complete.…”

Section: Cognitive Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[13][14][15] The cohort of over 20 000 adults aged 50 years old and above complete two independent annual online assessments of core aspects of cognitive function and lifestyle behaviours, offering a valuable and evolving dataset of independently validated cognitive variables with which to explore the factors, which influence brain function as we age. [13][14][15] The cohort of over 20 000 adults aged 50 years old and above complete two independent annual online assessments of core aspects of cognitive function and lifestyle behaviours, offering a valuable and evolving dataset of independently validated cognitive variables with which to explore the factors, which influence brain function as we age.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The relationship between the frequency of number‐puzzle use and baseline cognitive function in a large online sample of adults aged 50 and over

Brooker

Wesnes

Ballard

et al. 2019

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Objective Establishing affordable lifestyle interventions that might preserve cognitive function in the aging population and subsequent generations is a growing area of research focus. Data from the PROTECT study has been utilised to examine whether number‐puzzle use is related to cognitive function in older adults. Methods Data from 19 078 healthy volunteers aged 50 to 93 years old enrolled on the online PROTECT study were evaluated for self‐reported frequency of performing number puzzles. Two cognitive‐test batteries were employed to assess core aspects of cognitive function including reasoning, focussed and sustained attention, information processing, executive function, working memory, and episodic memory. Analysis of covariance was used to establish the differences between the six frequency groups. Results Highly statistically significant main effects of the frequency of performing number puzzles were seen on all 14 cognitive measures, with P values of less than 0.0004. Interestingly, participants who reported engaging in number puzzles more than once a day had superior cognitive performance on 10 core measures compared with all other frequency groups, although not all were statistically significant. Conclusions This study has identified a close relationship between frequency of number‐puzzle use and the quality of cognitive function in adults aged 50 to 93 years old. In order to determine the value of these findings as a potential intervention, further research should explore the type and difficulty of the number puzzles. These findings further contribute to the growing evidence that engaging in mentally stimulating activities could benefit the brain function of the ageing population.