Cognitive function in various clinical conditions

This section is offshoot of my gathering of news items about memory. I am not a medical expert. My background is in psychology. The information I have gathered here should not be taken as providing any advice.

Related topics

Short-term declines in cognitive function can occur in elderly subjects after surgery, and persists in a small percentage.
Heart bypass surgery in particular is associated with cognitive decline - estimates of its prevalence range from 33% to 82%. This decline may persist in as many as 42% of patients. Age and level of education are both factors in determining the likelihood of long-term decline. The presence of a gene (apolipoprotein E4) carried by some 25% of the population may also increase the likelihood of decline after bypass surgery. There also seems to be a link between post-operative fever and cognitive decline. Long-term decline in cognitive function may be more a result of cardiovascular risk factors than the surgery itself.
High blood pressure in those over 60 seems to be associated with greater risk of cognitive decline.
High blood pressure and other circulatory problems, such as cardiovascular risk factors and diabetes, are linked to cognitive decline, perhaps through causing abnormalities in the white matter of elderly persons' brains.
Those with the gene ApoE4 also appear to have more difficulty recovering from traumatic brain injury.
Two drugs used for Alzheimer's have also been found to help those suffering from dementia following stroke.
A specific skills approach is having some success in helping those who suffer from attention problems following stroke.

cardiac arrest

cardiovascular risk factors

cognitive decline after heart bypass

high blood pressure

diabetes

drugs

brain injury, stroke

cognitive decline after noncardiac surgery

depression

vision and hearing loss

other

News reports

cardiac arrest

July 2008

Heart disease linked to worse cognition

Another report has come out from the large Whitehall study, this time on the subject of coronary heart disease and cognition. The study found that coronary heart disease was associated with a worse performance in mental processes such as reasoning, vocabulary and verbal fluency, and that the longer ago the heart disease had been diagnosed, the worse was the person's cognitive performance. This effect was particularly marked in men. Although there has been quite a lot of research on cardiovascular disease and impaired cognition, this is the first, large study to specifically examine the association between coronary heart disease and cognition. The major risk factors for coronary heart disease are all modifiable: cigarette smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The findings also support the growing view that it is events happening in earlier life that have an impact on whether or not dementia develops in older age.
The study was published online 22 July in the European Heart Journal. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/esoc-hdi072108.php

September 2004

Why cardiac arrest may hinder ability to learn certain tasks

Cardiac arrest can take a particularly harsh toll on the hippocampus, the area of the brain that plays a critical role in memory and navigation. A new mouse study found that mice that had had a (surgically induced) heart attack had far more difficulty learning a new spatial task than did healthy mice (controls were given the surgery, but didn’t have a cardiac arrest induced). Mice in the heart attack group spent about eight minutes in cardiac arrest – enough time to stop the flow of oxygen to the brain. Analysis of the brain tissue found an overall 18% decrease in dendritic spine density in the hippocampus in the cardiac arrest mice compared to the control mice (dendritic spines are projections from neurons involved in sending signals throughout the central nervous system and the body). The researchers are now looking at how different types of social interactions influence the number and health of neurons that survive a heart attack.
The study appeared in the October issue of the European Journal of Neuroscience. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-09/osu-cam092904.htm

cardiovascular risk factors

February 2008

Stroke risk factors may signal faster cognitive decline in elderly

Analysis of the stroke risks of over 17,000 people aged 45 and older (average 65.9) has found that a higher stroke risk score was associated with a significantly higher rate of cognitive decline. The study also identified three specific risk factors significantly associated with memory loss – high systolic blood pressure, diabetes, and left ventricular hypertrophy.
The findings were reported at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2008.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-02/aha-srf021408.php

February 2006

Review supports link between lifestyle factors and cognitive function in older adults

A review of 96 papers involving 36 very large, ongoing epidemiological studies in North America and Europe looking at factors involved in maintaining cognitive and emotional health in adults as they age has concluded that controlling cardiovascular risk factors, such as reducing blood pressure, reducing weight, reducing cholesterol, treating (or preferably avoiding) diabetes, and not smoking, is important for maintaining brain health as we age. The link between hypertension and cognitive decline was the most robust across studies. They also found a consistent close correlation between physical activity and brain health. However, they caution that more research is needed before specific recommendations can be made about which types of exercise and how much exercise are beneficial. They also found protective factors most consistently reported for cognitive health included higher education level, higher socio-economic status, emotional support, better initial performance on cognitive tests, better lung capacity, more physical exercise, moderate alcohol use, and use of vitamin supplements. Psychosocial factors, such as social disengagement and depressed mood, are associated with both poorer cognitive and emotional health in late life. Increased mental activity throughout life, such as learning new things, may also benefit brain health.
The review was published in the January issue of Alzheimer's & Dementia. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-02/aa-nss021606.htm

October 2004

Inflammation associated with higher risk of age-related cognitive impairment

So-called “metabolic syndrome” is characterized most obviously by wide girth about the middle (being “apple-shaped”), as well as by high blood pressure and unhealthy levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose in the blood. The syndrome is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. A new study finds the syndrome is also associated with a greater risk of cognitive impairment (hardly surprising, since many studies now indicate that cardiovascular risk factors are also risk factors for age-related cognitive impairment). The study tracked 2600 people, average age 74 years, over five years. Some 26% of those with the syndrome showed significant cognitive decline, compared to 21% of those without the syndrome. However, it appears the problem is not the syndrome so much as the high levels of inflammation that can result. About 30% of those with the syndrome plus high levels of inflammatory markers in their bloodstream showed significant cognitive decline. Those with the syndrome but no inflammation showed no increased risk.
The study appeared in the November 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Full reference
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/11/10/MNGOI9P0691.DTL&type=science

May 2003

Recent studies have found a high occurrence of cognitive problems in patients who undergo coronary artery bypass surgery, with such problems still found six weeks after surgery. In a new study comparing 140 patients who underwent bypass surgery and a second group of 92 coronary artery disease patients who did not have surgery, no differences in cognitive abilities were found when patients were re-tested at three and 12 months. This supports recent research suggesting that it is the disease itself that is the major problem, rather than the surgery.
The report appeared in the May issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. Full reference
http://www.newswise.com/articles/2003/5/COGNTIVE.JHM.html
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-05/jhmi-gn050603.htm

March 2003

From around age 60, "white-matter lesions" appear in the brain, significantly affecting cognitive function. But without cognitive data from childhood, it is hard to know how much of the difference in cognitive abilities between elderly individuals is due to aging. A longitudinal study has been made possible by the Scottish Mental Survey of 1932, which gave 11-year-olds a validated cognitive test. Scottish researchers have tracked down healthy living men and women who took part in this Survey and retested 83 participants.Testing took place in 1999, when most participants were 78 years old.
It was found that the amount of white-matter lesions made a significant contribution to general cognitive ability differences in old age, independent of prior ability. The amount of white-matter lesions contributed 14.4% of the variance in cognitive scores; early IQ scores contributed 13.7%. The two factors were independent.
Although white-matter lesions are viewed as a normal part of aging, they are linked with other health problems, in particular to circulatory problems (including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and cardiovascular risk factors).
Full text of the article is available at http://www.apa.org/journals/pag/press_releases/march_2003/pag181140.html
The report appeared in the March issue of Psychology and Aging. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-03/apa-aci031703.htm

July 2002

More support for a link between cardiopulmonary bypass surgery and cognitive impairment comes from a new study. In particular, it seems, that attention may be most affected. The study also found evidence of longer-lasting cognitive decline than previously thought. Bypass patients also demonstrated poorer cognitive performance before the surgery, and it is now being suggested that it may be the disease itself that is the major problem, rather than the surgery itself. This is consistent with recent research connecting cardiovascular risk factors with risk factors for cognitive decline.
The study appeared in the July issue of Neuropsychology. Full reference http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-07/apa-lci070802.htm
Full text available at http://www.apa.org/journals/neu/press_releases/july_2002/neu163411.htm

cognitive decline after heart bypass

May 2008

Long-term cognitive decline in bypass patients not due to surgery

Another study has come out supporting the view that coronary bypass patients have no greater risk of long-term cognitive decline than patients not undergoing surgery. The study involved 152 patients who had bypass surgery and 92 patients with coronary artery disease who did not have surgical intervention. Patients had memory and other cognitive tests at the beginning of the study period, and after 3, 12, 36 and 72 months. The results showed that there were no significant differences in cognitive scores between the two groups at the beginning of the study. Both groups showed modest decline in cognitive performance during the study period, but there were no significant differences in the degree of decline between the groups after six years. It was suggested that the decline in both groups was related to the presence of risk factors for vascular disease.
The study was published in the May 2008 issue of Annals of Neurology. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-05/w-lcd051908.php
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-05/jhmi-bnt051908.php

May 2007

Inflammatory system genes linked to cognitive decline after heart surgery

The finding that people with variants of two genes involved in the inflammatory system appear to be protected from suffering a decline in mental function following heart surgery raises the possibility that therapy involving drugs known to dampen the inflammatory response may be effective in preventing cognitive decline after heart surgery. The specific genes involved were those for C-reactive protein (which plays an important role in the body’s initial response to injury) and P-selectin (which helps recruit circulating white blood cells to the site of an injury). Patients with the variation of the C-reactive protein gene were 20.6% less likely to suffer mental decline, and patients with the P-selectin variant had a 15.2% risk reduction. The risk of cognitive decline for those with both gene variants was only 17% compared to 43% for patients who had neither variant.
The findings were published online May 1 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-05/dumc-isg043007.htm

February 2007

'Off-pump' CABG surgery appears to have no benefit on cognitive or cardiac outcomes at 5 years

A five-year study of 281 cardiac patients, half of whom received off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery and half on-pump surgery, has found that there was no difference in cognitive performance five years after surgery. The findings suggest that factors other than cardiopulmonary bypass may be responsible for cognitive decline, such as anesthesia and the generalized inflammatory response that is associated with major surgical procedures.
The study was reported in the February 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-02/jaaj-cs021507.htm

January 2006

Cognitive loss following coronary artery bypass surgery due to surgical technique?

A surgical strategy designed to minimize trauma to the body's largest artery – the aorta – during heart bypass surgery can significantly reduce cognitive loss that often follows the operation. The study found that at least 60% of patients showed neurological deficits following bypass surgery, but that at 6 months, 57% of patients who had traditional surgery still had deficits while only 32% of those who didn’t use the heart-lung machine during surgery, and 30% of those who had the new surgical technique still had deficits. Researchers conclude that surgical technique is the primary cause of cognitive decline following bypass surgery.
The report appeared in the January issue of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-01/wfub-ric012006.htm

November 2005

Use of heart pump during bypass surgery not implicated in cognitive decline

A study involving 380 individuals has found that those patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery that used a cardiopulmonary heart pump had no significant differences in their mental functions compared to CABG patients whose surgery did not involve a heart pump. Patients with coronary heart disease all performed lower on cognitive tests than healthy controls, prior to surgery. By three months, both cardiac patients who had undergone surgery (with or without use of a heart pump) and those who had not, had improved cognitive function.
The study was published in the issue of Neurology. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-11/jhmi-hsf110905.htm

April 2005

Review finds bypass surgery free of long-term brain effects for most

A broad retrospective review of the effects of coronary artery bypass surgery on cognitive functions concludes that, although the research confirms the existence of mild deficits in the period up to three months after surgery, the procedure itself probably does not cause late or permanent neurological effects. Rather, they argue, the late cognitive declines seen in some long-term studies are for most people likely associated with progression of underlying conditions such as cerebrovascular disease. However, this is not true for all. The exceptions might include older patients and those with risk factors for cerebrovascular disease or a history of stroke.
The review was published online April 25 in the Annals of Neurology. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-04/jws-dsb042105.htm

October 2004

Elderly experience long-term cognitive decline after surgery

Researchers have found that two years after major non-cardiac surgery, 42% of elderly patients will have experienced a measurable cognitive decline. 59% of patients experienced cognitive decline immediately after surgery — these are the ones at greatest risk of long-term decline. Three months after surgery, 34% of patients had cognitive declines. The study involved 354 patients, with an average age of 69.5 years.
The study was presented on October 26 at the annual scientific sessions of the American Society of Anesthesiologists in Las Vegas.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-10/dumc-eel102204.htm

April 2004

Lower temperatures improve outcomes after bypass surgery

One of the possible adverse effects of cardiac bypass surgery is cognitive decline. Researchers have found that patients who were allowed an additional 10 to 12 minutes to return to normal body temperature after surgery scored almost one-third better on standard tests of cognition six weeks after surgery. (In order to protect the brain and other organs from damage while the heart is stopped during surgery, physicians cool a patient's blood as it passes through a heart-lung machine. However, toward the end of the operation, this blood needs to be rewarmed.)
The results were presented by Hilary Grocott on April 26 at the annual scientific sessions of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-04/dumc-lti042004.htm

May 2003

February 2003

Older patients with lowered immunity to certain common bacteria found in the gastrointestinal tract are more likely than younger patients to suffer cognitive decline after coronary artery bypass surgery.
The report appeared in the February issue of Stroke. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-02/dumc-lip020303.htm

July 2002

February 2002

Elevated temperatures within 8-10 hours after surgery are often seen in patients who have undergone coronary bypass surgery. This has not however been regarded as anything other than a nuisance. Many bypass patients also suffer measurable cognitive decline. A new study reports on a relationship between these fevers and cognitive decline six weeks following surgery. Patients who suffered the highest post-operative temperatures also suffered the highest amount of cognitive decline.
The study was published in the February 1 issue of Stroke. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-01/dumc-fia012802.htm

Researchers have found an association between nerve cell changes associated with aging and the presence of a variation of the apolipoprotein gene known as apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4). This form is carried by approximately 25% of the population and has been linked to increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease and memory loss after head injury or bypass surgery.
The findings were presented at the 15th annual meeting of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry in Orlando, Florida.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-02/dumc-glt022502.htm

February 2001

Heart bypasses are becoming increasingly common - in the U.S., more than half a million people undergo coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) each year. A common side-effect of the procedure is postoperative cognitive decline (frequency of occurrence estimates range from 33% to 82%, depending on the method of evaluation used). A recent study looked at the longer-term picture: in this study, cognitive decline was found in 53% of the patients at time of discharge; at 6 weeks, the rate was assessed at 36%; at 6 months, 24%. However, five years after the surgery the rate of cognitive decline was 42%. Older age, a lower level of education, a higher preoperative score for cognitive function, and the presence of cognitive decline at discharge were all predictors of cognitive decline at 5 years after CABG. Of these, the most significant predictor was a decline in cognition seen at discharge.
Note that there was no control group, so these results must be treated with caution. Note also that short-term declines in cognitive function are also reported in elderly subjects after non-cardiac surgery, and this can persist in a proportion of these patients - in fact, in 10% after 2 years.
The report was published in the Feb. 8 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2001-02/DUMC-Cdab-0602101.htm

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drugs

April 2008

Using anti-cholinergic drugs may increase cognitive decline

The Religious Orders Study has thrown up more data, this time on the subject of anticholinergic medication. Over an eight year period, 679 of the 870 elderly participants took at least one medication with anticholinergic properties. The study found those people who took anticholinergic drugs saw their rate of cognitive function decline 1.5 times as fast as those people who did not take the drugs. Anticholinergic properties are found in many medicines, such as medicines for stomach cramps, ulcers, motion sickness, and urinary incontinence.
The research was presented at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Chicago, April 12–19.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-04/aaon-uad040208.php

March 2008

Injection of human umbilical cord blood helps aging brain

A rat study has found that a single intravenous injection of human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells in aged rats significantly improved the microenvironment of the aged hippocampus and rejuvenated the aged neural stem/progenitor cells. The increase in neurogenesis seemed to be due to a decrease in inflammation. The results raise the possibility of cell therapy to rejuvenate the aged brain.
The findings were published online February 14 at BMC Neuroscience. Full reference
http://www.physorg.com/news124384387.html

November 2007

Relationship between statins and cognitive decline more complex than thought

Previous studies of a link between statins (which protect against cardiovascular disease) and cognitive decline have produced inconsistent results. A three year epidemiological study of older African Americans has now found cognitive decline in statin users was less than those who did not take statins, but those who continued to take statins from 2001 to 2004 had greater cognitive decline than those who were taking statins in 2001 but were no longer taking them in 2004. The finding that the benefit is stronger for those who had discontinued use than for continuous users points to a complex association between statins and cognitive decline.
The findings were published in the November 6 issue of Neurology. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-11/iu-rbs110207.php

July 2006

Drug reverses aging effect on memory process

Rat studies suggest that a drug made to enhance memory triggers a natural mechanism in the brain that fully reverses age-related memory loss, even after the drug itself has left the body. In middle-aged rats given ampakines twice a day for four days, there was a significant increase in the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein known to play a key role in memory formation, and in long-term potentiation (LTP), the process by which the connection between the brain cells is enhanced and memory is encoded. Deficits in LTP occur with age. This restoration of LTP was found in the brains even after the ampakines had been cleared from the animals' bodies.
The study appears in the August issue of the Journal of Neurophysiology. Full reference
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/07/060727154900.htm

December 2003

Nicotine patch may alleviate 'senior moments'

A small preliminary clinical trial has found that four weeks of nicotine skin patches helped decision-making and attention in people with age-associated memory impairment (the mildest form of cognitive impairment in seniors). Given the health risks of smoking, and health risks associated with nicotine patches, it is too early to recommend the use of nicotine to improve memory, however. Nicotine mimics the brain chemical acetylcholine, a nerve signal that plays a role in learning and memory.
The report will appear in a forthcoming issue of Psychopharmacology. Reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-12/dumc-npm120303.htm

Statins associated with rare cases of temporary amnesia

Two recent studies have documented cases of amnesia and other nervous-system side effects after taking statins, the cholesterol-lowering drugs being prescribed to millions of people at risk of heart disease. It is emphasized that this is a rare problem, but given the vast numbers of people taking statins, it might still add up to a significant number of problems.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-12/ns-ymw120303.htm
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20031203-055101-2066r.htm

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high blood pressure

December 2007

High blood pressure associated with risk for mild cognitive impairment

A study of nearly 1000 older adults (average age 76.3) without mild cognitive impairment at the start of the study found that over the follow-up period (average: 4.7 years), 334 individuals developed mild cognitive impairment, of which 160 were amnestic (reduced memory) and 174 were non-amnestic. Hypertension (high blood pressure) was associated with an increased risk of non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment; but not with amnestic mild cognitive impairment.
The report appeared in the December issue of Archives of Neurology. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-12/jaaj-hbp120607.php

September 2007

Memory tasks require more coordinated brain blood flow for people with high blood pressure

Previous studies have found an association between high blood pressure and cognitive decline in older adults, but the evidence hasn’t been entirely consistent. Now a new study helps explain why the situation is not entirely straightforward. It appears that people with high blood pressure required more blood flow to the parts of the brain that support memory function than those with normal blood pressure. Moreover, and surprisingly, it turned out that antihypertensive medication actually made it worse, increasing the inefficiency of the brain’s work during memory tasks.
The findings were reported at the American Heart Association’s 61st Annual Fall Conference of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-09/aha-mtr092707.php

May 2006

Lowering blood pressure doesn't prevent cognitive impairment, dementia

A review of three large-scale studies of patients with hypertension who were treated with either medication or lifestyle strategies found no convincing evidence that lowering blood pressure prevents the development of dementia or cognitive impairment in hypertensive patients without apparent prior cerebrovascular disease. However, there is some evidence that midlife hypertension but not late life hypertension is related to cognitive decline; these studies involved patients aged 60 and older.
The review appeared in the current issue of The Cochrane Library. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-05/cfta-lbp052306.htm

February 2006

Review supports link between lifestyle factors and cognitive function in older adults

December 2005

Uncontrolled high blood pressure means more cognitive problems in old age

A study involving a subset of men (average age 67 years) in the VA Normative Aging Study has found that those men with uncontrolled hypertension performed significantly worse on tests of verbal fluency and short-term memory. Those whose hypertension was controlled did as well as those with normal blood pressure. In the United States, hypertension affects 60% of adults age 60 and older, and a high proportion of these are untreated or inadequately treated.
The study appeared in the November issue of Neuropsychology. Full reference
Full text is available at http://www.apa.org/journals/releases/neu196770.pdf
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-12/apa-uhb113005.htm

September 2005

High blood pressure has stronger effect on cognitive function in African-Americans

Analysis of a large longitudinal study (the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study 1976—2002) has found significant associations of high blood pressure to lower cognitive performance in the areas of abstract reasoning, psychomotor skills and visual organization skills. This association, moreover, was significantly greater for African-Americans, although it should be noted that there were only 147 African-Americans among the 1,563 participants. The effect was independent of age.
The report appeared in the September/October issue of Psychosomatic Medicine. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-09/cfta-hbp092205.htm

September 2003

High blood pressure may be a factor in "senior moments"

An imaging study of seniors (average age 60) found that those with high blood pressure showed reduced blood flow to active brain areas when performing various everyday memory tasks, such as looking up a phone number then walking to another room to pick up the phone and dial the number. The diminished blood flow correlated to slightly worse scores on the memory tests. The differences weren’t large, but may help account for "senior moments" - memory problems commonly associated with age. It’s estimated that as many as a third of those with high blood pressure are not aware they have it.
Reported at the American Heart Association's 57th Annual High Blood Pressure Research Conference, September 23. Reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-09/aha-hbp091703.htm
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3015552

Effects of high blood pressure on cognition may have been overstated

Epidemiological studies have suggested hypertensive patients perform worse than individuals with normal blood pressure on cognition tests. A new study has investigated performance on specific cognitive tasks (visual and memory search involving computer displays) by those with high blood pressure who were not on medication and had no detectable cardiovascular disease. Participants ranged in age from 20 to 80. Contrary to expectation, high blood pressure slowed performance only in the middle-aged group (40-59), not in those younger or older.
The results were published in the September issue of Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-09/dumc-hbp092503.htm

May 2003

Treatment to lower blood pressure reduces risk of cognitive decline in stroke patients

High blood pressure and stroke are associated with increased risks of dementia and cognitive impairment. In a study aimed to determine whether blood pressure lowering would reduce the risks of dementia and cognitive decline among individuals with cerebrovascular disease, 6105 people with prior stroke or transient ischemic attack were given either active treatment (perindopril for all participants and indapamide for those with neither an indication for nor a contraindication to a diuretic) or matching placebo(s). Over some 4 years, dementia was found in 6.3% of those given active treatment and 7.1% of those in the placebo group. Cognitive decline occurred in 9.1% of the actively treated group and 11.0% of the placebo group. The researchers concluded that blood pressure lowering with perindopril and indapamide therapy was helpful for those with cerebrovascular disease, in terms of reduced risks of dementia and cognitive decline.
The study was published in the May 12 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Full reference
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/163/9/1069

March 2003

From around age 60, "white-matter lesions" appear in the brain, significantly affecting cognitive function. But without cognitive data from childhood, it is hard to know how much of the difference in cognitive abilities between elderly individuals is due to aging. A longitudinal study has been made possible by the Scottish Mental Survey of 1932, which gave 11-year-olds a validated cognitive test. Scottish researchers have tracked down healthy living men and women who took part in this Survey and retested 83 participants. Testing took place in 1999, when most participants were 78 years old.
It was found that the amount of white-matter lesions made a significant contribution to general cognitive ability differences in old age, independent of prior ability. The amount of white-matter lesions contributed 14.4% of the variance in cognitive scores; early IQ scores contributed 13.7%. The two factors were independent.
Although white-matter lesions are viewed as a normal part of aging, they are linked with other health problems, in particular to circulatory problems (including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and cardiovascular risk factors).
Full text of the article is available at http://www.apa.org/journals/pag/press_releases/march_2003/pag181140.html
The report appeared in the March issue of Psychology and Aging. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-03/apa-aci031703.htm

August 2002

Research in rats has found that linoleic acid improved not only blood pressure, but also hypertension-induced memory decline, suggesting that the early incorporation of linoleic acid in the diet, may not only help in controlling hypertension, but may also improve hypertension-induced cognitive impairment. Linoleic acid is found in vegetable seed oils, such as safflower, sunflower, and hemp seed.
The findings were presented at an American Physiological Society (APS) intersociety meeting. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-08/aps-mk082602.htm

January 2001

A large-scale six-year study of people aged 40 to 70 years old found that people with diabetes and high blood pressure are more likely to experience cognitive decline. Diabetes was associated with greater cognitive decline for those younger than 58 as well as those older than 58, but high blood pressure was a risk factor only for the 58 and older group.
The study was published in the January 9 issue of Neurology.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2001-01/MC-Nsld-0701101.htm
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2001-01/AAoN-Dahb-0801101.htm

December 1999

A large-scale study of French people aged 59 to 71 found that, after four years, 21.7% of those with untreated high blood pressure experienced severe cognitive decline. Of those with high blood pressure whose treatment didn't bring the blood pressure down to normal, 12.5% had severe cognitive decline. Of those whose high blood pressure was successfully treated, 7.8% had severe cognitive decline. Only 7.3% of those with normal blood pressure had severe cognitive decline.
The study appeared in the December 10 issue of Neurology.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/1999-12/AAoN-Hbpi-091299.htm

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DIABETES

June 2008

Diabetic seniors may experience memory declines after eating high-fat food

Growing evidence links diabetes to cognitive impairment. Now a small study of 16 adults (aged 50 years and older) with type 2 diabetes compared their cognitive performance on three separate occasions, fifteen minutes after consuming different meals. One meal consisted of high fat products – a danish pastry, cheddar cheese and yogurt with added whipped cream; the second meal was only water; and the third was the high-fat meal plus high doses of vitamins C (1000 mg) and E (800 IU) tablets. Researchers found that vitamin supplementation consistently improved recall scores relative to the meal alone, while those who ate the high fat meal without vitamin supplements showed significantly more forgetfulness of words and paragraph information in immediate and time delay recall tests. Those on water meal and meal with vitamins showed similar levels in cognitive performance. The finding indicates not only that diabetics can temporarily further worsen already underlying memory problems associated with the disease by consuming unhealthy meals, but also that this can be remedied by taking high doses of antioxidant vitamins C and E with the meal, suggesting that the effect of high-fat foods si to cause oxidative stress. However, this is hardly a recommended course of action, and the real importance of this finding is that it emphasizes the need for diabetics to consume healthy foods high in antioxidants, like fruits and vegetables. Of course, this is a very small study, and further replication is needed.
The study was published in the July issue of Nutrition Research. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/bcfg-swt062408.php

April 2006

Age-related vision problems may be associated with cognitive impairment

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) develops when the macula, the portion of the eye that allows people to see in detail, deteriorates. An investigation into the relationship between vision problems and cognitive impairment in 2,946 patients has been carried out by The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) Research Group. Tests were carried out every year for four years. Those who had more severe AMD had poorer average scores on cognitive tests, an association that remained even after researchers considered other factors, including age, sex, race, education, smoking, diabetes, use of cholesterol-lowering medications and high blood pressure. Average scores also decreased as vision decreased. It’s possible that there is a biological reason for the association; it is also possible that visual impairment reduces a person’s capacity to develop and maintain relationships and to participate in stimulating activities.
The study appeared in the April issue of Archives of Ophthalmology. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-04/jaaj-avp040606.htm

February 2006

Review supports link between lifestyle factors and cognitive function in older adults

January 2004

Risk for lowered cognitive performance greater in people at high risk for stroke

A new large-scale study supports earlier suggestions that those with a high risk for stroke within 10 years are also at risk for lowered cognitive function and show a pattern of deficits similar to that seen in mild vascular cognitive impairment. It is speculated that the reason may lie in structural and functional changes in the brain that do not rise to the level of clinical detection, and this is supported by a recent brain imaging study showing that abnormal brain atrophy is related both to higher risk of stroke and poorer cognitive ability. The probability of experiencing stroke within 10 years was calculated using weighted combinations of age, systolic blood-pressure, presence of diabetes, cigarette smoking, history of cardiovascular disease, treatment for hypertension and atrial fibrillation.
The findings were published in the February issue of Stroke, and online before print on January 15. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-01/ama-rfl010804.htm

March 2003

From around age 60, "white-matter lesions" appear in the brain, significantly affecting cognitive function. But without cognitive data from childhood, it is hard to know how much of the difference in cognitive abilities between elderly individuals is due to aging. A longitudinal study has been made possible by the Scottish Mental Survey of 1932, which gave 11-year-olds a validated cognitive test. Scottish researchers have tracked down healthy living men and women who took part in this Survey and retested 83 participants. Testing took place in 1999, when most participants were 78 years old.
It was found that the amount of white-matter lesions made a significant contribution to general cognitive ability differences in old age, independent of prior ability. The amount of white-matter lesions contributed 14.4% of the variance in cognitive scores; early IQ scores contributed 13.7%. The two factors were independent.
Although white-matter lesions are viewed as a normal part of aging, they are linked with other health problems, in particular to circulatory problems (including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and cardiovascular risk factors).
Full text of the article is available at http://www.apa.org/journals/pag/press_releases/march_2003/pag181140.html
The report appeared in the March issue of Psychology and Aging. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-03/apa-aci031703.htm

January 2001

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BRAIN INJURY, STROKE

March 2008

Psychological distress, not depression, linked to increased risk of stroke

A study following 20,627 people for an average of 8.5 years has found that psychological distress was associated with an increased risk of stroke and that the risk of stroke increased the more distress the participants reported. This association remained the same regardless of cigarette smoking, systolic blood pressure, overall blood cholesterol, obesity, previous heart attack, diabetes, social class, education, high blood pressure treatment, family history of stroke and recent antidepressant medication use. However, there was no increased risk for people who had experienced an episode of major depression in the past year or at any point in their lifetime.
The study was published in the March 4 issue of Neurology. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/aaon-pdn022608.php

February 2008

Listening to music improves stroke patients' recovery

A Finnish study involving 60 patients who had suffered a stroke of the left or right hemisphere middle cerebral artery (MCA) has found that if stroke patients listened to music for a couple of hours a day, their verbal memory and focused attention recovered better and they had a more positive mood than patients who did not listen to anything or who listened to audio books. Patients were randomly assigned to a music listening group, a language group or a control group. During the next two months the music and language groups listened daily to music they chose themselves or to audio books respectively, while the control group received no listening material. All groups received standard stroke rehabilitation. Three months after the stroke, verbal memory improved from the first week post-stroke by 60% in music listeners, by 18% in audio book listeners and by 29% in non-listeners. Similarly, focused attention improved by 17% in music listeners, but no improvement was observed in audio book listeners and non-listeners. The differences were essentially the same six months after the stroke. The music listening group also experienced less depressed and confused mood than the patients in the control group.
The research was published online 20 February in Brain. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-02/uoh-ltm021508.php
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080220/music_nm/stroke_music_dc

November 2007

Not enough 'good' cholesterol makes it harder to recover from stroke

A large study involving men and women over age 35 in the United States, Canada, and Scotland who had suffered a mild to moderate stroke within the past three months, found several factors predicted memory and disability problems after stroke: increased age, non-Caucasian race, recurrent stroke, diabetes, stroke in the left hemisphere of the brain, higher levels of homocysteine and lower levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), otherwise known as “good” cholesterol. “People with low levels of HDL, high levels of homocysteine, and diabetes are twice as likely as those without such problems to have poorer cognitive function and greater disability after stroke … (and) stroke recovery was the most difficult for people over the age of 57 with high levels of homocysteine ...”
The findings were published in the November 27 issue of Neurology. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-11/aaon-ne112007.php

March 2007

Antidepressants improve thinking after a stroke

Executive dysfunction is common after stroke andmay impair long-term outcome. A small study of people who had had a stroke during the previous six months has found that, although there was no difference in executive function between those given antidepressants and those given a placebo at the end of the 12-week treatment period, there was a significant difference 21 months after the treatment ended. Those who had been given the placebo showed continued worsening of executive functions, whereas the group treated with antidepressants had clear and significant improvement, regardless of how their depressive symptoms changed. The researchers speculate that antidepressants may foster recovery of neural tissue not directly destroyed by the stroke, yet because the process is slow, it takes months.
The study results appear in the March issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-03/uoi-aip030207.htm

January 2006

Simulator training benefits stroke patients

A study involving 83 stroke patients found that a 5-week 15-hour training program improved driving ability. Those given experimental simulator-based training improved more than those given driving-related cognitive tasks. Those with more education and those with less disability benefited most. 73% of the simulator group were legally allowed to resume driving compared to 42% of the other group. However, there were a large number of dropouts.
The study appeared in the October issue of Neurology. Full reference
http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/65/6/843

November 2005

Carotid artery stenting improves thought process

Around a quarter of strokes are caused by a narrowing of the carotid arteries. A less invasive technique — carotid artery stenting — is increasingly taking the place of surgery to treat this problem. A study involving 26 patients who had undergone the procedure has tested their cognitive function at least 24 hours before and three months after the stenting procedure. The results showed that cognitive speed increased significantly after stenting, regardless of the patient's age or the severity of the stenosis, and an increase in memory function in patients with decreased blood flow in the brain.
The research was presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. Reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-11/rson-cas112005.htm

October 2005

Shift in brain's language-control site offers rehab hope

Language activity in right-handed people is initially localized in the left side of the brain, but a new study shows that this gradually becomes a function shared by both sides. From ages 5 to 25, language activity increases in the dominant hemisphere; from 25 to 67, the nondominant hemisphere increasingly shares the load. The discovery gives new hope for rehabilitation of brain function in adults after stroke or traumatic brain injuries.
Their results will be published in the February 2006 edition of Human Brain Mapping.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-10/uoc-sib100605.htm

April 2005

Antioxidant-rich diets reduce brain damage from stroke in rats

A new rat study suggests antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables may limit brain damage from stroke and other neurological disorders. The study built upon previous research showing that diets enriched with blueberries, spinach or spirulina reversed normal age-related declines in memory and learning in old rats, and found that the same diet significantly reduced brain cell loss and improved recovery of movement in rats who had an ischemic stroke induced. The size of the stroke in the rats fed blueberry or spinach supplements was half that seen in the brains of untreated rats. Rats fed spirulina-enriched diets had stroke lesions 75 percent smaller than their untreated counterparts.
The study appears in the May issue of Experimental Neurology. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-04/uosf-adr041205.htm

July 2004

Saving the most vulnerable brain cells in stroke

New research reveals why particular neurons in the hippocampus are most vulnerable to death from oxygen starvation during a stroke, and may lead to drugs that selectively protect those cells, leaving other brain cells unaffected. The findings could also lead to drugs that protect vulnerable brain cells in sufferers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease.
The research was published in the July 8 issue of Neuron. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-07/cp-stm070204.htm

January 2004

Risk for lowered cognitive performance greater in people at high risk for stroke

A new large-scale study supports earlier suggestions that those with a high risk for stroke within 10 years are also at risk for lowered cognitive function and show a pattern of deficits similar to that seen in mild vascular cognitive impairment. It is speculated that the reason may lie in structural and functional changes in the brain that do not rise to the level of clinical detection, and this is supported by a recent brain imaging study showing that abnormal brain atrophy is related both to higher risk of stroke and poorer cognitive ability. The probability of experiencing stroke within 10 years was calculated using weighted combinations of age, systolic blood-pressure, presence of diabetes, cigarette smoking, history of cardiovascular disease, treatment for hypertension and atrial fibrillation.
Thefindings were published in the February issue of Stroke, and online before print on January 15. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-01/ama-rfl010804.htm

June 2003

Chinese herb effective in treating vascular dementia

The herb gastrodine has been used in China for centuries to treat disorders such as dizziness, headache and even ischemic stroke. Now a 12-week, randomized, double-blind trial comparing gastrodine with Duxilâ (a drug used to treat stroke patients in China) has been done in Beijing Dongzhimen Hospital. The trial involved 120 stroke patients who were diagnosed with mild to moderate vascular dementia. Both treatment groups showed similar improvement in memory, orientation, calculation, and language (as measured by the MMSE). The gastrodine group also showed a significant difference in the Blessed Behavioral Scale (BBS) score - including behavior, activities of daily living, and also suffered fewer side effects. Researchers say combined results showed the gastrodine group improvement was 51.43 percent, with 16 of the 70 cases showing much improvement, 20 cases with some improvement, and 34 cases with no change. The improvement rate for patients treated with Duxilâ was 52 percent, with seven of the 50 cases showing much improvement, 19 cases with some improvement, and 24 cases with no change.
The research was presented at the American Heart Association's Second Asia Pacific Scientific Forum in Honolulu on June 10.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-06/aha-nhd052303.htm

February 2003

Following mouse studies showing that ginseng increased the activities of the brain chemicals acetylcholine and choline acetyltransferase, a pilot study of 40 patients (average age 67) with mild to moderate vascular dementia was undertaken by Chinese researchers. 25 patients were randomly selected to receive ginseng extract, while 15 received the drug Duxil® (used to improve memory in elderly dementia patients). Overall, researchers found that patients who took the ginseng compound significantly improved their average memory function after 12 weeks. More research (larger samples, placebo-controls) is needed before this finding can be confirmed.
The study was reported at the American Stroke Association's 28th International Stroke Conference on February 14 in Phoenix.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-02/aha-gmi020403.htm

September 2002

Every year, about 750,000 Americans suffer a loss of blood flow to the brain, an ischemic stroke. When the stroke occurs on the left side of the brain, language abilities may be lost (aphasia). However, many of those who initially lose language abilities after a stroke recover much of their ability within six to 12 months. Several studies have suggested that such language recovery occurs because the right hemisphere of the brain takes over language functions. A new imaging study demonstrates that, indeed, areas on the opposite side of the brain to the damaged language areas are active during language tasks, and demonstrate expected patterns of activation with practice.
The study appeared in the Sept. 26 issue of the journal Neuron. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-09/wuso-rso092502.htm

April 2002

People with the E4 type of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene (implicated in Alzheimer’s disease) makes it harder for the brain to recover memory functions after traumatic brain injury.
The study is published in the April 9 issue of the journal Neurology.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-04/uosf-mla040802.htm

February 2002

Treatment with ARICEPT® (donepezil hydrochloride tablets) significantly improved the cognitive and overall function of patients with vascular dementia (VaD), compared with placebo. VaD, cognitive decline caused by a single, localized stroke, or series of strokes, is second only to AD as a cause of dementia. Up to one-third of all diagnosed dementia cases are VaD. Of the patients over 65 years old diagnosed with dementia in the United States, approximately 9 to 39 percent have VaD; in Europe, the prevalence of VaD is estimated to be 1.5 to 4.8 percent for people 70 to 80 years of age.
The results were presented at the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry's 15th Annual meeting in Orlando, Florida.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-02/hak-fso022702.htm

June 2001

Reminyl (galantamine) may be effective in treating dementia in patients with cerebrovascular disease, such as stroke. Data from a study presented at the XVII World Congress of Neurology show that Reminyl improves memory, orientation and language skills of patients with vascular dementia or a combination of Alzheimer's disease and cerebrovascular disease ("mixed" dementia) for at least 12 months. The results also showed that Reminyl improved or maintained the ability of these individuals to perform normal activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and doing housework. However, Reminyl is not yet approved for the treatment of vascular dementia.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2001-06/K-DsnA-1806101.htm

April 2001

Treatment programs for people who suffer from attention problems following a stroke or other traumatic brain injuries often involve abstract cognitive exercises designed to directly restore impaired attention processes. But a review of 30 studies involving a total of 359 participants shows that an alternative and lesser-used therapy that teaches patients to relearn the tasks that affect their daily lives the most may be more effective. In this specific skills approach, people with brain damage learn to perform attention skills in a way that is different from non-brain-damaged people. In one study, for example, participants whose brain injuries affected their ability to drive a car used small electric cars in the lab to practice specific driving exercises, such as steering between pylons that were moved closer and closer together. Those that practiced specific exercises showed substantial improvement on a variety of driving related tasks compared to those who drove the car, but did not practice the exercises.
The study appears in the April issue of Neuropsychology.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2001-04/APA-Rlsm-0704101.htm

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COGNITIVE DECLINE AFTER NONCARDIAC SURGERY

January 2008

Older surgical patients at greater risk for developing cognitive problems

There’s been quite a lot of research on the effects of cardiac surgery on cognitive function, but less is known about the effects of any surgery. Now a study of more than 1000 adult patients of different ages has tested memory and cognitive function before undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery, at the time of hospital discharge, and three months after surgery. It was found that many patients, regardless of age, experienced postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) at the time they left the hospital (36.6% of young adults, 30.4% of the middle-aged, 41.4% of elderly). But three months later, those aged 60 and older were more than twice as likely to exhibit POCD (12.7% compared to less than 6% for both young and middle-aged). POCD was more common among those patients with lower educational level and a history of a stroke that had left no noticeable neurologic impairment. Those with POCD at both the time of hospital discharge and three months after surgery also were more likely to die within the first year after surgery. The reason for this is unclear, but it’s speculated that patients with prolonged cognitive dysfunction might be less able to take medicines correctly or may not recognize the need to seek medical care for symptoms of complications.
The findings were published in two reports in the January 1 issue of Anesthesiology. Full reference Full reference 2
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/dumc-osp010208.php

DEPRESSION

October 2007

Depression increases risk of executive dysfunction in older people

A two-year study of more than 700 older adults (65 and older) has found that depression increased the risk of declining executive function (high-level mental processes, such a making decisions, organizing, planning and doing a series of things in sequence).
The study was published in the August issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-10/uorm-dcf100807.php

March 2006

Depressed older adults more likely to become cognitively impaired

A study involving 2,220 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study, a longitudinal prospective study of adults 65 and older, has found that 19.7% of subjects with moderate to high depression developed mild cognitive impairment within six years, compared to 10% of subjects with no depressive symptoms and 13.3% of subjects with low depressive symptoms. There was no correlation between depression and vascular disease, although it has been hypothesized that vascular disease might lead to both depression and cognitive impairment by causing inadequate blood flow to different brain structures.
The study appeared in the March issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-03/uoc--doa030206.htm

September 2002

A large-scale study of older adults begun in 1989 has revealed that 43% of those with mild cognitive impairment had psychiatric symptoms (such as depression, irritability, loss of interest in activities, or changes in sleep or appetite) in the month before examination. Such symptoms are often shrugged off as emotional reactions to memory decline, but they may be due to changes in brain function, and may respond to treatment.
The report appeared in the September 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-09/wfub-tdo092702.htm

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vision and hearing loss

July 2008

Memory impairment associated with sound processing disorder

Central auditory processing dysfunction refers to the situation where hearing in quiet settings is normal or near normal but is substantially impaired in the presence of competing noise or in other difficult listening situations. Such a problem is not helped by amplification and requires alternative rehabilitation strategies. Central auditory processing has been found to be impaired in those with dementia. Now a study comparing individuals with dementia, those with mild memory impairment but without a dementia diagnosis, and those without memory loss, has found that scores on central auditory processing tests were significantly lower in both the group with dementia and in the group with mild memory impairment, compared to controls.
The report appeared in the July issue of Archives of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/jaaj-mia071708.php

April 2006

Age-related vision problems may be associated with cognitive impairment

August 2005

Hearing loss in older adults may compromise cognitive resources for memory

A study involving older adults with good hearing and a group with mild-to-moderate hearing loss has found that even when older adults could hear words well enough to repeat them, their ability to memorize and remember these words was poorer in comparison to other individuals of the same age with good hearing. The researchers suggest that the effect of expending extra effort comprehending words means there are fewer cognitive resources for higher level comprehension. Working memory capacity tends to diminish as we age.
The study was published in the June issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-08/bu-hli082905.htm

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other

July 2007

Difficulty identifying odors may predict cognitive decline

Older adults who have difficulty identifying common odors may have a greater risk of developing mild cognitive impairment, increasingly recognized as a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease. A study of nearly 600 older adults (average age 79.9) found that 30.1% developed mild cognitive impairment over the five-year period of the study. Risk of developing mild cognitive impairment was greater for those who scored worse on an odor identification test given at the start of the study. For example, those who scored below average (eight) were 50% more likely to develop MCI than those who scored above average (11). This association did not change when stroke, smoking habits or other factors that might influence smell or cognitive ability were considered. Impaired odor identification was also associated with lower cognitive scores at the beginning of the study and with a more rapid decline in episodic memory (memory of past experiences), semantic memory (memory of words and symbols) and perceptual speed. The odor test involved identifying 12 familiar odors given four possible alternatives to choose from.
The report appeared in the July issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-07/jaaj-dio062807.php

Memory problems and sleep disturbance linked in older women

A large long-running study, involving older women (average age 69) found that the nearly 25% of women who experienced cognitive decline over the 15 year period were twice as likely as women without memory problems to experience sleep disturbances, specifically problems staying asleep, and also problems falling asleep and being awake for more than 90 minutes during their sleep cycle. Women who declined on one of the two cognitive tests were also nearly twice as likely to nap more than two hours a day. However, cognitive decline was not associated with total sleep time. The association between sleep disturbances and poor cognitive function is of course well-known, but these findings raise the possibility that cognitive decline may increase the risk of sleep problems, rather than vice versa.
The study was published in the July 17 issue of Neurology. Full reference
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-07/aaon-oww071007.php

January 2007

High-normal uric acid linked with mild cognitive impairment in the elderly

A study of 96 older adults has found that those with uric-acid levels at the high end of the normal range had the lowest scores on tests of mental processing speed, verbal memory and working memory. The correlation persisted even when controlled for age, sex, weight, race, education, diabetes, hypertension, smoking and alcohol abuse. Uric acid levels increase with age, and higher levels are linked with high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, Type 2 diabetes and the "metabolic syndrome" of abdominal obesity and insulin resistance — all known risk factors for dementia. Because uric acid levels are so easily tested, the finding may suggest a valuable biological marker for very early cognitive problems in old age.
The findings appeared in the January issue of Neuropsychology. Full reference
Full text available at http://www.apa.org/journals/releases/neu2111361.pdf
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-01/apa-hua122706.htm

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