Spatial impairment early sign of Alzheimer’s

A cognitive test has been shown to identify early shrinking of the brain region first affected by Alzheimer's.

A Canadian study involving 40 older adults (59-81), none of whom were aware of any major memory problems, has found that those scoring below 26 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) dementia screening test also showed shrinking of the anterolateral entorhinal cortex. This brain region is the first affected in the development of Alzheimer's disease. The study found specifically that this area of the brain is involved in configural processing — that is, processing the spatial arrangement of an object's elements. Accordingly, this task provides a very early indicator of developing Alzheimer's.

You can do a preliminary assessment of your memory using Baycrest's scientifically-validated, online brain health assessment tool, Cogniciti at http://www.cogniciti.com.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-05/bcfg-dbc051117.php

Reference:

[4265] Olsen, R. K., Yeung L. - K., Noly-Gandon A., D’Angelo M. C., Kacollja A., Smith V. M., et al.
(Submitted). Human anterolateral entorhinal cortex volumes are associated with cognitive decline in aging prior to clinical diagnosis.
Neurobiology of Aging.

seniors

cognitive tests

spatial

Alzheimers

Related News

Feeling lonely linked to increased dementia risk

There's quite a bit of evidence now that socializing — having frequent contact with others — helps protect against cognitive impairment in old age. We also know that depression is a risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia.

Social isolation decreases myelin

Problems with myelin — demyelination (seen most dramatically in MS, but also in other forms of neurodegeneration, including normal

Dopamine decline underlies episodic memory decline in old age

The

Timing of hormone therapy critical for Alzheimer's risk

It’s been unclear whether hormone therapy helps older women reduce their risk of Alzheimer’s or in fact increases the risk.

Diet affects your chance of cognitive impairment in old age

In a large Mayo Clinic study, self-reported diet was found to be significantly associated with the risk of seniors developing mild cognitive impairment or dementia over a four-year period.

Exercise may be best way to protect against brain shrinkage

A study using data from the Lothian Birth Cohort (people born in Scotland in 1936) has analyzed brain scans of 638 participants when they were 73 years old.

Caffeine may block inflammation linked to cognitive impairment

Caffeine has been associated with a lower of developing Alzheimer's disease in some recent studies.

How green tea helps fight cognitive decline & dementia

Green tea is thought to have wide-ranging health benefits, especially in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, inflammatory diseases, and diabetes.

Are sleep problems a key factor in Alzheimer’s?

I reported a few months ago on some evidence of a link between disturbed sleep and the development of Alzheimer’s. Now a mouse study adds to this evidence.

Why metabolic syndrome is linked to cognitive decline?

I’ve reported before on the growing evidence that metabolic syndrome in middle and old age is linked to greater risk of cognitive impairment in old age and faster decline.

Pages