Dementia In Elderly Subjects Research Articles

Linear brain measurement: a new screening method for cognitive impairment in elderly patients with cerebral small vessel disease.

The old adults have high incidence of cognitive impairment, especially in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Cognitive impairment is not easy to be detected in such populations. We aimed to develop clinical prediction models for different degrees of cognitive impairments in elderly CSVD patients based on conventional imaging and clinical data to determine the better indicators for assessing cognitive function in the CSVD elderly. 210 CSVD patients were screened out by the evaluation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Then, participants were divided into the following three groups according to the cognitive assessment results: control, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia groups. Clinical data were collected from all patients, including demographic data, biochemical indicators, carotid ultrasound, transcranial Doppler (TCD) indicators, and linear measurement parameters based on MRI. Our results showed that the brain atrophy and vascular lesions developed progressive worsening with increased degree of cognitive impairment. Crouse score and Interuncal distance/Bitemporal distance (IUD/BTD) were independent risk factors for MCI in CSVD patients, and independent risk factors for dementia in CSVD were Crouse Score, the pulsatility index of the middle cerebral artery (MCAPI), IUD/BTD, and Sylvian fissure ratio (SFR). Overall, the parameters with high performance were the IUD/BTD (OR 2.28; 95% CI 1.26-4.10) and SFR (OR 3.28; 95% CI 1.54-6.91), and the AUC (area under the curve) in distinguishing between CSVD older adults with MCI and with dementia was 0.675 and 0.724, respectively. Linear brain measurement parameters had larger observed effect than other indexes to identify cognitive impairments in CSVD patients. This study shows that IUD/BTD and SFR are good predictors of cognitive impairments in CSVD elderly. Linear brain measurement showed a good predictive power for identifying MCI and dementia in elderly subjects with CSVD. Linear brain measurement could be a more suitable and novel method for screening cognitive impairment in aged CSVD patients in primary healthcare facilities, and worth further promotion among the rural population.

Science, Medicine, and the Anesthesiologist

Science, Medicine, and the Anesthesiologist

Long noncoding RNAs and Alzheimer's disease.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are typically defined as transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides. lncRNAs can regulate gene expression at epigenetic, transcriptional, and posttranscriptional levels. Recent studies have shown that lncRNAs are involved in many neurological diseases such as epilepsy, neurodegenerative conditions, and genetic disorders. Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease, which accounts for >80% of dementia in elderly subjects. In this review, we will highlight recent studies investigating the role of lncRNAs in Alzheimer’s disease and focus on some specific lncRNAs that may underlie Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology and therefore could be potential therapeutic targets.

Carotid intima-media thickness is associated with the progression of cognitive impairment in older adults.

We investigated the association between cardiovascular risk factors, including carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and future risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in elderly subjects. We conducted a population-based prospective study as a part of the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging. Our study included 348 participants who were nondemented at the baseline (mean age, 71.7±6.3 years) and underwent cognitive evaluation at the 5-year follow-up. Baseline cardiovascular risk factors were compared according to the development of MCI or dementia during the study period. At the baseline evaluation, 278 subjects were cognitively normal and 70 subjects had MCI. Diagnoses of cognitive function either remained unchanged or improved during the study period in 292 subjects (nonprogression group), whereas 56 subjects showed progression of cognitive impairment to MCI or dementia (progression group). The progression group exhibited a higher prevalence of hypertension and greater CIMT compared with the nonprogression group. Other baseline cardiovascular risk factors, including sex, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, total cholesterol, waist-to-hip ratio, visceral fat, pulse wave velocity, and ankle-brachial index, were not significantly different between 2 groups. The association between greater baseline CIMT and the progression of cognitive impairment was maintained after adjustment for conventional baseline risk factors of cognitive impairment. Greater baseline CIMT was also independently associated with the development of MCI in the subjects whose baseline cognitive function was normal. Greater baseline CIMT was independently associated with the risk of cognitive impairment, such as MCI and dementia in elderly subjects.

Blood methylomic signatures of presymptomatic dementia in elderly subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Due to an aging population, the incidence of dementia is steadily rising. The ability to identify early markers in blood, which appear before the onset of clinical symptoms is of considerable interest to allow early intervention, particularly in “high risk” groups such as those with type 2 diabetes. Here, we present a longitudinal study of genome-wide DNA methylation in whole blood from 18 elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes who developed presymptomatic dementia within an 18-month period following baseline assessment and 18 age-, sex-, and education-matched controls who maintained normal cognitive function. We identified a significant overlap in methylomic differences between groups at baseline and follow-up, with 8 CpG sites being consistently differentially methylated above our nominal significance threshold before symptoms at baseline and at 18 months follow up, after a diagnosis of presymptomatic dementia. Finally, we report a significant overlap between DNA methylation differences identified in converters, only after they develop symptoms of dementia, with differences at the same loci in blood samples from patients with clinically diagnosed Alzheimer's disease compared with unaffected control subjects.

TEMPORARY REMOVAL: Blood methylomic signatures of presymptomatic dementia in elderly subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus

a Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, Devon, UK MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, London, UK c The Joseph Sagol Neuroscience Center, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel Department of Neurology, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel Department of Psychiatry, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

Lower-But-Normal Serum TSH level Is Associated With the Development or Progression of Cognitive Impairment in Elderly: Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging (KLoSHA)

The association between subclinical hyperthyroidism and the risk of dementia has been validated in several studies. However, the effect of thyroid function within reference range on the risk of cognitive dysfunction including mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia is still unclear. Our aim was to investigate the association between thyroid function and the risk of MCI and dementia in euthyroid elderly subjects. We conducted a population-based prospective study as a part of the Korean Longitudinal Study on Health and Aging. A total of 313 participants who were euthyroid and nondemented at baseline and completed cognitive function tests at a 5-year follow-up evaluation (mean age 72.5 ± 6.9 y) were analyzed in the present study. Baseline thyroid function was compared according to the development of MCI or dementia during the study period. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the independent association between thyroid function and cognitive impairment. At baseline evaluation, 237 subjects were cognitively normal, and 76 subjects had MCI. Diagnoses of cognitive function in 259 subjects remained unchanged or improved during the study period (nonprogression group), whereas 54 subjects showed progression of cognitive impairment to MCI or dementia (progression group). In the progression group, baseline serum TSH levels were lower than those in nonprogression group. Baseline serum free T₄ levels were not significantly different between these two groups. The association between lower baseline serum TSH levels and the development of MCI or dementia was maintained after adjustment for conventional baseline risk factors. Lower serum TSH level within the reference range was independently associated with the risk of cognitive impairment including MCI and dementia in elderly subjects.

Predicting Progression to Dementia in Elderly Subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment Using Both Cognitive and Neuroimaging Predictors

The objective of this work was to assess the predictive accuracy of targeted neuroimaging and neuropsychological measures for the detection of incipient dementia in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and to examine the potential benefit of combining both classes of measures. Baseline MRI measures included hippocampal volume, cortical thickness, and white matter hyperintensities. Neuropsychological assessment focused on different aspects of episodic memory (i.e., familiarity, free recall, and associative memory) and executive control functions (i.e., working memory, switching, and planning). Global and regional cortical thinning was observed in MCI patients who progressed to dementia compared to those who remained stable, whereas no differences were found between groups for baseline hippocampal volume and white matter hyperintensities. The strongest neuroimaging predictors were baseline cortical thickness in the right anterior cingulate and middle frontal gyri. For cognitive predictors, we found that deficits in both free recall and recognition episodic memory tasks were highly suggestive of progression to dementia. Cortical thinning in the right anterior cingulate gyrus, combined to controlled and familiarity-based retrieval deficits, achieved a classification accuracy of 87.5%, a specificity of 90.9%, and a sensitivity of 83.3%. This predictive model including both classes of measures provided more accurate predictions than those based on neuroimaging or cognitive measures alone. Overall, our findings suggest that detecting preclinical Alzheimer's disease is probably best accomplished by combining complementary information from targeted neuroimaging and cognitive classifiers, and highlight the importance of taking into account both structural and functional changes associated with the disease.

Role of Ventricular Rate Response on Dementia in Cognitively Impaired Elderly Subjects with Atrial Fibrillation: A 10-Year Study

Background: The role of ventricular rate response (VRr) on the incidence of dementia in elderly subjects with cognitive impairment and atrial fibrillation (AF) is not known. Thus, we examined the ability of VRr to predict dementia in cognitively impaired elderly subjects with and without AF. Methods: A total of 358 cognitively impaired elderly subjects (MMSE <24) with and without AF were stratified in low/high (<50/>90) and moderate (>50/<90 bpm) VRr. A 10-year follow-up was performed. Results: Cognitively impaired subjects with dementia at the end of the follow-up were 135 (37.7%): 33 in the presence (75.0%) and 102 (32.5%) in the absence of AF (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis shows that AF is a strong predictor of dementia (hazard ratio, HR = 4.10; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.80–9.30, p < 0.001). More importantly, low/high VRr (<50/>90 bpm) is predictive of dementia in the presence (HR = 7.70, 95% CI = 1.10–14.20, p = 0.03) but not in the absence (HR = 1.85; 95% CI = 0.78–4.47; p = 0.152) of AF. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that AF predicts dementia in elderly subjects with cognitive impairment. Moreover, VRr seems to play a key role in the incidence of dementia in cognitively impaired elderly subjects with AF.

A Warning Index Used in Prescreening for Alzheimer’s Disease, Based on Self-Reported Cognitive Deficits and Vascular Risk Factors for Dementia in Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Background/Aims. Diabetes might increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). For detecting dementia, it is typical to obtain informants' perceptions of cognitive deficits, but such interviews are usually difficult in routine care. We aimed to develop a model for predicting mild to moderate AD using a self-reported questionnaire and by evaluating vascular risk factors for dementia in elderly subjects with diabetes. Methods. We recruited 286 diabetic and 155 nondiabetic elderly subjects. There were 25 patients with AD and 261 cognitively normal individuals versus 30 with AD and 125 normal subjects, respectively. Each participant answered subjective questions on memory deficits and daily functioning. Information on vascular risk factors was obtained from clinical charts, and multivariate logistic regression was used to develop a model for predicting AD. Results. The predicted probabilities used in screening for AD in diabetic subjects constituted age, education, lower diastolic blood pressure, subjective complaints of memory dysfunction noticeable by others, and impaired medication, shopping, and travel outside a familiar locality. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed a satisfactory discrimination for AD specific for diabetic elderly subjects, with 95.2% sensitivity and 90.6% specificity. Conclusion. This is the first useful index that can prescreen for AD in elderly subjects with diabetes.

Self-Perceived Memory Complaints Predict Progression to Alzheimer Disease. The LADIS Study

Memory complaints are frequent in the elderly but its implications in cognition over time remain a controversial issue. Our objective was to evaluate the risk of self perceived memory complaints in the evolution for future dementia. The LADIS (Leukoaraiosis and Disability) prospective multinational European study evaluates the impact of white matter changes (WMC) on the transition of independent elderly subjects into disability. Independent elderly were enrolled due to the presence of WMC. Subjects were evaluated yearly during 3 years with a comprehensive clinical protocol and a neuropsychological battery. Dementia and subtypes of dementia were classified. Self perceived memory complaints in independent elderly were collected during the interview. MRI was performed at entry and at the end of the study. 639 subjects were included (74.1 ± 5 years old, 55% women, 9.6 ± 3.8 years of schooling). At end of follow-up, 90 patients were demented (vascular dementia, 54; Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD with vascular component, 34; frontotemporal dementia, 2). Using Cox regression analysis, we found that self perceived memory complaints were a strong predictor of AD and AD with vascular component during the follow-up (β = 2.7, p = 0.008; HR = 15.5, CI 95% [2.04, 117.6]), independently of other confounders, namely depressive symptoms, WMC severity, medial temporal lobe atrophy, and global cognition status at baseline. Self perceived memory complaints did not predict vascular dementia. In the LADIS study, self perceived memory complaints predicted AD but not vascular dementia in elderly subjects with WMC living independently.

Left ventricular mass increase is associated with cognitive decline and dementia in the elderly independently of blood pressure

Left ventricular (LV) mass increase is considered part of composite target organ damage in hypertension and an independent risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) events. This study was designed to explore whether left ventricular mass index (LVMI) is associated with cognitive decline and dementia in elderly subjects, independently of blood pressure (BP) levels. Four hundred subjects (mean age 79 +/- 6 years) were studied. Left ventricular mass was measured echocardiographically in accordance with American Society of Echocardiography and normalized for body height to the 2.7 (LVMI). Global cognitive function was evaluated with the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) (maximum score 30). Dementia was defined as an MMSE score <21. Arterial stiffness was evaluated as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity by Complior. Prevalence of hypertension was 70% and diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 25%. No significant differences in traditional CV risk factors were observed across LVMI quartiles. Mini-mental state examination showed an inverse trend across LVMI quartiles (the higher the LVMI, the lower the MMSE, P for trend <0.05); systolic and diastolic BP levels were not different across LVMI quartiles. In multivariable logistic regression models, including age, sex, BP levels, and use of antihypertensive drugs as covariates, the highest LVMI was found to be independently associated with a two-fold higher likelihood of having dementia. The association persisted significant even after adjustment for arterial stiffness. In elderly subjects, LVMI is associated with a progressive cognitive decline. This association is independent of BP levels and/or large artery stiffness.

High Prevalence of Dementia in a Caribbean Population

Background/Aims: People in Caribbean countries are thought to be at particularly high risk for dementia. Basic descriptive epidemiology of dementia is required for populations in the region to determine the validity of this hypothesis. The main objectives of the study were to assess the prevalence, types and severity of dementia among elderly people (≥55 years old) in an urban area on the Caribbean coast of Venezuela, and to determine the gender and age distribution of affected people. Methods: The population-based Maracaibo Aging Study included 3,657 subjects, all of whom underwent a standardized, in-person interview. 2,438 of these subjects underwent neuropsychological, neuropsychiatric, cardiovascular and nutritional assessment. Results: The overall prevalence rate of dementia in elderly subjects was 8.04% and was not significantly different for women and men. Alzheimer’s disease was the most frequent type of dementia (50%), followed by vascular dementia (27%). Of all cases of dementia, 41.84% were ranked as mild, 30.10% as moderate and 28.06% as severe. Conclusion: The prevalence of dementia in elderly people from the Caribbean coast of Venezuela is much higher than frequencies previously reported for developing countries.

Patterns of subjective memory impairment in the elderly: association with memory performance

The association of subjective memory impairment (SMI) with cognitive performance in healthy elderly subjects is poor because of confounds such as depression. However, SMI is also a predictor for future dementia. Thus, there is a need to identify subtypes of SMI that are particularly related to inferior memory performance and may represent at-risk stages for cognitive decline. A total of 2389 unimpaired subjects were recruited from the German Study on Ageing, Cognition and Dementia in Primary Care Patients (AgeCoDe), as part of the German Competence Network on Dementia. Clusters of SMI according to patterns of response to SMI questions were identified. Gender, age, depressive symptoms, apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype, delayed recall and verbal fluency were included in a Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis to identify discriminators between the clusters. We identified three clusters. Cluster 1 contained subjects without memory complaints. Cluster 2 contained subjects with general memory complaints, but mainly without memory complaints on individual tasks of daily living. Cluster 3 contained subjects with general memory complaints and complaints on individual tasks of daily living. Depressive symptoms, as the first-level discriminator, distinguished between clusters 1 and 2 versus cluster 3. In subjects with only a few depressive symptoms, delayed recall discriminated between cluster 1 versus clusters 2 and 3. In SMI subjects with only a minor number of depressive symptoms, memory complaints are associated with delayed recall. As delayed recall is a sensitive predictor for future cognitive decline, SMI may be the first manifestation of future dementia in elderly subjects without depression.

Conversion of mild cognitive impairment to dementia in elderly subjects: A preliminary study in a memory and cognitive disorder unit

Prevalence and incidence of predementia syndromes vary as a result of different diagnostic criteria, as well as different sampling and assessment procedures. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is thought to be a prodromal phase of dementia and therefore highly predictive of subsequent conversion. The aim of our study was to investigate the risk of conversion to dementia for different MCI subtypes diagnosed according to standardized and recently revised criteria (amnestic; impairment of memory plus other cognitive domains; nonamnestic). Participants were recruited among the 2,866 patients referring to the Memory and Cognitive Disorders Unit of the Local Health Unit of Bologna, Maggiore Hospital, between October 2000 and February 2006. In this preliminary study we analyzed data from 52 elderly outpatients with a diagnosis of MCI and a mean follow-up of 1.21 ± 0.61 years (range 0.23–3.10 years). Mean age was 72.8 ± 6.6 years, males were 61.5%. Mean baseline mini mental state examination (MMSE) score was 27.1 ± 1.5. There were 15 incident cases of dementia (28.8%), with Alzheimer's disease (AD) accounting for 53.3% of all cases, AD with cerebrovascular disease for 33.4% and fronto-temporal dementia for 13.3%. Overall rate of conversion was 23.8 per 100 person-years. During the same follow-up period, 53.8% of participants remained stable and 17.3% reverted to normal. Rates of conversion for the specific MCI subtypes were 38 per 100 person-years for amnestic MCI, 20 per 100 person- years for non-amnestic MCI, and 16 per 100 person-years for memory plus other cognitive domains MCI. With respect to non-converters, converters were generally older (76.1 ± 4.2 vs. 71.5 ± 7.0 years, p = 0.021), had a lower MMSE score (26.4 ± 1.66 vs. 27.4 ± 1.4, p = 0.035) and a higher prevalence of atrophy at neuroimaging (73.7% vs. 42.4%, p = 0.047). Moreover, with respect to non-converters, converters tended to have higher serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, and lower serum folate levels. No difference was observed for the other study variables, included MCI subtype. Our findings suggest that the current definitions for MCI subtypes, particulary those referring to individuals with multiple or non-amnestic cognitive impairment, include a substantial number of individuals who may not progress to dementia. The possible role of cortical atrophy and low folate in the conversion from MCI to dementia could have important implications, because both conditions are easily identifiable. Moreover, low folate status is potentially amenable to therapeutic options. Although discouraging with respect to the clinical usefulness of currently available MCI criteria, our results raise the possibility that defining a protocol of multiple clinical risk factors may be useful in identifying MCI individuals at increased risk of conversion.

Multifractal analysis of deep white matter microstructural changes on MRI in relation to early-stage atherosclerosis

Multifractal analysis based on generalized concepts of fractals has been applied to evaluate biological tissues composed of complex structures. This type of analysis can provide a precise quantitative description of a broad range of heterogeneous phenomena. Previously, we applied multifractal analysis to describe heterogeneity in white matter signal fluctuation on T2-weighted MR images as a new method of texture analysis and established Δ α as the most suitable index for evaluating white matter structural complexity (Takahashi et al. J. Neurol. Sci., 2004; 225: 33−37). Considerable evidence suggests that pathophysiological processes occurring in deep white matter regions may be partly responsible for cognitive deterioration and dementia in elderly subjects. We carried out a multifractal analysis in a group of 36 healthy elderly subjects who showed no evidence of atherosclerotic risk factors to examine the microstructural changes of the deep white matter on T2-weighted MR images. We also performed conventional texture analysis, i.e., determined the standard deviation of signal intensity divided by mean signal intensity (SD/MSI) for comparison with multifractal analysis. Next, we examined the association between the findings of these two types of texture analysis and the ultrasonographically measured intima–media thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries, a reliable indicator of early carotid atherosclerosis. The severity of carotid IMT was positively associated with Δ α in the deep white matter region. In addition, this association remained significant after excluding 12 subjects with visually detectable deep white matter hyperintensities on MR images. However, there was no significant association between the severity of carotid IMT and SD/MSI. These results indicate the potential usefulness of applying multifractal analysis to conventional MR images as a new approach to detect the microstructural changes of apparently normal white matter during the early stages of atherosclerosis.

Corrélation entre présence d’anticorps anti-antigène de type 2 de la pemphigoïde et démence chez les sujets âgés sans manifestation clinique de pemphigoïde

Pemphigoid is a form of auto-immune bullous dermatosis characterised by the production of antibodies directed against components of hemidesmosomes in the basal membrane. The physiopathological process responsible for unmasking of these antigens is unknown. Pemphigoid is more common in elderly subjects and is most often seen in debilitated subjects. The prevalence of pemphigoid anti-pemphigoid antibodies (anti-PB) is not known in the elderly population presenting no dermatological signs evocative of the disease. We studied the prevalence of anti-PBAg2 antibodies in elderly subjects with no signs of pemphigoid as well as in the correlation between the presence of these antibodies and diagnosis of dementia. Elderly subjects (aged over 69 years) with no signs of pemphigoid were recruited consecutively in dermatology and geriatrics departments (138 subjects). Details of concomitant medication were recorded for all subjects and clinical examination was performed with calculation of MMS (Mini Mental Score). The subjects were then divided into two groups based on MMS score. The first group comprised subjects without dementia (MMS > 24) while the second comprised subjects with dementia. Serum anti-PBAg2 antibodies were determined by ELISA and indirect immunofluorescence with confirmation by Western blot. Antinuclear antibodies, used as a control for non-specific immune response, were assayed in all serum samples. The prevalence of these antibodies was compared between the two groups. The two groups were comparable in terms of age, sex and presence of dermatological diseases (ulcers, bedsores, erysipelas). Each group comprised 69 subjects. The overall presence of anti-PBAg2 antibodies in subjects with no signs are suggestive of pemphigoid was 3.6%. Presence of anti-PBAg2 antibodies was associated with diagnosis of dementia (p=0.04; 0% and 7% in groups 1 and 2, respectively). No correlation was seen between the presence of anti-PBAg2 antibodies and concomitant medication or dermatological disease. The overall prevalence of antinuclear antibodies was 14.5% and the figure was similar between the two groups. The presence of anti-PBAg2 could be associated with the diagnosis of dementia in elderly subjects.

Diabetes and cognitive impairment

Diabetes is a risk factor for dementia,but the issue whether this concerns only vascular dementia or also Alzheimer's disease is debated. We compared the clinical diagnoses and abnormalities on brain MRI in patients with or without diabetes who received standardised, detailed diagnostic studies at a memory clinic, in order to establish whether one specific type of dementia or specific MRI abnormalities were more common in diabetes. Patients who visited our memory clinic between January 2002 and June 2004 were divided into a group with (n = 42) or without diabetes (n = 389). The diagnoses were recorded, and MRI scans were rated for (sub)cortical atrophy, medial temporal lobe atrophy, infarctions, and white matter changes. The proportion of Alzheimer's disease (36% versus 28%; OR 1.1 (95% CI 0.5-2.2), adjusted for age and sex), vascular dementia (5% versus 2%; OR 2.4 (0.5-12.1)), and so called "cognitive impairment no dementia" (24% versus 17%; 1.3 (0.6-2.9)) was similar in patients with or without diabetes. On MRI lacunar and cortical infarctions were more common and cortical atrophy more pronounced among diabetic patients. By contrast, the severity of white matter changes was similar in the two groups. The relative frequency of different diagnoses among diabetic and non-diabetic patients attending a memory clinic was similar, indicating that diabetes does not predispose to one particular subtype of dementia. The imaging findings support the notion that the increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia in elderly subjects with diabetes is due to dual pathology, involving both cerebrovascular disease and cortical atrophy.

Vitamin E levels, cognitive impairment and dementia in older persons: the InCHIANTI study

There is conflicting evidence that antioxidants contribute to maintaining cognitive function in elderly subjects. We investigated whether vitamin E plasma levels are related to the presence of dementia and cognitive impairment in a population-based cohort study conducted in Italy. A total of 1033 participants aged at least 65 years received clinical and neuropsychological examinations, donated blood for vitamin E analysis and had their diets assessed. Participants with plasma vitamin E levels in the bottom tertile had a significantly higher probability of being demented (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.0–7.1) and also of suffering from cognitive impairment (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2–4.2) compared to those in the highest vitamin E tertile after adjustment for age, gender, education, lipid levels, energy intake, vitamin E intake, and smoking. This study supports the notion that higher vitamin E plasma levels might provide significant protection against cognitive impairment and dementia in elderly subjects.

S2-02-01 Predicting MCI and dementia in elderly subjects with subjective complaints

S2-02-01 Predicting MCI and dementia in elderly subjects with subjective complaints