Function In Older Adults Research Articles

Synergistic associations of CD33 variants and hypertension with brain and cognitive aging among dementia-free older adults: A population-based study.

CD33 rs3865444 and hypertension (HTN) are related to cognitive impairment, individually. However, little is known about their combined effects on cognitive function in older adults. This population-based study included 4368 dementia-free participants (age ≥65 years) in the Multimodal Interventions to Delay Dementia and Disability in Rural China (MIND-China), with data available in 1044 persons for gray matter volume and 85 persons for cerebral blood flow (CBF). We used general linear regression and mediation models to examine the associations of rs3865444 and HTN with cognition, brain atrophy, and CBF. Among rs3865444 CC carriers, HTN and late-life HTN were significantly associated with impaired cognition. Midlife and late-life HTN were correlated with brain atrophy. CD33 rs3865444 CC moderated the mediation effect of gray matter volume on the association between HTN and global cognition. HTN was correlated with low CBF in rs3865444 CC carriers. There are synergistic associations of CD33 rs3865444 and HTN with brain and cognitive aging in dementia-free older adults.

The influence of lighting and thermal environments on sleep and cognitive function in older adults

Recent research has demonstrated the significant influence of lighting and thermal conditions on cognitive performance and sleep quality. However, a notable gap exists in understanding how these factors impact older adults within their living environments. This study examined the relationship between daily lighting and thermal exposures with cognitive performance and sleep quality in older adults. Eighteen older adults, with a mean age of 75 (SD = 7.7, female = 13), participated in a three-day study. Throughout the protocol, their indoor lighting and thermal conditions were monitored using environmental sensors. Participants were instructed to complete a series of cognitive tasks twice a day. Additionally, they wore a smartwatch-type actigraph and a wearable light tracker to monitor their sleep/wake patterns and daily light exposure. The findings showed that appropriate nighttime lighting correlated with improved evening cognitive performance. Higher nighttime indoor lighting intensity positively correlated with cognitive measures, while nighttime correlated color temperature (CCT) exposure had negative correlations. Daytime melanopic equivalent daylight illuminance (MEDI) exposure significantly predicted total sleep time, with increased circadian-effective light exposure reducing sleep fragmentation. Conversely, higher nighttime lighting intensity was linked to decreased sleep efficiency. Higher bedroom temperatures were associated with improved sleep efficiency and reduced fragmentation. These findings highlight the importance of optimizing lighting conditions and maintaining comfortable temperatures in residential environments to promote cognitive performance and sleep quality among older adults.

Association between Life's Essential 8 and cognitive function among older adults in the United States

The American Heart Association (AHA) recently redefined cardiovascular health (CVH) with the introduction of Life's Essential 8 (LE8), which encompasses eight areas (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep duration body mass index, non-HDL cholesterol, blood glucose, and blood pressure). This study aimed to explore the relationships between both the aggregate and individual CVH metrics, as defined by Life's Essential 8, and cognitive function in older adults in the United States. This cross-sectional, population-based study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2011 and 2014, focusing on individuals aged 60 years and older. CVH was categorized as low (0–49), moderate (50–79), or high (80–100). Cognitive function was assessed through the CERAD tests, Animal Fluency test, and Digit Symbol Substitution test. Multivariable logistic models and restricted cubic spline models were employed to investigate these associations. This study included a total of 2279 older adults in the United States. Only 11% of adults achieved a high total CVH score, while 12% had a low score. After further adjustment for potential confounding factors, higher LE8 scores were significantly associated with higher scores on CERAD: delayed recall score (0.02[0.01, 0.03]; P < 0.001), CERAD: total score (3 recall trials) (0.04[0.02, 0.06]; P < 0.001), animal fluency: total score (0.09[0.05, 0.12]; P < 0.001), and digit symbol: score (0.29[0.18, 0.41]; P < 0.001), demonstrating a linear dose–response relationship. Similar patterns were also observed in the associations between health behavior and health factor scores with cognitive function tests. LE8 scores exhibited positive linear associations with cognitive function. Maintaining better levels of CVH may be associated with higher levels of cognitive function in older Americans, but further research is needed to confirm the causal and temporal relationships between LE8 and cognitive function.

Tongue brushing enhances the myoelectric activity of the suprahyoid muscles in older adults: a six-week randomized controlled trial

Tongue brushing improves respiratory function in older adults. Considering connection between the respiratory-related and suprahyoid muscles, this study aimed to investigate whether tongue-brushing interventions can improve myoelectric activity during respiration. A six-week randomized controlled trial was conducted in Kitakyushu, Japan, with 50 participants aged ≥ 65 years. The participants were allocated to the intervention (tongue brushing with routine oral hygiene) or control (routine oral hygiene alone) groups. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to assess the myoelectric activity of the suprahyoid muscles during inhalation, exhalation, and forced vital capacity (FVC). A survey was conducted at baseline and the end of the follow-up period. Thirty-six participants were recruited for the analysis. The root mean squares (RMS) of sEMG during exhalation increased significantly at the end of the follow-up period compared with that at baseline in the intervention group [48.7 (18.0–177.5) vs. 64.9 (21.6–163.0), p = 0.001], but not in the control group. The generalized linear model revealed that the ratio of change in FVC was correlated with the change in the RMS of sEMG of the suprahyoid muscles during exhalation after adjusting for potential confounders. Tongue brushing enhances the myoelectric activity of the suprahyoid muscle.

Joint Trajectories of Performance-Based and Self-Reported Physical Functioning in Older Adults: A 20-Year Longitudinal Study in the Netherlands.

The well-known disablement process has been conceptualized as a series of transitions between progressive states of functional decline. We studied joint patterns of change within disablement states defined as walking speed, grip strength, and self-reported disability. 1702 participants aged 65 and over were included from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam, spanning seven waves over 20 years (1996-2016). Group-based multi-trajectory modeling yielded trajectory clusters (TCs) of different patterns of change, further characterized by baseline sociodemographic characteristics, physical and cognitive health, and survival rate. Five TCs were identified, distinguished by increasing baseline age. Walking speed and disability showed generally concomitant trajectories. Women had poorer trajectories in grip strength than men, but not in walking speed and disability. Poor physical health distinguished especially the poorest, and cognitive impairment distinguished especially the one-before-poorest from the better TCs. The findings suggest that the disablement states are not generally distinct or sequential.

Curcumin Supplementation and Vascular and Cognitive Function in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and cognitive impairment. Curcumin is a polyphenol that improves vascular and cognitive function in older adults; however, its effects on vascular and cognitive function in patients with CKD are unknown. We hypothesized that curcumin supplementation would improve vascular and cognitive function in patients with CKD. Eighty-eight adults diagnosed with stage 3b or 4 CKD (aged 66 ± 8 years, 75% male) participated in a 12-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to test the effects of curcumin (Longvida®, 2000 mg/day) on vascular and cognitive function. Our primary outcome was brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Our secondary outcomes were nitroglycerin-mediated dilation, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), and cognitive function assessed via the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery. At baseline, the mean estimated glomerular filtration rate was 34.7 ± 10.8, and the median albumin/creatinine ratio was 81.9 (9.7, 417.3). A total of 44% of participants had diabetes. Compared with placebo, 12 months of curcumin did not improve FMD (median change from baseline was -0.7 (-2.1, 1.1) and -0.1 (-1.5, 1.5) for curcumin and placebo, respectively, with p = 0.69). Similarly, there were no changes in nitroglycerin-mediated dilation, cfPWV, or cognitive outcomes. These results do not support chronic curcumin supplementation to improve vascular and cognitive function in patients with CKD.

Association between the geriatric nutritional risk index and cognitive functions in older adults: a cross-sectional study from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

To investigate the associations between the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) with cognitive functions among U.S. older adults. (Patients were classified into two nutrition risk groups based on the GNRI). Our analysis utilized data from the cross-sectional National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2011 and 2014. Cognitive function was measured using CERAD test, AFT and DSST. Composite z-scores were obtained by summing test-specific z-scores of the above three cognitive tests and were used to assess the global cognitive function. We employed weighted logistic regression models to evaluate the associations between GNRI and nutritional status (low and high GNRI) with cognitive function among older participants. The non-linear relationship was described using fitted smoothed curves and threshold effect analyses. Subgroup analysis and interaction tests were also conducted. This study included 2,592 older participants aged 60 years and older. After adjusting for confounding variables, the GNRI was positively associated with AFT (β = 0.05, 95% CI 0.005-0.096, p-value = 0.0285), DSST (β = 0.192, 95% CI 0.078-0.305, p-value = 0.0010) and the composite z-scores (β = 0.027, 95% CI 0.010-0.044, p-value = 0.0024). The results also showed that the high-GNRI group was significantly associated with AFT (β = 0.922, 95% CI 0.166-1.677, p-value = 0.0169), DSST (β = 2.791, 95% CI 0.884-4.698, p-value = 0.0042) and composite z-scores (β = 0.405, 95% CI 0.115-0.695, p-value = 0.0062) likewise had significant positive correlations, using the low-GNRI group as a reference. In addition, inflection points with CERAD and composite z-scores were found at GNRI of 108.016, and 105.371, respectively. Specifically, on the left side of the inflection point GNRI levels were positively correlated with CERAD and composite z-scores (CERAD β = 0.087, 95% CI 0.024-0.150, p-value = 0.0070; composite z-scores β = 0.065, 95% CI 0.040-0.091, p-value <0.0001), while on the right side of the inflection point were significantly negatively associated (CERAD β = -0.295, 95% CI -0.529 to -0.062, p-value = 0.0133, composite z-scores β = -0.050, 95% CI -0.091 to -0.008, p-value = 0.0184). Lower GNRI was associated with poorer performance in several cognitive domains. Additionally, there was a non-linear positive association between GNRI and cognitive function in normal nutritional states, for excessive GNRI may cause cognitive decline.

The role of cognitive reserve and depression on executive function in older adults: A 10-year study from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention

Objective: The current study examined the longitudinal relationship between cognitive reserve (CR), depression, and executive function (EF) in a cohort of older adults. Methods: 416 participants were selected from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention. They were native English speakers, aged ≥50+, and cognitively unimpaired at baseline, with no history of neurological or other psychiatric disorders aside from depression. Depression was assessed with the 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). A composite score, based on the premorbid IQ (WRAT-3 Reading subtest) and years of education was used to estimate CR. Another composite score from four cognitive tests was used to estimate EF. A moderation analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of CR and Depression on EF at follow-up after controlling for age, gender, and APOE risk score. Moreover, a multinomial logistic regression was used to predict conversion to Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) from the healthy baseline. Results: The negative relationship between depression and EF was stronger in individuals with higher CR levels, suggesting a possible floor effect at lower CR levels. In the multinomial regression, the interaction between CR and depression predicted conversion to MCI status, indicating that lower CR paired with more severe depression at baseline was associated with a higher risk of subsequent impairment. Conclusions: This study sheds light on the intricate relationship between depression and EF over time, suggesting that the association may be influenced by varying levels of CR. Further studies may replicate these findings in clinical populations.

Independent and joint associations between urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites and cognitive function in older adults in the United States.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as organic pollutants widely present in daily environments, have been shown by existing epidemiological studies to be significantly associated with deficits in learning and memory functions in children and adults. However, the association between exposure to PAHs and cognitive function in older adults remains unclear. Additionally, existing related studies have only assessed the association between individual PAH exposures and cognitive assessments, overlooking the risks posed by mixed exposures. This study aims to use three statistical models to investigate the individual and overall effects of mixed PAH exposures on the cognition of older adults in the United States. The study cohort was obtained from the NHANES database, which included individuals aged 60 and older from 2011 to 2014. Weighted generalized linear models (GLM), weighted quantile sum (WQS) models, and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were utilized to evaluate the connections between urinary PAH metabolites and the standardized Z-scores of four cognitive tests: Immediate Recall Test (IRT), Delayed Recall Test (DRT), Animal Fluency Test (AFT), and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Our analysis involved 899 individuals aged 60 and above. In the fully adjusted GLM, 2-hydroxynaphthalene (2-OHNa), 3-hydroxyfluorene (3-OHFlu), and 2-hydroxyfluorene (2-OHFlu) demonstrated negative associations with DSST Z-scores. In the WQS model, six urinary PAH metabolites were negatively linked to AFT Z-scores (β (95% confidence intervals [CI]): -0.120 (-0.208, -0.033), p = 0.007) and DSST Z-scores (β (95% CI): -0.182 (-0.262, -0.103), p < 0.001). In both assessments, 2-OHNa exerted the greatest influence among the urinary PAH metabolites. In the BKMR model, there was an overall negative correlation between urinary PAH metabolites and AFT and DSST Z-scores when the concentration was within the 25th to 75th percentile, where 2-OHNa dominated the main effect of the mixture. The WQS and BKMR models were adjusted for all covariates. Increased concentrations of urinary PAH metabolites are associated with cognitive decline in older adults, mainly on language ability, executive function, sustained attention, working memory, and information processing speed, with 2-OHNa playing a major effect.

Association Between Physical Activity Levels and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Replication Cohort Analysis Using the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging

Introduction: Few studies address the complex relationship between physical activity and cognitive function in aging individuals. This topic has gained significant attention in recent years, as cognitive decline poses a substantial public health challenge. There is a lack of research focusing on the effect of physical activity on cognitive function in the Brazilian population. Purpose: Our study aims to replicate the findings of Lautenschlager et al. using a Brazilian cohort from the ELSI study, a comprehensive longitudinal study capturing aging processes and determinants among individuals in Brazil. Method: In line with the reference study, our analysis focused on individuals aged 50 and older without depression and dementia. The primary outcome was cognitive function, assessed using a summary score obtained from the ELSI study to replicate the ADAS-Cog, as in the original study. Participants were categorized into two groups: those engaging in moderate to vigorous exercise (exercise) and those who did not meet this exercise threshold (no exercise). To evaluate the relationship between exercise and cognitive function, we performed three linear regression models: one without adjustments for covariates, a second model adjusting for sex, education, and race (main model), and a third model with multiple adjustments. A sensitivity analysis using Cohen's D was also conducted. Results: In this study from the ELSI cohort, data from 7,292 individuals were available, and 6,147 met the inclusion criteria for analysis. A total of 935 individuals were excluded due to depression, and 98 were excluded due to dementia. Baseline characteristics were not well balanced between groups. The mean age in the exercise group was 64 years compared to 67 years in the no exercise group, with a higher percentage of males (48% vs. 39%) and a higher education level (12% with university education vs. 6%). In the unadjusted linear regression, there was a positive correlation between exercise and cognitive function (2.19, 95% CI 1.89-2.48, p&lt;0.001). In the second model, which emulated the reference trial by including sex, race, and educational status, the positive correlation persisted, though with a lower effect size (1.53, 95% CI 1.25-1.82, p&lt;0.001). A third model with additional adjustments was employed to assess the consistency of the association, which was maintained (1.92, 95% CI 1.62-2.23, p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Our study reaffirms the potential benefits of moderate to vigorous exercise on cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

Unraveling the dynamics of loneliness and cognition in late life: a cross-lagged panel model.

Loneliness and cognitive decline are pressing concerns among older adults, yet little research has explored cognition as a predictor of loneliness. This study investigates the dynamic relationship between loneliness and cognitive function in older adults using the random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM). Data were drawn from Waves 9-14 of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), encompassing 8,473 individuals aged 65 years and older. Loneliness was assessed using the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and cognitive function was measured using immediate and delayed word recall and serial 7s from the HRS RAND file. Age, gender, education, marital status, self-health report, and depression were included as covariates. Using Mplus, we computed RI-CLPMs. The first three models were conducted on loneliness and cognitive functions. Then unconditional RI-CLPMs with no exogenous predictors were computed. Three conditional model results showed that age, gender, marital status, self-health report, and depression were significantly associated with loneliness in the first wave, but only age and self-health report were significantly associated with immediate and delayed word recall at the first wave, not with serial 7s. For carry-over effects, loneliness showed significant positive associations across consecutive waves, but cognitive functions showed significant positive associations just in the last two waves. Some spill-over effects were found between loneliness and cognitive functions. For within-person effects, although initially non-significant, a negative association between loneliness and immediate and delayed word recall emerged in later waves (11-12 and 13-14). The conditional models indicated that older age, not being married, male gender, low self-reported health, and high depression levels were positively associated with loneliness. However, only older age and lower self-reported health were positively linked to cognitive functions. This study underscores the link between loneliness and cognitive function decline in older adults, emphasizing the need to address loneliness to potentially reduce cognitive decline. Insights into demographic predictors of loneliness and cognitive function could inform targeted interventions for promoting successful aging.

A Review of the Efficacy and Mechanisms of Blood Flow Restriction Training in Enhancing Somatic Function and Preventing Falls in Older Adults.

Falls have become an important public health problem that seriously affects the quality of survival of older adultsand are a major cause of fractures, death, and reduced quality of life. With the advent of an aging society, the social, economic, and medical burdens of falls in older adults are increasing. Currently, there is a lack of effective means to prevent falls in older adults, and traditional health education and clinical interventions are not effective. It is urgent to find a safe and effective training method that can improve balance function and is suitable for the elderly. Low-intensity blood flow restriction training (BFRT) is an emerging training modality that, by restricting blood flow to the limbs and combining it with low-intensity exercise, can effectively improve muscle mass, aerobic capacity, and bone density, and has been shown to enhance somatic function in older adults. However, the effectiveness and specific mechanisms of BFRT in preventing falls in older adults are unclear. Based on recent research progress, this paper explores the possibility of BFRT in preventing falls in older adults by analyzing its positive effects on muscle mass, balance function, and cognitive function, the risk factors of falling in the elderly are summarized, as well as its potential role in reducing fall risk factors. It aims to provide new thinking for academia and clinical practice and to provide a scientific basis for reducing the risk of falls in the elderly.

Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation and neuromuscular function in older adults.

This review aims to explore the latest research investigating the effects of marine-derived long-chain n -3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC n -3 PUFA) supplementation on neuromuscular function in older adults. Ageing results in a decline in skeletal muscle strength and mass. There is growing evidence that LC n -3 PUFA supplementation increases muscle strength and mass in healthy older adults, yet the mechanisms underlying these effects remain elusive. Recent studies investigating LC n -3 PUFA supplementation have demonstrated effects on neuromuscular function such as increases in the compound muscle action potential (M-wave) amplitude and surface electromyography alongside increases in muscular strength. Therefore, evidence suggests that LC n -3 PUFA may elicit a beneficial effect at the neuromuscular junction and possess neuroprotective properties in older adults. LC n -3 PUFA supplementation may increase or maintain neuromuscular function throughout the ageing process. Further research is warranted to investigate the long-term effects LC n -3 PUFA supplementation on neuromuscular outcomes such as single motor unit properties and cortical/supraspinal networks, utilizing state-of-the-art techniques in neuromuscular physiology.

Biomarkers of sleep-wake disturbance as predictors of cognitive decline and accelerated disease progression.

In older adults, where sleep disturbances and cognitive impairment are common, mounting evidence suggests a potential connection between sleep and cognitive function, highlighting the significance of utilizing sleep as a biomarker for early detection of cognitive impairment to improve clinical outcomes in a noninvasive, cost-effective manner. This review describes the relationship between sleep and cognitive function in older adults, encompassing both subjective and objective measures of sleep quality, duration, architecture, and sleep-disordered breathing. The authors consider the directionality of the associations observed in prospective and cross-sectional studies, exploring whether sleep disturbances precede cognitive decline or vice versa. Furthermore, they discuss the potential bidirectional relationships between sleep and Alzheimer's disease (AD) risks in older adults while also examining the neurodegenerative pathways of this relationship. Routine sleep monitoring in primary care settings has the potential to bolster early detection and treatment of sleep disturbance, and by extension, reduce the risk of dementia. Improving sleep assessment tools, such as wearables, provide scalable alternatives to traditional methods like polysomnography, potentially enabling widespread monitoring of sleep characteristics. Standardized measurement and inclusive participant recruitment are needed to enhance generalizability, while longitudinal studies are essential to understand the interaction between sleep and AD pathology.

Effects of High-Intensity Interval Walking on Cognitive and Physical Functions in Older Adults: A Randomized Pilot Study.

Walking is widely recognized as a prevalent form of daily exercise worldwide. However, fewer studies have explored the health outcomes of different intensities of walking exercise for older adults. Thus, the study aimed to investigate the effects of walking at different exercise intensities on body composition, emotions, cognition, and physical function among older adults. This study aimed to investigate the effects of walking at different exercise intensities on body composition, emotions, cognition, and physical function after eight weeks of group walking. Specifically, the study focused on the potential benefits of high-intensity interval walking (HIIW), exploring whether HIIW could have a more positive impact on the physical functionand overall health of older adults compared to moderate-intensity continuous walking (MICW). Participants aged 65 years or older were randomly assigned to either HIIW(n=13, 85% HRmax and 55% HRmax, alternating every three minutes) or MICW (n=13, 70% HRmax), engaging in group walking exercises for 30 minutes three times a week. The pre-test and post-test evaluations included body composition, cognition, emotions, and physical function. The two-minute step test showed significant improvements over time (p<0.0001) and time-group interaction (p=0.004), and sit and reach showed significant changes over time (p<0.0001). The independent T-test showed significant differences between the HIIW and MICW groups (two-minute step test: t (24)=1.80, p=0.04; sit and reach test: t (19)=3.65, p<0.001) at post-measurement. Additionally, no significant differences were found in body composition (weight, p=0.74; body mass index (BMI), p=0.35; body fat mass, p=0.45; skeletal muscle mass (SMM), p=0.77), emotions (geriatric depression scale (GDS), p=0.79; quality of life (QOL), p=0.54; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, p=0.24), and cognitive function (CoSAS total score, p=0.25) between the HIIW and MICW groups after exercise. Grip strength, balance, 30-second chair stand, back scratch, and eight-foot up and go tests showed no significant effects in the time-group interaction. Regular HIIW exercise has positive effects on physical functions such as cardiorespiratory endurance and flexibility in older adults, indicating the potential for establishing a foundation for developing customized exercise programs in the future.

Association Between Physical Activity Levels and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Replication Cohort Analysis Using the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging

Introduction: Few studies address the complex relationship between physical activity and cognitive function in aging individuals. This topic has gained significant attention in recent years, as cognitive decline poses a substantial public health challenge. There is a lack of research focusing on the effect of physical activity on cognitive function in the Brazilian population. Purpose: Our study aims to replicate the findings of Lautenschlager et al. using a Brazilian cohort from the ELSI study, a comprehensive longitudinal study capturing aging processes and determinants among individuals in Brazil. Method: In line with the reference study, our analysis focused on individuals aged 50 and older without depression and dementia. The primary outcome was cognitive function, assessed using a summary score obtained from the ELSI study to replicate the ADAS-Cog, as in the original study. Participants were categorized into two groups: those engaging in moderate to vigorous exercise (exercise) and those who did not meet this exercise threshold (no exercise). To evaluate the relationship between exercise and cognitive function, we performed three linear regression models: one without adjustments for covariates, a second model adjusting for sex, education, and race (main model), and a third model with multiple adjustments. A sensitivity analysis using Cohen's D was also conducted. Results: In this study from the ELSI cohort, data from 7,292 individuals were available, and 6,147 met the inclusion criteria for analysis. A total of 935 individuals were excluded due to depression, and 98 were excluded due to dementia. Baseline characteristics were not well balanced between groups. The mean age in the exercise group was 64 years compared to 67 years in the no exercise group, with a higher percentage of males (48% vs. 39%) and a higher education level (12% with university education vs. 6%). In the unadjusted linear regression, there was a positive correlation between exercise and cognitive function (2.19, 95% CI 1.89-2.48, p&lt;0.001). In the second model, which emulated the reference trial by including sex, race, and educational status, the positive correlation persisted, though with a lower effect size (1.53, 95% CI 1.25-1.82, p&lt;0.001). A third model with additional adjustments was employed to assess the consistency of the association, which was maintained (1.92, 95% CI 1.62-2.23, p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Our study reaffirms the potential benefits of moderate to vigorous exercise on cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

Decreased resting-state brain function in older adults predicts enlarged representational momentum.

Representational momentum (RM) refers to the phenomenon in which an observer's judgment of the final location of a previously viewed moving target is often displaced forward in the direction of motion. This phenomenon is an adaptive mechanism that compensates for neural processing delays and is closely associated with visual cortex function. However, the impact of age-related decline of visual cortex function on the manifestations of RM remains unclear. The present study examined differences in the RM effect between older (N = 82) and younger adults (N = 74) using a cursor-positioning task. Additionally, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to explore the potential neural substrates that underlie these differences, employing amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF, reflecting the intensity of neural activity) and regional homogeneity (ReHo, reflecting the synchronization of neural activity) as indicators. Our findings indicate a significant increase in RM among older adults compared with younger adults. Neuroimaging data revealed a significant decrease in ALFF and ReHo within extensive regions of the visual cortex in older adults, validating age-related differences in this cortical area. More importantly, ALFF values in the bilateral visual area 3 and ReHo values in the bilateral visual area 2 in older adults exhibited a strong negative correlation with their RM effects. These results suggest that larger RM in older adults may be functional compensation for aging of the visual cortex. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Linking the neural signature of response time variability to Alzheimer's disease pathology and cognitive functioning.

Promising evidence has suggested potential links between mind-wandering and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Yet, older adults with diagnosable neurocognitive disorders show reduced meta-awareness, thus questioning the validity of probe-assessed mind-wandering in older adults. In prior work, we employed response time variability as an objective, albeit indirect, marker of mind-wandering to identify patterns of functional connectivity that predicted mind-wandering. In the current study, we evaluated the association of this connectome-based, mind-wandering model with cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) p-tau/Aβ 42 ratio in 289 older adults from the Alzheimer's Disease NeuroImaging Initiative (ADNI). Moreover, we examined if this model was similarly associated with individual differences in composite measures of global cognition, episodic memory, and executive functioning. Edges from the high response time variability model were significantly associated with CSF p-tau/Aβ ratio. Furthermore, connectivity strength within edges associated with high response time variability was negatively associated with global cognition and episodic memory functioning. This study provides the first empirical support for a link between an objective neuromarker of mind-wandering and AD pathophysiology. Given the observed association between mind-wandering and cognitive functioning in older adults, interventions targeted at reducing mind-wandering, particularly before the onset of AD pathogenesis, may make a significant contribution to the prevention of AD-related cognitive decline.

Enhancing physical and cognitive function in older adults through walking & resistance exercise: Korean national aging project randomized controlled study

BackgroundThe rapid aging of Korea's population underscores the urgent need for effective programs to enhance the well-being and longevity of the elderly. This study presents preliminary results from the Korean project, examining the impact of cost-effective and accessible exercise programs on functional performance of older people and to determine the long-term maintenance of intervention. MethodsWe randomized 90 older adults aged ≥65 years to the walking group (WG), resistance + walking (RWG), or active control (CG) group. We designed a 12-week main intervention (supervised resistance training 2 d/week and individual walking exercise) and a 12-week follow-up through self-directed exercise (same protocol but unsupervised). The participants’ mini mental state examination, color-word Stroop test and 5-time sit to stand, timed up & go, handgrip strength, and knee extensor strength tests were assessed at pre, post, as well as follow-up. ResultsFor the RWG group, significant improvements were found in timed up & go (P < 0.001), and 5-time sit to stand (P < 0.001) compared to CG, with benefits maintained at follow-up. Both RWG and WG showed significant enhancements in knee extensor power (RWG: P < 0.0001; WG: P < 0.001) and flexor power (RWG: P < 0.01; WG: P = 0.018) compared to CG. Although cognitive performance did not show significant group-by-time interactions, RWG exhibited improvements in the Stroop Color and Color-Word tests at follow-up compared to baseline. ConclusionA resistance training program combined with walking effectively enhanced functional performance in older adults, providing lasting benefits over 12 weeks on physical functions, such as strength and endurance. However, it showed limited benefits on cognitive performance.

Relationship between domain-specific physical activity and cognitive function in older adults - findings from NHANES 2011-2014.

To determine the relationship between domain-specific physical activity (PA) (e.g., occupational PA [OPA], transport-related PA [TPA], and recreational PA [RPA]) and cognitive function in older adults. The data was obtained from the 2011-2014 cycle of the NHANES. We utilized weighted multivariate linear regression models among the included 2,924 people aged 60 years or older for our purposes. RPA and total PA according to WHO guidelines were associated with verbal fluency (RPA β: 1.400, 95% CI: 0.776, 2.024, p = 0.002; total PA β: 1.115, 95% CI: 0.571, 1.659, p = 0.001), processing speed and executive function (RPA β: 2.912, 95% CI. 1.291, 4.534, p = 0.005; total PA β: 2.974, 95% CI: 1.683, 4.265, p < 0.001) were positively correlated, and total PA was correlated with delayed memory performance (β: 0.254, 95% CI: 0.058, 0.449, p = 0.019). No significant association was observed between OPA, TPA, and various aspects of cognitive function among individuals over 60 years. There was no noteworthy correlation discovered between OPA and TPA in relation to cognitive function. However, RPA and total PA exhibited significant associations with verbal fluency, processing speed, and executive function. Additionally, maintaining PA levels ranging from 600 to 1,200 MET-min/week would yield the most favorable outcomes for cognitive function.