Impact of the Physical Activity Level of Master Athletes on Divided Attention and Binding Processes in Episodic Memory: A Virtual Reality Study
Master athletes are a model of successful aging as their high level of physical activity limits the age-related change of physiological functions. This model is used to investigate how a high level of physical activity impacts cognitive functioning. We aim to study the effect of a high level of physical activity on the ability to manage interferences and binding processes in episodic encoding in an ecological situation. Fifty-five participants were recruited and separated into three groups: 18 master athletes (MA, = 69.39, = 1.13 years), 18 young adults (YA, = 22.44, = 1.10 years), and 19 older adults with a moderate level of physical activity (OA, = 72.11, = 1.10 years). Participants performed an episodic memory task assessing binding processes by encoding under either full or divided attention using a virtual reality technique. After encoding under divided attention, MA outperformed OA in the interference task as well as in the binding score on both free and cued recall. After encoding under full attention, YA and MA did not differ in the number of events recalled in cued recall. Furthermore, significant correlations were found between weekly volume of physical activity and cognitive performance. Binding and interference management, and probably the hippocampus along with prefrontal areas, benefit the most from a sustained and regular physical activity in master athletes.
What Factors are Associated with Age Differences In Intentional Decision Avoidance?
To examine why older adults avoid choices more, two pre-registered, U.S.-based studies ( = 164, = 50.71, = 485, = 51.08) evaluated the roles of cognitive load and affect. In Study 2, half were randomized to a writing condition theorized to decrease avoidance. Across studies, older age was positively associated with avoiding choices and improved affect after doing so. Avoidance was linked to perceiving higher cognitive loads but neither load nor other covariates accounted for older adults' avoidance tendencies. The writing condition resulted in lower cognitive loads and more positive decision-related affect but did not decrease avoidance.
Investigating the Evolution of Odor-Evoked Memories Retrieval in Normal Aging: Theoretical and Clinical Implications
Olfactory-based cognitive stimulation is frequently proposed for memory-impaired patients (namely dementia patients), but little is known about the scientific rationale underlying odor choice.
Cognitive Training and Enrichment Modulates Neural Plasticity and Enhances Cognitive Reserve in Aging Rats
Cognitive decline in non-pathological aging is widely prevalent among the aging population. The current study assessed the impact of cognitive training (Ct) with multiple modules targeting various facets of learning and memory and the additional influence of an enriched environment (Ct+ee) on hippocampal subfields of aging male rats.
Effect of Regular Exercise on Cognitive Frailty in the Elderly: A Systematic Review
As one of the common senile syndromes characterized by the co-existence of physical frailty and cognitive impairment without dementia, the occurrence of cognitive frailty (CF) increases the risk of adverse health outcomes in older adults. However, its reversibility has attracted the interest of researchers in the search for effective interventions. A growing number of studies have been conducted to investigate the effect of regular physical exercise intervention on cognitive frailty in older adults with CF, but findings remain inconclusive. This study aimed to synthesize the pooled effect of current regular exercise intervention in community-dwelling older adults with cognitive frailty.
Robot-Assisted Gait Training in Older Patients with Comorbid Conditions: A Pilot Study
This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) in older patients with neurological gait disorder accompanied by various comorbidities.
Comparison of the Effect of Active Video Games and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Executive Functions of the Elderly: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study
Among the changes related to aging in the elderly, a decline in executive functions is notable. The present study aimed to investigate the comparative impact of active video games (AVG) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on executive functions in elderly individuals in Khuzestan province, Iran.
Worry Moderates Plasma Placental Growth Factor (PIGF) and Cognition in Older Adults with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI)
Elevated worry is an early indicator of cognitive decline in older adults. Worry has been linked to pro-inflammatory processes though the exact relations between worry, inflammation, and cognition in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) remain unexplored. The present study studied the association of worry with proteomic biomarkers of inflammation and cognition.
Identifying Biomarkers of Neuroplasticity Associated with Exercise-Induced Cognitive Change in Older Adults with MCI
This exploratory study aimed to identify biomarkers of neuroplasticity that prevent cognitive decline. This study examined activity-dependent changes in the neurologic proteome that contributed to post-exercise improvements in processing speed in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Is Functioning of Older Adults with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain Related to Health Literacy?
We investigated the relationship between health literacy (HL) and functioning among older adults with and without chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP). In a cross-sectional study, we assessed 121 older adults with CMP and 53 without pain using WHODAS 2.0 for functioning and the Newest Vital Sign for HL assessment. Cluster analysis identified groups based on functioning levels. A decision tree model was developed, to account for nonlinear interactions. We found a relationship of inadequate HL with lower functioning in older adults with CMP, particularly when aged over 70 and those younger but with lower education levels. Findings highlight the importance of screening HL among older adults with CMP and considering it for tailoring interventions.
Association Between Oral Health Status and DMFT Index with Cognitive Dysfunction in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study
Cognitive dysfunction is a significant issue in old age and can cause many problems in older adults, especially those with diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the association between oral health status and DMFT index with cognitive dysfunction in community-dwelling older adults with T2D (type 2 diabetes).
The Association Between Pain and Physical Frailty Among Older Adults in India: Depression and Insomnia as Mediators
To investigate the association between body pain and physical frailty among older adults in India and to examine whether this association is mediated by symptoms of depression and insomnia.
The Effects of the Nocturnal Sleep on Learning of a Complex Motor Skill in Young and Older Adults
Research on older adults has shown impairments in nocturnal sleep, impacting motor memory consolidation and learning. However, previous studies primarily focus on simple tasks, limiting generalization to complex motor activities. Moreover, no evidence exists on how sleep influences adaptability and relearning in older adults.
Reactive Turning Behavior in Older Adults: Age-Related Decrease is Evident under Increased Task Demand
A sudden turn initiated at an unpredictable moment is referred to as reactive turning. This study was designed to seek an age-related decrease in reactive turning when the task demand for turning was increased using a task-switching paradigm. Twenty healthy older adults and 14 younger adults were instructed to walk and execute a 90-degree turn under two conditions. In the "reactive turning condition," participants were asked to turn abruptly when the initially presented travel direction (e.g. right) switched to the opposite direction (e.g. left) while walking. This switch occurred in only one-fifth of 40 trials. In the "pre-planned turning condition," participants were informed of the direction beforehand. The onset of the center of mass (COM) shift in older participants failed to reach significance compared to younger participants. However, correlation analyses showed impaired turning performance in older participants, as those with delayed COM shift exhibited larger pelvic rotations over a short period during reactive turning. This suggests that, owing to increased task demand, older adults had difficulty quickly responding and sufficiently rotating their bodies in the new direction. We conclude that reactive turning with increased task demand, using a task-switching paradigm, is a key factor in detecting age-related performance decline.
An Investigation of Non-Auditory Lexical Language Skills in Relation to Hearing Ability and Second Language Use in Older Adults
This study explored how age-related hearing loss and second language use relate to non-auditory lexical language abilities in 74 older adults (mean age 63; range 50-73). Participants completed a cognitive task (backwards digit span) and two lexical tasks: a verbal fluency task, which has a stronger cognitive component, and a vocabulary task, which has a lesser cognitive component. Our findings suggest that fundamental language skills are distinct from perceptual difficulties - at least in a lexical task with a lesser cognitive component. In the lexical task with a stronger cognitive component, we found evidence for a complex relation between age-related hearing loss and the frequency of second language use.
Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain is Associated With Depressive Symptoms in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Independent of Physical Activity
Prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain and depressive symptoms in adults is high; however, whether there is an association between these conditions in older adults is unknown.
Role of Cardiovascular Risk in Associations of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor with Longitudinal Brain and Cognitive Trajectories in Older Adults
Higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have been associated with better neurocognitive outcomes. BDNF is present in cardiovascular tissue, and some evidence suggests it may benefit cardiovascular function. The current study assessed whether there is a mediating and/or moderating role of cardiovascular health in the relationship between BDNF and brain and cognitive outcomes.
Association Between Metabolic Disorders and Cognitive Domains in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
evaluate the association between Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and cognitive performance (global and in each domain) in community-dwelling older adults.
Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition
The General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition (GPCOG) was explicitly developed as a brief cognitive screening tool for general practitioners. It consists of a patient section testing cognition and an informant section asking historical questions. This study aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of GPCOG-Tr on older Turkish adults. The study included two hundred thirty ( = 230) community-dwelling individuals aged at least 55. The GPCOG was translated, back-translated, and revised to determine the final GPCOG-Tr. The sample was divided into the patient group (with memory complaints) and the control group (without memory complaints). The GPCOG-Tr was compared against standard criteria for diagnosis of dementia (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - 5th edition), the Clinical Dementia Rating scale, the Mini-mental State Examination, The Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog) subscale, and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). The reliability test was done on 30 participants after two weeks. The two-stage method of administering the GPCOG-Tr had a sensitivity of 85%, a specificity of 92%, a misclassification rate of 11.3%, and a positive predictive value of 92%. The test-retest correlation coefficients ranged from 0.86 to 0.98. The GPCOG-Tr total was at least equivalent to the MMSE and ADAS-Cog in detecting dementia. The GPCOG-Tr displayed solid psychometric properties, offering the general practitioners an efficient cognitive instrument for older Turkish people.
Age Difference on the Spatial Scale of Object Categorization
As the elderly population is growing worldwide and communication is increasingly relayed by visual interfaces, identifying age-related changes in the visual perception of complex stimuli is critical. We examined the effect of spatial frequency filtering on object categorization in young (mean 25 years) and older (mean 65 years) participants.
Mediating Effect of Cognitive Reserve in the Relationship Between Physical Activity and Cognitive Function in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating effect of cognitive reserve (CR) on the association between physical activity and cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults. A total of 495 community-dwelling older adults were included in this cross-sectional study. The CR, cognitive function, physical activity, and the potential confounders were assessed. Regression and bootstrap analyses were used to explore the mediating role of CR in physical activity and cognitive function. Compared to older adults with low to moderate physical activity, older adults with high physical activity had significantly better global cognitive function (βMoCA scores = 1.22, 95% CI 0.41 ~ 2.04) and visual spatial function (βCDT scores = 0.52, 95% CI 0.11 ~ 0.94) after adjustment for the confounders. CR mediated the association between physical activity and cognitive function with an indirect effect for global cognitive function (βMoCAscores = -0.29, 95% CI -0.56 ~ -0.09) and visual spatial function (βCDTscores = -0.14, 95% CI -0.28 ~ -0.05) after adjusting for the confounders, with 23.8% and 26.7% as percentage of mediation, respectively. These findings suggest that high physical activity could be effective in increasing cognitive reserve and preserving or improving cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults.
Effects of Motor and Cognitive Dual-Task Demands on Ankle Dorsiflexor and Plantarflexor Force Control in Older Adults
Force steadiness can be impaired under dual-task conditions in older adults. Since this impairment is attributed to their limited attentional resources, we hypothesized that the degree of cortical activity involved in muscle contraction would affect force steadiness under dual-task conditions. To test this hypothesis, based on the premise that dorsiflexion requires more cortical resources than plantarflexion, we compared the effects of additional motor and cognitive task demands on force steadiness between dorsiflexion and plantarflexion contractions in young and older adults.
Association of Spouses' Sensory Loss with Depressive Symptoms, Self-Reported Health, and Functional Disability Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China: A Cross-Sectional Study
To investigate cross-sectional associations between spouses' sensory loss and depressive symptoms, self-rated health, and functional disability.
Effect of Age and Education on Discourse Cohesion
Several studies have proven the presence of cohesion difficulties in neurogenic communication disorders. However, we still have very little information about discourse cohesion in the intact adult population and the factors that influence it. The aim of the present study is to provide additional information on this topic and to assess the effect of age and education on discourse cohesion.
Predictors of the Disability in Activities of Daily Living in Nursing Home Residents: A Descriptive Study
Disability in activities of daily living (ADL) is a common problem among nursing home residents. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the geriatric syndromes that contribute to disability in nursing home residents. The cross-sectional study included 124 older adults from two nursing homes. ADL disability was assessed with the Barthel Index. The sociodemographic characteristics and geriatric syndromes, including malnutrition, sarcopenia risk, frailty, immobility, urinary incontinence, cognitive impairment, and balance dysfunction were evaluated. The 124 residents had a mean age of 80.12 ± 9.20 years and included 55.67% males. Age, malnutrition, sarcopenia risk, frailty, immobility, urinary incontinence, cognitive impairment, and balance dysfunction were all significantly correlated with the Barthel Index. However, only malnutrition, immobility, and urinary incontinence were found to account for 84.9% of the variance in disability of nursing home residents in regression analysis. These geriatric syndromes are the best predictors of ADL disability in all models ( < .05). This study found that malnutrition, immobility, and urinary incontinence considerably contributed to the disability profile of nursing home residents. Health professionals need to develop multi-dimensional care and prevention strategies, especially for geriatric syndromes such as malnutrition, immobility, and urinary incontinence.
A Diffusion Model Account of Cognitive Variability in Healthy Aging and Mild Cognitive Impairment
Within-person variation in cognitive performance is linked to pathological aging. Cognitive fluctuations have not been analyzed using cognitive process models, such as the diffusion model, to characterize which cognitive processes contribute to variability in cognition. We collected 21 daily assessments of attention and personality in younger adults, healthy older adults, and those with mild cognitive impairment. We employed mixed-effects location scale models to analyze group differences on mean diffusion parameters and daily variability. Discussion focuses on how these methods extend our understanding of how cognitive deficits might appear in aging and disease and the moderating influence of daily personality.
The Combined Effect of Tribulus terrestris Hydroalcoholic Extract and Swimming Exercise on Memory and Oxidative Stress in Old Male Rats
This study aims to assess the effect of swim exercise along with consumption of bindii hydroalcoholic extract on memory and the oxidative stress markers in old male rats.
AMPA Receptors Endocytosis Inhibition Attenuates Cognition Deficit Via c-Fos/BDNF Signaling in Amyloid Neurotoxicity
Glutamatergic imbalance, particularly downregulation of -amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4- isoxazole propionic acid receptor (AMPARs) endocytosis, has been addressed as a possible reason for cognitive dysfunctions in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We hypothesized that inhibition of AMPAR endocytosis may ameliorate memory impairment in AD model of rats. To approach this, twenty-four adults male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: saline + saline (control group), A + saline, and A + Tat-GluR23Y (AMPA endocytosis inhibitor). Animals received an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) injection of A (1-42) to induce neuro-toxicity, followed by chronic administration of GluR23Y, and further behavioral assessments by MWM. Afterward, the hippocampal level of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and c-Fos was measured via Western blotting. The results of our study revealed that chronic administration of GluR23Y improved both working and reference memories evidenced by shorter latency time and longer total time spent in the target zone in MWM. Additionally, this improvement was paralleled by an increase in BDNF, but a decrease in c-Fos. In conclusion, GluR23Y improves spatial memory impairment at least partly via elevating neuroprotective factor of BDNF and reducing apoptotic protein of c-Fos.
Examination of the Relationship Between Sensory Processing Skills, Kinesiophobia and Fear of Falling in Older Adults with Hypertension and Normotension
The aim of the study was to investigate fear of falling, kinesiophobia, and sensory processing in older adults with hypertension and normotension.