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Deficits in controlled processing may predict dementia: a twin study.

R Andel1, M Gatz, N L Pedersen

  • 1Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90089-1061, USA.

The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
|October 30, 2001
PubMed
Summary
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Individuals who later developed dementia showed cognitive decline in memory, attention, and reasoning. Their non-demented twins also exhibited cognitive deficits, indicating an elevated risk for dementia.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Dementia represents a significant public health concern.
  • Understanding preclinical cognitive changes is crucial for early detection and intervention.
  • Twin studies offer unique insights into genetic and environmental influences on cognitive decline.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate differential cognitive decline patterns in individuals who developed dementia compared to their non-demented twins.
  • To assess the cognitive status of non-demented twins of dementia patients compared to controls.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 33 twin pairs discordant for dementia.
  • Cognitive assessments included tests of memory, attention, visuospatial reasoning, perceptual speed, and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Comparison of affected twins, their non-demented co-twins, and matched controls.

    • Main Results:

    • Twins who developed dementia exhibited poorer performance in memory, attention, visuospatial reasoning, perceptual speed, and MMSE compared to their non-demented co-twins.
    • Non-demented twins of dementia patients scored lower on verbal ability, memory, attention, perceptual speed, and MMSE than matched controls.
    • Findings suggest deficits in controlled cognitive processes precede dementia diagnosis.

    Conclusions:

    • Cognitive impairments are detectable years before a dementia diagnosis.
    • Non-demented co-twins of dementia patients are at increased risk, suggesting shared etiological factors.
    • Early cognitive changes may indicate compromised cognitive functions prior to clinical manifestation of dementia.