Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
10:13
Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach
Published on: February 14, 2014
Serum calcium and cognitive function in old age
Miranda T Schram1, Stella Trompet, Adriaan M Kamper
1Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|November 6, 2007
Summary
High serum calcium levels are linked to faster cognitive decline in individuals over 75. This study investigated the association between serum calcium and cognitive function in the general elderly population.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cognitive decline is a significant concern in aging populations.
- The role of serum calcium in cognitive health remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum calcium levels and cognitive function in elderly individuals.
- To determine if elevated serum calcium predicts cognitive decline in the general population.
Main Methods:
- Prospective follow-up study of two independent population-based cohorts: the Rotterdam Study and the Leiden 85-plus Study.
- Cognitive function assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination and specific cognitive domain tests.
- Statistical analyses performed using linear regression and linear mixed models.
Main Results:
- High serum calcium was associated with worse global cognitive function at baseline and a faster rate of decline in those aged 75 and older in the Rotterdam Study.
- In the Leiden 85-plus Study, high serum calcium correlated with poorer global cognitive function and specific cognitive domains from age 85 to 90.
- These associations persisted even after excluding individuals with hypercalcemia.
Conclusions:
- Elevated serum calcium levels are associated with accelerated cognitive decline in the elderly population, particularly after age 75.
- Findings suggest a potential link between calcium homeostasis and cognitive aging, warranting further investigation.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
01:21Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis
Calcium is not only the most abundant mineral in bone but also the most abundant mineral in the human body. Calcium ions are needed for bone mineralization, tooth health, heart rate regulation and strength of contraction, blood coagulation, the contraction of smooth and skeletal muscle cells, and the regulation of nerve impulse conduction. The average calcium level in the blood is about 10 mg/dL. When the body cannot maintain this level, a person will experience hypo or hypercalcemia.
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function. They...
01:29Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction
Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...