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Assessment of Age-related Changes in Cognitive Functions Using EmoCogMeter, a Novel Tablet-computer Based Approach

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Functional expressions of the aging brain.

Marshal Folstein¹, Susan Folstein

¹Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. mfolstein@rcn.com

Nutrition Reviews

|November 25, 2010

Summary

Brain aging without dementia shows atrophy linked to vascular issues, not hippocampus volume. This finding suggests MRI atrophy is a better measure than cognition for nutritional studies in the elderly.

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Gerontology
Medical Imaging

Background:

Aging brain is conventionally linked to atrophy, vascular issues, and volume loss in the hippocampus and amygdala.
Cognitive aging typically involves slower processing and memory decline.
Many aging studies include individuals with dementia, confounding results.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate brain atrophy in homebound elderly individuals without dementia.
To determine the relationship between brain atrophy, vascular disease, and cognitive function.
To evaluate the utility of MRI atrophy as an outcome measure in nutritional intervention studies.

Main Methods:

The Nutrition and Memory in the Homebound Elderly (NAME) study excluded participants with diagnosed dementia.

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Published on: February 14, 2014

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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was used to rate cortical atrophy.

Correlations were assessed between MRI atrophy, vascular disease markers, white matter hyperintensities, cognitive measures, renal function, and homocysteine levels.

Main Results:

Cortical atrophy correlated significantly with vascular disease, white matter hyperintensities, processing speed, and memory.
Hippocampus and amygdala volume were not significantly correlated with cortical atrophy.
Renal function and homocysteine levels were associated with cortical atrophy but not cognitive variables.

Conclusions:

Brain atrophy in non-demented aging is primarily associated with vascular disease, not hippocampal atrophy.
MRI-assessed brain atrophy may be a more sensitive outcome measure than cognitive function for nutritional intervention studies in the elderly.