Frontal Release Signs and Future Decline in Research Participants With Intact Cognition.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neuroscience
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Frontal release signs (FRS) are primitive reflexes indicating neurological maturation or damage.
• Their prognostic value in early cognitive decline and preclinical disease is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between the presence of FRS and future cognitive decline in research participants.
• To determine the prognostic utility of FRS in individuals with intact cognition or mild cognitive impairment.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study analyzed longitudinal data from 873 participants (aged 70+) at the University of Kentucky Alzheimer Disease Research Center.
• Participants were assessed for FRS at baseline and followed for incident dementia using annual consensus diagnoses.
• Cause-specific hazard models and linear mixed models were employed to analyze the association of FRS with dementia risk and cognitive performance over time.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of FRS positivity was 8.8% in cognitively intact participants and 23.9% in those with mild impairment.
• FRS positivity was associated with an increased risk of dementia in cognitively intact individuals (HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.02-3.09).
• Participants with FRS were more likely to progress to dementia compared to those without FRS.

Conclusions:

• Frontal release signs (FRS) may serve as a valuable prognostic indicator in the early stages of cognitive decline.
• FRS represent a quick, noninvasive, and low-cost addition to neurological examinations for predicting dementia risk.