Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026
12:18
A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: January 11, 2020
Identification and phenotypic profiling of subgroups with distinct cognitive aging trajectories
Lydia M Federmann1,2, Christian Mychajliw3,4, Ulrike Sünkel4,5
1Hertie Institute for AI in Brain Health, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. lydia-marie.federmann@uni-tuebingen.de.
Geroscience
|August 7, 2026
Summary
Healthy cognitive aging is diverse. Individuals maintaining high cognitive function engage in more physical activity, cognitive stimulation, and plant-based diets compared to those with cognitive decline.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Cognitive aging varies significantly among individuals due to genetics, environment, and health.
- Understanding the determinants of distinct cognitive aging trajectories is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify distinct subgroups of cognitive aging trajectories in older adults.
- To investigate factors associated with these divergent cognitive aging paths.
Main Methods:
- Clustered 696 dementia-free individuals from the TREND study based on 13-year longitudinal cognitive changes.
- Analyzed differences in physical health, motor function, mental health, lifestyle, diet, and biomarkers between subgroups.
Main Results:
- Identified distinct cognitive aging trajectories.
- Individuals with high cognitive function exhibited faster gait speed, better quality of life, more physical and cognitive activities, and higher plant-based food intake compared to those with decline.
- Higher plant-based food intake was also noted in the best-performing subgroup versus all others.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive aging trajectories are heterogeneous and data-driven.
- Favorable cognitive aging is linked to modifiable factors like physical activity, cognitive engagement, and diet.
- Findings support multidisciplinary strategies for promoting healthy cognitive aging.
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