Non-pharmacological interventions on cognitive functions in older people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can be a stage of pre-dementia. There is no consensus about pharmacological treatment for this population, so it is important to structure non-pharmacological interventions for increasing their cognitive reserve. We intended to analyze the effects of non-pharmacological interventions in the cognitive functions in older people with MC, in form of a systemic review. Data sources were the Web of Science, Biological Abstracts, Medline, Pub Med, EBSCHost, Scirus and Google Scholar. All studies were longitudinal trials, with MCI sample, aged > 60 years, community-dwelling, and having cognitive functions as dependent variable. Seven studies, from 91 previously selected ones, were identified according to the inclusion criteria. Six studies used cognitive intervention, improving memory and one study used physical activity as intervention, improving executive functions. The results show evidence that physical activity and cognitive exercise may improve memory and executive functions in older people with MCI. But yet, more controlled studies are needed to establish a protocol of recommendations regarding the systemization of exercise, necessary to produce benefits in the cognitive functioning in older people with MCI.     

The effect of anemia and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on cognitive impairment in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI)

Anemia and subcortical ischemic change might be associated with increased risks for cognitive impairment among the elderly. This study examined the associations among anemia, WMH and cognitive function in patients with amnestic MCI. We recruited 278 subjects with amnestic MCI from the Clinical Research Center for Dementia of South Korea (CREDOS), a hospital-based cohort study. A standardized neuropsychological battery, containing tests of language, visuospatial function, verbal memory and executive function, was used for all patients. Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin concentration below 12 g/dl for women and below 13 g/dl for men. The severity of WMH was also examined using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). After multivariable adjustments, anemia and WMH were associated with poorer performance on cognitive function tests (anemia: Stroop test, F=4.17, p=0.042; WMH: Stroop test, F=6.45, p=0.002; Rey-complex figure test-copy, F=4.08, p=0.018). Moreover, a significant interaction between anemia and the severity of WMH was observed in performance on the Go/no go test (F=4.50, p=0.012) and the Stroop test (F=3.36, p=0.037). In post hoc analysis, anemic patients with severe WMH had significantly worse scores on measure of executive function (Go/no go test, p=0.011; Stroop test, p=0.001). Anemia and WMH had interactive effects on executive function impairment among the elderly with amnestic MCI.     

Mental confusion associated with scopolamine patch in elderly with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)

Mental confusion or delirium can occur after application of scopolamine patch. However, predisposing factors for scopolamine-induced delirium are not known. It is expected that undetected incipient dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may be prone to develop mental confusion after applying the scopolamine patch. For the past 5 years, we found seven elderly women who had experienced transdermal scopolamine-induced mental confusion. They underwent neuropsychological tests after recovery from mental confusion (mean duration from onset to the test: 66 days). The results showed that all the patients were impaired in at least one of cognitive domains, fulfilling the criteria of MCI. These findings suggest that scopolamine patch-induced mental confusion should be included in the differential diagnoses of mental confusion in elderly, especially in travel situation, and that older people with undetected MCI are prone to develop scopolamine patch-induced mental confusion.     

Atrial fibrillation and risk of dementia in non-demented elderly subjects with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI)

MCI is regarded as a precursor of dementia, but not all patients with MCI actually develop dementia. As Alzheimer and vascular dementia (AD and VD, respectively) are thought to share many common etiopathogenetic mechanisms, we investigated whether the vascular risk factor atrial fibrillation affect the risk of conversion to dementia for different MCI subtypes diagnosed according to international criteria. One-hundred-eighty elderly outpatients with MCI and 431 elderly outpatients with a normal cognition were followed-up for a mean of 3 and 4 years, respectively. The risk of conversion to dementia associated with atrial fibrillation was studied in both samples using a Cox proportional-hazards model adjusted for sociodemographic and medical variables. Overall conversion rate to dementia was 10.5 (8.0-13.8) per 100 person-years in the MCI group and 2.2 (1.5-3.1) per 100 person-years in the normal cognition group. Atrial fibrillation was significantly associated with conversion to dementia (hazard ratio=HR=4.63, 95% confidence interval=Cl=1.72-12.46) in the MCI group, but not in the cognitively normal group (HR=1.10, 95% Cl=0.40-3.03). Current diagnostic criteria for MCI subtypes define heterogeneous populations, but atrial fibrillation can be useful in identifying people with increased risk of conversion to dementia.     

Effectiveness of a cognitive rehabilitation program in mild dementia (MD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI): a case control study

Data support the evidence that neuropsychological rehabilitation is effective in Alzheimer disease (AD), to strengthen the pharmacological treatment to delay the progression of dementia. At moment, a few studies have examined the efficacy of non-pharmacological treatment in MCI. This is a controlled study that assesses the effectiveness of neuropsychological rehabilitation on cognitive and behavioral symptoms and functional status in a group of community-dwelling subjects with MCI and MD. Our results demonstrate that a systematic rehabilitation, that provides a computerized cognitive program training, produces an improvement in cognitive and affective status of patients with MCI and MD, while a rehabilitation program not providing a punctual stimulation of cognitive functions, does not have significant effects.     

记忆损害型帕金森病轻度认知障碍患者脑白质疏松及脑血管危险因素的分析

目的探讨脑白质疏松及脑血管危险因素在记忆损害型帕金森病(PD)轻度认知功能障碍患者中的影响。方法根据神经心理学测验结果,将102例PD患者分为记忆受损组30例、非记忆受损组35例和认知正常组37例,运用Scheltens视觉评定量表评估脑白质疏松程度,比较3组侧脑室旁、脑深部白质、基底节区、小脑幕下区脑白质疏松程度差异;分析脑血管危险因素在3组中的影响。运用多元线性回归分析脑白质疏松和脑血管危险因素等对记忆损害型PD轻度认知功能障碍患者的影响。结果记忆受损组额叶高信号、侧脑室旁白质高信号较认知正常组和非记忆受损组明显增高(P<0.05)。与认知正常组和非记忆受损组比较,记忆受损组TC明显升高[(5.87±0.81)mmol/L vs(3.86±1.10)mmol/L,(4.82±1.08)mmol/L],HDL-C明显降低[(1.17±0.24)mmol/L vs(1.26±0.53)mmol/L,(1.27±0.36)mmol/L,P<0.05]。多元线性回归分析显示,侧脑室旁脑白质高信号、TC与视觉再生呈负相关(β=-0.341,P=0.000;β=-0.212,P=0.030),教育程度与视觉再生呈正相关(β=0.201,P=0.038)。结论侧脑室旁脑白质疏松、高TC和高密度脂蛋白降低可能会导致PD-MCI患者的记忆受损。     

Prevalence of gender disparities and predictors affecting the occurrence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI)

The aims were to investigate the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) within gender disparities in Malaysian older adults, and to determine the predictors of MCI according to gender disparities. A community-based sample of urban, multiethnic dwelling elderly aged 60 years of age and above from Cheras, Kuala Lumpur was recruited. Prevalence of all-type MCI, amnestic-type MCI (am-MCI) and non-amnestic-type MCI (nam-MCI) was assessed using comprehensive neuropsychological batteries. The association between demography, socioeconomic status, lifestyle practices, and nutritional status and health risk factors with MCI were examined. Predictors of MCI occurrence between gender disparities were determined. The prevalence of all-type MCI, am-MCI and nam-MCI was 21.1%, 15.4% and 5.7%, respectively. Binary logistic regression indicated that hypercholesterolemia is the significant predictor for MCI in men after adjustment for age, ethnicity and total years of education. While, in women, MCI was best predicted by married status, without exercise practice, overweight and obesity. These results suggest that approximately one-fifth of the studied elderly people had MCI. Predictors for MCI are totally different between men and women. It is critical to identify those at higher risk for MCI in order to implement preventative measures to delay or reverse this abnormal condition.     

老年人轻度认知损害危险因素的调查分析

目的 调查北京老年人轻度认知损害(MCD)与年龄、性别、体质指数等的关系.方法 应用简易精神状态检查,对北京东直门社区招募的129例老年人进行认知功能评估.结果 检出记忆型轻度认知损害(aMCI)37例(28.7%),阿尔茨海默病(AD)36例(27.9%),认知正常者56例(43.4%).aMCI和AD患者年龄高于认知正常者,分别为(67.6±7.5)岁、(66.6±8.2)岁和(62.5±7.9)岁,两两比较差异均有统计学意义(t值分别为2.847、-1.747和-2.429,P>0.05、P<0.01和P<0.01);aMCI和AD患者受教育年限低(P<0.05);aMCI和AD患者的血压较认知正常者高(P<0.05);aMCI体质指数高于其他两组(P<0.05),不同性别老年人aMCI和AD患病率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);不同月份出生aMCI和AD患病率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 aMCI患病率与年龄、教育程度、高血压和体质指数等因素有关,与性别、出生月份无关.     

Implication of serotonin-transporter (5-HTT) gene polymorphism in subjective memory complaints and mild cognitive impairment (MCI)

Serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) is involved in neuropsychiatric diseases and recently the S-isoform has been correlated with a higher risk of developing emotion-induced retrograde amnesia. In order to better clarify the possible role of the 5-HTT S/L polymorphism and its effects on cognitive ability, especially on memory skills, we report here the distributions of the 5-HTT genetic variant and the Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ?-4 allele and their association with neuropsychological measures in older adults reporting problems with everyday memory. Moreover, we verified the presence of a possible association between the S-allele with depression and the personal trait of neuroticism. Our results indicate an association between the 5-HTTLPR S-allele and the risk of developing MCI. No association was found in the other three groups. We found a positive dose-dependent association between the S-allele and the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test (recall) score. Finally, our data did not find an association between the same allele and depression or neuroticism. This data, in our opinion shows a slight, non-established influence of 5-HTTLPR on memory skills exhibited in challenging memory tests but no influence on other extra-mnesic cognitive abilities.     

小动脉闭塞性脑卒中患者发生轻度认知功能障碍的危险因素分析

目的探讨小动脉闭塞性脑卒中患者出现轻度认知功能障碍的危险因素。方法采用回顾性方法选取1356例TOAST分型为小动脉闭塞性脑卒中患者,根据认知功能筛查结果分为认知功能正常组1279例和轻度认知功能障碍组(MCI组)77例。收集并分析2组患者一般资料、病史、神经心理量表评估和血液学指标。结果 MCI组较认知功能正常组高血压病史(84.42%vs 67.08%)、久坐生活方式(22.08%vs 11.81%)比例高,差异有统计学意义(P=0.002,P=0.008),2组文化程度比较差异有统计学意义(P=0.035)。2组年龄、TG、TC、HDL-C、LDL-C、FPG等比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。logistic回归分析显示,有高血压病史的患者发生MCI是无高血压病史患者的2.589倍(P=0.003),有久坐生活方式的患者发生MCI的概率是无久坐生活方式患者的2.161倍(P=0.008)。结论高血压和久坐生活方式与SAO患者发生MCI具有较强的相关性,是其独立的危险因素。     

中老年心房颤动患者轻度认知功能障碍的影响因素分析

目的：分析中老年非瓣膜性心房颤动（Atrial Fibrillation）患者轻度认知功能障碍（Mild Cognitive Impairment）的状况及其影响因素。方法：纳入自2019年10月至2020年6月就诊于应急总医院心内科及干部医疗科的非瓣膜性心房颤动患者106例,完成记忆、注意、语言、执行、视空间功能五大认知域的神经精神量表的筛查,分为轻度认知功能障碍组和认知功能正常组。采用多因素logistic分析探讨非瓣膜性心房颤动患者轻度认知功能障碍的影响因素。结果：106例患者中有58例为轻度认知功能障碍,平均年龄63岁,MCI组的房颤类型（持续/永久房颤）（P=0.017）、高血压病史比例（P=0.002）,CHA2DS2-VASc评分（P=0.047）,左房前后径（P=0.038）较正常认知组高,血红蛋白在MCI组偏低（P=0.034）,logistic回归分析发现非瓣膜性房颤人群的认知功能障碍与房颤类型、高血压、糖尿病病史、血红蛋白量相关。结论：房颤和认知功能障碍的发生都随着年龄增大而增加,房颤患者的发病类型、高血压、糖尿病病史和血红蛋白水平是发生轻度认知功能障碍的危险因素,早期识别轻度认知功能障碍对缓解认知进一步下降至关重要。     

Selective impairment of frontal-executive cognitive function in african americans with cardiovascular risk factors

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether a summary cardiovascular risk score is associated with an increased risk of frontal-executive cognitive impairment. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Subjects were recruited from senior centers, senior housing complexes, and communities in the Boston metropolitan area. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-three predominantly female elderly African Americans. MEASUREMENTS: Cardiovascular risk factors were assessed during an interview and clinical examination. For each subject, the total number of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors was summed to compute a CV risk score. A battery of neuropsychological tests was administered that examined memory, visuospatial abilities, and frontal-executive functions. Cognitive test scores were transformed into domain-specific (memory, visuospatial, frontal-executive) composite z scores. Cognitive impairment for each composite z score was defined as performance less than the median for the study group. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between the CV risk score and the risk for cognitive impairment in the three cognitive domains of interest. RESULTS: After controlling for age and education, the CV risk score was associated only with frontal-executive cognitive impairment (odds ratio (OR)=2.44, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.06-5.65). The CV risk score was not associated with the risk of memory (OR=1.30, 95% CI=0.64-2.67) or visuospatial impairment (OR=1.49, 95% CI=0.66-3.36). Greater CV risk scores were associated with an increased likelihood of having frontal-executive cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION: CV risk factors may exert a specific deleterious effect on frontal-executive cognitive abilities as opposed to memory or visuospatial functions. Associated executive dysfunction may compromise the ability of patients with CV risk factors to comply with recommendations for risk reduction.     

社区老年2型糖尿病患者合并轻度认知功能障碍危险因素分析

目的探讨分析2型糖尿病患者轻度认知功能障碍（mild cognitive impairment,MCI）的相关危险因素。方法以简易智能精神状态量表（MMSE）对社区老年2型糖尿病患者进行认知功能测评,收集MCI患者82例（MCI组）,认知功能正常者86例（NC组）。问卷调查受试者病史、年龄、糖尿病肾病、糖尿病足等资料;测定受试者血压、身高、体质量、血脂、血糖、胰岛素（Ins）、糖化血红蛋白（HbA1c）;计算胰岛素抵抗指数（HOMA-IR）、胰岛素分泌指数（HOMA-β）、体质量指数（BMI）、腰臀比（WHR）并筛查其危险因素。结果（1）与NC组比较,MCI组患者糖尿病病程、糖尿病肾病、空腹血糖（FBG）、餐后2h血糖（2hPBG）、空腹胰岛素（Fins）、HbA1c、HOMA—IR水平显著升高;而2组间年龄、糖尿病足、BMI、WHR、血压、餐后2h胰岛素（2hlns）、HOMA-B及血脂水平比较,差异均无统计学意义。（2）MCI患者MMSE量表评分与糖尿病病程、FBG、2hPBG、Fins、HOMA—IR具有相关性;而NC组仅发现与糖尿病病程、FBG相关。（3）Logistic回归分析显示糖尿病病程、FBG、HOMA-IR可能与糖尿病患者MCI独立相关。结论糖尿病病程、血糖控制水平、胰岛素抵抗程度等可能与2型糖尿病患者发生MCI密切相关,有效控制各危险因素有助于预防认知功能障碍的发生发展。     

老年颈动脉狭窄患者轻度认知功能障碍的影响因素

目的 了解老年颈动脉狭窄患者蒙特利尔认知评估量表(Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA)异常检出情况,并探讨该人群轻度认知功能障碍（Mild cognitive impairment, MCI）的危险因素。 方法 选取2021年3月-2022年3月苏州大学附属第一医院健康管理中心337例颈动脉斑块伴狭窄的患者为研究对象,采用个人信息问卷、MoCA量表、简易精神状态量表( Mini-Mental State Examination,MMSE)进行调查和收集患者的实验室及影像学指标,从而分析老年颈动脉斑块伴狭窄患者的MoCA量表评分异常情况;将患者分为认知功能正常组173例和MCI组164例,采用SPSS 24.0软件对两组患者的资料采用单因素分析和二项Logistic回归法筛选出MCI的危险因素。 结果 老年颈动脉斑块伴狭窄患者MCI的检出率为48.66%,左侧颈动脉狭窄组患者MCI（56.38%）检出率要高于右侧颈动脉狭窄组（39.17%）,差异具有统计学意义（P <0.05）;基于Logistic回归分析最终近一月平均睡眠＜8h（OR=2.973）、高血压病程（OR=1.304）、体重指数（OR=1.260）、血小板计数（OR=1.033）、糖化血红蛋白（OR=1.205）是其危险因素,且具有统计学意义（P <0.05）。 结论 左侧颈动脉斑块伴狭窄的患者罹患MCI的风险较右侧颈动脉斑块伴狭窄的患者高;近一月平均睡眠＜8h、高血压病程、体重指数、血小板计数、糖化血红蛋白是老年颈动脉狭窄患者伴发MCI的危险因素。     

轻度认知损伤患者异质性特点的研究

目的研究有轻度认知损伤的人群中可能存在的不同亚型,以便为轻度认知损伤患者的临床转归及痴呆的早期干预提供依据。方法选取简易智能状态检查、临床记忆量表、词语流畅性、数字广度、画钟表和相似性测验,从10个不同认知领域利用心理测评结果对58例轻度认知损伤患者进行聚类分析。所有轻度认知损伤患者可聚为3类,分别为36例、14例和8例。结果在3个类别之间有5项认知功能(临床记忆量表、画钟表测验、词语流畅性测验、数字广度测验、相似性测验)差异有显著性意义。结论在轻度认知损伤患者中可能主要存在三种亚型,一是以单纯记忆功能减退为主;二是多个认知领域轻度损伤;三是以非记忆功能减退为主;不同亚型的认知损伤范围和临床转归不同。     

Comparison of the quick mild cognitive impairment (Qmci) screen and the SMMSE in screening for mild cognitive impairment

Introduction: differentiating mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from normal cognition (NC) is difficult. The AB Cognitive Screen (ABCS) 135, sensitive in differentiating MCI from dementia, was modified to improve sensitivity and specificity, producing the quick mild cognitive impairment (Qmci) screen. Objective: this study compared the sensitivity and specificity of the Qmci with the Standardised MMSE and ABCS 135, to differentiate NC, MCI and dementia. Methods: weightings and subtests of the ABCS 135 were changed and a new section 'logical memory' added, creating the Qmci. From four memory clinics in Ontario, Canada, 335 subjects (154 with MCI, 181 with dementia) were recruited and underwent comprehensive assessment. Caregivers, attending with the subjects, without cognitive symptoms, were recruited as controls (n?=?630). Results: the Qmci was more sensitive than the SMMSE and ABCS 135, in differentiating MCI from NC, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.86 compared with 0.67 and 0.83, respectively, and in differentiating MCI from mild dementia, AUC of 0.92 versus 0.91 and 0.91. The ability of the Qmci to identify MCI was better for those over 75 years. Conclusion: the Qmci is more sensitive than the SMMSE in differentiating MCI and NC, making it a useful test, for MCI in clinical practice, especially for older adults.