认知老化及教育因素影响的研究

目的研究认知功能年老化过程及教育因素的影响。方法在已报告年龄和教育因素对１２项认知作业影响的基础上,进一步报告８项认知作业的实验结果,并综合分析上述２０项认知作业受年龄和教育的影响。结果（１）记忆受年龄和教育的双重影响,但当记忆测验的难度较小时,则表现出受年龄或教育的影响;（２）归纳推理和运算能力主要受教育的影响明显;（３）空间定向能力可能与年龄及教育的关系不大;（４）认知速度随年老明显减慢,并受教育的显著影响,且年龄与教育之间存在明显的交互作用。结论不同认知能力的老化过程及教育的影响是不相同的,认知速度对于评价认知老化程度有重要价值。     

认识老化及教育因素影响的研究

目的 研究认识功能老年化过程及教育因素的影响。方法 在已报告年龄和教育因素对１２项认识作业影响的基础上，进一步报告８项认识作业的实验结果，并综合分析上述２０项认识作业受年龄和教育的影响。结果 （１）记忆受老年和教育的双重影响，但当记忆测验的难度较小时，则表现出受年龄或教育的影响；（２）归纳推理和运算能力主要受教育的影响明显；（３）空间定向能力可能与年龄及教育的关系不大；（４）认识速度随年龄老年明显     

执行衰退假说及其行为学研究策略

执行衰退假说（executive decline hypothesis）是近年来认知年老化研究领域内一个新兴的理论，该理论主要关注执行功能与大脑额叶皮层的关系，以及执行功能在认知年老化过程中的作用。具体来说有两层含义：第一，在排除一般性认知（大脑）衰退的基础上，仍存在执行（额叶）功能特异性的随龄衰退；第二，执行（额叶）功能的降低是引起人们日常复杂认知功能（记忆、学习、推理）随龄衰退的主要原因。然而，在随后的认知行为学研究中，特别是考虑了加工速度指标后，却遇到了很大的困难。本文较详细地介绍执行衰退假说的神经生物学背景，并在Salthouse（2001）五阶段分析策略的基础上，提出了一套新的认知行为学研究策略，从而对执行功能和加工速度在认知年老化过程中的作用进行客观的评价。     

遗忘型轻度认知障碍和轻度阿尔茨海默病的认知损害特征研究

目的明确遗忘型轻度认知障碍（amnesia-mild cognitive impairment,a-MCI）患者和轻度阿尔茨海默病（alzheimer＇s disease,AD）患者的认知损害特征。方法对13例a-MCI患者、22例轻度AD患者和37例正常对照进行全面的认知测查,除简易精神状态检查（mini-mental state examination,MMSE）外,测验可覆盖4个认知域：记忆力、信息处理速度、执行功能、视空间结构能力,进行组间比较。结果 3组患者在年龄、受教育程度及性别组成上匹配。轻度AD组的所有认知测验成绩都差于正常对照组,而且多数测验较a-MCI组也有减退。a-MCI组的MMSE、记忆相关测验以及多个执行功能相关测验结果都差于正常对照组,信息处理速度和视空间结构能力相关测验与对照组间无统计学差异。结论轻度AD患者表现为全面的认知功能减退。a-MCI患者除存在显著的记忆障碍外,还存在执行功能的异常,信息处理速度和视空间结构能力尚正常。     

老年高血压病患者认知功能减退的相关因素

目的探讨老年高血压病患者认知功能减退的可能相关因素。方法以200例〉60岁以上高血压病患者为调查对象,了解其临床信息,通过简易智能状态检查量表（MMSE）、画钟试验（CDT）量表测定其认知功能,并对患者的相关资料进行分析。结果200例老年高血压病患者中出现认知功能减退者为59例（29．5％）。单因素分析结果显示,下列因素对高血压病患者认知功能有影响：年龄、性别、教育水平、饮酒、规律运动、血压控制情况以及糖尿病病史。将上述7项因素进行多元logistic回归分析,结果显示：年龄（OR=1．769,95％CI1．014-3．087）、血压控制情况（OR=2．159,95％CI1．358—3．434）、糖尿病（OR=3．925,95％CI2．070—12．961）是老年高血压病患者认知功能减退的危险因素;教育水平（OR=0．145,95％C10．058—0．364）及规律运动（OR=0．197,95％C10．070—0．555）是老年高血压病患者认知功能减退的保护因素。结论高血压病患者认知功能的改变受多方面因素影响。其中年龄增加、血压控制欠佳及患有糖尿病是老年高血压病患者认知功能减退的危险因素;高等教育水平及规律运动是老年高血压病患者认知功能减退的保护因素。     

脑皮质下小血管梗塞后认知功能损害的恢复及其影响因素

目的 研究脑皮质下小血管梗塞（SSVI）后12周认知功能恢复的发生率、行为神经病学特点及认知功能恢复的影响因素。方法 采用前瞻性队列研究方法，选取首次发病，病程〈2周的SSVI患者60例，同时选取日常生活能自理的社区老年人52例作为对照组。SSVI后2和12周采用简易精神状态检查（MMSE）量表与洛文斯顿认知功能成套测验（LOTCA，包括LOTCA总分、定向力、视空间能力及执行功能）进行认知功能评分，并进行神经功能缺损及日常生活能力评价（修订版Barthel指数，MBI）。分析影响各类型认知功能恢复的因素。比较各类型认知功能恢复与未恢复患者日常生活能力的差异。结果 ①SSVI后2周内共有44例患者出现认知功能损害，与SSVI后2周比较，SSVI后12周MMSE、定向力、视空间能力、执行功能评分及LOTCA总分均有所改善，但除定向力评分恢复至对照组水平外（P〉0．05），其余各项评分仍低于对照组水平（P〈0．01）；恢复率分别为36．8％（14／38）、87．5％（14／16）、33．3％（4／12）、26．1％（12／46）及30．2％（13／44）。②多因素Logistic回归分析显示，男性（OR：3．49，95％CI：1．18～7．81）与SSVI后12周MMSE评分有关；受教育程度（初中及其以上，OR=2．53，95％CI：1．23～6．87）及脑白质病变（OR=0．23，95％CI：0．07—0．79）与执行功能评分有关。③与SSVI后2周比较，SSVI后12周NIHSS评分差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；而MBI评分显著提高，差异有统计学：鼓义（P〈0．05）；SSVI后12周，在各类型认知功能中，仅执行功能及LOTCA总分恢复者与未恢复者之间，MBI评分差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论 SSVI后12周各类型的认知功能均有显著的改善。但大部分患者仍存在某一类型的认知功能损害。执行功能的恢复有助于日常生活能力的提高。男性是MMSE总分恢复?     

中老年认知作业速度衰减及其与文化水平的关系

应用二维年龄多作业回归分析方法，研究了７３４名４６～７５岁的脑力劳动者文化水平对老年认知作业速度衰减的影响。结果表明：高、低文化两组四项认知作业速度均随增龄成比例递减，但低文化组较高文化组递减迅速；两文化组认知作业速度年老衰减过程的差异表现为：低文化组在６０岁之前衰减迅速，而高文化组在６０岁后衰减才开始加速；认知作业速度的年老衰减不是同步的，其老化度的分离程度与增龄成正比，与文化水平成反比关系。     

老年及老年前期姿态稳定性的临床研究

目的：探讨老年人姿态稳定性。方法：利用人体重心平衡仪检测314名50岁以上健康老年人姿态稳定性，开眼和闭眼各测一次，经计算机给出各参数。结果：随年龄增大外周面积，轨迹长度，平均速度随着增大。Romberh比值下降（P＜0．05），人体重心分布图中心型比例下降。结论：随年龄老化、姿态调节能力减退，70岁以上更明显。     

北京市老年人躯体功能评价与影响因素分析

目的：评价北京市老年人躯体功能状况，分析影响老年人生活自理能力的危险因素。方法：采用按类分层、随机、整群等距的抽样方法，于1992年抽样调查了城区、郊区及山区55岁以上3257人，1997年进行了随访。老年人生活自理能力评价采用WHO日常生活活动能力量表。结果：北京市老年人群生活安全自理者2079人（74.6％），有IADL功能障碍（轻度生活依赖）531人（19.1％），ADL功能障碍（中重度依赖）176人（6.3％），总依赖率25.4％（标化依赖率19.1％）。农村地区及女性老年人的依赖率高，随增龄依赖率呈线性增高。5年纵向观察显示，老年躯体功能呈双向变化，大部分（73.9％）保持稳定，17.3％功能减退，8.8％的老人功能改善。功能减退的主要原因系慢性病所致，脑卒中是导致功能障碍的最主要疾病，同时也受其他因素如生物、心理、文化、甚至环境因素的影响。结论：积极防治老年常见病，预防功能残疾是减少老年人躯体功能衰退的关键。     

成年甲减大鼠认知行为及其机制研究

目的研究成年甲状腺功能减退大鼠认知行为及其脑组织甲状腺激素受体、乙酰胆碱变化。方法24只成年SD雄性大鼠随机分为两组：甲状腺功能减低组12只（用特制含0．15％丙基硫氧嘧啶的低碘饲料喂养8周）；正常对照组12只（用等量生理盐水灌胃）。各组均于实验终点进行Morris水迷宫认知功能测试（定位航行试验、空间探索试验及工作记忆测试）；碱性羟胺比色法测定脑组织乙酰胆碱含量；受体放射分析法测定脑甲状腺激素受体最大结合容量及亲和力常数。用单因素方差分析比较两组之间各项指标差异。结果两组之间Morris水迷宫测试成绩无明显差异。脑组织甲状腺激素受体最大结合容量甲减组显著升高（P〈0．01）。脑组织乙酰胆碱含量甲减组明显降低（P〈0．001）。结论接受8周丙基硫氧嘧啶处理的甲减大鼠认知能力下降不明显，考虑与脑组织甲状腺激素受体水平呈代偿性增高有关。但是脑组织乙酰胆碱含量降低，提示长期甲减时可能会导致其学习记忆能力下降。     

Rate of cognitive decline in relation to sex after 60 years‐of‐age: A systematic review

Some studies have shown differences in specific cognitive ability domains between the sexes at 60 years‐of‐age. However is important to analyze whether the rate of cognitive decline is also similar between the sexes after this age. The present study examined previously published literature to investigate whether cognitive decline is distinct between men and women after the age of 60 years. A systematic review was carried out with the PubMed, LILACS and PsycINFO databases (2001–2011) using the following search terms: aging, aged, cognitive function, mild cognitive impairment, mental health and cognition. We analyzed longitudinal research that used neuropsychological tests for evaluating cognitive function, showed results separated by sex and that excluded participants with dementia. Elderly women showed better performance in tests of episodic memory, whereas elderly men had a better visuospatial ability. Only one study detected distinct rates of cognitive decline in specific tests between the sexes. Despite differences observed in some domains, most of the studies showed that this rate is similar between the sexes until the age of 80 years. It is unclear whether sex influences the rate of cognitive decline after the age of 80 years. The present review observed that sex does not determine the rate of cognitive decline between 60 and 80 years‐of‐age. The contextual and cultural factors that involve men and women might determine a distinct decline between them, rather than sex alone. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 23–31.     

Different Context but Similar Cognitive Structures: Older Adults in Rural Bangladesh

Most research in cognitive aging is based on literate participants from high-income and Western populations. The extent to which findings generalize to low-income and illiterate populations is unknown. The main aim was to examine the structure of between-person differences in cognitive functions among elderly from rural Bangladesh. We used data from the Poverty and Health in Aging (PHA) project in Bangladesh. The participants (n?=?452) were in the age range 60–92 years. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate the fit of a five-factor model (episodic recall, episodic recognition, verbal fluency, semantic knowledge, processing speed) and to examine whether the model generalized across age, sex, and literacy. This study demonstrates that an established model of cognition is valid also among older persons from rural Bangladesh. The model demonstrated strong (or scalar) invariance for age, and partial strong invariance for sex and literacy. Semantic knowledge and processing speed showed weak (or metric) sex invariance, and semantic knowledge demonstrated also sensitivity to illiteracy. In general, women performed poorer on all abilities. The structure of individual cognitive differences established in Western populations also fits a population in rural Bangladesh well. This is an important prerequisite for comparisons of cognitive functioning (e.g., declarative memory) across cultures. It is also worth noting that absolute sex differences in cognitive performance among rural elderly in Bangladesh differ from those usually found in Western samples.     

Understanding Within-Group Variability of Everyday Cognition in Aging Black/African American Adults: A Mimic (Multiple Indicators,Multiple Causes) Model Approach

Background/Study Context: Everyday cognition represents the ability to solve problems within domains that are representative of issues faced by adults on a daily basis. The current study examined individual differences in everyday cognitive ability among aging Black/African American adults.

Methods: Demographic data on age, gender, education, physical functioning, chronic illnesses, self-reported health, and depression were collected from 248 African American adults (mean age = 67.8 years, standard deviation = 8.47 years). A multiple indicators, multiple causes (MIMIC) modeling approach was used to examine the associations of individual characteristics with latent everyday cognitive ability and composite score indicators.

Results: Age, depressive symptoms, and number of chronic illnesses were negatively related to latent everyday cognition. The individual characteristics of age, depressive symptoms, self-rated health, and education were directly associated with composite indicators of latent everyday cognition. This suggests that within this sample of older Black/African American adults that certain composite scores (i.e., telephone use, food preparation, and finances) may be particularly sensitive to these individual characteristics.

Conclusion: These results identify specific sources of variability in everyday cognitive ability among aging Blacks/African Americans. These individual differences should be accounted for when studying everyday cognition among Blacks/African Americans and when comparing the everyday cognitive ability of Blacks/African Americans with other groups.     

Cross-sectionally and Longitudinally Balanced Effects of Processing Speed on Intellectual Abilities

The processing speed theory of cognitive aging states that declines in intellectual abilities other than processing speed are mainly due to a slowing of processing speed. Cross-sectional studies have provided support for the processing speed theory as for age-related cognitive differences. Longitudinal studies, in turn, have provided weaker support for the processing speed theory as for cognitive age changes. The present study aims to reconcile this discrepancy of cross-sectional and longitudinal results by constructing a "fair" test of the processing speed theory, i.e., a test that balances the cross-sectional age range and the time period covered longitudinally. Data from 83 older adults came from the Bonn Longitudinal Study on Aging. Using hierarchical linear models, it is shown that, although cross-sectional age differences and longitudinal changes in the intellectual abilities were equal, processing speed only attenuated cross-sectional age effects in cognition but virtually did not reduce longitudinal change effects in cognition. This persisting difference in the explanatory power of processing speed regarding age-related differences and age-related changes is discussed with reference to other longitudinal studies and statistical issues regarding cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of aging.     

Cross-sectionally and longitudinally balanced effects of processing speed on intellectual abilities

The processing speed theory of cognitive aging states that declines in intellectual abilities other than processing speed are mainly due to a slowing of processing speed. Cross-sectional studies have provided support for the processing speed theory as for age-related cognitive differences. Longitudinal studies, in turn, have provided weaker support for the processing speed theory as for cognitive age changes. The present study aims to reconcile this discrepancy of cross-sectional and longitudinal results by constructing a "fair" test of the processing speed theory, i.e., a test that balances the cross-sectional age range and the time period covered longitudinally. Data from 83 older adults came from the Bonn Longitudinal Study on Aging. Using hierarchical linear models, it is shown that, although cross-sectional age differences and longitudinal changes in the intellectual abilities were equal, processing speed only attenuated cross-sectional age effects in cognition but virtually did not reduce longitudinal change effects in cognition. This persisting difference in the explanatory power of processing speed regarding age-related differences and age-related changes is discussed with reference to other longitudinal studies and statistical issues regarding cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of aging.     

Quantitative genetic analysis of biobehavioral markers of aging in Swedish studies of adult twins

OBJECTIVES. This article will examine the generalizability of markers of aging across samples and cultures and the genetic and environmental influences on them. METHODS. As part of two studies, 18 demographic, cognitive, physiological, personality, and behavioral variables were available from 459 twin pairs ranging in age from 40 to 90 years. Twelve markers of aging were identified using stepwise regression. Factor analysis of the markers produced four factors: general knowledge, fluid abilities, cardiovascular functioning, and well-being. RESULTS. Analysis of twin similarity for the factors suggested that genetic and environmental influences varied greatly. Significant age differences in heritability were found for three of the four factors. DISCUSSION. Results indicate one aging theory cannot account for changes in all markers of aging. Aging of various systems occurs as a result of different combinations of genetic and environmental influences.     

Reliance on visible speech cues during multimodal language processing: individual and age differences

The current study demonstrates that when a strong inhibition process is invoked during multimodal (auditory-visual) language understanding: older adults perform worse than younger adults, visible speech does not benefit language-processing performance, and individual differences in measures of working memory for language do not predict performance. In contrast, in a task that does not invoke inhibition: adult age differences in performance are not obtained, visible speech benefits language performance, and individual differences in working memory predict performance. The results offer support for a framework for investigating multimodal language processing that incorporates assumptions about general information processing, individual differences in working memory capacity, and adult cognitive aging.     

Age-related deficits in cognitive functioning are not mediated by time of day

Few studies have examined whether cognitive performance of adults is influenced by the time of day in which they are tested. It has been suggested (May, Hasher, & Zacks, 1993) that some of the reported age differences in performance may be attenuated when older adults are tested during their optimal time, and younger adults are tested during their nonoptimal time. A total of 100 adults (20 to 78 years of age) participated in this study to investigate whether time of day and/or age are significant predictors of cognitive performance. Three tasks measuring crystallized and fluid types of abilities were employed. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that age was a significant predictor for two of the tasks, whereas time of day of testing did not predict performance for any of the three types of tasks. The results suggest that time of day influences may be limited to specific types of cognitive abilities.     

Aging affects executive functions and memory in mouse lemur primates

The decline of cognitive capacities with age in mouse lemur primates (Microcebus murinus) was assessed. Eight young adults (2-4 years) and nine aged adults (7-11 years) were examined on tasks designed to measure executive functions, procedural and declarative memory. The mouse lemurs were tested on the go-no go successive discrimination task, set shifting tasks (including extra-dimensional shift and reversal discrimination) and a spatial rule-guided discrimination task. There were four major findings. First, the deficits observed were not global but only on specific tasks indicating that only specific cognitive abilities are impaired with aging. Second, there were variations among aged subjects suggesting different patterns of cognitive aging. Third, alterations in cognitive abilities with aging in mouse lemurs seemed to be comparable to those described in aged monkeys and humans. Indeed, executive functions and declarative memory were affected in subpopulations of aged subjects whereas procedural memory remained intact in all the tested aged subjects. Finally, two forms of executive dysfunctions were distinguished among the aged subjects. The ultimate goal is to correlate age-related cognitive deficit with brain alterations and this study has helped to select candidate regions to be thoroughly scrutinized in aged mouse lemurs.     

Cytomegalovirus Immunity,Inflammation and Cognitive Abilities in the Elderly

Reducing the socioeconomic toll from age-related physical and mental morbidities requires better understanding of factors affecting healthy aging. While many environmental, lifestyle, and genetic factors affect healthy aging, this study addressed the influence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and immunity on age-related inflammation and cognitive abilities. Healthy adults 70–90 years old were recruited into a prospective study investigating relationships between anti-CMV immunity, markers of inflammation, baseline measures of cognitive ability, and changes in cognitive ability over 18 months. Humoral and cellular responses against CMV, levels of inflammatory markers, and cognitive abilities were measured at study entry, with measurement of cognitive abilities repeated 18 months later. CMV-seropositive and -seronegative sub-groups were compared, and relationships between anti-CMV immunity, markers of inflammation, and cognitive ability were assessed. Twenty-eight of 39 participants were CMV-seropositive, and two had CMV-specific CD8⁺ T cell responses indicative of CMV immune memory inflation. No significant differences for markers of inflammation or measures of cognitive ability were observed between groups, and cognitive scores changed little over 18 months. Significant correlations between markers of inflammation and cognitive scores with interconnection between anti-CMV antibody levels, fractalkine, cognitive ability, and depression scores suggest areas of focus for future studies.