Cognitive decline before the age of 50 can be detected with sensitive cognitive measures

• Daniel Ferreira ^[1] ; Rut Correia ^[1] ; Antonieta Nieto ^[1] ; Alejandra Machado ; Yaiza Molina ; José Barroso
  1. [1] Universidad de La Laguna

     Universidad de La Laguna

     San Cristóbal de La Laguna, España

     
• Localización: Psicothema, ISSN-e 1886-144X, ISSN 0214-9915, Vol. 27, Nº. 3, 2015, págs. 216-222
• Idioma: inglés
• DOI: 10.7334/psicothema2014.192
• Títulos paralelos:
  • El deterioro cognitivo puede ser detectado antes de los 50 años usando medidas cognitivas sensibles
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Dialnet Métricas: 2 Citas
• Resumen
  • español

    Antecedentes: definir el perfil de cambios cognitivos durante la adultez de mediana edad para identificar medidas sensibles al deterioro cognitivo temprano. Estudiar si estos cambios preceden el deterioro cognitivo presente en la vejez. Método: 141 participantes cognitivamente normales (101 adultos entre 40-50±2 años; y 40 individuos con 65±2 años) fueron evaluados mediante un amplio protocolo neuropsicológico incluyendo velocidad de procesamiento, atención, funciones ejecutivas, memoria episódica verbal y visual, memoria procedimental, funciones visocontructivas, visoperceptivas y visoespaciales, y lenguaje. Resultados: se detectaron cambios cognitivos antes de los 50 años en tiempo de reacción cognitivo, control ejecutivo, adquisición inicial en memoria episódica verbal, funciones visoconstructivas y visoespaciales complejas, y acceso al léxico. Estos cambios precedieron un deterioro cognitivo más extenso evidenciado a la edad de 65 años. Conclusiones: existe una leve disfunción ejecutiva antes de los 50 años, junto con enlentecimiento cognitivo en la transición a la vejez. Este perfil de cambios podría explicarse por un deterioro en el lóbulo frontal y sus conexiones ya desde la adultez de mediana edad. Estos resultados, junto con investigación futura, podrían ser importantes para el diagnóstico, prognosis y prevención del envejecimiento patológico a nivel temprano.

  • English

    Background: To define the profile of age-related differences in cognition in healthy middle-aged adults in order to identify the most sensitive measures of early cognitive decline. To study whether these differences precede cognitive decline in the elderly. Method: 141 cognitively normal participants (101 middle-aged adults with age 40-50±2; and 40 elderly individuals with age 65±2) were assessed with a comprehensive neuropsychological protocol covering processing speed, attention, executive functions, verbal and visual episodic memory, procedural memory, visuoconstructive, visuoperceptive and visuospatial functions, and language. Results: Age-related differences were detected before the age of 50 in cognitive reaction time, executive control, initial learning in verbal episodic memory, complex visuoconstructive and visuospatial functions, and lexical access. These differences preceded more extensive cognitive decline present at the age of 65. Conclusions: Our findings suggest subtle executive dysfunction before the age of 50, together with slowing in processing speed later on in the transition to old age. This profile could be explained by changes in the frontal lobe and its connections, starting at middle-age. These findings, together with future research, may be important for the diagnosis, prognosis, and prevention of pathological aging at a very early level.

• Referencias bibliográficas
  • Ardila, A., Ostrosky-Solis, F., Rosselli, M., & Gómez, C. (2000). Agerelated cognitive decline during normal aging: The complex effect...
  • Baltes, P.B., & Lindenberger, U. (1997). Emergence of a powerful connection between sensory and cognitive functions across the adult life...
  • Benedet, M., & Alejandre, M. (1998). TAVEC: Test de Aprendizaje Verbal España-Complutense. Manual. Madrid: TEA Ediciones.
  • Benton, A., Hamsher, S., Varney, O., & Spreen, N. (1983). Contributions to neuropsychological assessment: A clinical manual. New York:...
  • Benton, A., Hamsher, K., & Sivan, A. (1989). Multilingual aphasia examination (2nd ed.) Iowa City, IA: AJA Associates, University of Iowa.
  • Christensen, A. (1979). Luria’s neuropsychological investigation (2nd ed.). Copenhagen: Munksgaard.
  • Correia, R., Nieto, A., Ferreira, D., Sabucedo, M., & Barroso, J. (2015). Fund of Information is more strongly associated with neuropsychological...
  • D’Elia, L., & Saltz, P. (1989). Color Trail 1 and 2. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.
  • Davidson, P.S., Troyer, A.K., & Moscovitch, M. (2006). Frontal lobe contributions to recognition and recall: linking basic research with...
  • Debette, S., Seshadri, S., Beiser, A., Au, R., Himali, J.J., Palumbo, C., & DeCarli, C. (2011). Midlife vascular risk factor exposure...
  • Ferreira, D., Molina, Y., Machado, A., Westman, E., Wahlund, L-O., Nieto, A., & Barroso, J. (2014). Cognitive decline is mediated by gray...
  • Folstein, M.F., Folstein, S.E., & McHugh, P.R. (1975). “Mini-mental state”. A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients...
  • Gautam, P., Cherbuin, N., Sachdev, P.S., Wen, W., & Anstey, K.J. (2011). Relationships between cognitive function and frontal grey matter...
  • Golden, C. (1978). Stroop Colour and Word Test: A manual for clinical and experimental uses. Chicago: Stoelting. Illinois: Stoelting Company.
  • Gronwall, D. (1977). Paced auditory serial-addition task: A measure of recovery from concussion. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 44, 367-373.
  • Hofer, S.M., & Sliwinski, M.J. (2001). Understanding ageing. An evaluation of research designs for assessing the interdependence of ageing-related...
  • Lezak, M., Howieson, D., & Loring, D. (2004). Neuropsychological assessment (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Luo, L., & Craik, F.I. (2008). Aging and memory: A cognitive approach. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 53, 346-353.
  • Mackay, A., Connor, L., Albert, M., & Obler, L. (2002). Noun and verb retrieval in healthy aging. Journal of the International Neuropsychological...
  • Perneger, T.V. (1998). What’s wrong with Bonferroni adjustments. British Medical Journal, 316, 1236-1238.
  • Piatt, A.L., Fields, J.A., Paolo, A.M., Koller, W.C., & Tröster, A.I. (1999). Lexical, semantic, and action verbal fluency in Parkinson’s...
  • Rao, S.M., Hammeke, T.A., McQuillen, M.P., Khatri, B.O., & Lloyd, D. (1984). Memory disturbance in chronic progressive multiple sclerosis....
  • Reitan, R. (1958). Validity of the trail making test as an indicator of organic brain damage. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 8, 271-276.
  • Salthouse, T.A. (1996). The processing-speed theory of adult age differences in cognition. Psychological Review, 103, 403-428.
  • Salthouse, T.A. (2009). When does age-related cognitive decline begin? Neurobiology of Aging, 30, 507-514.
  • Schuhfried, G. (1992). Vienna Reaction Unit. Manual. Vienna: Schuhfried Ges.m.b.H.
  • Simon, H. (1975). The functional equivalence of problem solving skills. Cognitive Psychology, 7, 268-288.
  • Singh-Manoux, A., Kivimaki, M., Glymour, M.M., Elbaz, A., Berr, C., Ebmeier, K.P., & Dugravot, A. (2012). Timing of onset of cognitive...
  • Sperling, R.A., Aisen, P.S., Beckett, L.A., Bennett, D.D, Craft, S., Fagan, A.M., & Phelps, C.H. (2011). Toward defining the preclinical...
  • Tisserand, D.J., & Jolles, J. (2003). Special issue on the involvement of prefrontal networks in cognitive ageing. Cortex, 39, 1107-1128.
  • Troyer, A., Moscovitch, M., Winocur, G., & Alexander, M.D. (1998). Clustering and switching on verbal fluency: The effects of focal frontal...
  • Wechsler, D. (1997b). Wechsler Memory Scale - Third edition. Technical Manual. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.
  • Wechsler, D. (1997a). Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Administration and Scoring Manual (3rd ed.). San Antonio, TX: The Psychological...
  • West, R. (1996). An application of prefrontal cortex function theory to cognitive aging. Psychological Bulletin, 120, 272-292.
  • West, R. (2000). In defense of the frontal lobe hypothesis of cognitive aging. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 6,...
  • Willis, S.L., Martin, M., & Rocke, C. (2010). Longitudinal perspectives on midlife development: Stability and change. European Journal...
  • Zhou, S-S., Fan, J., Lee, T.M.C., Wang, Ch-Q., & Wang, K. (2011). Agerelated differences in attentional networks of alerting and executive...
  • Zimprich, D., & Mascherek, A. (2010). Five views of a secret: Does cognition change during middle adulthood? European Journal of Ageing,...