Investigating cognition in midlife

Authors

Jan S. Novotný, Translational Aging and Neuroscience Program, Centre for Translational Medicine, International Clinical Research Centre St. Anne's University Hospital Brno Czech Republic.
Juan P. Gonzalez-Rivas, Kardiovize Study, International Clinical Research Centre St. Anne's University Hospital Brno Czech Republic.
Jose R. Medina-Inojosa, Division of Preventive Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USA.
Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, Division of Preventive Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USA.
Yonas E. Geda, Division of Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorders Program Department of Neurology Barrow Neurological Institute Phoenix Arizona USA.Follow
Gorazd B. Stokin, Translational Aging and Neuroscience Program, Centre for Translational Medicine, International Clinical Research Centre St. Anne's University Hospital Brno Czech Republic.

Document Type

Article

Abstract

We here posit that measurements of midlife cognition can be instructive in understanding cognitive disorders. Even though molecular events signal possible onset of cognitive disorders decades prior to their clinical diagnoses, cognition and its possible early changes in midlife remain poorly understood. We characterize midlife cognition in a cognitively healthy population-based sample using the Cogstate Brief Battery and test for associations with cardiovascular, adiposity-related, lifestyle-associated, and psychosocial variables. Learning and working memory showed significant variability and vulnerability to psychosocial influences in midlife. Furthermore, midlife aging significantly and progressively increased prevalence of suboptimal cognitive performance. Our findings suggest that physiological changes in cognition, measured with simple tests suitable for use in everyday clinical setting, may signal already in midlife the first clinical manifestations of the presymptomatic biologically defined cognitive disorders. This pilot study calls for longitudinal studies investigating midlife cognition to identify clinical correlates of biologically defined cognitive disorders.

Publication Date

1-1-2021

Publication Title

Alzheimer's & dementia (New York, N. Y.)

E-ISSN

2352-8737

Volume

7

Issue

1

First Page

e12234

PubMed ID

35005209

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1002/trc2.12234

Recommended Citation

Novotný, Jan S.; Gonzalez-Rivas, Juan P.; Medina-Inojosa, Jose R.; Lopez-Jimenez, Francisco; Geda, Yonas E.; and Stokin, Gorazd B., "Investigating cognition in midlife" (2021). Neurology. 1224.
https://scholar.barrowneuro.org/neurology/1224