The Relationship of Neuropsychological Functioning with Demographic Characteristics, Brain Imaging Findings, and Health in Elderly Individuals
Year: 2000
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Identification of cognitive manifestations of neurological diseases in aged patients depends on our understanding of cognitive changes and their relationship with possible silent brain lesions, characteristic of normal elderly.The aim of present studies was to provide information on demographic factors, brain-behavior relationships, and healthrelated aspects in neurologically healthy elderly individuals in order to provide background information for clinical diagnostic decision making.For the neurological investigation a random sample of persons living at home were invited.From the sample of 338 individuals, aged 55 to 85 years, 120 subjects underwent both magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and neuropsychological testing.A group of 37 individuals were invited to a five-year follow-up study.Significant age-related decline was found in tests that measured speed of performance together with constructional, attentional or psychomotor functions, and visual memory.Most of the neuropsychological test performances were associated with education, especially verbal intellectual functions.Test performances of older subjects were heterogeneous.Besides a group performing on average level, we found a cognitively well-performing group and a group with cognitive impairment.In the follow-up study, memory decline was not related to mild hippocampal atrophy.Instead, white matter hyperintensities of the brain were associated with attention and speed of performance.White matter changes related to hypertension correlated with attention and flexibility.Subjects with white matter changes and cardiac failure were impaired in visual functions, attention and flexibility.The determination of cognitive impairment relies on norms corrected for age and education.However, the results of well educated, and high performing subjects was comparable with performance of younger people.One should study further whether hippocampal atrophy is related to normal age-related memory decline.White matter changes, possibly related to hypertension and cardiac diseases, should be taken into account when differentiating acute cognitive impairment.
Source: Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja
Author: Raija Ylikoski
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2139398609