Journal Articles

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    Effects of APOE e4-allele and mental work demands on cognitive decline in old age: Results from the German Study on Ageing, Cognition, and Dementia in Primary Care Patients (AgeCoDe)
    (John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 2021-01) Rodriguez FS; Roehr S; Pabst A; Kleineidam L; Fuchs A; Wiese B; Lühmann D; Brettschneider C; Wolfsgruber S; Pentzek M; van den Bussche H; König H-H; Weyerer S; Werle J; Bickel H; Weeg D; Maier W; Scherer M; Wagner M; Riedel-Heller SG
    Objectives Previous studies have observed protective effects of high mental demands at work on cognitive functioning and dementia risk. However, it is unclear what types of demands drive this effect and whether this effect is subject to a person's genetic risk. We investigated to what extent eight different types of mental demands at work together with the APOE e4 allele, a major risk gene for late-onset Alzheimer's disease, affect cognitive functioning in late life. Methods/Design The population-based German Study on Ageing, Cognition, and Dementia in Primary Care Patients (AgeCoDe, n = 2 154) followed cognitively healthy individuals aged 75 years and older in seven assessment waves. Cognitive functioning was assessed via the mini-mental status examination. Results Mixed-effects modeling (adjusted for education, gender, marital status, stroke, depression, and diabetes) indicated that participants who had an occupational history of working in jobs with high compared to low demands in “Language & Knowledge”, “Pattern detection”, “Information processing”, and “Service” had a slower cognitive decline. APOE e4-allele carriers had an accelerated cognitive decline, but this decline was significantly smaller if they had a medium compared to a low level of demands in contrast to non-carriers. Conclusions Our longitudinal observations suggest that cognitive decline could be slowed by an intellectually enriched lifestyle even in risk gene carriers. Fostering intellectual engagement throughout the life-course could be a key prevention initiative to promote better cognitive health in old age.
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    Prospective Associations between Single Foods, Alzheimer’s Dementia and Memory Decline in the Elderly
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2018-07) Fischer K; Melo van Lent D; Wolfsgruber S; Weinhold L; Kleineidam L; Bickel H; Scherer M; Eisele M; van den Bussche H; Wiese B; König H-H; Weyerer S; Pentzek M; Röhr S; Maier W; Jessen F; Schmid M; Riedel-Heller SG; Wagner M
    Background: Evidence whether single “cognitive health” foods could prevent cognitive decline is limited. We investigated whether dietary intake of red wine, white wine, coffee, green tea, olive oil, fresh fish, fruits and vegetables, red meat and sausages, assessed by a single-food-questionnaire, would be associated with either incident Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) or verbal memory decline. Methods: Participants aged 75+ of the German Study on Aging, Cognition and Dementia in Primary Care Patients (AgeCoDe) cohort were regularly followed over 10 years (n = 2622; n = 418 incident AD cases). Multivariable-adjusted joint modeling of repeated-measures and survival analysis was used, taking gender and Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE ε4) genotype into account as possible effect modifiers. Results: Only higher red wine intake was associated with a lower incidence of AD (HR = 0.92; P = 0.045). Interestingly, this was true only for men (HR = 0.82; P < 0.001), while in women higher red wine intake was associated with a higher incidence of AD (HR = 1.15; P = 0.044), and higher white wine intake with a more pronounced memory decline over time (HR = −0.13; P = 0.052). Conclusion: We found no evidence for these single foods to be protective against cognitive decline, with the exception of red wine, which reduced the risk for AD only in men. Women could be more susceptible to detrimental effects of alcohol.
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    Association of mental demands in the workplace with cognitive function in older adults at increased risk for dementia
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2021-12-10) Zülke AE; Luppa M; Röhr S; Weißenborn M; Bauer A; Samos F-AZ; Kühne F; Zöllinger I; Döhring J; Brettschneider C; Oey A; Czock D; Frese T; Gensichen J; Haefeli WE; Hoffmann W; Kaduszkiewicz H; König H-H; Thyrian JR; Wiese B; Riedel-Heller SG
    Objectives Growing evidence suggests a protective effect of high mental demands at work on cognitive function in later life. However, evidence on corresponding associations in older adults at increased risk for dementia is currently lacking. This study investigates the association between mental demands at work and cognitive functioning in the population of the AgeWell.de-trial. Methods Cross-sectional investigation of the association between global cognitive functioning (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) and mental demands at work in older individuals at increased risk for dementia (Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE)score ≥ 9; n = 941, age: 60–77 years). Occupational information was matched to Occupational Information Network (O*NET)-descriptors. Associations between cognitive function and O*NET-indices executive, verbal and novelty were investigated using generalized linear models. Results Higher values of index verbal (b = .69, p = .002) were associated with better cognitive function when adjusting for covariates. No association was observed for indices executive (b = .37, p = .062) and novelty (b = .45, p = .119). Higher education, younger age, and employment were linked to better cognitive function, while preexisting medical conditions did not change the associations. Higher levels of depressive symptomatology were associated with worse cognitive function. Conclusions Higher levels of verbal demands at work were associated with better cognitive function for older adults with increased dementia risk. This suggests an advantage for older persons in jobs with high mental demands even after retirement and despite prevalent risk factors. Longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm these results and evaluate the potential of workplaces to prevent cognitive decline through increased mental demands.
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    AgeWell.de – study protocol of a pragmatic multi-center cluster-randomized controlled prevention trial against cognitive decline in older primary care patients
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2019-08-01) Zülke A; Luck T; Pabst A; Hoffmann W; Thyrian JR; Gensichen J; Kaduszkiewicz H; König H-H; Haefeli WE; Czock D; Wiese B; Frese T; Röhr S; Riedel-Heller SG
    Background In the absence of treatment options, the WHO emphasizes the identification of effective prevention strategies as a key element to counteract the dementia epidemic. Regarding the complex nature of dementia, trials simultaneously targeting multiple risk factors should be particularly effective for prevention. So far, however, only few such multi-component trials have been launched, but yielding promising results. In Germany, comparable initiatives are lacking, and translation of these complex interventions into routine care was not yet done. Therefore, AgeWell.de will be conducted as the first multi-component prevention trial in Germany which is closely linked to the primary care setting. Methods AgeWell.de will be designed as a multi-centric, cluster-randomized controlled multi-component prevention trial. Participants will be older community-dwelling general practitioner (GP) patients (60–77 years; n = 1,152) with increased dementia risk according to CAIDE (Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia) Dementia Risk Score. Recruitment will take place at 5 study sites across Germany. GP practices will be randomized to either intervention A (advanced) or B (basic). GPs will be blinded to their respective group assignment, as will be the statistician conducting the randomization. The multi-component intervention (A) includes nutritional counseling, physical activity, cognitive training, optimization of medication, management of vascular risk factors, social activity, and, if necessary, further specific interventions targeting grief and depression. Intervention B includes general health advice on the intervention components and GP treatment as usual. We hypothesize that over the 2-year follow-up period the intervention group A will benefit significantly from the intervention program in terms of preserved cognitive function/delayed cognitive decline (primary outcome), and other relevant (secondary) outcomes (e.g. quality of life, social activities, depressive symptomatology, cost-effectiveness). Discussion AgeWell.de will be the first multi-component trial targeting risk of cognitive decline in older adults in Germany. Compared to previous trials, AgeWell.de covers an even broader set of interventions suggested to be beneficial for the intended outcomes. The findings will add substantial knowledge on modifiable lifestyle factors to prevent or delay cognitive decline. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register (reference number: DRKS00013555).
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    Mild cognitive impairment and quality of life in the oldest old: a closer look
    (Springer Nature Switzerland AG, 2020-06) Hussenoeder FS; Conrad I; Roehr S; Fuchs A; Pentzek M; Bickel H; Moesch E; Weyerer S; Werle J; Wiese B; Mamone S; Brettschneider C; Heser K; Kleineidam L; Kaduszkiewicz H; Eisele M; Maier W; Wagner M; Scherer M; König H-H; Riedel-Heller SG
    Purpose Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a widespread phenomenon, especially affecting older individuals. We will analyze in how far MCI affects different facets of quality of life (QOL). Methods We used a sample of 903 participants (110 with MCI) from the fifth follow-up of the German Study on Ageing, Cognition, and Dementia in Primary Care Patients (AgeCoDe), a prospective longitudinal study, to analyze the effects of MCI on different facets of the WHOQOL-OLD. We controlled for age, gender, marital status, education, living situation, daily living skills, and the ability to walk, see, and hear. Results Univariate analyses showed that individuals with MCI exhibited lower QOL with regard to the facets autonomy; past, present, and future activities; social participation; and intimacy, but less fears related to death and dying. No significant difference was shown with regard to the facet sensory abilities. In multivariate analyses controlling for age, gender, marital status, education, living situation, daily living skills, and the ability to walk, see and hear, MCI-status was significantly associated with QOL in the facet autonomy. Conclusion Effects of MCI go beyond cognition and significantly impact the lives of those affected. Further research and practice will benefit from utilizing specific facets of QOL rather than a total score.