The Risk Factors of Neurocognitive Dysfunction

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Neuropsychology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 November 2021) | Viewed by 17455

Special Issue Editor

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
Interests: cognitive aging; Alzheimer’s disease; mild cognitive impairment; disability; frailty; exercise training; cognitive training; socialization; cardiovascular risk factors; rehabilitation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, most countries have rising life expectancy and an ageing population. The aged population is currently at its highest level in human history. The number of people aged 60 years and over has tripled since 1950, and it is projected to reach over 2.1 billion by 2050. Since increasing age is defined as a time-dependent decline in physiological function, it is also the most common risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Thus, most people affected by AD and related dementias are 65 years of age or older. It is estimated that at least 50 million people have AD or other dementias worldwide—approximately the population of Columbia. There is no cure for AD, but treatments for symptoms are available and research continues to target key risk factors that are associated with neurocognitive dysfunction. Individuals with certain health conditions (i.e., diabetes) and disabilities (i.e., Down syndrome) and from a specific race are at higher risk of developing AD including at an early age.

This Special Issue will present the most current research and discuss various risk factors including biomarkers, race, gender, psychological, behavioral, and lifestyle factors that have been shown to be associated with neurocognitive dysfunction in various clinical populations (chronic diseases, disabilities, aging, etc.). Contributions that provide novel approaches for modifiable risks and protective factors that positively impact cognitive function across the lifespan with the goal of increasing the person’s healthspan are encouraged.

Dr. Patricia Heyn
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • neurocognitive dysfunction
  • cognition
  • cognitive decline
  • cognitive impairment
  • mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
  • brain
  • risk factors
  • race
  • gender
  • biomarkers
  • neurodegenerative disorders
  • dementia
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • healthy lifestyle
  • exercise
  • nutrition
  • brain training
  • health
  • healthspan
  • neuroimaging

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 300 KiB  
Article
Association between ApoE ε4 Carrier Status and Cardiovascular Risk Factors on Mild Cognitive Impairment among Mexican Older Adults
by Sara G. Aguilar-Navarro, Itzel I. Gonzalez-Aparicio, José Alberto Avila-Funes, Teresa Juárez-Cedillo, Teresa Tusié-Luna and Alberto Jose Mimenza-Alvarado
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(1), 68; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11010068 - 07 Jan 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2288
Abstract
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (amnestic or non-amnestic) has different clinical and neuropsychological characteristics, and its evolution is heterogeneous. Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF), such as hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia, and the presence of the Apolipoprotein E ε4 (ApoE ε4) polymorphism have been associated with [...] Read more.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (amnestic or non-amnestic) has different clinical and neuropsychological characteristics, and its evolution is heterogeneous. Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF), such as hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia, and the presence of the Apolipoprotein E ε4 (ApoE ε4) polymorphism have been associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias but the relationship is inconsistent worldwide. We aimed to establish the association between the ApoE ε4 carrier status and CVRF on MCI subtypes (amnestic and non-amnestic) in Mexican older adults. Cross-sectional study including 137 older adults (n = 63 with normal cognition (NC), n = 24 with amnesic, and n = 50 with non-amnesic MCI). Multinomial logistic regression models were performed in order to determine the association between ApoE ε4 polymorphism carrier and CVRF on amnestic and non-amnestic-MCI. ApoE ε4 carrier status was present in 28.8% participants. The models showed that ApoE ε4 carrier status was not associated neither aMCI nor naMCI condition. The interaction term ApoE ε4 × CVRF was not statistically significant for both types of MCI. However, CVRF were associated with both types of MCI and the association remained statistically significant after adjustment by sex, age, and education level. The carrier status of the ApoE genotype does not contribute to this risk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Risk Factors of Neurocognitive Dysfunction)

Review

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20 pages, 3055 KiB  
Review
Relationship between Arterial Hypertension with Cognitive Performance in Elderly. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by José Miguel Sánchez-Nieto, Uriel Dagoberto Rivera-Sánchez and Víctor Manuel Mendoza-Núñez
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(11), 1445; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11111445 - 29 Oct 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1845
Abstract
Background: Previous systematic reviews report that arterial hypertension (AHT) is associated with lower performance in cognition in the elderly. However, some studies show that with higher blood pressure, a better cognitive performance is obtained. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine [...] Read more.
Background: Previous systematic reviews report that arterial hypertension (AHT) is associated with lower performance in cognition in the elderly. However, some studies show that with higher blood pressure, a better cognitive performance is obtained. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between AHT with cognitive performance in the elderly. Methods: the review involved a search on PubMed, Scopus and PsycINFO databases from January 1990 to March, 2020 to identify the relationship among AHT and cognitive performance in older people. Results: 1170 articles were identified, 136 complete papers were reviewed, a qualitative analysis of 26 studies and a quantitative analysis of eight studies were carried out. It was found that people with AHT have a lower performance in processing speed SMD = 0.40 (95% CI: 0.25, 0.54), working memory SMD = 0.28 (95% CI: 0.15, 0.41) in short-term memory and learning SMD = −0.27 (95% CI: −0.37, −0.17) and delayed recall SMD = −0.20 (95% CI: −0.35, −0.05). Only one study found that higher blood pressure was associated with better memory performance. Conclusion: Our results suggest that high blood pressure primarily affects processing speed, working memory, short-term memory and learning and delayed recall. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Risk Factors of Neurocognitive Dysfunction)
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19 pages, 385 KiB  
Review
HIV Infection and Related Mental Disorders
by Marina Nosik, Vyacheslav Lavrov and Oxana Svitich
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(2), 248; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11020248 - 17 Feb 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2801
Abstract
Over the more than thirty-year period of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) epidemic, many data have been accumulated indicating that HIV infection predisposes one to the development of mental pathologies. It has been proven that cognitive disorders in HIV-positive individuals are [...] Read more.
Over the more than thirty-year period of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) epidemic, many data have been accumulated indicating that HIV infection predisposes one to the development of mental pathologies. It has been proven that cognitive disorders in HIV-positive individuals are the result of the direct exposure of the virus to central nervous system (CNS) cells. The use of antiretroviral therapy has significantly reduced the number of cases of mental disorders among people infected with HIV. However, the incidence of moderate to mild cognitive impairment at all stages of HIV infection is still quite high. This review describes the most common forms of mental pathology that occur in people living with HIV and presents the current concepts on the possible pathogenetic mechanisms of the influence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) and its viral proteins on the cells of the CNS and the CNS’s functions. This review also provides the current state of knowledge on the impact of the antiretroviral therapy on the development of mental pathologies in people living with HIV, as well as current knowledge on the interactions between antiretroviral and psychotropic drugs that occur under their simultaneous administration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Risk Factors of Neurocognitive Dysfunction)
26 pages, 695 KiB  
Review
Screening of Cognitive Changes in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review
by Andreia F. Paiva, Adam Nolan, Charlotte Thumser and Flávia H. Santos
Brain Sci. 2020, 10(11), 848; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci10110848 - 12 Nov 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5471
Abstract
Background and Aims: Screening and assessment of cognitive changes in adults with Intellectual Disabilities (ID), mainly Down Syndrome (DS), is crucial to offer appropriate services to their needs. We present a systematic review of the existing instruments assessing dementia, aiming to support researchers [...] Read more.
Background and Aims: Screening and assessment of cognitive changes in adults with Intellectual Disabilities (ID), mainly Down Syndrome (DS), is crucial to offer appropriate services to their needs. We present a systematic review of the existing instruments assessing dementia, aiming to support researchers and clinicians’ best practice. Methods: Searches were carried out in the databases Web of Science; PubMed; PsycINFO in March 2019 and updated in October 2020. Studies were selected and examined if they: (1) focused on assessing age-related cognitive changes in persons with ID; (2) included adults and/or older adults; (3) included scales and batteries for cognitive assessment. Results: Forty-eight cross-sectional studies and twenty-seven longitudinal studies were selected representing a total sample of 6451 participants (4650 DS and 1801 with other ID). In those studies, we found 39 scales, questionnaires, and inventories, and 13 batteries for assessing cognitive and behavioural changes in adults with DS and other ID. Conclusion: The most used instrument completed by an informant or carer was the Dementia Questionnaire for Learning Disabilities (DLD), and its previous versions. We discuss the strengths and limitations of the instruments and outline recommendations for future use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Risk Factors of Neurocognitive Dysfunction)
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Other

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7 pages, 229 KiB  
Brief Report
Association of Anxiety Awareness with Risk Factors of Cognitive Decline in MCI
by Ariela Gigi and Merav Papirovitz
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(2), 135; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11020135 - 21 Jan 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1737
Abstract
Studies demonstrate that anxiety is a risk factor for cognitive decline. However, there are also study findings regarding anxiety incidence among people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which mostly examined general anxiety evaluated by subjective questionnaires. This study aimed to compare subjective and [...] Read more.
Studies demonstrate that anxiety is a risk factor for cognitive decline. However, there are also study findings regarding anxiety incidence among people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which mostly examined general anxiety evaluated by subjective questionnaires. This study aimed to compare subjective and objective anxiety (using autonomic measures) and anxiety as a general tendency and anxiety as a reaction to memory examination. Participants were 50 adults aged 59–82 years who were divided into two groups: MCI group and control group, according to their objective cognitive performance in the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. Objective changes in the anxiety response were measured by skin conductivity in all tests and questionnaires. To evaluate subjective anxiety as a reaction to memory loss, a questionnaire on “state-anxiety” was used immediately after completing memory tests. Our main finding was that although both healthy and memory-impaired participants exhibited elevations in physiological arousal during the memory test, only healthy participants reported an enhanced state anxiety (p = 0.025). Our results suggest that people with MCI have impaired awareness of their emotional state. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Risk Factors of Neurocognitive Dysfunction)
6 pages, 386 KiB  
Case Report
Differential Expression of Inflammatory Markers in Hypoglycemia Unawareness Associated with Type 1 Diabetes: A Case Report
by Yousef Al Zoubi, Bashair M. Mussa, Ankita Srivastava, Abdul Khader Mohammed, Elamin Abdelgadir, Alaaeldin Bashier, Fatheya Al Awadi and Salah Abusnana
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(1), 17; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11010017 - 25 Dec 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2210
Abstract
The recurrence of hypoglycemic episodes leads to attenuation of the normal counter-regulatory mechanisms that are controlled by the hypothalamus, which results in hypoglycemia unawareness (HU). In this case report, we described for the first time the differential expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and [...] Read more.
The recurrence of hypoglycemic episodes leads to attenuation of the normal counter-regulatory mechanisms that are controlled by the hypothalamus, which results in hypoglycemia unawareness (HU). In this case report, we described for the first time the differential expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ in a blood sample that was taken from a 27-year-old patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) who was diagnosed with HU. The anti-diabetic regimen is currently based on insulin injection, but the patient is planning to start the use of an insulin pump to have better control of glucose levels. Our results showed a trend toward an increase in the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ in T1DM patient with HU. However, the mRNA level of TNF-α showed a significant decrease. These observations suggest that systemic inflammation could be an underlying cause of HU. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Risk Factors of Neurocognitive Dysfunction)
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