Investigating cognition in midlife

Jan S. Novotný, Juan P. Gonzalez-Rivas, Jose R. Medina-Inojosa, Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, Yonas E. Geda, Gorazd B. Stokin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere12234
JournalAlzheimer's and Dementia: Translational Research and Clinical Interventions
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

Keywords

  • cognitive disorders
  • cognitive performance
  • midlife cognition
  • psychosocial variables
  • quality of life
  • suboptimal cognition

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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