Education, atrophy, and cognitive change in an epidemiological sample in early old age.
OBJECTIVE
To examine one version of the brain reserve hypothesis in a community sample of young-old participants. The authors investigated whether atrophy and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) were associated with cognitive decline, and whether this relationship was modified by the endowment of greater "reserve" as measured by years of education and brain size (intracranial volume ICV).


METHODS
Longitudinal cohort study with 4-year follow-up.


METHODS
A community sample of 416 adults aged 60-64 years at baseline.


METHODS
Years of education and brain size were examined as measures of brain reserve. The association between these measures and brain atrophy and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on magnetic resonance imaging and change in cognitive function over 4 years was determined.


RESULTS
Changes in cognitive test scores over 4 years had no correlation with years of education, atrophy, WMH, or ICV. There was no interaction of atrophy or level of WMH with education or brain size on cognitive change.


CONCLUSIONS
In a young-old sample, there is no direct evidence to support the brain reserve hypothesis as operationalized in this study. WMH and atrophy were not associated with cognitive change.
Christensen
Helen
H
Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia. helen.christensen@anu.edu.au
Batterham
Philip J
PJ
Mackinnon
Andrew J
AJ
Anstey
Kaarin J
KJ
Wen
Wei
W
Sachdev
Perminder S
PS
D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001284:Atrophy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001315:Australia; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009929:Organ Size