title: Clinical and Cognitive Correlates of Structural Hippocampal Change in "At-Risk" Older Adults.
abstract: With estimates of dementia expected to rise over the coming decades, there is interest in understanding the factors associated with promoting neuroprotection and limiting neurodegeneration. In this study, we examined the change in the volume of the hippocampus over a 2-month period in 34 older people "at risk" of cognitive decline (mean age = 66.8 years, 38% male). Factors that were examined included cognitive reserve, neuropsychological functioning, depression as well as a lifestyle (cognitive training) intervention. The results showed that over a 2-month period, increases in hippocampal size were associated with having higher premorbid intellect, greater occupational attainment, superior memory, and higher levels of functioning. Conversely, depression and disability were associated with decreases in hippocampal volume. Cognitive training was not associated with changes in hippocampal volume. These findings suggest that factors associated with cognitive reserve, cognition and depression may play an integral pathophysiological role in determining hippocampal volumes in "at-risk" older adults.
authors.affiliation: Healthy Brain Ageing Clinic, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Emma L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Elcombe
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Unit, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lagopoulos
authors.affiliation: Healthy Brain Ageing Clinic, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Loren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mowszowski
authors.affiliation: Healthy Brain Ageing Clinic, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Keri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Diamond
authors.affiliation: Healthy Brain Ageing Clinic, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paradise
authors.affiliation: Healthy Brain Ageing Clinic, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Clinical Research Unit, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Ian B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Hickie
authors.affiliation: Healthy Brain Ageing Clinic, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Simon J G
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Healthy Brain Ageing Clinic, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Clinical Research Unit, Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia sharon.naismith@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Naismith
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001315:Australia; D003071:Cognition; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003704:Dementia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009520:New Zealand; D016037:Single-Blind Method
keywords: cognitive training; depression; hippocampus; magnetic resonance imaging; mild cognitive impairment; older adults