The role of cognitive and brain reserve in memory decline and atrophy rate in mid and late-life: The SMART-MR study
UCC-SMART Study Group
(2022) Cortex, volume 148, pp. 204 - 214
(Article)
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Investigate associations of cognitive and brain reserve with trajectories of memory decline in mid-life and late-life, and whether the relationship of memory decline with atrophy differs as a function of reserve. METHODS: Participants were 989 Dutch middle-aged to older adults from the SMART-MR prospective cohort, followed up to 12
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years with up to 3 measurements of memory and brain MRI. Education and Dutch National Adult Reading Test (DART) were used as proxies of cognitive reserve, and intracranial volume (ICV) and baseline brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) for brain reserve. Univariate growth curve models analyzed associations of reserve with memory decline, and multiple-group bivariate growth curve models tested the longitudinal brain-memory relationship as a function of reserve. Models were additionally stratified by mid-life and late-life. RESULTS: Higher DART, education, and BPF were related to a slower rate of memory decline, particularly in late-life, but ICV was not. A positive covariance indicated that an individual who undergoes atrophy also undergoes memory decline-this relationship did not differ across cognitive or brain reserve, but was not present in mid-life. Memory declined slower than brain volume, yet rates were more similar in the low DART, education, and BPF groups. DISCUSSION: Higher cognitive (DART, education) and brain reserve (BPF) work protectively in longitudinal memory change. ICV is an inappropriate proxy of brain reserve, failing to show any association with memory performance at baseline or over time. Deconstructing relationships of reserve capacities with longitudinal cognitive and brain outcomes may identify focus areas with potential for intervention.
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Keywords: Aging brain, Brain volume loss, Cognitive reserve, Cohort, Longitudinal, Neuroimaging, Experimental and Cognitive Psychology, Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Journal Article
ISSN: 0010-9452
Publisher: Masson SpA
Note: Funding Information: Dr. Jet M.J. Vonk was supported by the NIH NIA under award K99AG066934, NWO/ZonMw under Veni Grant project number 09150161810017, and by Alzheimer Nederland under Fellowship WE.15-2018-05 for the design and conduct of the study, the analysis and interpretation of the data, and preparation of the manuscript. Dr. Jet M.J. Vonk had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. The authors have no relevant conflicts of interest or financial or other nonprofessional benefits to disclose that could bias the authors in the conduct of the reported work. We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of the research nurses, R. van Petersen (data-manager), B. van Dinther (study manager), and the members of the Utrecht Cardiovascular Cohort-Second Manifestations of ARTerial disease-study group (UCC-SMART-study group): F.W. Asselbergs and H.M. Nathoe, Department of Cardiology; G.J. de Borst, Department of Vascular Surgery; M.L. Bots and M.I. Geerlings, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care; M.H. Emmelot, Department of Geriatrics; P.A. de Jong and T. Leiner, Department of Radiology; A.T. Lely, Department of Obstetrics/Gynaecology; N.P. van der Kaaij, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery; L.J. Kappelle and Y. Ruigrok, Department of Neurology; M.C. Verhaar, Department of Nephrology, F.L.J. Visseren (chair) and J. Westerink, Department of Vascular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University. Funding Information: Dr. Jet M.J. Vonk was supported by the NIH NIA under award K99AG066934 , NWO/ZonMw under Veni Grant project number 09150161810017 , and by Alzheimer Nederland under Fellowship WE.15-2018-05 for the design and conduct of the study, the analysis and interpretation of the data, and preparation of the manuscript. Dr. Jet M.J. Vonk had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. The authors have no relevant conflicts of interest or financial or other nonprofessional benefits to disclose that could bias the authors in the conduct of the reported work. We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of the research nurses, R. van Petersen (data-manager), B. van Dinther (study manager), and the members of the Utrecht Cardiovascular Cohort-Second Manifestations of ARTerial disease-study group (UCC-SMART-study group): F.W. Asselbergs and H.M. Nathoe, Department of Cardiology; G.J. de Borst, Department of Vascular Surgery; M.L. Bots and M.I. Geerlings, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care; M.H. Emmelot, Department of Geriatrics; P.A. de Jong and T. Leiner, Department of Radiology; A.T. Lely, Department of Obstetrics/Gynaecology; N.P. van der Kaaij, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery; L.J. Kappelle and Y. Ruigrok, Department of Neurology; M.C. Verhaar, Department of Nephrology, F.L.J. Visseren (chair) and J. Westerink, Department of Vascular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors
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