Skip to content
Licensed Unlicensed Requires Authentication Published by De Gruyter April 19, 2017

Factors underlying cognitive decline in old age and Alzheimer’s disease: the role of the hippocampus

  • Wafa Jaroudi , Julia Garami , Sandra Garrido , Michael Hornberger , Szabolcs Keri and Ahmed A. Moustafa EMAIL logo

Abstract

There are many factors that strongly influence the aetiology, development, and progression of cognitive decline in old age, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). These factors include not only different personality traits and moods but also lifestyle patterns (e.g. exercise and diet) and awareness levels that lead to cognitive decline in old age. In this review, we discuss how personality traits, mood states, and lifestyle impact brain and behaviour in older adults. Specifically, our review shows that these lifestyle and personality factors affect several brain regions, including the hippocampus, a region key for memory that is affected by cognitive decline in old age as well as AD. Accordingly, appropriate recommendations are presented in this review to assist individuals in decreasing chances of MCI, dementia, AD, and associated symptoms.

Acknowledgments

S.G. is funded by an ARC/NHMRC Dementia Research Development grant. M.H. is funded by Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Wellcome Trust.

References

Alchanatis, M., Deligiorgis, N., Zias, N., Amfilochiou, A., Gotsis, E., Karakatsani, A., and Papadimitriou, A. (2004). Frontal brain lobe impairment in obstructive sleep apnoea: a proton MR spectroscopy study. Eur. Respir. J. 24, 980–986.10.1183/09031936.04.00127603Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Alzheimer’s Association (2014). Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures (USA: Alzheimer’s Association). Available at: https://www.alz.org/downloads/facts_figures_2014.pdf.Search in Google Scholar

Ancoli-Israel, S., Palmer, B.W., Cooke, J.R., Corey-Bloom, J., Fiorentino, L., Natarajan, L., Liu, L., Ayalon, L., He, F., and Loredo, J.S. (2008). Cognitive effects of treating obstructive sleep apnea in Alzheimer’s disease: a randomized controlled study. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 56, 2076–2081.10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.01934.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

Anderson, L. (2007). Intimacy found by Alzheimer’s patients. Edmonton J. 1–2. Retrieved from: https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.uws.edu.au/docview/253458550?accountid=36155Search in Google Scholar

Anderson, S. and Brownlie, J. (2011). Build it and they will come? Understanding public views of ‘emotions talk’ and the talking therapies. Br. J. Guid. Counc. 39, 53–66.10.1080/03069885.2010.531385Search in Google Scholar

Archer, N., Brown, R.G., Reeves, S., Nicholas, H., Boothby, H., and Lovestone, S. (2009). Midlife neuroticism and the age of onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Psychol. Med. 39, 665–673.10.1017/S003329170800408XSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

Barnes, D.E. and Yeffe, K. (2011). The projected effect of risk factor reduction on Alzheimer’s disease prevalence. Lancet Neurol. 10, 819–828.10.1016/S1474-4422(11)70072-2Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Benoit, M., Berrut, G., Doussaint, J., Bakchine, S., Bonin-Guillaume, S., Fremont, P., Gallarda, T., Krolak-Salmon, P., Marquet, T., Mékiès, C., et al. (2012). Apathy and depression in mild Alzheimer’s disease: a cross-sectional study using diagnostic criteria. J Alzheimers Dis. 31, 325–334.10.3233/JAD-2012-112003Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Bialystok, E. and Luk, G. (2012). Receptive vocabulary differences in monolingual and bilingual adults. Biling. Lang. Cogn. 15, 397–401.10.1017/S136672891100040XSearch in Google Scholar

Bierman, E.J.M., Comijs, H.C., Jonker, C., and Beekman, A.T.F. (2007). Symptoms of anxiety and depression in the course of cognitive decline. Dement. Geriatr. Cogn. Disord. 24, 213–219.10.1159/000107083Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Boyle, L.L., Lyness, J.M, Duberstein, P.R., Karuza, J., King, D.A., Messing, S., and Tu, X. (2010). Trait neuroticism, depression, and cognitive function in older primary care patients. Am. J. Geriatr. Psychiatry 18, 305–312.10.1097/JGP.0b013e3181c2941bSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

Buchanan, T.W., al’Absi, M., and Lovallo, W.R. (1999). Cortisol fluctuates with increases and decreases in negative affect. ISPNE 24, 227–241.10.1016/S0306-4530(98)00078-XSearch in Google Scholar

Buchman, A.S., Boyle, P.A., Yu, L., Shah, R.C., Wilson, R.S., and Bennett, D.A. (2012). Total daily physical activity and the risk of AD and cognitive decline in older adults. Neurology 78, 1323–1329.10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182535d35Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Cardoso, B.R., Apolinário, D., Bandeira, V.S., Busse, A.L., Magaldi, R.M., Jacob-Filho, W., and Cozzolino, S.M.F. (2016). Effects of Brazil nut consumption on selenium status and cognitive performance in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled pilot trial. Eur. J. Nutr. 55, 107–116.10.1007/s00394-014-0829-2Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Chapman, B., Duberstein, P., Tindle, H.A., Sink, K.M., Robbins, J., Tancredi, D.J., and Franks, P. (2012). Personality predicts cognitive function over seven years in older persons. Am. J. Geriatr. Psychiatry 20, 612–621.10.1097/JGP.0b013e31822cc9cbSearch in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Chen, R.C.Y., Chang, Y.H., Lee, M.S., and Wahlqvist, M.L. (2011). Dietary quality may enhance survival related to cognitive impairment in Taiwanese elderly. Food Nutr. Res. 55, 1–10.10.3402/fnr.v55i0.7387Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Cherbuin, N., Kim, S., and Anstey, K.J. (2015). Dementia risk estimates associated with measures of depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open 5, 1–13.10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008853Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Chu, H., Yang, C.Y., Lin, Y., Ou, K.L., Lee, T.Y., O’Brien, A.P., and Chou, K.R. (2014). The Impact of group music therapy on depression and cognition in elderly persons with dementia: a randomized controlled study. Biol. Res. Nurs. 16, 209–217.10.1177/1099800413485410Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Davis, D.S. (2014). Alzheimer disease and pre-emptive suicide. J. Med. Ethics. 40, 543–549.10.1136/medethics-2012-101022Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Erickson, K.I., Voss, M.W., Prakash, R.S., Basak, C., Szabo, A., Chaddock, L., Kim, J.S., Heo, S., Alves, H., White, S.M., et al. (2011). Exercise training increases size of hippocampus and improves memory. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 108, 3017–3022.10.1073/pnas.1015950108Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Farmer, A., Redman, K., Harris, T., Mahmood, A., Sadler, S., Pickering, A., and McGuffin, P. (2002). Neuroticism, extraversion, life events and depression. Br. J. Psychiatry 181, 118–122.10.1192/bjp.181.2.118Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Fuhrer, R., Dufouil, C., and Dartigues, J.F. (2003). Exploring sex differences in the relationship between depressive symptoms and dementia incidence: prospective results from the PAQUID Study. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 51, 1055–1063.10.1046/j.1532-5415.2003.51352.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

Gagnon, J.F., Bertrand, J.A., and Marchand, D.G. (2012). Cognition in rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder. Front. Neurol. 3, 1–5.10.3389/fneur.2012.00082Search in Google Scholar

Gurvits, T.V., Shenton, M.E., Hokama, H., Ohta, H., Lasko, N.B., Gilbertson, M.W., Orr, S.P., Kikinis, R., Jolesz, F.A., McCarley, R.W., et al. (1996). Magnetic resonance imaging study of hippocampal volume in chronic, combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Biol. Psychiatry 40, 1091–1099.10.1016/S0006-3223(96)00229-6Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Holwerda, T.J., Tilburg, T.G.V., Deeg, D.J.H., Schutter, N., Van, R., Dekker, J., Stek, M.L., Beekman, A.T., and Schoevers, R.A. (2016). Impact of loneliness and depression on mortality: results from the Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam. BJPsych. 209, 127–134.10.1192/bjp.bp.115.168005Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Horning, S.M., Melrose, R., and Sultzer, D. (2014). Insight in Alzheimer’s disease and its relation to psychiatric and behavioral disturbances. Int. J. Geriatr. Psychiatry 29, 77–84.10.1002/gps.3972Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Huang, T.L., Zandi, P.P., Tucker, K.L., Fitzpatrick, A.L., Kuller, L.H., Fried, L.P., Burke, G.L., and Carlson, M.C. (2005). Benefits of fatty fish on dementia risk are stronger for those without APOE epsilon4. Neurology 65, 1409–1414.10.1212/01.wnl.0000183148.34197.2eSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

Hurt, C.S., Banerjee, S., Tunnard, C., Whitehead, D.L., Tsolaki, M., Mecocci, P., Kloszewska, I., Soininen, H., Vellas, B., Lovestone, S., et al. (2010). Insight, cognition and quality of life in Alzheimer’s disease. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry 81, 331–336.10.1136/jnnp.2009.184598Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Joseph, J.A., Shukitt-Hale, B., and Willis, L.M. (2009). Grape juice, berries, and walnuts affect brain aging and behavior. J. Nutr. 139, 1813–1817.10.3945/jn.109.108266Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Katz, M.J., Derby, C.A., Wang, C., Sliwinski, M.J., Ezzati, A., Zimmerman, M.E., Zwerling, J.L., and Lipton, R.B. (2016). Influence of perceived stress on indicant amnestic mild cognitive impairment: results from the Einstein Aging Study. Alzheimer Dis. Assoc. Disord. 30, 93–98.10.1097/WAD.0000000000000125Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Kuriyama, S., Hozawa, A., Ohmori, K., Shimazu, T., Matsui, T., Ebihara, S., Awata, S., Nagatomi, R., Arai, H., and Tsuji, I. (2006). Green tea consumption and cognitive function: a cross-sectional study from the Tsurugaya Project. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 83, 355–361.10.1093/ajcn/83.2.355Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Larson, E.B. (2008). Physical activity for older adults at risk for Alzheimer disease. J Am Med Assoc 300, 1077–1079.10.1001/jama.300.9.1077Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Liu, R., Sui, X., Laditka, J.N., Church, T.S., Colabianchi, N., Hussey, J., and Blair, S.N. (2011). Cardiorespiratory fitness as a predictor of dementia mortality in men and women. ACSM 44, 253–259.10.1249/MSS.0b013e31822cf717Search in Google Scholar

Marx, J. (2005). Preventing Alzheimer’s: a lifelong commitment? Science 309, 864–866.10.1126/science.309.5736.864Search in Google Scholar PubMed

McEwen, B.S. (2000). The neurobiology of stress: from serendipity to clinical relevance. Brain Res. 886, 172–189.10.1016/S0006-8993(00)02950-4Search in Google Scholar

Mishra, S. and Palanivelu, K. (2008). The effect of curcumin (turmeric) on Alzheimer’s disease: an overview. Ann. Indian Acad. Neurol. 11, 13–19.10.4103/0972-2327.40220Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Muthaiyah, B., Essa, M.M., Chauhan, V., and Chauhan, A. (2011). Protective effects of walnut extract against amyloid β peptide-induced cell death and oxidative stress in PC12 cells. Neurochem. Res. 36, 2096–2103.10.1007/s11064-011-0533-zSearch in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

National Institute on Aging. (2015). Alzheimer’s Disease Fact Sheet. 1–8.Search in Google Scholar

Newbery, G. (2012). Dispositional perspectives: Allport’s trait theory; Eysenck’s biological typology. Knowing You, Knowing Me: An Integrated View of Personality (Australia: McGraw-Hill Australia Pty Ltd), pp. 93–104.Search in Google Scholar

Ng, T.P., Feng, L., Niti, M., Kua, E.H., and Yap, K.B. (2008). Tea consumption and cognitive impairment and decline in older Chinese adults. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 88, 224–231.10.1093/ajcn/88.1.224Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Nima, A.A., Rosenberg, P., Archer, T., and Garcia, D. (2013). Anxiety, affect, self-esteem, and stress: mediation and moderation effects on depression. PLoS One 8, 1–8.10.1371/annotation/49e2c5c8-e8a8-4011-80fc-02c6724b2accSearch in Google Scholar

Nooyens, A.C.J., Bueno-de-Mesquita, H.B., van Boxtel, M.P.J., van Gelder, B.M., Verhagen, H., and Verschuren, W.M.M. (2011). Fruit and vegetable intake and cognitive decline in middle-aged men and women: the Doetinchem Cohort Study. Br. J. Nutr. 106, 752–761.10.1017/S0007114511001024Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Nurk, E., Drevon, C.A., Refsum, H., Solvoll, K., Vollset, S.E., Nygård, O., Nygaard. H.A., Engedal, K., Tell, G.S., and Smith, A.D. (2007). Cognitive performance among the elderly and dietary fish intake: the Hordaland Health Study. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 86,1470–1478.10.1093/ajcn/86.5.1470Search in Google Scholar PubMed

O’Connor, E.M., Power, S.E., Fitzgerald, G.F., and O’Toole, P.W. (2012). Fish-oil consumption is inversely correlated with depression and cognition decline in healthy Irish elderly adults. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 71, 1.10.1017/S002966511200208XSearch in Google Scholar

O’Luanaigh, C., O’Connell, H., Chin, A.-V., Hamilton, F., Coen, R., Walsh, C., Walsh, J.B., Caokley, D., Cunningham, C., and Lawlor, B.A. (2012). Loneliness and cognition in older people: The Dublin Healthy Ageing study. Aging Mental Health 16, 347–352.10.1080/13607863.2011.628977Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Ohayon, M.M. and Vecchierini, M.F. (2005). Normative sleep data, cognitive function and daily living activities in older adults in the community. Sleep 28, 981–989.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Osorio, R.S., Pirraglia, E., Agüera-Ortiz, L.F., During, E.H., Sacks, H., Ayappa, I., Walsleben, J., Mooney, A., Hussain, A., Glodzik, L., et al. (2011). Greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease in older adults with insomnia. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 59, 559–562.10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.03288.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Park, S.K., Jung, I.C., Lee, W.K., Lee, Y.S., Park, H.K., Go, H.J., Kim, K., Lim, N.K., Hong, J.T., Ly, S.Y., et al. (2011). A combination of green tea extract and l-theanine improves memory and attention in subjects with mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. J. Med. Food 14, 334–343.10.1089/jmf.2009.1374Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Pe’neau, S., Galan, P., Jeandel, C., Ferry, M., Andreeva, V., Hercberg, S., Kesse-Guyot, E., and the SU.VI.MAX 2 Research Group. (2011). Fruit and vegetable intake and cognitive function in the SU.VI.MAX 2 prospective study. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 94, 1295–1303.10.3945/ajcn.111.014712Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Pereira, A.C., Huddleston, D.E., Brickman, A.M., Sosunov, A.A., Hen, R., McKhann, G.M., Sloan, R., Gage, F.H., Brown, T.R., and Small, S.A. (2007). An in vivo correlate of exercise-induced neurogenesis in the adult dentate gyrus. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 104, 5638–5643.10.1073/pnas.0611721104Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Poulin, S.P., Dautoff, R., Morris, J.C., Barrett, L.F., and Dickerson, B.C. (2011). Amygdala atrophy is prominent in early Alzheimer’s disease and relates to symptom severity. Psychiatry Res. 194, 7–13.10.1016/j.pscychresns.2011.06.014Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Poulose, S.M., Miller, M.G., and Shukitt-Hale, B. (2014). Role of walnuts in maintaining brain health with age. J. Nutr. 144, 561–566.10.3945/jn.113.184838Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Qin, B., Plassman, B.L., Edwards, L.J., Popkin, B.M., Adair, L.S., and Mendez, M.A. (2014). Fish intake is associated with slower cognitive decline in Chinese older adults. J. Nutr. 144, 1579–1585.10.3945/jn.114.193854Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Rest, O.V., Zwaluw, N.L.V., and Groot, L.C.P.G.M. (2013). Literature review on the role of dietary protein and amino acids in cognitive functioning and cognitive decline. Amino Acids 45, 1035–1045.10.1007/s00726-013-1583-0Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Sapolsky, R.M. (1996). Why stress is bad for your brain. Science 273, 749–750.10.1126/science.273.5276.749Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Sheline, Y.I., Gado, M.H., and Kraemer, H.C. (2003). Untreated depression and hippocampal volume loss. Am. J. Psychiatry 160, 1516–1518.10.1176/appi.ajp.160.8.1516Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Spira, A.P., Chen-Edinboro, L.P., Wu, M.N., and Yaffe, K. (2014). Impact of sleep on the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Curr. Opin. Psychiatry 27, 478–483.10.1097/YCO.0000000000000106Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Starkstein, S.E., Jorge, R., Mizrahi, R., Adrian, J., and Robinson, R.G. (2007). Insight and danger in Alzheimer’s disease. Eur. J. Neurol. 14, 455–460.10.1111/j.1468-1331.2007.01745.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

Stranks, E.K. and Crowe, S.F. (2016). The cognitive effects of obstructive sleep apnea: an updated meta-analysis. Arch. Clin. Neuropsychol. 31, 186–193.10.1093/arclin/acv087Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Sullivan, M.G. (2008). Fitness may limit brain atrophy in Alzheimer’s: the level of fitness was strongly related to volume in the parietal area and also in the hippocampus. CPSN 36, 1–2.Search in Google Scholar

Tanday, S. (2007). Behind the headlines: is loneliness linked to Alzheimer’s? GP 13. Retrieved from: https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.uws.edu.au/docview/225161564?accountid=36155Search in Google Scholar

Tortora, G. and Derrickson, B. (2006). The Brain and Cranial Nerves. Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. B. Roesch, K. Trost, eds. 11th ed. (United States: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.), pp. 473–523.Search in Google Scholar

Tunnard, C., Whitehead, D., Hurt, C., Wahlund, L.O., Mecocci, P., Tsolaki, M., Vellas, B., Spenger, C., Kłoszewska, I., Soininen, H., et al. (2011). Apathy and cortical atrophy in Alzheimer’s disease. Int. J. Geriatr. Psychiatry 26, 741–748.10.1002/gps.2603Search in Google Scholar PubMed

University of Iowa. (2010). Health science; study: patients with amnesia still feel emotions, despite memory loss. Pain and Central Nervous System Week 61.Search in Google Scholar

Van Cauter, E., Leproult, R., and Plat, L. (2000). Age-related changes in slow wave sleep and REM sleep and relationship with growth hormone and cortisol levels in healthy men. J Am Med Assoc 284, 861–868.10.1001/jama.284.7.861Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Willis, L.M., Shukitt-Hale, B., Cheng, V., and Joseph, J.A. (2009). Dose-dependent effects of walnuts on motor and cognitive function in aged rats. Br. J. Nutr. 101, 1140–1144.10.1017/S0007114508059369Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Wilson, R.S., Bennett, D.A., Mendes de Leon, C.F., Bienias, J.L., Morris, M.C., and Evans, D.A. (2005). Distress proneness and cognitive decline in a population of older persons. PNEC 30, 11–17.10.1016/j.psyneuen.2004.04.005Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Wilson, R.S., Schneider, J.A., Boyle, P.A., Arnold, S.E., Tang, Y., and Bennett, D.A. (2007a). Chronic distress and incidence of mild cognitive impairment. Neurology 68, 2085–2092.10.1212/01.wnl.0000264930.97061.82Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Wilson, R.S., Krueger, K.R., Arnold, S.E., Schneider, J.A., Jeremiah, F.K., Barnes, L.L., Tang, Y., and Bennett, D.A. (2007b). Loneliness and Risk of Alzheimer Disease. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 64, 234–240.10.1001/archpsyc.64.2.234Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Wilson, R.S., Begeny, C.T., Boyle, P.A., Schneider, J.A., and Bennett, D.A. (2011). Vulnerability to stress, anxiety, and development of dementia in old age. Am. J. Geriatr. Psychiatry 19, 327–334.10.1097/JGP.0b013e31820119daSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

Xu, Y., Lin, D., Li, S., Li, G., Shyamala, S.G., Barish, P.A., Vernon, M.M., Pan, J., and Ogle, W.O. (2009). Curcumin reverses impaired cognition and neuronal plasticity induced by chronic stress. Neuropharmacology 57, 463–471.10.1016/j.neuropharm.2009.06.010Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Yaffe, K., Blackwell, T., Gore, R., Sands, L., Reus, V., and Browner, W.S. (1999). Depressive symptoms and cognitive decline in nondemented elderly women: a prospective study. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 56, 425–430.10.1001/archpsyc.56.5.425Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Yaffe, K., Vittinghoff, E., Lindquist, K., Barnes, D., Covinsky, K.E., Neylan, T., Kluse, M., and Marmar, C. (2010). Post-traumatic stress disorder and risk of dementia among U.S. veterans. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry 67, 608–613.10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.61Search in Google Scholar

Yehuda, S., Rabinovitz, S., Carasso, R.L., and Mostofsky, D.I. (2002). The role of polyunsaturated fatty acids in restoring the aging neuronal membrane. Neurobiol. Aging 23, 843–853.10.1016/S0197-4580(02)00074-XSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

Zhang, Y., Chen, J., Qiu, J., Li, Y., Wang, J., and Jiao, J. (2016). Intakes of fish and polyunsaturated fatty acids and mild-to-severe cognitive impairment risks: a dose-response meta-analysis of 21 cohort studies. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 103, 330–340.10.3945/ajcn.115.124081Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Received: 2016-12-22
Accepted: 2017-2-18
Published Online: 2017-4-19
Published in Print: 2017-10-26

©2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Downloaded on 28.4.2024 from https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/revneuro-2016-0086/html
Scroll to top button