A5009870066- Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
- Aging and Gerontology Research
- Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Neurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Sensory Analysis and Statistical Methods
- Mental Health Research Topics
- Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Biochemical effects in animals
- Health disparities and outcomes
- Traumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular Disturbances
- Traumatic Brain Injury Research
- Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Blood Pressure and Hypertension Studies
- S100 Proteins and Annexins
- Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life
- Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
- Ginkgo biloba and Cashew Applications
- Health and Well-being Studies
- Cognitive Abilities and Testing
University of Connecticut
2021-2024
University of California, San Francisco
2019-2024
University Memory and Aging Center
2019-2022
Center for Neurosciences
2020
University of Georgia
2014-2019
Franklin College
2018
William & Mary
2012
Williams (United States)
2012
Background: High levels of xanthophyll carotenoids lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) in the central nervous system have been previously correlated with improved cognitive function community-dwelling older adults. In this study, we tested effects supplementing L Z on men women a range baseline abilities. Objective: The purpose study was to determine whether or not supplementation L+Z could improve community-dwelling, Design: Double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. A total 62 adults...
Background: Past studies have suggested that higher lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) levels in serum the central nervous system (as quantified by measuring macular pigment optical density, MPOD) are related to improved cognitive function older adults. Very few addressed issue of xanthophylls younger adults, no controlled trials been conducted date determine whether or not supplementation with L + Z can change this population. Objective: The purpose study was could improve young (age 18–30),...
Abstract Objectives: The present study constitutes the first randomized controlled trial to investigate relation of lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) brain function using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). It was hypothesized that L Z supplementation in older adults would enhance neural efficiency (i.e., reduce activation) cognitive performance on a verbal learning task relative placebo. Methods: A total 44 community-dwelling (mean age=72 years) were randomly assigned receive either...
Abstract Cerebral perfusion declines across the lifespan and is altered in early stages of several age‐related neuropathologies. Little known, however, about longitudinal evolution healthy older adults, particularly when quantified using magnetic resonance imaging with arterial spin labeling (ASL). The objective was to characterize typically aging adults elucidate associations cognition brain structure. Adults who were functionally intact at baseline ( n = 161, ages 47–89) underwent ASL...
Background: Measuring plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) alongside cortical amyloid-β (Aβ) may shed light on astrocytic changes in aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Objective: To examine associations between GFAP Aβ deposition older adults across the typical aging-to-AD dementia spectrum. Methods: We studied two independent samples from UCSF (Cohort 1, N = 50; Cohort 2, 37) covering spectra of clinical severity (CDR Sum Boxes; CDR-SB) Aβ-PET burden. was completed with either...
Abstract Objectives: It is well known that the carotenoids lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) improve eye health an accumulating evidence base suggests cognitive benefits as well. The present study investigated underlying neural mechanisms using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). was hypothesized lower L Z concentrations would be associated with neurobiological inefficiency (i.e., increased activation) during performance. Methods: Forty-three community-dwelling older adults (mean...
Physical activity relates to reduced dementia risk, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms are unknown. We translated animal
Aging is characterized by a progressive loss of brain volume at an estimated rate 5% per decade after age 40. While these morphometric changes, especially those affecting gray matter and atrophy the temporal lobe, are predictors cognitive performance, strong association with aging obscures potential parallel, but more specific role, individual subject physiology. Here, we studied cohort 554 human subjects who were monitored using structural MRI scans blood immune protein concentrations....
Abstract Background Central nervous system levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, regulate the neuroinflammatory response and may play role in age-related neurodegenerative diseases. The longitudinal relation between peripheral TNF-α typical brain aging is understudied. We hypothesized that within-person increases systemic would track with poorer health outcomes functionally normal adults. Methods Plasma-based concentrations (pg/mL; fasting morning draws)...
AbstractIt has been noted in the literature that cognitive reserve (CR) predicts future functional ability (FA), but association between CR and current FA is rather limited. This investigation aimed to explicate this relationship, hypothesized it would be mediated by executive functioning (EF). To best understand relationship FA, we recruited tested independent community-dwelling older adults (OAs). Bivariate correlations hierarchical regressions were completed determine FA. Both individual...
Lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) are two xanthophyll carotenoids that have antioxidant anti-inflammatory properties. Previous work has demonstrated their importance for eye health preventing diseases such as age-related macular degeneration. An emerging literature base also the of L Z in cognition, neural structure, efficiency. The present study aimed to better understand mechanisms by which relate particular, visual–spatial processing decision-making older adults. We hypothesized markers...
Abstract Objective: There are minimal data directly comparing plasma neurofilament light (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in aging neurodegenerative disease research. We evaluated associations of NfL GFAP with brain volume cognition two independent cohorts older adults diagnosed as clinically normal (CN), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or Alzheimer’s dementia. Methods: studied 121 total participants (Cohort 1: n = 50, age 71.6 ± 6.9 years, 78% CN, 22% MCI; Cohort 2: 71,...
The present study investigated delay discounting and probability discounting—behavioral economic indices of impulsivity risk proneness, respectively—in 39 healthy older adults 25 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Relative to the group, it was hypothesized that MCI would display greater levels impulsivity, response inconsistency. group found a unique profile characterized by increasing decreasing reward magnitude, such cognitively impaired were significantly more impulsive than controls...
Introduction Composite scores based on psychometrically rigorous cognitive assessments are well suited for early diagnosis and disease monitoring. Methods We developed cross-validated the Brain Health Assessment-Cognitive Score (BHA-CS), a brief computerized battery, in 451 cognitively normal (CN) 399 impaired (mild impairment [MCI] or dementia) older adults. investigated its long-term reliability reliable change indices at longitudinal follow-up (N = 340), association with amyloid beta (Aβ)...
Abstract Introduction Immune dysfunction is important in aging and neurodegeneration; lacking clinically available tools limits research translation. We tested associations of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) monocyte‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (MLR)—innate immune activation surrogate—with cognition an dementia cohort, hypothesizing that elevated MLR associated with poorer executive functioning. Methods CSF was calculated well‐characterized, genotyped participants enrolled studies at University...
Given that black American older adults are more likely to have lower educational attainment and perform worse on cognitive tests than white Americans, we examined whether increased education would confer greater advantage Americans measures of global specific domains function. The sample included 522 community-dwelling from a larger study. An analysis covariance was conducted with race as between-participant factors cognition the dependent variable. A multivariate five (immediate memory,...
A growing literature emphasizes the importance of lifestyle factors such as nutrition in successful aging. The current study examined if one year supplementation with lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z), two nutrients known antioxidative properties cognitive benefits, impacted structural brain outcomes older adults using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial design. Community-dwelling (20 males 27 females) aged 65-87 years (M = 71.8 years, SD 6.04 years) were randomized into...