Positive Effects of Education on Cognitive Functioning Depend on Clinical Status and Neuropathological Severity.

Variability in cognitive functions in healthy and pathological aging is often explained by educational attainment. However, it remains unclear to which extent different disease states alter protective effects of education. We aimed to investigate whether protective effects of education on cognition depend on (1) clinical diagnosis severity, and (2) the neuropathological burden within a diagnosis in a memory clinic setting.

Memory Strategy Training in Older Adults with Subjective Memory Complaints: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: Subjective memory complaints (SMC) in older adults are associated with a decline in everyday functioning and an increased risk for future cognitive decline. This study examines the effect of a memory strategy training compared to a control memory training on memory functioning in daily life.

Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial with baseline, post-treatment, and 6-month follow-up assessments conducted in 60 older adults (50-87 years) with SMC.

Pain in Patients with Different Dementia Subtypes, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Subjective Cognitive Impairment.

Objective: To assess the pain prevalence, pain intensity, and pain medication use in older patients with a diagnosed subtype of dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or subjective cognitive impairment (SCI).

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Outpatient memory clinics.

Memory strategy use in older adults with subjective memory complaints.

Background: Subjective memory complaints (SMC) are common among older adults, but it is unclear to what extent adults with SMC spontaneously use memory strategies to compensate for their memory problems. As SMC may be a risk factor for memory decline later, it is important to extend our knowledge about spontaneous compensatory mechanisms in older adults with SMC.

Method: Self-reported strategy use and observed strategy use were assessed in 38 adults with and 38 without SMC.

The Combined Effect of Neuropsychological and Neuropathological Deficits on Instrumental Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults: a Systematic Review.

To date, studies have consistently demonstrated associations between either neuropsychological deficits or neuroanatomical changes and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in aging. Only a limited number of studies have evaluated morphological brain changes and neuropsychological test performance concurrently in relation to IADL in this population. As a result, it remains largely unknown whether these factors independently predict functional outcome.

Cognitive impairments associated with medial temporal atrophy and white matter hyperintensities: an MRI study in memory clinic patients.

In this retrospective study, we investigated the independent effects of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and hippocampal atrophy on cognitive functions in a broad sample of patients seen in a memory clinic. To ensure generalizability, these associations were examined irrespective of diagnosis and with minimal exclusion criteria. Next to these independent effects, interactions between WMH and hippocampal atrophy were examined.