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Background Evidence on sleep duration or quality and cognitive function in diverse older adults is limited. We examined prospective associations between subjective sleep measures and cognitive function, with modifying effects of sex and age (<65 vs ≥65 years). Methods Data are from the longitudinal Boston Puerto Rican Health Study, Waves 2 (n = 943) and 4 (n = 444), with mean follow-up of 10.5 years (range 7.2–12.8). Subjective measures of sleep duration (short <7, ref. 7, or long ≥8 hours) and insomnia symptoms (sum of difficulty falling asleep, waking up at night, and early morning awakening), were assessed at Wave 2. Linear regression models were used to assess changes in global cognition, executive function, memory, and Mini-Mental State Examination, and tested for modifying roles of sex and age. Results Significant 3-way interaction (sex × age × cognition) in fully adjusted models showed greater decline in global cognitive function in older men with short (β [95% confidence interval]: −0.67 [−1.24, −0.10]) or long sleep duration (−0.92 [−1.55, −0.30]), compared to women, younger men, and older men with 7 hours of sleep. Insomnia symptoms were associated with a greater decline in memory (−0.54, [−0.85, −0.22]) among older men, compared to women and younger men. Conclusion Sleep duration showed a U-shaped association with cognitive decline, and insomnia symptoms were associated with memory decline in fully adjusted models. Older men, versus women and younger men, were at relatively greater risk for cognitive decline associated with sleep factors. These findings are important for personalizing sleep interventions to support cognitive health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a lack of consensus among studies on the association between proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use and cognitive impairment. This association is not well studied among minority populations including among Puerto Ricans. Therefore, we sought to examine this association among Boston-area Puerto Ricans.Methods: The Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (BPRHS) is an ongoing longitudinal cohort that enrolled 1499 Boston-area Puerto Rican adults, aged 45-75 y at baseline. 1290 baseline participants had complete outcome and exposure data. Covariate-adjusted linear regression and linear mixed effects models were used to examine the association between PPI use, and global cognition, executive function, and memory cross-sectionally and longitudinally over ~12.7 y of follow-up. Further, we examined cross-sectional association between long-term PPI use (continuous use of ~6.2 y) and global cognition, executive function, and memory.Results: Among 1290 participants at baseline, 313 (24.3%) self-reported PPI use. Baseline PPI use was not associated with baseline global cognition, executive function, or memory. Baseline PPI use also did not alter trajectory of global cognition, executive function, or memory over ~12.7 y of follow-up. Long-term PPI use was not associated with global cognition, executive function, or memory over ~12.7 y of follow-up.Conclusions: In this study of Boston-area Puerto Ricans, we did not observe an association between PPI use and global cognition, executive function, or memory either cross-sectionally or over 12.7 y of follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age-related cognitive decline is a major public health issue. Almonds are rich in nutrients that benefit cognitive function. To investigate the impact of almonds on cognition in elderly adults. In a six-month, single-blinded, randomized-controlled trial, the effects of an almond intervention on cognition in healthy, middle-aged/older adults (50–75 years) was tested. Subjects were assigned to one of three groups: 1.5 oz/d almond (n = 19), 3 oz/d almond (n = 24), or 3.5 oz/d snack (control, matched for macronutrients in 3.0 oz almonds, (n = 17). Serum analyses for tocopherols, oxidative status and inflammation, and cognition were assessed at baseline (M0), three (M3), and six (M6) months. At M6, serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations increased by 8% from M0 (p < 0.05) in the 3 oz almond group but did not increase in the other groups. Serum markers of inflammation and oxidative stress were not significantly different throughout the study among the groups. There was no difference in change over time in cognitive tests among the groups. However, there was a significant improvement in visuospatial working memory (p = 0.023), visual memory and learning (p = 0.017), and spatial planning and working memory (p < 0.001) in subjects receiving 3 oz/d almonds at M6, while the snack group showed no improvement. Almonds did not significantly improve cognitive function in cognitively intact middle-aged/older adults over six months. However, a significant improvement at M6 in cognitive measures was observed with 3 oz/d almonds. While these results are encouraging, a study of longer duration in subjects at risk for age-related cognitive decline is warranted. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03093896. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The objective of this study was to examine the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D, and cognitive function. Methods. A cross-sectional investigation of 25(OH)D and cognition was completed in 377 black and 703 non-black (mainly Caucasian) elders (65-99 years) participating in the nutrition and memory in elders study. Participants underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, and 25(OH)D concentrations were obtained. Results. More than 65% of elders had suboptimal 25(OH)D concentrations ([less than or equal to]20 ng/mL or [less than or equal to]50 nmol/L). Approximately 18% were deficient in 25(OH)D (< 10 ng/mL or 20 ng/mL were associated with better performance on tests of executive function, including trails A (80.5 vs 95, p < .05), trails B (205s vs 226s, p < .05), matrix reasoning (7.8 vs 7.0, p = .03), and digit symbol (31.5 vs 37, p < .01). There were no associations between 25(OH)D and memory tests. Factor analysis yielded factors for memory, executive function, and attention/ processing speed. Alter adjustment, 25(OH)D was associated with the executive function ([beta] = 0.01, p < 0.01) and attention/ processing speed factors ([beta] = 0.01, p = .03), but not the memory factor ([beta] = -0.001, p = 0.65). Conclusions. 25(OH)D was positively associated with cognitive performance, particularly with measures of executive function in this elderly population. Key Words: Cognitive function--Vitamin D--Elderly people--Dementia.

Background: Healthy diets have been associated with better cognitive function. Socioeconomic factors including education, poverty, and job complexity may modify the relationship between diet and cognition.Methods: We used adjusted linear mixed models to examine the association between long-term adherence to the Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension - Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet and cognitive function over 8 years of follow-up in Puerto Rican adults residing in the Boston, MA area (aged 45-75 years at baseline). We also examined whether the MIND diet-cognition association was confounded or modified by socioeconomic measures.Results: In both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses the highest, versus lowest, MIND quintile was associated with better cognition function (β = 0.093; 95% CI: 0.035, 0.152; p trend = .0019), but not with cognitive trajectory over 8 years. Education <=8th grade (β = -0.339; 95% CI: 0.394, -0.286; p < .0001) and income-to-poverty ratio <120% (β = -0.049; 95% CI: -0.092, -0.007; p = .024) were significantly associated with lower cognitive function, while higher job complexity (β = 0.008; 95% CI: 0.006, 0.011; p < .0001) was associated with better cognition function. These variables acted as confounders, but not effect modifiers of the MIND-diet-cognitive function relationship.Conclusion: Adherence to the MIND diet was associated with better cognitive function at baseline and over 8 years of follow-up; however, MIND diet was not associated with 8-year cognitive trajectory. More studies are needed to better understand whether the MIND diet is protective against long-term cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel strain of Legionella is isolated from a soil amoeba. In the laboratory, the bacteria multiplied inside Acanthamoeba polyphaga and proved to be pathogenic against this species. Characterization of the gene for the 16S ribosomal RNA identified this bacterial strain as belonging to the genus Legionella. However, serologic assays revealed that this is a distinct strain. Techniques in the isolation and characterization of Legionella from free-living amoeba are discussed.

Background: Vitamin K (VK) exists in the form of phylloquinone (PK) and menaquinones (MKs). Roles of VK on cognitive health in the elderly are emerging, but there is limited evidence on VK uptake and metabolism in human brain.Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to characterize VK distribution in brains of an elderly population with varied cognitive function. In addition, associations among circulating (a biomarker of VK intake) and cerebral VK concentrations and cognition were investigated.Methods: Serum or plasma (n = 27) and brain samples from the frontal cortex (FC; n = 46) and the temporal cortex (TC; n = 33) were acquired from 48 decedents (aged 98-107 y; 25 demented and 23 nondemented) enrolled in the Georgia Centenarian Study. Both circulating and brain VK concentrations were measured using HPLC with fluorescence detection. Cognitive assessment was performed within 1 y prior to mortality. Partial correlations between serum/plasma or cerebral VK concentrations and cognitive function were performed, adjusting for covariates and separating by dementia and antithrombotic use.Results: MK-4 was the predominant vitamer in both FC (mean ± SD = 4.92 ± 2.31 pmol/g, ≥89.15% ± 5.09% of total VK) and TC (4.60 ± 2.11 pmol/g, ≥89.71% ± 4.43% of total VK) regardless of cognitive status. Antithrombotic users had 34.0% and 53.9% lower MK-4 concentrations in FC (P < 0.05) and TC (P < 0.001), respectively. Circulating PK was not correlated with cerebral MK-4 or total VK concentrations. Circulating PK concentrations were significantly associated with a wide range of cognitive measures in nondemented centenarians (P < 0.05). In contrast, cerebral MK-4 concentrations were not associated with cognitive performance, either before or after exclusion of antithrombotic users.Conclusions: Circulating VK concentrations are not related to cerebral MK-4 concentrations in centenarians. Cerebral MK-4 concentrations are tightly regulated over a range of VK intakes and cognitive function. Circulating PK may reflect intake of VK-rich foods containing other dietary components beneficial to cognitive health. Further investigation of VK uptake and metabolism in the brain is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low vitamin B-6 status has been linked to depressive symptomatology. We examined the longitudinal association of vitamin B-6 status with depressive symptomatology across 3-time points over ∼5–7 years in a cohort of older Hispanic adults. Methods: We used two-level hierarchical linear regression models for continuous outcomes. Vitamin B-6 status was associated with depressive symptomatology across these time points. Results: Plasma pyridoxyl-5-phosphate (PLP) concentration, a time-varying predictor, was significantly associated with depressive symptomatology. Study participants with PLP deficiency, vs. optimal PLP, had higher baseline depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) score of 22 ± 14, vs. 20 ± 13); this differential remained constant over time and persisted after controlling for age, sex, education, body mass index, smoking and alcohol use, other relevant nutritional factors, perceived stress, stressful life events, allostatic load, and use of antidepressant medication. However, PLP concentration was not associated with the rate of change in depressive symptomatology over time. Conclusions: Suboptimal plasma PLP is associated with higher depressive symptomatology in older Hispanic of Puerto Rican descent and this appears to persist over time. Our data suggest that identification and treatment of vitamin B-6 deficiency may be a useful preventive approach in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]