Summary
In old age a large part of the variance in cognitive performance in population samples is explained by normal aging; in addition many subjects over 80 years are demented and therefore dementia also explains a part of cognitive variability. The question is whether the different factors for dementia (such as ApoE4, external atrophy parameter of the cranial computer tomography [cCT], education, sex or serum zinc level) influence the relation between age or dementia and Mini Mental State (MMSE) performance. In an epidemiological study data were analyzed of N = 239 subjects for the above factors. Most statistically significant variables of the MMSE do not change the amount of the partial correlation coefficient between the parameters age or dementia and MMSE. The external atrophy, however, diminishes the magnitude of the partial correlation between age and MMSE. In contrast the dementia-MMSE relation is unchanged. This points to a generally similar factor structure of cognitive aging and dementia in old age, but differences exist with respect to the importance of the external atrophy parameter of the brain. Most factors investigated explain separate parts of variance of cognitive performance in old age.
The research reported is part of the multidisciplinary Berlin Aging Study (BASE). BASE is conducted by the Committee on Aging and Societal Development of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Technology in Berlin in collaboration with the Free University Berlin, the Humboldt University, and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Education, Berlin. The project has been supported financially by several organisations including the German Federal Minestry for Research and Technology (1989–91, 13 TA 011 + 13 TA 011/A) and the German Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women, and youth (1992–97, 314-1722-102/9 + 314-1722-102/9a). The Berlin Aging study is directed by a steering commitee consisting of P. B. Baltes (chair), K. U. Mayer (vice chair), H. Helmchen, and E. Steinhagen-Thiessen.
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Reischies, F.M., Felsenberg, D., Geßner, R., Kage, A., Rossius, W., Schlattmann, P. (1998). Age and dementia effect on neuropsychological test performance in very old age — influence of risk factors for dementia. In: Gertz, HJ., Arendt, T. (eds) Alzheimer’s Disease — From Basic Research to Clinical Applications. Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementa, vol 54. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-7508-8_7
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