Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Contributions of age and alcohol consumption to cerebellar integrity, gait and cognition in non-demented very old individuals

  • ORIGINAL PAPER
  • Published:
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Gait disturbance and cognitive changes are common with ageing. The cerebellum contributes to motor coordination and participates in various aspects of cognition. However, no research has investigated the possible cerebellar contribution to gait and cognition in non-demented very old individuals. The current study aimed to determine the associations between indices of cerebellar size (vermal area and total volume) and measures of motor and cognitive integrity, as well as the role of variables known to impact on cerebellar size (alcohol consumption and chronological age) in a sample of 111 community dwellers (mean age: 85 years; range: 81–97 years). A marginally significant association was present between age and total vermal area. Significant correlations between current daily alcohol intake and some vermal areas were observed. These associations were more pronounced in men, particularly after controlling for cerebrum size. Multiple linear regression models revealed limited unique contributions of cerebellar predictors to neurological and cognitive measures. In summary, the results indicate that the cerebellum may be susceptible to alcohol-related shrinkage in non-demented very old individuals, more so in men, even at low dose. It also appears that the observed changes in cerebellum size in this population contribute little to neurological and cognitive changes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. ANALYZE PC AVW 3.0 Biomedical Imaging Resource. Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN

  2. Appollonio IM, Grafman J, Schwartz V, Massaquoi S, Hallett M (1993) Memory in patients with cerebellar degeneration. Neurology 43:1536–1544

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Arroyo-Anllo EM, Botez-Marquard T (1998) Neurobehavioral dimensions of olivopontocerebellar atrophy. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 20:52–59

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Baker KG, Harding AJ, Halliday GM, Kril JJ, Harper CG (1999) Neuronal loss in functional zones of the cerebellum of chronic alcoholics with and without Wernicke’s encephalopathy. Neuroscience 91:429–438

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bekkelund SI, Pierre-Jerome C, Winther J, Mellgren SI (1999) Relationship between brain structure sizes and performing rapid limb movements. A quantitative magnetic resonance study. Eur Neurol 42:185–189

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Benton AL, Hamsher K, Varney NR, Spreen O (1983) Contributions to neuropsychological assessment. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  7. Benton AL, Hamsher K (1983) Multilingual aphasia examination. AJA Associates, Iowa City

    Google Scholar 

  8. Botez-Marquard T, Botez MI (1997) Olivopontocerebellar atrophy and Friedreich’s ataxia: neuropsychological consequences of bilateral versus unilateral cerebellar lesions. Int Rev Neurobiol 41:387–410

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Broe GA, Jorm AF, Creasey H, Grayson D, Edelbrock D, Waite LM, Bennett H, Cullen JS, Casey B (1998) Impact of chronic systemic and neurological disorders on disability, depression and life satisfaction. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 13:667–673

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Chung SC, Lee BY, Tack GR, Lee SY, Eom JS, Sohn JH (2005) Effects of age, gender, and weight on the cerebellar volume of Korean people. Brain Res 1042:233–235

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Daum I, Ackermann H, Schugens MM, Reimold C, Dichgans J, Birbaumer N (1993) The cerebellum and cognitive functions in humans. Behav Neurosci 107:411–419

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Double K, Halliday GM, Kril JJ, Harasty J, Cullen K, Brooks W, Creasey H, Broe G (1996) Topography of brain atrophy during normal aging. Neurobiol Aging 17:513–521

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Escalona PR, McDonald WM, Doraiswamy PM, Boyko OB, Husain MM, Figiel GS, Laskowitz D, Ellinwood EH, Krishnan KR (1991) In vivo stereological assessment of human cerebellar volume: effects on gender and age. Am J Neuroradiol 12:927–929

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Esiri MM, Hyman BT, Beyreuther K, Masters CL (1997) Ageing and dementia. In: Graham D, Lantos PL (eds) Greenfield’s neuropathology. Arnold, London, pp 153–233

    Google Scholar 

  15. Fiez JA, Raife EA, Balota DA, Schwarz JP, Raichle ME, Petersen SE (1996) A positron emission tomography study of the short-term maintenance of verbal information. J Neurosci 16:808–822

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Grafman J, Litvan I, Massaquoi S, Stewart M, Sirigu A, Hallet M (1992) Cognitive planning deficit in patients with cerebellar atrophy. Neurology 42:1493–1496

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Hanes KR (1997) New Tower of London, 2nd ed. Vanguard, Carlton

    Google Scholar 

  18. Harper CG, Kril JJ (1990) Neuropathology of alcoholism. Alcohol Alcohol 25:207–216

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Hommer DW, Momenan R, Kaiser E, Rawlings RR (2001) Evidence for a gender-related effect of alcoholism on brain volumes. Am J Psychiatry 158:198–204

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Jernigan TL, Archibald SL, Fennema-Notestine C, Gamst AC, Stout JC, Bonner J, Hesselink JR (2001) Effects of age on tissues and regions of the cerebrum and cerebellum. Neurobiol Aging 22:581–594

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Johnson-Greene D, Adams KM, Gilman S, Kluin KJ, Junck L, Martorello S, Heumann M (1997) Impaired upper limb coordination in alcoholic cerebellar degeneration. Arch Neurol 54:436–439

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Kaplan EF, Goodglass J, Weintraub S (1983) The Boston naming test, 2nd ed. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  23. Karhunen PJ, Erkinjuntti T, Laippala P (1994) Moderate alcohol consumption and loss of cerebellar Purkinje cells. Brit Med J 308:1663–1667

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Kaye K, Grigsby J, Robbins LJ, Korzun B (1990) Prediction of independent functioning and behavior problems in geriatric patients. J Am Geriatr Soc 38:1304–1310

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Kril JJ, Halliday GM (1996) Brain shrinkage in alcoholics: a decade on and what have we learned? Prog Neurobiol 58:381–387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Luft AR, Skalej M, Welte D, Voigt K, Klockgether T (1997) Age and sex do not affect cerebellar volume in humans. Am J Neuroradiol 18:593–596

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Mann K, Gunther A, Schroth G (1992) Do women develop alcoholic brain damage more readily than men? Alcohol Clin Exp Res 16:1052–1056

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Miller EN (1996) CalCAP California computerized assessment package manual. Norland Software, Los Angeles

    Google Scholar 

  29. National Health and Medical Research Council (2001) Australian alcohol guidelines: Health risks and benefits. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra. Available online: http://www.nhmrc. gov.au

  30. Odenheimer G, Funkenstein HH, Beckett L, Chown M, Pilgrim D, Evans D, Albert M (1994) Comparison of neurologic changes in “successfully aging” persons vs the total aging population. Arch Neurol 51:573–580

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Orgogozo JM, Dartigues JF, Lafont S, Letenneur L, Commenges D, Salamon R, Renaud S, Breteler MB (1997) Wine consumption and dementia in the elderly: a prospective community study in the Bordeaux area. Rev Neurol 153:185–192

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Paradiso S, Andreasen NC, O’Leary DS, Arndt S, Robinson RG (1997) Cerebellar size and cognition: correlations with IQ, verbal memory and motor dexterity. Neuropsych Neuropsychol Behav Neurol 10:1–8

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Paulesu E, Frith CD, Frackowiak RS (1993) The neural correlates of the verbal component of working memory. Nature 362:342–345

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Petersen SE, Fox PT, Posner MI, Mintun M, Raichle ME (1988) Positron emission tomographic studies of the cortical anatomy of single word processing. Nature 362:585–589

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Phillips SC, Harper CG, Kril JJ (1987) A qualitative histological study of the cerebellar vermis in alcoholic patients. Brain 110:301–314

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Phillips S, Harper C, Kril J (1990) The contribution of Wernicke’s encephalopathy to alcohol-related cerebellar damage. Drug Alcohol Rev 9:53–60

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Raz N, Rodrigue KM, Kennedy KM, Dahle C, Head D, Acker JD (2003) Differential age-related changes in the regional metencephalic volumes in humans: a 5-year follow-up. Neurosci Lett 349:163–166

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Rhyu IJ, Cho TH, Lee NJ, Uhm C, Kim H, Suh Y (1999) Magnetic resonance image-based cerebellar volumetry in healthy Korean adults. Neurosci Lett 270:149–152

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Ruitenberg A, van Swieten JC, Witteman JC, Mehta KM, van Duijn CM, Hofman A, Breteler MMB (2002) Alcohol consumption and risk of dementia: the Rotterdam Study. Lancet 359:281–286

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Spreen O, Strauss E (1991) A compendium of neuropsychological tests. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  41. Waite LM, Broe GA, Creasey H, Grayson DA, Cullen JS, O’Toole B, Edelbrock D, Dobson M (1997) Neurodegenerative and other chronic disorders among people aged 75 years and over in the community. Med J Austr 167:429–432

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Waite LM, Broe GA, Grayson DA, Creasey H (2001) Preclinical syndromes predict dementia: the Sydney Older Persons Study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 71:296–302

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Waite LM, Creasey H, Grayson DA, Edelbrock D, Cullen JS, Brooks WS, Casey BJ, Bennett HP, Broe GA (2001) Clinical diagnosis and disability among community dwellers aged 75 and over: The Sydney Older Persons Study. Australas J Ageing 20:67–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Wechsler D (1987) Wechsler memory scale—revised. Psychological Corporation, New York

    Google Scholar 

  45. Woodruff-Pak DS, Goldenberg G, Downey-Lamb MM, Boyko OB, Lemieux SK (2000) Cerebellar volume in humans related to magnitude of classical conditioning. Neuroreport 11:609–615

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC), an Infrastructure Stream C grant from the Department of Health of New South Wales, Australia and by the Ageing and Alzheimer’s Research Foundation. We would like to thank Jessica Carroll, Jo Millar and Enid Sawley for data collection. OP is supported by an NHMRC Neil Hamilton Fairley Postdoctoral Fellowship (ID: 222909).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute and the University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Olivier Piguet, Hayley P. Bennett & G. Anthony Broe

  2. Department of Medicine, Centre for Education and Research on Ageing at Concord Hospital, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Olivier Piguet, Jillian J. Kril, Tanya C. Lye & Helen Creasey

  3. School of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Jane Cramsie

  4. Department of Neurology, Concord Repatriation and General Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Alastair J. Corbett & Michael Hayes

  5. Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Australia

    G. Anthony Broe

  6. Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Barker St, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia

    Olivier Piguet

Authors
  1. Olivier Piguet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jane Cramsie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hayley P. Bennett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jillian J. Kril
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tanya C. Lye
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Alastair J. Corbett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Michael Hayes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Helen Creasey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. G. Anthony Broe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olivier Piguet.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Piguet, O., Cramsie, J., Bennett, H.P. et al. Contributions of age and alcohol consumption to cerebellar integrity, gait and cognition in non-demented very old individuals. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 256, 504–511 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-006-0671-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-006-0671-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation