New findings from a long‑running US study identify factors that may influence the risk of memory decline with age
Researchers working with the Einstein Aging Study in New York have reported several new findings that clarify how memory and thinking change as people get older, and which factors may increase the chance of developing early memory disorders. The results were presented this week at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Washington, D.C.
The Einstein Aging Study is a longitudinal project that has followed older adults living in a single New York borough since the 1980s, tracking cognitive performance over many years. Because the study repeatedly assesses the same participants over time, it is well suited to detect subtle changes in cognition, identify early signs of decline and compare outcomes across different birth cohorts.
A central focus of the recent work is amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), a condition marked by measurable memory problems that are greater than expected for a person’s age and education but not severe enough to meet criteria for dementia. aMCI is important because it often precedes Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, yet distinguishing it from normal age‑related memory changes can be challenging in clinical practice.
One promising avenue reported by the investigators involves a memory process called memory binding. Memory binding refers to the brain’s ability to link separate elements of an experience—such as an object and its location, or an item and its contextual details—into a single, coherent memory. The researchers found that lower performance on a Memory Binding Test was associated with a substantially higher risk of later developing aMCI. In the study sample, people with poorer binding scores were about 2.5 times more likely to progress to aMCI than those with stronger binding performance. This suggests that sensitive measures of relational or associative memory may help clinicians identify individuals at higher risk before broader symptoms appear.
The presentations also highlighted associations between psychological factors and cognitive risk. Participants who reported higher levels of perceived stress, and those with fewer effective coping strategies, showed increased risk of progressing to aMCI. While observational, these findings underscore that emotional health and stress management may play a role in how memory changes with age and point to potential targets for further research and preventive approaches.
In addition to individual risk factors, the Einstein Aging Study team examined long‑term trends in dementia incidence across birth cohorts. Comparing participants born between 1916 and 1935, the investigators observed that people born after 1930 experienced an approximately 18% lower risk of developing dementia compared with those born earlier in the range. Although the reasons for this apparent decline are not definitive, researchers speculate that improvements in the prevention and management of vascular risk factors—particularly better control of high blood pressure and diabetes—may have contributed to lower dementia risk in later cohorts. Vascular health is a well‑established contributor to cognitive outcomes, and better medical management across midlife and later life could reduce the overall burden of cognitive impairment.
Dr Eric Karran, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, commented on the findings:
“This work with the Einstein Aging Study highlights some interesting areas for future research. Studies that follow large groups of people over long periods of time are important as they allow researchers to unpick lifestyle factors that can affect brain health as people get older, and reveal how the impact of dementia might be changing over time. Alzheimer’s Research UK is proud to be investing £3m in a longitudinal study looking at the risk factors for dementia in the UK’s longest running birth cohort.”
“Previous large scale research studies have shown that eating a balanced diet, drinking in moderation, keeping blood pressure and cholesterol in check, and staying mentally and physically active can all help to lower our risk of memory problems as we age. While it will never be possible to completely prevent dementia, if everyone was encouraged to adopt these positive lifestyle choices, we could expect to see a reduction in the proportion of people who develop dementia.”
Source: Alzheimer’s Research UK
Image credit: The image is in the public domain
Original research: The findings were presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Washington, D.C., during the week of July 21, 2015.