INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 06 Program Schedule 02/15/2024 04:00 pm - 05:15 pm Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120) Poster Session 06: Aging \| MCI \| Neurodegenerative Disease - PART 2 Final Abstract #79 Novel Cognitive Stress Test as a Measure of Cognitive Impairment in Individuals with Elevated Hemoglobin A1C in an African American Older Adult Sample. Leeron Nahmias Cohen, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, United States Soledad Arguelles Borge, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, United States Barry Nierenberg, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, United States Rosie Curiel Cid, University of Miami Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging, Miami, United States Elizabeth Crocco, university of Miami Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging, Miami, United States Alexandra Ortega, University of Miami Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging, Miami, United States Diana Hincapie, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, United States David Loewenstein, University of Miami Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging, Miami, United States Category: Aging Keyword 1: cardiovascular disease Keyword 2: diabetes Keyword 3: cognitive functioning Objective: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) affects 6.2 million Americans, a number estimated to increase to 88 million by 2050.Statistically, African Americans (AA) are twice as likely to have AD or other dementias. Furthermore, epidemiological studies demonstrate that patients with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) have a higher risk of developing AD due to increased cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors. Particularly, elevated hemoglobin A1C has been associated with steeper rates of cognitive and functional decline. Diabetes currently impacts approximately 96 million Americans; 30% are AA. The Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales of Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) is a novel cognitive challenge test that has been shown to detect prodromal AD. The present study examined the relationship between cognitive performance, hemoglobin A1C, and CVR. Participants and Methods: We examined 67 (33 male, 34 female) community-dwelling AAs aged 54 years or older (M= 63.63, SD= 5.6), with an average of 12 years of education (M= 12.98, SD= 2.3). Participant data was pooled from a Florida Department of Health-funded study at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Participants were prescreened with a comprehensive clinical interview and did not meet DSM-5 criteria for Major Neurocognitive Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, or any other neuropsychiatric diagnosis in the active phase. Eligible participants were administered a standard neuropsychological battery, a comprehensive medical examination that included a clinical interview, anthropometric measures, a neurological examination, and a blood draw measuring Hemoglobin A1C. The LASSI-L was used to measure cognition, a total CVR percentage was obtained utilizing the Framingham Risk Score Calculator, and a fasted blood test was used to obtain hemoglobin A1C. Results: Mean global MMSE scores ranged from 21-30 (M=27.15)ramingham risk scores ranged from .5- 41.0 (M= 10.61; SD= 8.1). Hemoglobin A1C ranged from 4.8 to 12.06 (M= 5.78; SD= 1.1). When considering the outcome variable of LASSI-L Cued A2, it was observed that greater levels of education, along with lower Framingham and Hemoglobin A1C scores, were indicative of a stronger level of initial learning. A moderate negative association was found between LASSI-L Cued A2 performance and high Framingham scores, r(65)= -.478, p <. 001. Conclusions: This study found that elevated A1C, higher Framingham scores, and fewer years of education combined associated with lower strength of initial learning on the LASSI-L. Despite not having a direct association with levels of A1C, CVR as measured by the Framingham Risk Score, was found to be the strongest predictor of performance on portions of the LASSI-L and other cognitive measures, indicating a strong link between CVR and cognition. Our findings suggest that the LASSI-L may be sensitive to CVR and contributes to the gap in the literature on A1C, CVR, and cognitive decline in AA. Future directions should employ a longitudinal design to better understand how various risk factors, such as A1C, impact cognition over time.

Poster

02/15/2024
04:00 pm - 05:15 pm
Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120)

Poster Session 06: Aging | MCI | Neurodegenerative Disease - PART 2

Final Abstract #79

Novel Cognitive Stress Test as a Measure of Cognitive Impairment in Individuals with Elevated Hemoglobin A1C in an African American Older Adult Sample.

Leeron Nahmias Cohen, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, United States
Soledad Arguelles Borge, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, United States
Barry Nierenberg, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, United States
Rosie Curiel Cid, University of Miami Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging, Miami, United States
Elizabeth Crocco, university of Miami Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging, Miami, United States
Alexandra Ortega, University of Miami Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging, Miami, United States
Diana Hincapie, Nova Southeastern University, Davie, United States
David Loewenstein, University of Miami Center for Cognitive Neuroscience and Aging, Miami, United States

Category: Aging

Keyword 1: cardiovascular disease
Keyword 2: diabetes
Keyword 3: cognitive functioning

Objective:

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) affects 6.2 million Americans, a number estimated to increase to 88 million by 2050.Statistically, African Americans (AA) are twice as likely to have AD or other dementias. Furthermore, epidemiological studies demonstrate that patients with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) have a higher risk of developing AD due to increased cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors. Particularly, elevated hemoglobin A1C has been associated with steeper rates of cognitive and functional decline. Diabetes currently impacts approximately 96 million Americans; 30% are AA. The Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales of Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) is a novel cognitive challenge test that has been shown to detect prodromal AD. The present study examined the relationship between cognitive performance, hemoglobin A1C, and CVR.

Participants and Methods:

We examined 67 (33 male, 34 female) community-dwelling AAs aged 54 years or older (M= 63.63, SD= 5.6), with an average of 12 years of education (M= 12.98, SD= 2.3). Participant data was pooled from a Florida Department of Health-funded study at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Participants were prescreened with a comprehensive clinical interview and did not meet DSM-5 criteria for Major Neurocognitive Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, or any other neuropsychiatric diagnosis in the active phase. Eligible participants were administered a standard neuropsychological battery, a comprehensive medical examination that included a clinical interview, anthropometric measures, a neurological examination, and a blood draw measuring Hemoglobin A1C. The LASSI-L was used to measure cognition, a total CVR percentage was obtained utilizing the Framingham Risk Score Calculator, and a fasted blood test was used to obtain hemoglobin A1C.

Results:

Mean global MMSE scores ranged from 21-30 (M=27.15)ramingham risk scores ranged from .5- 41.0 (M= 10.61; SD= 8.1). Hemoglobin A1C ranged from 4.8 to 12.06 (M= 5.78; SD= 1.1). When considering the outcome variable of LASSI-L Cued A2, it was observed that greater levels of education, along with lower Framingham and Hemoglobin A1C scores, were indicative of a stronger level of initial learning. A moderate negative association was found between LASSI-L Cued A2 performance and high Framingham scores, r(65)= -.478, p <. 001.

Conclusions:

This study found that elevated A1C, higher Framingham scores, and fewer years of education combined associated with lower strength of initial learning on the LASSI-L. Despite not having a direct association with levels of A1C, CVR as measured by the Framingham Risk Score, was found to be the strongest predictor of performance on portions of the LASSI-L and other cognitive measures, indicating a strong link between CVR and cognition. Our findings suggest that the LASSI-L may be sensitive to CVR and contributes to the gap in the literature on A1C, CVR, and cognitive decline in AA. Future directions should employ a longitudinal design to better understand how various risk factors, such as A1C, impact cognition over time.