RE: Cognitive reserve (imaging evidence)

[Guest guest]

Thanks Russ, this was very interesting. Going to dig up all my crossword

puzzles I put away a while ago!

The only question I had reading this is how did they determine " more

intelligent " ? In Toronto, for example, I can hail a cab that is driven by a

Doctor, get my fast food served to me by a Nuclear Scientist and have my

groceries bagged by a Psychology Professor - all of these people coming from

different countries. Language skills, or lack thereof, is the only barrier

for them. Then again I've worked with people who had University educations

that I wouldn't trust to take care of my dogs!

Courage

Cognitive reserve (imaging evidence)

>Hello Group! Was a busy weekend of study for me. Nevertheless, this

>caught my eye, and I thought it was of interest. It discusses the " theory

>of cognitive reserve " [that those with higher educations are at reduced

risk

>for developing dementia, and if/when they do, the progression of the

illness

>is slower (at least initially), in that the brain somehow is still able to

>function effectively despite ongoing damage due to dementia.]. The

> " education effect " has been replicated by the Predictors Study data. Dr.

>Stern is the Predictors Study's Principal Investigator for the Columbia

>University site [The Predictors Study is conducted at Columbia Univ(NYC),

>s Hopkins(Balto), and Mass General(Boston)]. I'm in charge of

>coordinating the study activity here at Hopkins. At first we thought that

>the critical factor as to why education has such an impact on dementia was

>perhaps because those with greater education had more brain mass or a

>greater number of synaptic connections. Now, it's looking as though it has

>more to do with HOW the brain operates. That is, that people with greater

>educations somehow use their brains in a different manner than those

>less-well educated. Very interesting... -Russ

>

>

>Protecting your brain from Alzheimer's

>

>Scans suggest why education prevents the disease

>

>WASHINGTON (Reuters) --Brain images show that people who are more

>intelligent and better educated use their brains differently, which in turn

>may help explain why keeping the mind active protects against Alzheimer's

>disease, researchers reported this week.

>

>Study after study has shown that people who do puzzles, who dance and who

>keep their minds active have a lower risk of Alzheimer's -- the most common

>cause of dementia.

>

>This has led scientists to believe that some people have a " cognitive

>reserve " that allows them to tolerate more damage from Alzheimer's and

other

>brain diseases.

>

>But is it due to brain size, connections, or something else?

>

>Yaakov Stern, a professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University in New

>York and colleagues have done a series of brain imaging experiments that

>suggest it's not how much brain you have, but how you use it, that matters.

>

>Writing in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical and Experimental

>Neuropsychology, Stern and colleagues said they tested 19 people with a

>range of IQs from below to above average.

>

> " In this particular study we looked at normal people and we gave them a

>memory task to do -- they had to recognize these shapes, sort of nonsense

>squiggly shapes, " Stern said in a telephone interview.

>

> " We looked to see if we could see differences in brain activity in people

as

>a function of IQ. "

>

>They did.

>

>Functional magnetic resonance imaging, which can see cell activity as it

>happens, showed more activity in the frontal lobes in people with higher

>intelligence.

>

> " One area where there seemed to be more activity in higher IQs was the

right

>medial frontal gyrus, " Stern said. He does not know if that area of the

>brain is significant.

>

> " What is important to us at this point is not the areas themselves,

although

>I am sure they are meaningful, but to establish this differential

activity. "

>

>The next step, Stern said, will be to compare young people with old people,

>and healthy old people against Alzheimer's patients. Already his studies

>show that young and old people do use their brains in different ways.

>

>Stern's team has also shown that education tends to protect against

>Alzheimer's. Whatever is at work must start early in life, he said --

before

>the brain damage caused by Alzheimer's starts.

>

>Currently more than 4 million Americans have Alzheimer's, which is always

>fatal and for which there is no cure.

>

>Those numbers are expected to jump as the population ages.

>

>The disease is marked by protein " plaques " and tangles of nerve fibers that

>kill off surrounding neurons. Symptoms start with simple memory loss and

>steadily worsen, leaving patients unable to care for themselves.

>

>Find this article at:

>http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/conditions/08/09/education.alzheimers.reut/i

n

>dex.html

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Russ,

I was talking to a lady from the bank I deal with today. She was

telling me of her aunt, who she helps to care for. She has dementia

and this woman was an English professor. Hmmmmmmmmm....She seems the

same way as the others.

Beth L.

> Hello Group! Was a busy weekend of study for me.

Nevertheless, this

> caught my eye, and I thought it was of interest. It discusses

the " theory

> of cognitive reserve " [that those with higher educations are at

reduced risk

> for developing dementia, and if/when they do, the progression of

the illness

> is slower (at least initially), in that the brain somehow is still

able to

> function effectively despite ongoing damage due to dementia.]. The

> " education effect " has been replicated by the Predictors Study

data. Dr.

> Stern is the Predictors Study's Principal Investigator for the

Columbia

> University site [The Predictors Study is conducted at Columbia Univ

(NYC),

> s Hopkins(Balto), and Mass General(Boston)]. I'm in charge of

> coordinating the study activity here at Hopkins. At first we

thought that

> the critical factor as to why education has such an impact on

dementia was

> perhaps because those with greater education had more brain mass

or a

> greater number of synaptic connections. Now, it's looking as

though it has

> more to do with HOW the brain operates. That is, that people with

greater

> educations somehow use their brains in a different manner than

those

> less-well educated. Very interesting... -Russ

>

>

> Protecting your brain from Alzheimer's

>

> Scans suggest why education prevents the disease

>

> WASHINGTON (Reuters) --Brain images show that people who are more

> intelligent and better educated use their brains differently,

which in turn

> may help explain why keeping the mind active protects against

Alzheimer's

> disease, researchers reported this week.

>

> Study after study has shown that people who do puzzles, who dance

and who

> keep their minds active have a lower risk of Alzheimer's -- the

most common

> cause of dementia.

>

> This has led scientists to believe that some people have

a " cognitive

> reserve " that allows them to tolerate more damage from Alzheimer's

and other

> brain diseases.

>

> But is it due to brain size, connections, or something else?

>

> Yaakov Stern, a professor of neuropsychology at Columbia

University in New

> York and colleagues have done a series of brain imaging

experiments that

> suggest it's not how much brain you have, but how you use it, that

matters.

>

> Writing in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical and

Experimental

> Neuropsychology, Stern and colleagues said they tested 19 people

with a

> range of IQs from below to above average.

>

> " In this particular study we looked at normal people and we gave

them a

> memory task to do -- they had to recognize these shapes, sort of

nonsense

> squiggly shapes, " Stern said in a telephone interview.

>

> " We looked to see if we could see differences in brain activity in

people as

> a function of IQ. "

>

> They did.

>

> Functional magnetic resonance imaging, which can see cell activity

as it

> happens, showed more activity in the frontal lobes in people with

higher

> intelligence.

>

> " One area where there seemed to be more activity in higher IQs was

the right

> medial frontal gyrus, " Stern said. He does not know if that area

of the

> brain is significant.

>

> " What is important to us at this point is not the areas

themselves, although

> I am sure they are meaningful, but to establish this differential

activity. "

>

> The next step, Stern said, will be to compare young people with

old people,

> and healthy old people against Alzheimer's patients. Already his

studies

> show that young and old people do use their brains in different

ways.

>

> Stern's team has also shown that education tends to protect against

> Alzheimer's. Whatever is at work must start early in life, he

said -- before

> the brain damage caused by Alzheimer's starts.

>

> Currently more than 4 million Americans have Alzheimer's, which is

always

> fatal and for which there is no cure.

>

> Those numbers are expected to jump as the population ages.

>

> The disease is marked by protein " plaques " and tangles of nerve

fibers that

> kill off surrounding neurons. Symptoms start with simple memory

loss and

> steadily worsen, leaving patients unable to care for themselves.

>

> Find this article at:

>

http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/conditions/08/09/education.alzheimers.

reut/in

> dex.html

[Guest guest]

Courage,

I'm sure they used level of education (number of years in school) as a proxy

for " intelligence, " if they didn't do a full-blown IQ test (i.e., NART).

Using level of education as a proxy for intelligence is fairly common

practice, as the two are highly correlated with one another!

" Then again I've worked with people who had University educations that I

wouldn't trust to take care of my dogs! " --- Yes, this made me LOL!

However, I agree! ;-)

-Russ

Message: 5

Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 11:45:01 -0500

Subject: Re: Cognitive reserve (imaging evidence)

Thanks Russ, this was very interesting. Going to dig up all my crossword

puzzles I put away a while ago!

The only question I had reading this is how did they determine " more

intelligent " ? In Toronto, for example, I can hail a cab that is driven by a

Doctor, get my fast food served to me by a Nuclear Scientist and have my

groceries bagged by a Psychology Professor - all of these people coming from

different countries. Language skills, or lack thereof, is the only barrier

for them. Then again I've worked with people who had University educations

that I wouldn't trust to take care of my dogs!

Courage

[Guest guest]

Beth, you're 100% right, and bring up an interesting point. Just because

someone has a high education doesn't mean that they (as an individual) are

necessarily " protected " from developing dementia, or that they necessarily

use their brains in a different way from less-well educated people.

However, the overall data (ignoring the occasionally statistical anomaly),

suggest as much.

The same goes for other risk factors and dementia (not just education). For

example, if you do " all the right things " by your body in your youth (i.e.,

eat right, exercise, quit smoking, etc.), that doesn't mean that you're

necessarily 100% safe from developing dementia in your golden years.

Nevertheless, the statistical odds will be in your favor.

-Russ

Message: 19

Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2003 02:54:39 -0000

Subject: Re: Cognitive reserve (imaging evidence)

Russ,

I was talking to a lady from the bank I deal with today. She was

telling me of her aunt, who she helps to care for. She has dementia

and this woman was an English professor. Hmmmmmmmmm....She seems the

same way as the others.

Beth L.

[Guest guest]

Russ:

I am glad you posted this, as it has brought us into a great

discussion where we can " exercise " our minds, LOL!

My poor dad " did all the right things " for his body. He ate no red

meat or starchy food, which kept him at a healthy weight all his

life. He exercised regularly until recently. He danced with my mom

every time he had a chance. His job as a draftman is especially

important. I think anything that makes the transition from visual to

representational helps a lot. My mom does oil paintings, I used to

do watercolors, and am going to start again! I also learned to do

crew at 51. I stopped it last Thanksgiving because or other

commitments. I was also feeling too bulky after being the tiniest

person in my family, I developed muscles! I is time to go back to all

that. Just improving my chances...

Today, in the state Dad is, it is impossible to tell he is 89. His

skin is smooth inspite of his weight loss, he still has his beautiful

rosy cheeks, his great hair, fine features. Yes! I inherited some

healthy genes! I also think I inherited the possibility of LBD (?).

I am sure that when he went back to being a draftman, he improved his

chances against LBD. He had a bad time at 65 when he was home doing

nothing.

Anyway, this are my ramblings for today. I have to go and pick up my

little one from her girl friend's house. My best to all,

Josie

> Beth, you're 100% right, and bring up an interesting point. Just

because

> someone has a high education doesn't mean that they (as an

individual) are

> necessarily " protected " from developing dementia, or that they

necessarily

> use their brains in a different way from less-well educated people.

> However, the overall data (ignoring the occasionally statistical

anomaly),

> suggest as much.

>

> The same goes for other risk factors and dementia (not just

education). For

> example, if you do " all the right things " by your body in your

youth (i.e.,

> eat right, exercise, quit smoking, etc.), that doesn't mean that

you're

> necessarily 100% safe from developing dementia in your golden years.

> Nevertheless, the statistical odds will be in your favor.

>

> -Russ

>

> Message: 19

> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2003 02:54:39 -0000

> From: " Beth " <kitty_purr57@y...>

> Subject: Re: Cognitive reserve (imaging evidence)

>

> Russ,

>

> I was talking to a lady from the bank I deal with today. She was

> telling me of her aunt, who she helps to care for. She has dementia

> and this woman was an English professor. Hmmmmmmmmm....She seems the

> same way as the others.

>

> Beth L.

[Guest guest]

Hahahaha! Russ. I guess I will stick with odds. I have high school

education and a little college, think I'll stick with that!! LOL!!

Beth L.

> Beth, you're 100% right, and bring up an interesting point. Just

because

> someone has a high education doesn't mean that they (as an

individual) are

> necessarily " protected " from developing dementia, or that they

necessarily

> use their brains in a different way from less-well educated people.

> However, the overall data (ignoring the occasionally statistical

anomaly),

> suggest as much.

>

> The same goes for other risk factors and dementia (not just

education). For

> example, if you do " all the right things " by your body in your

youth (i.e.,

> eat right, exercise, quit smoking, etc.), that doesn't mean that

you're

> necessarily 100% safe from developing dementia in your golden

years.

> Nevertheless, the statistical odds will be in your favor.

>

> -Russ

>

> Message: 19

> Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2003 02:54:39 -0000

> From: " Beth " <kitty_purr57@y...>

> Subject: Re: Cognitive reserve (imaging evidence)

>

> Russ,

>

> I was talking to a lady from the bank I deal with today. She was

> telling me of her aunt, who she helps to care for. She has dementia

> and this woman was an English professor. Hmmmmmmmmm....She seems

the

> same way as the others.

>

> Beth L.

[Guest guest]

Russ,

Your posting struck me. My dad, who recently passed on 8/7, was a highly

educated man. He held several graduate degrees, was a college professor for

21 years, was an opera singer, and overall was a brilliant man. And yes, he

enjoyed working crossword puzzles--specifically, The New York Times puzzles.

I'm very interested in this research dealing with cognitive reserve and not

necessary brain size, but brain connections and usage. I found it hard to

believe that someone with a vast array of knowledge that my dad had would

come down with this dementia. In fact, I met another man in the nursing

home where my dad spent a few weeks who was also highly educated and has

dementia.

Please let me know more about this research study. If there is anything I

can do to contribute to this study, don't hesitate to ask.

Stelma

Cognitive reserve (imaging evidence)

Hello Group! Was a busy weekend of study for me. Nevertheless, this

caught my eye, and I thought it was of interest. It discusses the " theory

of cognitive reserve " [that those with higher educations are at reduced

risk

for developing dementia, and if/when they do, the progression of the

illness

is slower (at least initially), in that the brain somehow is still able to

function effectively despite ongoing damage due to dementia.]. The

" education effect " has been replicated by the Predictors Study data. Dr.

Stern is the Predictors Study's Principal Investigator for the Columbia

University site [The Predictors Study is conducted at Columbia Univ(NYC),

s Hopkins(Balto), and Mass General(Boston)]. I'm in charge of

coordinating the study activity here at Hopkins. At first we thought that

the critical factor as to why education has such an impact on dementia was

perhaps because those with greater education had more brain mass or a

greater number of synaptic connections. Now, it's looking as though it

has

more to do with HOW the brain operates. That is, that people with greater

educations somehow use their brains in a different manner than those

less-well educated. Very interesting... -Russ

Protecting your brain from Alzheimer's

Scans suggest why education prevents the disease

WASHINGTON (Reuters) --Brain images show that people who are more

intelligent and better educated use their brains differently, which in

turn

may help explain why keeping the mind active protects against Alzheimer's

disease, researchers reported this week.

Study after study has shown that people who do puzzles, who dance and who

keep their minds active have a lower risk of Alzheimer's -- the most

common

cause of dementia.

This has led scientists to believe that some people have a " cognitive

reserve " that allows them to tolerate more damage from Alzheimer's and

other

brain diseases.

But is it due to brain size, connections, or something else?

Yaakov Stern, a professor of neuropsychology at Columbia University in New

York and colleagues have done a series of brain imaging experiments that

suggest it's not how much brain you have, but how you use it, that

matters.

Writing in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical and Experimental

Neuropsychology, Stern and colleagues said they tested 19 people with a

range of IQs from below to above average.

" In this particular study we looked at normal people and we gave them a

memory task to do -- they had to recognize these shapes, sort of nonsense

squiggly shapes, " Stern said in a telephone interview.

" We looked to see if we could see differences in brain activity in people

as

a function of IQ. "

They did.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging, which can see cell activity as it

happens, showed more activity in the frontal lobes in people with higher

intelligence.

" One area where there seemed to be more activity in higher IQs was the

right

medial frontal gyrus, " Stern said. He does not know if that area of the

brain is significant.

" What is important to us at this point is not the areas themselves,

although

I am sure they are meaningful, but to establish this differential

activity. "

The next step, Stern said, will be to compare young people with old

people,

and healthy old people against Alzheimer's patients. Already his studies

show that young and old people do use their brains in different ways.

Stern's team has also shown that education tends to protect against

Alzheimer's. Whatever is at work must start early in life, he said --

before

the brain damage caused by Alzheimer's starts.

Currently more than 4 million Americans have Alzheimer's, which is always

fatal and for which there is no cure.

Those numbers are expected to jump as the population ages.

The disease is marked by protein " plaques " and tangles of nerve fibers

that

kill off surrounding neurons. Symptoms start with simple memory loss and

steadily worsen, leaving patients unable to care for themselves.

Find this article at:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/conditions/08/09/education.alzheimers.reut/in

dex.html

[Guest guest]

:

It is good to hear from you. I am also interested in this area of

research of dementia. My questions are: When did your dad show the

very first signs of confusion, or any lowered cognitive ability; how

long until he was diagnosed; and how old he was when he passed last

Thursday?

Still praying for you and your family,

Josie

> Russ,

> Your posting struck me. My dad, who recently passed on 8/7, was a

highly

> educated man. He held several graduate degrees, was a college

professor for

> 21 years, was an opera singer, and overall was a brilliant man.

And yes, he

> enjoyed working crossword puzzles--specifically, The New York Times

puzzles.

> I'm very interested in this research dealing with cognitive reserve

and not

> necessary brain size, but brain connections and usage. I found it

hard to

> believe that someone with a vast array of knowledge that my dad had

would

> come down with this dementia. In fact, I met another man in the

nursing

> home where my dad spent a few weeks who was also highly educated

and has

> dementia.

>

> Please let me know more about this research study. If there is

anything I

> can do to contribute to this study, don't hesitate to ask.

> Stelma

> Cognitive reserve (imaging evidence)

>

>

> Hello Group! Was a busy weekend of study for me.

Nevertheless, this

> caught my eye, and I thought it was of interest. It discusses

the " theory

> of cognitive reserve " [that those with higher educations are at

reduced

> risk

> for developing dementia, and if/when they do, the progression of

the

> illness

> is slower (at least initially), in that the brain somehow is

still able to

> function effectively despite ongoing damage due to dementia.].

The

> " education effect " has been replicated by the Predictors Study

data. Dr.

> Stern is the Predictors Study's Principal Investigator for the

Columbia

> University site [The Predictors Study is conducted at Columbia

Univ(NYC),

> s Hopkins(Balto), and Mass General(Boston)]. I'm in charge of

> coordinating the study activity here at Hopkins. At first we

thought that

> the critical factor as to why education has such an impact on

dementia was

> perhaps because those with greater education had more brain mass

or a

> greater number of synaptic connections. Now, it's looking as

though it

> has

> more to do with HOW the brain operates. That is, that people

with greater

> educations somehow use their brains in a different manner than

those

> less-well educated. Very interesting... -Russ

>

>

> Protecting your brain from Alzheimer's

>

> Scans suggest why education prevents the disease

>

> WASHINGTON (Reuters) --Brain images show that people who are more

> intelligent and better educated use their brains differently,

which in

> turn

> may help explain why keeping the mind active protects against

Alzheimer's

> disease, researchers reported this week.

>

> Study after study has shown that people who do puzzles, who dance

and who

> keep their minds active have a lower risk of Alzheimer's -- the

most

> common

> cause of dementia.

>

> This has led scientists to believe that some people have

a " cognitive

> reserve " that allows them to tolerate more damage from

Alzheimer's and

> other

> brain diseases.

>

> But is it due to brain size, connections, or something else?

>

> Yaakov Stern, a professor of neuropsychology at Columbia

University in New

> York and colleagues have done a series of brain imaging

experiments that

> suggest it's not how much brain you have, but how you use it, that

> matters.

>

> Writing in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical and

Experimental

> Neuropsychology, Stern and colleagues said they tested 19 people

with a

> range of IQs from below to above average.

>

> " In this particular study we looked at normal people and we gave

them a

> memory task to do -- they had to recognize these shapes, sort of

nonsense

> squiggly shapes, " Stern said in a telephone interview.

>

> " We looked to see if we could see differences in brain activity

in people

> as

> a function of IQ. "

>

> They did.

>

> Functional magnetic resonance imaging, which can see cell

activity as it

> happens, showed more activity in the frontal lobes in people with

higher

> intelligence.

>

> " One area where there seemed to be more activity in higher IQs

was the

> right

> medial frontal gyrus, " Stern said. He does not know if that area

of the

> brain is significant.

>

> " What is important to us at this point is not the areas

themselves,

> although

> I am sure they are meaningful, but to establish this differential

> activity. "

>

> The next step, Stern said, will be to compare young people with

old

> people,

> and healthy old people against Alzheimer's patients. Already his

studies

> show that young and old people do use their brains in different

ways.

>

> Stern's team has also shown that education tends to protect

against

> Alzheimer's. Whatever is at work must start early in life, he

said --

> before

> the brain damage caused by Alzheimer's starts.

>

> Currently more than 4 million Americans have Alzheimer's, which

is always

> fatal and for which there is no cure.

>

> Those numbers are expected to jump as the population ages.

>

> The disease is marked by protein " plaques " and tangles of nerve

fibers

> that

> kill off surrounding neurons. Symptoms start with simple memory

loss and

> steadily worsen, leaving patients unable to care for themselves.

>

> Find this article at:

>

>

http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/conditions/08/09/education.alzheimers.r

eut/in

> dex.html

>

>

>