Abstract
Aim: Cognitive reserve (CR) is important in protecting the brain from injury and has not been investigated in people with early-onset dementia (EOD). Methods: A retrospective case control study of 44 patients with dementia onset prior to 65 years of age: Alzheimer's disease (AD) = 23; frontotemporal dementia (FTD) = 21. Groups were matched for age, education, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), premorbid IQ, sex and APOE epsilon 4 genotype. Years of formal education were used as a marker of CR. Relationships between education and neuropsychological data was examined using linear regression analyses. Results: There were no demographic differences between the AD and FTD groups. Significant associations were found between education and attention, working memory and visuospatial abilities. There was an effect of CR for the EOD group and selective effects in FTD and AD. Conclusion: Our findings suggest CR is operational in patients with FTD and AD.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 139-144 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and other Dementias |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2011 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- early-onset dementia
- Alzheimer's disease
- frontotemporal dementia
- cognitive reserve
- neuropsychological assessment
- ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE
- EDUCATION
- DECLINE
- BRAIN
- ASSOCIATION
- HYPOTHESIS
- DIAGNOSIS
- CRITERIA