Publisher： Karger
E-ISSN： 1421-9824|20|1|8-14
ISSN： 1420-8008
Source： Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, Vol.20, Iss.1, 2005-06, pp. : 8-14
Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.
Abstract
This study examines the associations between education, cerebral perfusion, and cognitive test performance among 132 patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The participants had had between 0 and 19 years of formal schooling, and had either mild or moderate dementia according to the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale. Cerebral perfusion was evaluated by the 99mTc-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime single photon emission computed tomography. The Mini-Mental State Examination and the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument were used to assess cognitive performance. For patients at each clinical dementia severity level, statistical parametric mapping was used to examine voxel by voxel the association between education and cerebral perfusion, and Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated between education and cognitive test scores. Years of formal schooling had negative associations with cerebral perfusion and positive associations with cognitive test scores. The brain regions showing a significant education effect on perfusion involved bilateral posterior association areas in mild dementia, and bilateral parieto-temporo-frontal areas in moderate dementia. The present findings indicate that the cognitive reserve effect starts at the low end of the education range. They also suggest that the main effect of more education is a more facile use of alternative brain circuits instead of locally increased synaptic connections.
Related content
A SPECT Study of Sleep Disturbance and Alzheimer’s Disease
Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, Vol. 27, Iss. 3, 2009-02 ,pp. :
Access to resources
Recommend
A SPECT Study of Apathy in Alzheimer’s Disease
Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, Vol. 24, Iss. 1, 2007-06 ,pp. :
Does Rivastigmine Improve Cognitive Functions or Disability in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease?
Neuroepidemiology, Vol. 23, Iss. 4, 2004-07 ,pp. :