39 research outputs found
Risk Factors for Cognitive Decline
Cognitive impairment is one of the major symptoms of
dementia. The main cognitive functions acc orientation to time
and place, recall and memory, attention, language, calculation,
and visual construction. Impairment of cognitive functions influences
the ability of an individual to live independently, and it diminishes
the quality of life. In addition to the consequences for an individual,
cognitive impairment imposes a major burden on the health care
system because it induces an increased risk of institutionalization and
hospitalization.
Although cognlttve impairment is a less severe disorder than dementia,
it is much more common. In a representative papu lation of
subjects over 65 years of age, the prevalence of cognitive impairment
was 15.8%, whereas the prevalence of dementia was 4.2%.' The risk of
cognitive impairment rises exponentially with age. Therefore, we may
expect an increase in the number of people with cognitive impairment
in our aging society. At present, there acc a number of medications that
can delay the progression of dementia and that can stabilize cognitive
function. However, no cure or prevention for these disorders has been
found yet. Therefore, it is important to identify modifiable risk factors
for cognitive impairment and dementia. If these risk factors can be
found, preventive intervention may become feasible
A prospective study on circulating insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), IGF-binding proteins, and cognitive function in the elderly
The objective of this study was to investigate the longitudinal relation
between the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I)/IGF-binding protein
(IGFBP) system and cognitive function. The study population consisted of a
sample of 186 healthy participants from the population-based Rotterdam
Study, aged 55-80 yr. At baseline, we determined fasting blood levels of
free and total IGF-I, IGFBP-1, and IGFBP-3. The 30-point Mini-Mental State
Examination (MMSE) was used to assess cognitive impairment at baseline
(MMSE score of <26; 6% of the sample) and cognitive decline after, on the
average, 1.9 yr of follow-up (drop in MMSE score of >1 point/year; 22% of
the sample). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were
estimated using logistic regression, with adjustment for age, sex,
education, body mass index, and fasting insulin levels. Total IGF-I
appeared to be inversely related to cognitive impairment, although not
significantly. Higher total IGF-I and the total IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratio were
associated with less cognitive decline (OR per SD increase = 0.65; 95% CI
= 0.44-0.95 and OR = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.39-0.87, respectively). No relation
was observed between free IGF-I and cognitive decline (OR = 0.99; 95% CI =
0.68-1.44). In conclusion, in this prospective study higher serum total
IGF-I levels and higher total IGF-I/IGFBP-3 ratios, but not higher free
IGF-I levels, were associated with less cognitive decline over the
following 2 yr. Circulating total IGF-I levels may reflect an underlying
biological process that influences cognitive decline
A prospective study on cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and cognitive function in the elderly
The objective of this study was to investigate the relation between the
peripheral concentrations of the adrenal steroid hormones cortisol and
dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and cognitive impairment and
decline. A prospective study design was used. The setting was a suburb of
Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The study population consisted of a sample of
189 healthy participants from the population-based Rotterdam Study, aged
55-80 yr, who were invited for an additional examination. Follow-up
examinations took place 1.9 yr after baseline, on the average. We
determined fasting blood levels of DHEAS before dexamethasone
administration and of cortisol and corticosteroid-binding globulin before
and after the administration of 1 mg dexamethasone overnight. The 30-point
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to assess cognition. The
associations with cognitive impairment (MMSE score of <26; 6% of the
sample) and cognitive decline (drop in MMSE score of >1 point
How Many Hours Do You Have to Work to Be Integrated? Full Time and Part Time Employment of Native and Ethnic Minority Women in the Netherlands
Labor market participation is a central factor in the economic integration of migrants in their host country. Labor market integration of ethnic minority women is of special interest, as they may experience a double disadvantage: both as a woman and as a migrant. Since the late nineties this presumed double disadvantage has become more and more the focus of both Dutch integration and Dutch emancipation policy. To test several assumptions underlying Dutch policy this paper focuses on the employment patterns of ethnic minority and native women in the Netherlands. In particular, we analyze to what extent labor market participation of different groups of women and the hours they work are influenced by human capital and household characteristics. Our results show some remarkable differences in employment patterns between native Dutch and ethnic minority women. Controlling for educational level, partnership and the presence of children, native Dutch women are working more often in part time jobs than Mediterranean and Caribbean women. For all women the educational level is an important determinant of employment and the number of hours worked. Whereas the number of children influences both the employment decision and the number of hours worked of native Dutch women, for Mediterranean and Caribbean women there is only an effect of the number of children on the odds of having a full time job