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The Relationship Between Age, Cognitive Function, Cardiovascular Fitness, and Serum Blood Markers of Cognitive Function in Healthy Older Adults

Bellar, David Michael
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1240314329

Abstract Details

2009, PHD, Kent State University, College of Education, Health, and Human Services / School of Exercise, Leisure and Sport.
Approximately twenty percent of all adults have cardiovascular disease. There are well-established links between cardiovascular disease and reduced cognitive function in older adults. There are also established links between serum blood markers such as Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), Ghrelin and cognitive function in older adults. The purpose of the investigation was to determine the relationships between cardiovascular fitness and BDNF, Ghrelin and cognitive function in healthy, older adults. Participants were 28 healthy older adults (age: 70.8± 9.3yrs, BMI: 27.3±5.7) Participants reported to the laboratory and basic anthropometric data were collected (height and weight) followed by a blood draw to quantify serum Ghrelin and BDNF levels. Participants were then given a snack and underwent cognitive testing that included the Letter Number Sequence Test (LNS), as well as the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-revised (HVLT). From these data a relationship emerged for both BDNF and Ghrelin. Serum Ghrelin levels was found to positively correlated to a component of the HVLT, indicating a relationship with verbal learning ability. BDNF was found to be negatively associated with one score on the letter number sequence test. Though often associated with increased performance in other cognitive domains, recent work in animal models has resulted in a similar finding of a negative relationship between BDNF levels and memory performance.
Ellen Glickman, PhD (Committee Chair)
John Gunstad, PhD (Committee Member)
Jacob Barkley, PhD (Committee Member)
Angela Ridgel, PhD (Committee Member)
242 p.
Gerontology
Age; Cognitive Function; Ghrelin; BDNF

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Bellar, D. M. (2009). The Relationship Between Age, Cognitive Function, Cardiovascular Fitness, and Serum Blood Markers of Cognitive Function in Healthy Older Adults [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1240314329

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Bellar, David. The Relationship Between Age, Cognitive Function, Cardiovascular Fitness, and Serum Blood Markers of Cognitive Function in Healthy Older Adults. 2009. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1240314329.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Bellar, David. "The Relationship Between Age, Cognitive Function, Cardiovascular Fitness, and Serum Blood Markers of Cognitive Function in Healthy Older Adults." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1240314329

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1240314329
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© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.