Source: Shinshu University A massive survey of citizens aged 50 to 89 years examined whether cognitive impairment could be detected by measuring sagittal spinal balance based on a radiological approach. Doctors at Shinshu University observed correlations of the anterior sagittal vertical axis (SVA) and older age with lower cognitive function. The sagittal vertical axis is the length of a horizontal line connecting the posterior superior sacral end plate with a vertical hydraulic line falling from the center of the vertebral body C7. The more the head and neck protrude in front of the pelvis when viewed from the side (the longer the length), the more likely individuals are to show symptoms of mild cognitive impairment. In men, SVA was associated with cognitive impairment regardless of age. In women, cognitive impairment was more likely in SVA cases equal to or greater than 70 mm regardless of age. Mild cognitive impairment is cognitive complaints from the individual or associates and not dementia. Dementia, weakness and bed rest can be prevented by the onset of mild reversible cognitive impairment in communities where expensive special testing equipment or additional medical examination time is limited for the elderly population. The first author Hikaru Nishimura is an occupational therapist who researches problems that the elderly face in terms of rehabilitation. Exercise in older adults could extend the extent of the decline to dementia or prevent it all together. Co-author Dr. Shota Ikegami of Shinshu University states that poor posture is a manifestation of “sickness” in the elderly. Hidden cognitive impairment, a component of weakness can be detected by attitude control. Elderly people in Obuse, Nagano, were screened for mass research and found that in Japanese older adults, those who showed anterior spine width were more likely to also have cognitive impairment. Spinal posture was assessed by examination. The left shows the position in which the anterior-posterior balance of the spine and the center are balanced and the right is the upper part of the body that protrudes forward in relation to the pelvis and the center of gravity forward. As we grow older, our center of gravity tends to move forward. By evaluating this, it is possible to detect a slight drop in cognitive function. Credit: The researchers Cognitive impairment was reliably detected by combining age and degree of spinal imbalance. Males with SVA ≥ 100 mm at any age, SVA ≥ 90 mm at ≥ 70 years and SVA ≥ 70 mm at ≥ 80 years were likely to have cognitive impairment, while women with SVA ≥ 70 mm at any age were likely to have cognitive decline. Nagano Prefecture boasts some of the highest levels of health longevity in Japan. With this study and others, doctors hope to prevent the future need for care through rehabilitation interventions for weak individuals identified during screenings. Funding: This project was supported by a grant from the Japan Foundation for Orthopedic and Traumatology Research, Inc. [no. 339]Shinshu Public Utility Foundation for Promotion of Medical Sciences, Research Funding from the Japanese Society for Musculoskeletal Medicine, the Promotion Project of Education, Research and Medical Care from Shinshu University Hospital and The Nakatomi Foundation. None of the above funding sources had any role in the design, execution, analysis, interpretation or writing of the study.
Research news on this attitude and cognitive impairment
Author: Hitomi Thompson Source: Shinshu UniversityContact: Hitomi Thompson – Shinshu University Original Research: Open Access. “Detection of cognitive decline through assessment of spinal posture in health examinations of the general elderly population” by Hikaru Nishimura et al. Scientific Reports See also Abstract Detection of cognitive impairment by evaluating the posture of the spine in health examinations of the general elderly population The recent increase in the elderly adult population has led to a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment, which is often overlooked in routine health examinations. Citizens aged 50–89 years were targeted for this cohort survey by random sampling from the register of residents of a partner city in 2014. A total of 411 participants (202 men and 209 women) were enrolled. We analyzed the distribution of Cognitive Function Test scores as determined by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test and the Mini-Mental State Examination at each age (50, 60, 70 and 80) and gender group to see if cognitive impairment could be detected with measurement of sagittal vertebral balance based on a radiological approach. The sagittal vertebral balance was quantified as the sagittal vertical axis (SVA). We observed significant correlations for older age and / or SVA involvement with lower cognitive function. In men, the increase in spinal balance was associated with cognitive impairment regardless of age, with age and SVA combinations also making valid cognitive impairment determinations. Male cases of SVA ≥ 100 mm at any age, SVA ≥ 90 mm at ≥ 70 years and SVA ≥ 70 mm at ≥ 80 years were all more likely to have cognitive impairment from cases below these values. For women, cognitive impairment was more likely in SVA ≥ 70 mm cases, regardless of age. Thus, the frontal balance of the spine can be considered as an easily visible indicator of latent cognitive impairment in the elderly living in the community.
