Updates: VLS News!
May 2011:
VLS Newsletter
To view the 2010-2011 Newsletter, please click here.
March 2011:
Progress Reports from the VLS Genetics Initiative
We have recently prepared our first series of progress reports on the new genetics initiative. The first poster (November 2010) was prepared for presentation at the "Glenrose Hospital Foundation Spotlight on Research" conference, held at the Shaw Conference Centre overlooking the river valley in downtown Edmonton. The second version (December 2010) was presented at the annual Translational Neuroscience Symposium held at the University of Alberta. The third, and most recent version, was presented in March 2011 at the Joseph Royce Research Conference sponsored by the University of Alberta Department of Psychology. The local team includes members from Geriatrics, Neurology, Prion Centre, Psychiatry, Psychology, and the VLS. The present data were collected and assembled with the help of many VLS participants and staff, with Stuart MacDonald and Correne DeCarlo making special and essential contributions.
Click on VLS Genetics to view this poster.
See below for the background and rationale of this project.
2009-2011: The VLS Genetics Initiative
VLS Growth. The VLS has grown dramatically in the last decade, reflecting the overall project goal of advancing our understanding of the many interrelated aspects of human aging. The initiatives we have launched since the 1990s include (a) a protocol for collecting and coding all medications from VLS participants, (b) an expanded neuropsychological battery, (c) a coordinated set of physiological and sensory measures, and (d) new longitudinal-epidemiological research emphases linking biological, health, and neurocognitive aging. We began our latest initiative in 2009, implementing at both VLS sites. Specifically, we have been inviting all of our participants to volunteer for a new supplemental study that will help us examine potential genetic and epigenetic markers of cognitive health, normal cognitive aging, and neurodegenerative impairment and decline.
Genetics Initiative Team. The new initiative is funded by a 3-year (2009-2011) grant to three Co-Principal Investigators at the University of Alberta: Roger Dixon (Psychology), Jack Jhamandas (Neurology), and David Westaway (Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases). Other Investigators on the project include: Drs. Richard Camicioli (Neurology), Florin Dolcos (Psychiatry), Kathy Lechelt (Geriatrics), and Stuart MacDonald (Psychology, UVic). Key postdocs and graduate students (and other HQPs) include: (a) at UAlberta: Dr. Sanda Dolcos, Bonnie Geall, Peggy McFall, Dr. David Vergote, and (b) at UVic: Anna Braslavsky, Correne DeCarlo, Jacob Grand. Crucial research coordinators in this dual-site and multi-disciplinary enterprise include Karrie Darichuk (Prion Centre), Jill Friesen (VLS), and Terry Perkins (VLS-Vic).
Project Goals. The purpose is to explore promising linkages among selected genetic and epigenetic markers and neurocognitive performance and change with aging. Other researchers exploring this topic have found some promising linkages between some genetic characteristics and cognitive performance in mature adults. A unique opportunity is presented by the fact the VLS has been operating for over 20 years: We will examine genetic-epigenetic influences on actual long-term changes in cognitive health across periods of 9-18 years. At this report, we have collected DNA samples from over 600 VLS participants. All three main VLS samples are well represented. We are currently expanding our purview, as we are collecting (at both sites) corresponding genetic and cognitive data from volunteer participants with recent diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease. When completed, this initiative may provide new information about important markers and predictors of sustained cognitive health, normal cognitive decline, and the accelerated decline associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Further Reading: This is a booming area, so here are three recent readings that provide
complementary commentary.
Dixon, R.A. (2011). Enduring theoretical themes in psychological aging: Derivation, functions, perspectives, and opportunities. In K.W. Schaie & S.L. Willis (Eds.), Handbook of the Psychology of Aging (7th ed.). San Diego, CA: Elsevier.
McGue, M., & Johnson, W. (2008). Genetics of cognitive aging. In F.I.M. Craik & T.A. Salthouse (Eds.), The Handbook of Aging and Cognition (3rd ed.). New York: Psychology Press.
National Institute on Aging. (2008). Workshop summary: Genetic methods and life course development. Washington, DC: National Institutes of Health.
VLS Newsletters
Check out the 2008-2009 Newsletter here.
Check out the 2006-2007 Newsletter here.
Check out the 2004-2005 Newsletter here.
The VLS at Recent Cognitive Aging Conferences: 2010-2004
DeCarlo, C.A., MacDonald, S.W.S., & Dixon, R.A. Revisiting Birren’s BioAge: Linking biological and cognitive processes in the Victoria Longitudinal Study. (April 2010)
de Frias, C.M., Dixon, R.A., & Camicioli, R. Neurocognitive inconsistency in Parkinson’s disease and normal aging: An 18-month longitudinal study. (April 2010)
Dolcos, S., Braslavsky, A., Geall, B.P., MacDonald, S.W.S., & Dixon, R.A. Is mild cognitive impairment associated with markers of biological vitality and lifestyle activity? (April 2010)
Geall, B.P., Dixon, R.A., MacDonald, S.W.S., Fischer, A.L., & Hultsch, D.F. Intraindividual variability in neurocognitive speed performance in Type 2 diabetes. (April 2010)
McFall, G.P., Dolcos, S., MacDonald, S.W.S., & Dixon, R.A. Do biomarkers mediate Type 2 diabetes-cognition relationships: Exploring structural models. (April 2010)
Small, B.J., Dixon, R.A., & McArdle, J.J. Tracking cognitive change from 55 to 95 years of age: Findings from the Victoria Longitudinal Study. (April 2010)
Stuart W.S. MacDonald. Overview of Intraindividual Variability in Cognitive and Neurocognitive Aging. (Invited Overview
Paper, April 2008)
Cindy de Frias, Roger A. Dixon, and Esther Strauss. Executive Functioning in Special Populations: From Cognitively Elite to
Cognitively Impaired. (April 2008)
Brent J. Small, Roger A. Dixon, John J. McArdle, and Kevin J. Grimm. Changes in Lifestyle Activities in Relation to Changes
in Cognitive Abilities: 12-year Data from the Victoria Longitudinal Study. (April 2008)
Sophie E. Yeung, Ashley L. Fischer, and Roger A. Dixon. Exploring Effects of Type 2 Diabetes on Cognitive Performance in
Older Adults. (April 2008)
Roger A. Dixon. An Epidemiological Approach to Cognitive Health in Aging: Illustrations from the Victoria Longitudinal Study. (Invited Address, August 2007)
Dixon, R.A., & de Frias, C.M. Mild memory deficits differentially affect six-year changes in compensatory strategy use. (April 2006)
Dixon, R.A., Garrett, D.D., Lentz, T., MacDonald, S.W.S., Strauss, E., & Hultsch, D.F. Neurocognitive markers of mild
cognitive impairment: Speed and inconsistency. (April 2006)
Feltmate, S.E., Gagnon, L.M., Kang, S.J., & Dixon, R.A. Exploring metacognitive characteristics of collaborating dyads. (April 2006)
Garrett, D.D., MacDonald, S.W.S., & Dixon, R.A. Characteristics of the cognitive battery affect prevalence and stability of
subclinical cognitive impairment. (April 2006)
Small, B.J., McArdle, J.J., MacDonald, S.W.S., & Dixon, R.A. Growth-survival models of terminal decline: Effects of initial
level and change in cognition. (April 2006)
Tippe, S.E., de Frias, C.M., & Dixon, R.A. Do NSAIDs buffer cognitive decline in normal aging? Evidence from the Victoria
Longitudinal Study. (April 2006)
de Frias, C.M., & Dixon, R.A. Memory compensation: Structure, invariance, variability, and memory correlates. (April 2004)
Dixon, R.A., MacDonald, S.W.S., & Hultsch, D.F. Revisiting the terminal decline hypothesis: New evidence for enduring
questions. (April 2004)
Hertzog, C., Dixon, R.A., Hultsch, D.F., & Maitland, S.B. Does longitudinal memory change correlate with (either) subjective
memory change (or) change in subjective memory? (April 2004)
Mansueti, L., Westbury, C.F., & Dixon, R.A. Cognitive functioning following mild stroke in older adults: Occupational,
lifestyle, and activities effects. (April 2004)
Wahlin, Å., MacDonald, S.W.S., de Frias, C.M., Nilsson, L-G., & Dixon, R.A. How health and biological age influence
chronological age and sex differences in cognitive aging: Moderating, mediating, or both? (April 2004)
Joseph R. Royce Research Conference: 2010-2007
The VLS has presented several student posters at the 21st (March 2007), 22nd (February 2008), 23rd (March 2009), and 24th (March 2010) Annual Joseph R. Royce Research
Conferences held at the University of Alberta. Congratulations to the students who presented their research at this conference.
Demsky, A.N., McFall, G.P., Geall, B.P., & Dixon, R.A. Exploring the effects of obesity on cognition. (March 2010)
Dolcos, S., Braslavsky, A., Geall, B.P., MacDonald, S.W.S., & Dixon, R.A. Is mild cognitive impairment associated with markers of biological vitality and lifestyle activity? (March 2010)
Geall, B.P., Dixon, R.A., MacDonald, S.W.S., Fischer, A.L., & Hultsch, D.F. Intraindividual variability in neurocognitive speed performance in Type 2 diabetes. (March 2010)
McFall, G.P., Dolcos, S., MacDonald, S.W.S., & Dixon, R.A. Do biomarkers mediate Type 2 diabetes-cognition relationships: Exploring structural models. (March 2010)
Wang, R., McFall, G.P., & Dixon, R.A. Olfactory identification and cognitive functions in aging. (March 2010)
Dolcos, S., & Dixon, R.A. Effects of conscious and nonconscious goal regulation on responses
to emotional stimulation: From younger to older adults.
(March 2009)
McFall, G.P., Geall, B., Fischer, A.L., Dolcos, S., & Dixon, R.A. Role of co-morbidities in moderating and mediating cognitive deficits
associated with aging and Type 2 diabetes.
(March 2009)
Fischer, A.L., Yeung, S.E., & Dixon, R.A. Does Type 2 diabetes affect cognitive performance in older adults?
(February 2008)
Cochrane, K.M., Frender, R.H., & Dixon, R.A. Autobiographical memory cues support episodic memory in early AD.
(March 2007)
Feltmate, S.E., & Dixon, R.A. Social engagement and the presence of mild cognitive impairment.
(March 2007)
Yeung, S., & Dixon, R.A. Effects of Type II diabetes on cognitive functioning in older adults: Data from the Victoria
Longitudinal Study. (March 2007)
Autumn 2006: Memory, Aging, and Brain
In October a celebration was held in Sweden to honour the contributions and career of VLS colleague, Dr. Lars-Göran Nilsson (Stockholm University). Click here for the full program.
Autumn 2005: The VLS at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA)
The following papers from the VLS are presented at the 58th Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America. In addition
to Roger Dixon (Edmonton), the VLS co-authors are from Victoria, Tampa, Stockholm, and Los Angeles.
Bielak, A., Hughes, T.F., Small, B.J., & Dixon, R.A. (2005). Does an engaged lifestyle predict cognitive level and
intraindividual variability 6 years later?
Hughes, T.F., Bielak, A., Small, B.J., & Dixon, R.A. (2005). Lifestyle activities, cognitive reserve, and intraindividual
variability in cognitive functioning.
MacDonald, S.W.S., & Dixon, R.A. (2005). Vascular implications for cognitive trajectories of terminal decline: Findings from
the Victoria Longitudinal Study. In C. Brady & A. Spiro (Chairs), Symposium on: Vascular disease and cognition:
Multidisciplinary approaches.
Small, B.J., Dixon, R.A., & McArdle, J.J. (2005). Health predictors of age-related changes in episodic memory. In S.M.
Hofer (Chair), Symposium on: Associations among health, cognition, and personality: Evidence from longitudinal studies on
aging.
In addition, Brent Small presented his invited address, "Health and Lifestyle Influences on Cognitive Aging", in honour of the
2004 Margret Baltes Award.
Centenarian
We are very proud of our first centenarian. A member of VLS Sample 1, Mr. Allan Trueman, completed the sixth wave in Spring 2003. Click here and here to view pictures of the Mr. Trueman relaxing after a hard day in the lab.
2004: New Book Published
The VLS, in cooperation with the Betula Project, has published a new book about ground-breaking directions of research in
cognitive development and aging.
R.A. Dixon, L. Bäckman, and L-G. Nilsson (Eds.). (2004). New frontiers in cognitive aging. Oxford: Oxford University
Press.
The cover art for this book can be viewed here
The table of contents can be viewed here
