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Background: The population aged 80 or over has increased, which may predispose people to dementia. Validated scales are used to diagnose them. The study aimed to compare cognitive evolution and associated factors in individuals aged 80 or over. Method: The Research Ethics Committee from the University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNESC) authorized the study under 3,214,698. It was an observational, quantitative study with a cohort design. Individuals aged 80 or over were recruited for this study. One hundred twenty‐four participants were evaluated in 2016. After six years, they were reevaluated, with 102 participants lost to follow‐up, resulting in 22 participants for reapplication. In addition, 78 new participants entered the study, totaling 100 participants in 2022. Cognitive tests such as the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), Clock Test, Verbal Fluency, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) were applied. Result: When comparing the two times, there was a significant difference in the percentage of retirement and participation in some activities in the community. Compared to cognitive tests, a decrease in cognitive decline and verbal fluency was observed in 2022, assessed by the MMSE. When the 22 individuals were evaluated over six years, there was a significant change in participation in community activities. When asked about difficulty remembering things, people, or situations, there was a reduction in 2022. Unlike the MMSE and the verbal fluency test, the MOCA showed cognitive impairment in most individuals in 2022. Conclusion: It is concluded that the population of 2016 and 2022 showed some differences related to cognition, but this difference was not observed in the 22 individuals. These results indicate a divergence between the tests. Considering the many differences in the Brazilian population, it is necessary to standardize a cognitive test suitable for screening cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aging is a natural, irreversible process that can be successful or pathological, resulting in chronic degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Low levels of estrogen characterize menopause. Research reveals that the lack of these hormones may be related to dementia and that vitamin D (vit D), when supplemented, has a neuroprotective and neuromodulator effect. Method: 60‐ or 120‐day‐old Wistar rats were subjected to ovariectomy (OVX) for either 1 or 8 months, treatment with oral administration of Vit D (42 or 420 IU/kg) and/or DONE (1 mg/kg) spanned 21 days. On the 22nd day of the protocol, 24 hours post the final administration, the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were dissected for cytokine analysis, including interleukin 10 (IL‐10), IL‐1 β, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐ α), conducted through enzyme immunoassay. Result: In 60‐day‐old rats undergoing one month of ovariectomy (OVX), elevated IL‐1β and TNF‐α levels were observed in the brain. The optimal dose for mitigating these effects was found to be vitamin D (Vit D) at 420 IU/kg, either alone or in combination with DONE. This dosage successfully reversed the increased IL‐1β levels in the frontal cortex and normalized the elevated TNF‐α levels in the hippocampus. Similarly, in rats subjected to OVX for eight months, the most effective dose for reversing increased IL‐1β levels in the frontal cortex and hippocampus was Vit D at 420 IU/kg. However, in this protocol, TNF‐α levels remained unchanged, emphasizing the selective impact of this particular dosage. Additionally, the optimal dose for modulating IL‐10 levels in the frontal cortex, particularly in the context of increased IL‐10 following OVX, was Vit D at 420 IU/kg. Conclusion: The administration of vitamin D either alone or in combination with DONE (a specific treatment) demonstrated favorable outcomes in the rats, effectively mitigating the inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The increasing prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly among women post‐menopause, is linked to the decline in 17 β estradiol (E2). Vitamin D deficiency, common in older individuals, exacerbates this risk due to its anti‐inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Hypovitaminosis D is associated with age‐related conditions, including cognitive decline. Donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor used for Alzheimer's dementia, targets cholinergic dysfunction in normal aging and prodromal states of this disease, suggesting a potential intervention for early disease modification. Method: Adult female Wistar rats aged 60 or 120 days were used, submitted to ovariectomy (OVX) for 1, 4, or 8 months, supplemented with vit D, at doses of 42 and 420 IU/kg, or water or combined with DONE (1 mg/kg) orally by gavage for 21 days. The open field test (OFT) and Y‐maze test were performed. Result: Ovariectomized rats at 60 and 120 days of age exhibit deficits in short‐term spatial reference memory, as evidenced by performance in the Y‐maze task. In the OFT, 60‐day‐old rats subjected to OVX for four months displayed impairment, a trend also observed in rats of the same age undergoing OVX for eight months, both in the control and OVX groups. Notably, 120‐day‐old rats subjected to OVX for 4 and 8 months failed to learn, along with their respective control groups. However, the majority of interventions successfully reversed these memory impairments, with particular efficacy observed in treatments involving vitamin D at 42 IU/kg and the combination of vitamin D with DONE. Conclusion: Memory impairment occurs as a result of ovariectomy (OVX). This effect persists with aging, and vit D, either alone or in combination with DONE, emerges as a significant alternative for reversing or mitigating this cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]