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Background/Objectives: Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies provide some evidence for an association between intake of antioxidants and B vitamins, and cognitive function in later life, but intervention studies have not provided clear evidence of beneficial effects. The possibility that those with higher cognitive ability during earlier adult life consume more nutrient-rich diets in later life could provide an alternative explanation for the associations seen in observational studies. Methods: Survey of 1091 men and women born in 1936 living in Edinburgh, Scotland, in whom previous cognitive ability was available from intelligence quotient (IQ) measurements at age 11 years. At age 70 years, participants carried out a range of cognitive tests and completed a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Results: A total of 882 participants returned completed FFQs from which intake of [beta]-carotene, vitamin C, B12, folate and riboflavin was estimated. IQ at age 11 years was positively associated with dietary intake of vitamin C (P = 0.048) and inversely associated with dietary intake of riboflavin (P < 0.001) at age 70 years, and was higher in those taking folate supplements at age 70 years (P < 0.005). Weak associations between intake of vitamins B12, C, riboflavin and folate and cognitive performance at age 70 years were attenuated by adjustment for confounding variables, including IQ at age 11 years. In the fully adjusted models, the proportion of total variance in cognitive function at age 70 years accounted for by intake of these nutrients was less than 1%. Conclusion: These results provide no evidence for a clinically significant beneficial association between intake of these antioxidants and B vitamins, and cognitive function at age 70 years. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2011) 65, 619-626; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2011.2; published online 23 February 2011 Keywords: cognition; antioxidants; vitamin B complex; dietary supplements; aged, Introduction Decline in cognitive function occurs as a normal part of the aging process, although the rate and extent of this decline vary widely between individuals. Two recent studies have [...]

This study investigated the influence of childhood IQ on the relationships between risk factors and cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke in adulthood. Participants were from the Midspan prospective cohort studies which were conducted on adults in Scotland in the 1970s. Data on risk factors were collected from a questionnaire and at a screening examination, and participants were followed up for 25 years for hospital admissions and mortality. 938 Midspan participants were successfully matched with their age 11 IQ from the Scottish Mental Survey 1932, in which 1921-born children attending schools in Scotland took a cognitive ability test. Childhood IQ was negatively correlated with diastolic and systolic blood pressure, and positively correlated with height and respiratory function in adulthood. For each of CVD, CHD and stroke, defined as either a hospital admission or death, there was an increased relative rate per standard deviation decrease (15 points) in childhood IQ of 1.11 (95% confidence interval 1.01-1.23), 1.16 (l.03-1.32) and 1.10 (0.88-1.36), respectively. With events divided into those first occurring before and those first occurring after the age of 65, the relationships between childhood IQ and CVD, CHD and stroke were only seen before age 65 and not after age 65. Blood pressure, height, respiratory function and smoking were associated with CVD events. Relationships were stronger in the early compared to the later period for smoking and FEV1, and stronger in the later compared to the earlier period for blood pressure. Adjustment for childhood IQ had small attenuating effects on the risk factor--CVD relationship before age 65 and no effects after age 65. Adjustment for risk factors attenuated the childhood IQ--CVD relationship by a small amount before age 65. Childhood IQ was associated with CVD risk factors and events and can be considered an important new risk factor. Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Cohort; Mental ability; Mortality; Risk factors; Scotland

Objective: To investigate the relations between premorbid and current mental ability, mood, and white matter signal abnormalities detected by T2 weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and impairment of balance [...]

Examines the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal system in drug free young men with mania in Edinburgh, Scotland. Distinction between mania and acute schizophrenia; Measurement of the frequency of plasma concentrations; Comparison between the controlled value of concentrations and schizophrenia.

Focuses on the research on the causes of Alzheimer's disease in Great Britain. Consideration of the disease as the most frequent causes of death; Characteristic of the neuropathological changes in the disease; Relations between neural disorders and Alzheimer's disease.

Presents information on the prevention of dementia. Factors that contribute to dimentia; Perception that preventive strategies are ineffective when started after a dementing process has begun; Important components of neuronal degeneration; Cerebrovascular disease as an underreported cause of cognitive decline in later life; Reference to the vascular compliactions of diabetes; Effects of cigarette smoking on dementia.

Animal studies have suggested that the mechanism of the antidepressant action of ECT may be to increase monoaminergic post-synaptic receptor sensitivity. We have tested this hypothesis in 12 drug-free patients suffering from severe depression, 11 of whom had depressive delusions. The responses of growth hormone, prolactin and cortisol to 0.75 mg subcutaneous apomorphine were examined before and after a successful course of ECT. There were no significant differences between hormonal measurements on the two occasions, with the exception that basal plasma cortisol concentrations were significantly lower following ECT and recovery from depressive illness. These results do not support the hypothesis that ECT increases dopaminergic post-synaptic receptor sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on the families of 74 probands with autopsy-proven Alzheimer's disease did not support the hypothesis, advanced by Heston and co-workers, of a familial association between Alzheimer's disease, Down's syndrome and immunoproliferative disorders. However, there are difficulties of interpreting negative conclusions in this type of study, particularly those resulting from small sample size and the impossibility of tracing all relatives; only the data for immunoproliferative disorders are incompatible with the hypothesis, those for Down's syndrome being too few to be informative. The incidence of presenile dementia among the first-degree relatives of probands was raised, as in many previous studies, and was consistent with a simple polygenic model. The mean parental age at birth of the probands was significantly raised by about 2 years (P divided by 0.01), but so also was that of their unaffected sibs, suggesting that the mechanism differs from that occurring in trisomy 21 and certain other aneuploidies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents several letters concerning medicine. Genetic aspects of Alzheimer's disease; Advances in respiratory distress syndrome; Ethical issues in in-vitro fertilization; Pharmacological treatment for intractable sneezing.

Presents several correspondence on medicine. Stones, lithotripters, trials, and arguments; Glucocorticoid receptors in depression; Role of drugs in fractures of the femoral neck; Elderly patients in the accident department; Vegetable consumption and acute appendicitis.

Examines the affinity of glucocorticoid receptors in depressed patients. Analysis of plasma cortisol concentrations in patients with Cushing's syndrome; Insensitivity of the tissue of psychiatric patients on cortisol concentrations; Evaluation of the glucocorticoid receptors in the lymphocytes of depressed patients.