At present, due to the demographic changes and the rise of senior population worldwide, there is effort to prolong an active life of these people by both pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies. The purpose of this article is, on the basis of the literature review of recent clinical studies, to discuss one of such strategy, i.e., the effect of Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) on the cognitive functions among both the cognitively unimpaired and impaired elderly people. The methodology includes a literature review of full-text, peer-reviewed journal studies written in English and published in Web of Science and PubMed between 1 January 2016 and 28 February 2021. The findings indicate that the adherence to MedDiet has a positive effect on both cognitively impaired and unimpaired older population, especially on their memory, both in the short and long run. The results show that the higher adherence to MedDiet proves to have a better effect on global cognitive performance of older people. In addition, the adherence to MedDiet offers other benefits to older people, such as reduction of depressive symptoms, lowered frailty, as well as reduced length of hospital stays.

• Klíčová slova
• Mediterranean diet, cognitive impairment, impact, older people,
• MeSH
• kognice * MeSH
• kognitivní dysfunkce prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• strava středomořská * psychologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

The purpose of this article is to discuss to what extent foreign language learning may enhance cognitive functions among healthy older population. The methods used in this study included cognitive assessments using standardized tests, intervention through English language teaching and learning, and statistical analysis. Out of 60 older Czech citizens, 42 cognitively unimpaired participants were selected for the experiment. These participants were randomly divided into an experimental group (20 subjects) studying English for 12 weeks (three 45-min lessons per week) and a control group (22 subjects) whose members did not have any language training. The results of the research show that there has been a slight enhancement of cognitive skills in the experimental group. Nevertheless, on the whole, the scores of the experimental and control groups did not considerably differ. Despite this fact, the results indicate that cognitive functions among healthy older population can be maintained through regular foreign language training.

• Klíčová slova
• Cognitive decline, Cognitive functions, Effect, English language learning, Healthy older individuals, Limitations,
• MeSH
• kognice fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mnohojazyčnost * MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• stárnutí fyziologie   MeSH
• učení fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Currently, there is an increase in the number of the world's aging population. This aging process is often connected with cognitive decline of some functions such as memory or speed processing loss. Since Alzheimer's disease cannot be cured yet, considerable efforts are being made to at least delay this cognitive decline among elderly in order to maintain and prolong the quality of their life. This can also be achieved by non-pharmacological approaches such as performing physical activities, cognitive training, or adhering to a Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet). One of the components of MedDiet - extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) - has considerable health benefits. The purpose of this review is to examine the effect of EVOO intake on the delay of cognitive decline among the elderly. The methodology is based on a literature review of available sources found on the research topic in three acknowledged databases: Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed. The results of in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that the regular intake of EVOO is associated with enhanced cognitive functions, which means that this oil may have a neuroprotective effect and could positively prevent the development of dementia, especially Alzheimer's dementia. It is believed that secoiridoid oleuropein is responsible for this effectiveness. Furthermore, there is also a need of more randomized controlled studies or longitudinal observational studies to be performed to confirm the efficacy of the beneficial health effect of EVOO on the delay of cognitive decline.

• Klíčová slova
• Alzheimer disease, cognitive decline, extra-virgin olive oil, oleuropein, oleuropein-aglycone, review,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Memantine is a noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist utilized as a palliative cure for Alzheimer's disease. This is the second study examining the memantine concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid. The previously published study enrolled six patients, and three of them were theoretically in a steady state. In our study, we enrolled 22 patients who regularly used a standard therapeutic dose of memantine (20 mg/day, oral administration) before the sample collection. Patients were divided into four groups, according to the time of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid collection: 6, 12, 18, and 24 h after memantine administration. The cerebrospinal fluid samples were also assessed for selected oxidative stress parameters (malondialdehyde, 3-nitrotyrosine, glutathione, non-protein thiols, and non-protein disulfides). The plasma/cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ratio for all time intervals were within the range of 45.89% (6 h) to 55.60% (18 h), which corresponds with previously published findings in most patients. The other aim of our study was to deduce whether the achieved "real" memantine concentration in the central compartment was sufficient to block NMDA receptors. The IC50 value of memantine as an NMDA antagonist is in micromolar range; the lowest limit is 112 ng/ml (GluN2C), and this value was achieved only in three cases. The memantine cerebrospinal fluid concentration did not reach one quarter of the IC50 value in five cases (one patient was excluded for noncompliance); therefore, the potency of memantine as a therapeutic effect in patients may be questionable. However, it appears that memantine therapy positively affected the levels of some oxidative stress parameters, especially non-protein thiols and 3-nitrotyrosine.

• Klíčová slova
• Alzheimer’s disease, biomarkers, cerebrospinal fluid concentrations, clinical study, memantine, oxidative stress,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Present demographic changes demonstrate that the number of elderly people is growing at a frenetic pace. This shift in population consequently results in many social and economic problems, which burden the social and economic systems of countries. The aging process is associated with age-related diseases, the most common of which are dementia and Alzheimer's disease, whose main symptom is a decline in cognitive function, especially memory loss. Unfortunately, it cannot be cured. Therefore, alternative approaches, which are cost-effective, safe, and easy to implement, are being sought in order to delay and prevent cognitive impairment. The purpose of this review was to explore the effect of multidomain lifestyle intervention strategies on the delay and/or prevention of cognitive impairment in healthy older individuals. The methods are based on a literature review of available sources found on the research topic in three acknowledged databases: Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed. The results of the identified original studies reveal that multidomain lifestyle interventions generate significant effects. In addition, these interventions seem feasible, cost-effective, and engaging. Thus, there is a call for the implementation of effective lifestyle prevention programs, which would involve goal-setting and would focus on the prevention of crucial risk factors threatening the target group of elderly people, who are at risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

• Klíčová slova
• cognitive impairment, elderly people, lifestyle strategies, multidomain intervention, randomized clinical trials,
• MeSH
• cvičení * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• zdravé stárnutí * MeSH
• životní styl * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Currently, there is an increasing number of older population groups, especially in developed countries. This demographic trend, however, may cause serious problems, such as an increase in aging diseases, one of which is dementia whose main symptom consists in the decline of cognitive functioning. Although there has been ongoing pharmacological research on this neurological disorder, it has not brought satisfying results as far as its treatment is concerned. Therefore, governments all over the world are trying to develop alternative, non-pharmacological strategies/activities, which could help to prevent this cognitive decline while this aging population is still healthy in order to reduce future economic and social burden. One of the non-pharmacological approaches, which may enhance cognitive abilities and protect against the decline in healthy older population, seems to be the learning of a foreign language. The purpose of this mini-review article is to discuss recent findings about the effect of foreign language learning on the enhancement of cognitive functions among healthy older individuals. The findings, divided into three research areas, show that the learning of a foreign language may generate a lot of benefits for older individuals, such as enhancement of cognitive functioning, their self-esteem, increased opportunities of socializing, or reduction of costs. However, as Ware et al. (2017) indicate, any intervention program on foreign language learning should be well thought of and tailored to the needs of older people in order to be effective and avoid accompanying factors, such as older people's anxiety or low self-confidence. Nevertheless, more empirical studies should be done in this area.

• Klíčová slova
• a lack of evidence, benefits, cognitive functioning, efficacy, foreign language learning, healthy older adults,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Current demographic trends indicate that the population is aging. The aging process is inevitably connected with cognitive decline, which manifests itself in worsening working memory, processing speed, and attention. Therefore, apart from pharmacological therapies, non-pharmacological approaches which can influence cognitive performance (such as physical activities or healthy diet), are being investigated. The purpose of this study is to explore the types of nutritional interventions and their benefits in the prevention and delay of cognitive delay in healthy older individuals. The methods used in this study include a literature review of the available studies on the research topic found in Web of Science, Scopus, and MEDLINE. The findings show that nutritional intervention has a positive impact on cognitive function in healthy older people. However, it seems that the interactions between more than one nutrient are most effective. The results reveal that specifically the Mediterranean diet appears to be effective in this respect. Moreover, the findings also indicate that multi-domain interventions including diet, exercise, cognitive training, and vascular risk monitoring have a far more significant effect on the enhancement of cognitive functions among healthy older individuals.

• Klíčová slova
• cognitive decline, healthy older individuals, intervention, nutrition, prevention, randomized clinical trials,
• MeSH
• chování snižující riziko MeSH
• cvičení MeSH
• geriatrické hodnocení MeSH
• kognice * MeSH
• kognitivní dysfunkce diagnóza   patofyziologie   prevence a kontrola   psychologie   MeSH
• kognitivní stárnutí psychologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nutriční stav * MeSH
• ochranné faktory MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• strava středomořská MeSH
• věkové faktory MeSH
• zdravá strava * MeSH
• zdravé stárnutí psychologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH