Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-31T15:12:18.479Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Mental Status Examination of an Exceptional Case of Longevity

J. C. Aged 118 Years

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Karen Ritchie
Karen Ritchie*
Affiliation:
Equipe ‘Vieillissement Cognitif’, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre Val d'Aurelle, Parc Euromédicine, 34094 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background

The mental status examination of an extreme case of longevity, J. C., aged 118 years and 9 months, is documented in order to further knowledge regarding profiles of morbidity in the extremely elderly. J. C. is presently considered to have the longest authenticated life-span in the history of the human species.

Method

Neuropsychological tests were improvised taking into account the subject's severe perceptual deficits. The examination was carried out over a six-month period. A CT scan was also conducted.

Results

The subject's performance on tests of verbal memory and language fluency is comparable to that of persons with the same level of education in their eighties and nineties. Frontal lobe functions are relatively spared and there is no evidence of depressive symptomatology or other functional illness. Cognitive functioning was found to slightly improve over a six-month period.

Conclusions

The subject shows no evidence of progressive neurological disease. A high initial level of intellectual ability may have constituted a protective factor.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 166 , Issue 2 , February 1995 , pp. 229 - 235
Copyright
Copyright © 1995 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Baddeley, A. D. & Hitch, G. J. (1974) Working memory. In The Psychology of Learning and Motivation (ed. Brewer, G. H.), pp. 47–88. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Burke, H. L., Yeo, R. A., Delaney, H. D., et al (1989) CT scan cerebral hemispheric asymmetries: predictors of recovery from aphasia. Proceedings of the International Neuropsychological Society, pp. 41–44. Vancouver.Google Scholar
Fondation IPSEN (1991) Cent tableaux pour cent ans. A La Recherche du Sécret des Centenaires. Paris: La Fondation IPSEN.Google Scholar
Gavrilov, L. A. & Gavrilova, N. S. (1986) The Biology of Life Span: A Quantitative Approach. Chur: Harwood.Google Scholar
Katzman, R., Terry, R., Deteresa, R., et al (1988) Clinical, pathological and neurochemical changes in dementia: a subgroup with preserved mental status and numerous neocortical plaques. Annals of Neurology, 23, 138–144.Google Scholar
Ritchie, K. & Kildea, D. (1991) Alzheimer's disease: an epidemiological standpoint. Paper presented at Euromédecine, Montpellier.Google Scholar
Ritchie, K. & Kildea, D. & Robine, J-M. (1992) The relationship between age and the prevalence of senile dementia: a meta-analysis of recent data. International Journal of Epidemiology, 21, 763–769.Google Scholar
Ritchie, K., Ledésert, B. & Touchon, J. (1993) The Eugéria study of cognitive ageing: who are the ‘normal’ elderly? International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 8, 969–977.Google Scholar
Robine, J-M. (1993) The exceptional concentration of cases of longevity in the genealogical tree of J. C. Proceedings of the 46th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, pp. 334–335. New Orleans.Google Scholar
Schaie, K. W. (1983) The Seattle Longitudinal Study: a twenty-one year exploration of psychometric intelligence in adulthood. In Longitudinal Studies of Adult Psychological Development (ed. Schaie, K. W.), pp. 463–478. New York: Guilford Press.Google Scholar
Ska, B. & Nespoulos, J-L. (1987) Pantomimes and ageing. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 9, 754–766.Google Scholar
Wechsler, D. (1954) Manual for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. New York: The Psychological Corporation.Google Scholar
Yesavage, J. A., Brink, T. L., Rose, T. L., et al (1983) Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: a preliminary report. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 17, 37–49.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.