scholarly journals Physical Activity Is Positively Associated with Episodic Memory in Aging

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 780-790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott M. Hayes ◽  
Michael L. Alosco ◽  
Jasmeet P. Hayes ◽  
Margaret Cadden ◽  
Kristina M. Peterson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Neuropsychological Testing ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Relational Memory ◽  
Younger Adults

AbstractAging is associated with performance reductions in executive function and episodic memory, although there is substantial individual variability in cognition among older adults. One factor that may be positively associated with cognition in aging is physical activity. To date, few studies have objectively assessed physical activity in young and older adults, and examined whether physical activity is differentially associated with cognition in aging. Young (n=29, age 18–31 years) and older adults (n=31, ages 55–82 years) completed standardized neuropsychological testing to assess executive function and episodic memory capacities. An experimental face-name relational memory task was administered to augment assessment of episodic memory. Physical activity (total step count and step rate) was objectively assessed using an accelerometer, and hierarchical regressions were used to evaluate relationships between cognition and physical activity. Older adults performed more poorly on tasks of executive function and episodic memory. Physical activity was positively associated with a composite measure of visual episodic memory and face-name memory accuracy in older adults. Physical activity associations with cognition were independent of sedentary behavior, which was negatively correlated with memory performance. Physical activity was not associated with cognitive performance in younger adults. Physical activity is positively associated with episodic memory performance in aging. The relationship appears to be strongest for face-name relational memory and visual episodic memory, likely attributable to the fact that these tasks make strong demands on the hippocampus. The results suggest that physical activity relates to cognition in older, but not younger adults. (JINS, 2015, 21, 780–790)

scholarly journals Evaluation of Episodic and Lexical Metamemory and Executive Function in Healthy Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 704-705
Author(s):  
Atsuko Hayashi
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Stroop Task ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Lexical Memory ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Age Related

Abstract In older adults, it is important to maintain awareness of memory as well as memory performance. However, it is not clear whether the awareness of episodic and lexical memory changes with age and is related to self-evaluation of memory and executive function. Here age-related changes and the relationship between metamemory, executive function, and metamemory scale were investigated. Healthy old (n=40) and young (n=34) groups participated in this study. In the episodic memory task, participants were asked to memorize ten Kanji words and to estimate the number of words they could recall after ten minutes. In the lexical memory task, they rated the likelihood that they could write a target Kanji word written in hiragana and then wrote them down. They were also asked to complete the metamemory in adulthood(MIA) and the position stroop task. In the episodic and lexical memory and the position stroop task and MIA subscales, the performances of the younger group were significantly better than those of the older group. In the episodic memory task, there were correlations between the metamemory and MIA subscales in both groups, but in the lexical memory task, only in the old group. No correlation was found between the results of both memory tasks and the stroop test. These results suggest that older people overestimate memory performances in the episodic and lexical memory tasks and metamemory performances may be associated with self-evaluation of memory. In addition, metamemory might not be related to frontal lobe function as shown in executive function tasks.

The Relations Between Physical Activity Level, Executive Function, and White Matter Microstructure in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Marissa A. Gogniat ◽  
Catherine M. Mewborn ◽  
Talia L. Robinson ◽  
Kharine R. Jean ◽  
L. Stephen Miller
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Neuropsychological Testing ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Average Intensity ◽  
Age Related

The population of older adults is increasing, indicating a need to examine factors that may prevent or mitigate age-related cognitive decline. The current study examined whether microstructural white matter characteristics mediated the relation between physical activity and executive function in older adults without any self-reported psychiatric and neurological disorders or cognitive impairment (N = 43, mean age = 73 y). Physical activity was measured by average intensity and number of steps via accelerometry. Diffusion tensor imaging was used to examine microstructural white matter characteristics, and neuropsychological testing was used to examine executive functioning. Parallel mediation models were analyzed using microstructural white matter regions of interest as mediators of the association between physical activity and executive function. Results indicated that average steps was significantly related to executive function (β = 0.0003, t = 2.829, P = .007), while moderate to vigorous physical activity was not (β = 0.0007, t = 1.772, P = .08). White matter metrics did not mediate any associations. This suggests that microstructural white matter characteristics alone may not be the mechanism by which physical activity impacts executive function in aging.

Memory Self-Efficacy and Memory Performance in Older Adults

2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marine Beaudoin ◽  
Olivier Desrichard
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Study Time ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Medium Size

Abstract. The present research examined the role persistence plays in mediating the positive impact of memory self-efficacy (MSE, i.e., one’s confidence in one’s own memory abilities) on older adults’ memory performance. In three studies, 81 to 264 older adults completed an MSE scale and carried out an explicit episodic memory task, during which we recorded their study time as an indicator of task persistence. We found that higher MSE was indirectly related to better memory performance through greater persistence during encoding, as measured by longer study time. Indirect effects were of medium size, with point estimates ranging from 0.64 to 0.85. This mediation effect was independent of factors that could be confounded with study time: chronological age, memory span, prior level of memory performance, episodic memory ability, and use of learning strategies (encoding strategies and self-testing). When confronted with difficult memory tasks, older adults who lack confidence in their memory abilities cease their efforts prematurely, which contributes to a decrease in their performance. Encouraging older adults to persist in the face of difficulties during encoding and retrieval may help alleviate the negative impact of low MSE on memory performance and allow researchers and clinicians to more accurately estimate older adults’ true memory abilities.

scholarly journals Maintained Frontal Activity Underlies High Memory Function Over 8 Years in Aging

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 3111-3123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Didac Vidal-Piñeiro ◽  
Markus H Sneve ◽  
Lars H Nyberg ◽  
Athanasia M Mowinckel ◽  
Donatas Sederevicius ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Cortical Atrophy ◽  
High Performing ◽  
Adult Participants ◽  
Memory Experiment ◽  
Frontal Activity

AbstractAging is characterized by substantial average decline in memory performance. Yet contradictory explanations have been given for how the brains of high-performing older adults work: either by engagement of compensatory processes such as recruitment of additional networks or by maintaining young adults’ patterns of activity. Distinguishing these components requires large experimental samples and longitudinal follow-up. Here, we investigate which features are key to high memory in aging, directly testing these hypotheses by studying a large sample of adult participants (n > 300) with fMRI during an episodic memory experiment where item-context relationships were implicitly encoded. The analyses revealed that low levels of activity in frontal networks—known to be involved in memory encoding—were associated with low memory performance in the older adults only. Importantly, older participants with low memory performance and low frontal activity exhibited a strong longitudinal memory decline in an independent verbal episodic memory task spanning 8 years back (n = 52). These participants were also characterized by lower hippocampal volumes and steeper rates of cortical atrophy. Altogether, maintenance of frontal brain function during encoding seems to be a primary characteristic of preservation of memory function in aging, likely reflecting intact ability to integrate information.

scholarly journals Manual Correction of Voxel Misclassifications in Mesiotemporal Structures Does Not Alter Brain–Behavioral Results in an Episodic Memory Task

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (21) ◽  
pp. 4869
Author(s):  
Francina Hartmann ◽  
Julia Reinhardt ◽  
Christoph Stippich ◽  
Sabine Krumm
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Neuropsychological Testing ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Disease Spectrum ◽  
Imaging Results ◽  
Manual Correction

Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) is an established method for assessing grey matter volumes across the brain. The quality of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the chosen data preprocessing steps can affect the outcome of VBM analyses. We recognized a lack of publicly available and commonly used protocols, which indicates that standardized and optimized preprocessing protocols are needed. This paper focuses on the time- and resource-consuming manual correction of misclassifications of grey matter voxels in cortical structures important in Alzheimer’s dementia. A total of 126 individuals, including 63 patients with very early Alzheimer’s disease and 63 cognitively normal participants, received thorough neuropsychological testing and 3-Tesla MRI. Automated preprocessing of T1 MPRAGE images was performed, and misclassifications of grey matter voxels were manually identified and corrected. In a second run, the manual correction step was skipped. Multiple regression analyses using DARTEL in SPM8 were then conducted with the manually corrected and uncorrected sample, respectively. Manual correction of voxel misclassifications did not have a major impact on the correlation between episodic memory performance and structural brain imaging results. We conclude that, although performing all preprocessing steps remains the gold standard, skipping manual correction of voxel misclassifications is permitted when investigating populations on the Alzheimer’s disease spectrum.

scholarly journals Influence of Aging on the Neural Correlates of Autobiographical, Episodic, and Semantic Memory Retrieval

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 4150-4163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie St-Laurent ◽  
Hervé Abdi ◽  
Hana Burianová ◽  
Cheryl L. Grady
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Semantic Memory ◽  
Memory Retrieval ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Age Related

We used fMRI to assess the neural correlates of autobiographical, semantic, and episodic memory retrieval in healthy young and older adults. Participants were tested with an event-related paradigm in which retrieval demand was the only factor varying between trials. A spatio-temporal partial least square analysis was conducted to identify the main patterns of activity characterizing the groups across conditions. We identified brain regions activated by all three memory conditions relative to a control condition. This pattern was expressed equally in both age groups and replicated previous findings obtained in a separate group of younger adults. We also identified regions whose activity differentiated among the different memory conditions. These patterns of differentiation were expressed less strongly in the older adults than in the young adults, a finding that was further confirmed by a barycentric discriminant analysis. This analysis showed an age-related dedifferentiation in autobiographical and episodic memory tasks but not in the semantic memory task or the control condition. These findings suggest that the activation of a common memory retrieval network is maintained with age, whereas the specific aspects of brain activity that differ with memory content are more vulnerable and less selectively engaged in older adults. Our results provide a potential neural mechanism for the well-known age differences in episodic/autobiographical memory, and preserved semantic memory, observed when older adults are compared with younger adults.

Different patterns of recollection for matched real-world and laboratory-based episodes in younger and older adults

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Diamond ◽  
Hervé Abdi ◽  
Brian Levine
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Real World ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Subjective Memory ◽  
Distinct Component ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Component Processes

To bridge the gap between naturalistic and laboratory assessments of episodic memory, we designed time- and content-matched real-world and virtualized versions of the same tour event. In younger and older adults, we investigated objective and subjective aspects of recollection for event features using a verbal true/false test common to both event conditions. Using a data-driven multivariate analysis blind to the age groups and event conditions, we found that discrimination of altered details explained most of the variance in objective memory performance. There was an advantage for real-world over laboratory encoding on this dimension for both age groups. Similarly, real-world encoding elicited higher scores on a dimension defined by subjective re-experiencing. However, real-world (but not laboratory) encoding decoupled objective and subjective memory in older adults, who reported similar rates of subjective recollection as younger adults despite having objectively poorer discrimination accuracy. This interaction suggests that episodic memory for real-world versus laboratory events recruit distinct component processes.

scholarly journals Cardiorespiratory Fitness Is Associated With Cognitive Performance in Older But Not Younger Adults

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 474-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott M. Hayes ◽  
Daniel E. Forman ◽  
Mieke Verfaellie
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Neuropsychological Testing ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Related Cognitive Decline ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Better Than

Abstract Objectives: Aging is associated with declines in executive function and episodic memory. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) has been associated with enhanced executive function in older adults (OA), but the relationship with episodic memory remains unclear. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between CRF and cognition in young and OA and whether CRF mitigates age-related cognitive decline. Methods: Participants completed exercise testing to evaluate CRF (peak VO 2 ) and neuropsychological testing to assess cognition. Results: In OA, peak VO 2 was positively related to executive function, as well as to accuracy on an experimental face–name memory task and visual episodic memory. In young adults (YA), a relationship between peak VO 2 and cognition was not evident. High-fit OA performed as well as YA on executive function measures. On episodic memory measures, YA performed better than high-fit OA, who in turn performed better than low-fit OA. Conclusions: CRF is positively associated with executive function and episodic memory in OA and attenuates age-related cognitive decline. We provide preliminary support for the age-dependence hypothesis, which posits that cognition and CRF relationships may be most readily observed during lifetime periods of significant neurocognitive development.

Episodic and Semantic Memory for Melodies in Alzheimer's Disease

2012 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 501-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley D. Vanstone ◽  
Ritu Sikka ◽  
Leila Tangness ◽  
Rosalind Sham ◽  
Angeles Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Semantic Memory ◽  
Memory Task ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Novel Target ◽  
Musical Memory

the present study addressed episodic and semantic memory for melodies in three groups of participants: 35 younger adults, 40 older adults, and 10 individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD). To assess episodic memory, a study list of eight novel target melodies was presented three times, followed by a test trial in which target melodies were mixed with foil (previously unheard) melodies. Both explicit and implicit measures were obtained. Explicit memory was assessed by the accuracy of discrimination of the target melodies from the foils. Younger adults were significantly more accurate than older adults, who in turn had significantly higher scores than AD adults. Implicit memory was assessed by examining the difference in pleasantness ratings between target and foil melodies. Younger adults showed significantly greater differences in pleasantness ratings than older adults and AD adults; scores for the two latter groups did not differ. To assess semantic memory, participants were asked to identify traditional melodies within a series of traditional and novel melodies. In contrast to the episodic memory results, all three groups showed very high scores on the semantic memory task with no significant differences among groups. The results support the notion that, though other forms of musical memory may be compromised, semantic memory for melody may be preserved in normal aging and in AD.

scholarly journals Effects of physical activity on cognitive function among patients with diabetes in China: a nationally longitudinal study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anying Bai ◽  
Liyuan Tao ◽  
Jia Huang ◽  
Jing Tao ◽  
Jue Liu
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Patients With Diabetes ◽  
Lagged Dependent Variable

Abstract Background We aimed to examine the effect of physical activity on different cognitive domains among patients with diabetes. Methods We used two waves of data from the Chinese Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS, 2013–2015), a nationally representative dataset of Chinese population aged over 45. Total physical activity scores were calculated based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Executive function and episodic memory were used as measures of cognitive function. We conducted lagged dependent variable models to explore the association between physical activity and cognitive function in full sample as well as two different age groups (45–65, ≥65). Results: 862 diabetic patients were included. We found that diabetic participants who had greater level of physical activity at baseline were associated with better episodic memory function in 2 years (p < 0.05). Moreover, physical activity was significantly associated with less decline in episodic memory in fully adjusted models, and the associations were stronger among patients aged 45–65 years (p < 0.05). No statistically significant association was found between physical activity and executive function in all age groups. Conclusions Physical activity may prevent some of the potential decline in episodic memory in diabetic patients. Clinicians and public health departments should strengthen the promotion of physical activity and develop early screening tools among diabetic participants to prevent the progression of cognitive impairment.

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