Psychophysiological Responses to Stress Related to Anxiety in Healthy Aging

Abstract. The aim of the study was to explore the effects of situational stress and anxiety in a group of healthy elderly, both in terms of psychophysiological correlates and cognitive performance. Eighteen participants ( Mage = 70 ± 6.3; range 60–85) were assessed for anxiety and were instructed to perform a computerized math task, under both a stressful and a control condition, while near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) signal and electrocardiography (ECG) were recorded. NIRS results evidenced an increased activation of right PFC during the entire procedure, even if effect sizes between left and right channels were larger during the experimental condition. The amount of right activation during the stressful condition was positively correlated with anxiety. Response times (RTs) were slower in more anxious than in less anxious individuals, both during the control and stressful conditions. Accuracy was lower in more anxious than in less anxious individuals, only during the stressful condition. Moreover, heart rate (HR) was not modulated by situational stress, nor by anxiety. Overall, the present study suggests that in healthy elderly, anxiety level has a significant impact on cerebral responses, and both on the amount of cognitive resources and the quality of performance in stressful situations.

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Dynamics of tissue oxygenation in isolated rabbit heart as measured with near-infrared spectroscopy

AJP Heart and Circulatory Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpheart.1999.276.5.h1616 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 276 (5) ◽

pp. H1616-H1624 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bas de Groot ◽

Coert J. Zuurbier ◽

Johannes H. G. M. van Beek

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Infrared Spectroscopy ◽

Near Infrared Spectroscopy ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Tissue Oxygenation ◽

Response Times ◽

Rabbit Heart ◽

Perfusion Flow ◽

Nirs Signal

We investigated the role of myoglobin (Mb) in supplying O2 to mitochondria during transitions in cardiac workload. Isovolumic rabbit hearts ( n = 7) were perfused retrogradely with hemoglobin-free Tyrode solution at 37°C. Coronary venous O2 tension was measured polarographically, and tissue oxygenation was measured with two-wavelength near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), both at a time resolution of ∼2 s. During transitions to anoxia, 68 ± 2% (SE) of the NIRS signal was due to Mb and the rest to cytochrome oxidase. For heart rate steps from 120 to 190 or 220 beats/min, the NIRS signal decreased significantly by 6.9 ± 1.3 or 11.1 ± 2.1% of the full scale, respectively, with response times of 11.0 ± 0.8 or 9.1 ± 0.5 s, respectively. The response time of end-capillary O2 concentration ([O2]), estimated from the venous [O2], was 8.6 ± 0.8 s for 190 beats/min ( P< 0.05 vs. NIRS time) or 8.5 ± 0.9 s for 220 beats/min ( P > 0.05). The mean response times of mitochondrial O2 consumption (V˙o 2) were 3.7 ± 0.7 and 3.6 ± 0.6 s, respectively. The deoxygenation of oxymyoglobin (MbO2) accounted for only 12–13% of the total decrease in tissue O2, with the rest being physically dissolved O2. During 11% reductions in perfusion flow at 220 beats/min, Mb was 1.5 ± 0.4% deoxygenated ( P < 0.05), despite the high venous [Formula: see text] of 377 ± 17 mmHg, indicating metabolism-perfusion mismatch. We conclude that the contribution of MbO2 to the increase of V˙o 2 during heart rate steps in saline-perfused hearts was small and slow compared with that of physically dissolved O2.

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Visual Attention and Aging: an Age-Related Cognitive Model of Positive Adaptation

European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education ◽

10.3390/ejihpe4030017 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 181-191

Author(s):

José Manuel Rodríguez-Ferrer

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Visual Attention ◽

Response Times ◽

Age Groups ◽

Cognitive Model ◽

Covert Attention ◽

Positive Adaptation ◽

Healthy Elderly ◽

Age Related ◽

Healthy Young People

We have studied the effects of normal aging on visual attention. Have participated a group of 38 healthy elderly people with an average age of 67.8 years and a group of 39 healthy young people with average age of 19.2 years. In a first experiment of visual detection, response times were recorded, with and without covert attention, to the presentation of stimuli (0.5º in diameter grey circles) appearing in three eccentricities (2.15, 3.83 and 5.53° of visual field) and with three levels of contrast (6, 16 and 78%). In a second experiment of visual form discrimination circles and squares with the same features as in the previous experiment were presented, but in this case subjects only should respond to the emergence of the circles. In both age groups, the covert attention reduced response times. Compared to young people, the older group achieved better results in some aspects of attention tests and response times were reduced more in the stimuli of greater eccentricity. The data suggest that there is a mechanism of adaptation in aging, in which visual attention especially favors the perception of those stimuli more difficult to detec

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Smell and taste recognition in early stages of late-onset Alzheimer’s disease

SURG Journal ◽

10.21083/surg.v4i1.1189 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 57-64 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nila Ilhamto ◽

Lisa M Duizer

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Health Status ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Late Onset ◽

Word Recall ◽

Early Stages ◽

Predictive Variables ◽

Healthy Elderly ◽

Inadequate Nutrition

Problems of inadequate nutrition and energy intake are common in the aging population. Smell and taste deficits associated with Late-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease (LOAD) may accentuate the decline in nutritional status of elderly individuals and indirectly enhance progression of cognitive problems in LOAD. The objective of this study was to explore and characterize smell and taste recognition abilities in early stages of LOAD, beyond that of normal healthy aging. A total of 29 healthy-younger subjects aged 18-40 (HY), 13 healthy-elderly (HA) and six elderly adults diagnosed with LOAD (AD) aged 60-85, were recruited from the Guelph community. The Sniffin’ Sticks Screening Test (SSST) and Taste Strips were used to test olfactory and gustatory functions, respectively. Participants also completed the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), clock test and word recall tests to assess cognitive/memory skills. Compared to HA individuals, people with AD had significant odour recognition impairment. Correlation analysis also revealed an age-associated decline in overall taste ability. When specific tastes were examined, impairments in sour and bitter identification were observed with increasing age. However, no significant differences in specific taste abilities were found between HA and AD individuals. In predicting health status (ie. presence or absence of LOAD), an assessment of all variables in this study was conducted using Generalized Linear Model (GLM). Results showed that sweet recognition and clock test scores were the best predictive variables of health status. However, this is a preliminary model that needs refinement through further research using more individuals.

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Acoustic Detail Guides Attention Allocation in a Selective Listening Task

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/jocn_a_00761 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 27 (5) ◽

pp. 988-1000 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Malte Wöstmann ◽

Erich Schröger ◽

Jonas Obleser

Keyword(s):

Healthy Aging ◽

Response Times ◽

Age Groups ◽

Attention Allocation ◽

Selective Listening ◽

Irrelevant Distractors ◽

Perceptual Separability ◽

Sensory Decline ◽

Listening Task ◽

Improved Accuracy

The flexible allocation of attention enables us to perceive and behave successfully despite irrelevant distractors. How do acoustic challenges influence this allocation of attention, and to what extent is this ability preserved in normally aging listeners? Younger and healthy older participants performed a masked auditory number comparison while EEG was recorded. To vary selective attention demands, we manipulated perceptual separability of spoken digits from a masking talker by varying acoustic detail (temporal fine structure). Listening conditions were adjusted individually to equalize stimulus audibility as well as the overall level of performance across participants. Accuracy increased, and response times decreased with more acoustic detail. The decrease in response times with more acoustic detail was stronger in the group of older participants. The onset of the distracting speech masker triggered a prominent contingent negative variation (CNV) in the EEG. Notably, CNV magnitude decreased parametrically with increasing acoustic detail in both age groups. Within identical levels of acoustic detail, larger CNV magnitude was associated with improved accuracy. Across age groups, neuropsychological markers further linked early CNV magnitude directly to individual attentional capacity. Results demonstrate for the first time that, in a demanding listening task, instantaneous acoustic conditions guide the allocation of attention. Second, such basic neural mechanisms of preparatory attention allocation seem preserved in healthy aging, despite impending sensory decline.

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Near-Infrared pH Sensor Based on a SPEEK–Polyaniline Polyelectrolyte Complex Membrane

Proceedings ◽

10.3390/iocn_2018-1-05493 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 11 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nedal Y. Abu-Thabit

Keyword(s):

Polyelectrolyte Complex ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Response Times ◽

Oxidative Polymerization ◽

Ph Sensor ◽

Ph Sensing ◽

Ph Values ◽

Sensing Applications ◽

Ph Range ◽

Speek Membrane

A polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) membrane based on sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) and polyaniline (SPEEK-PANI) was developed for pH sensing applications. Aniline was polymerized in the presence of the SPEEK membrane by using in situ chemical oxidative polymerization to yield an ionically crosslinked SPEEK-PANI membrane. The fabricated membrane exhibited sensitivity in the physiological pH range of 2–8. The PEC membrane pH sensor showed good absorption properties in the near-infrared region (NIR). The membrane showed fast response during a de-doping process (≈90 s), while longer response times are essential for doping processes from the alkaline/neutral pH region to the acidic pH region, which is attributed to the presence of highly acidic sulfonic acid groups with a high buffering capacity in the PEC membrane. The SPEEK-PANI membrane exhibited slightly higher water uptake compared to the neat SPEEK membrane. The membrane exhibited good stability, as it was stored in 1M HCl solution for more than 2 years without physical or visual deterioration. A preconditioning step in 1M HCl ensured that the results were reproducible and allows the pH sensor to be used repeatedly. The PEC sensor membranes are suitable for applications that start at low pH values and move upwards to higher pH values in the 2–8 pH range.

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Semantic Processing in Healthy Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Systematic Review of the N400 Differences

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci10110770 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 770

Author(s):

Marilyne Joyal ◽

Charles Groleau ◽

Clara Bouchard ◽

Maximiliano A. Wilson ◽

Shirley Fecteau

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Semantic Processing ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Semantic Knowledge ◽

Event Related Potential ◽

N400 Effect ◽

Pathological Aging ◽

Healthy Elderly

Semantic deficits are common in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). These deficits notably impact the ability to understand words. In healthy aging, semantic knowledge increases but semantic processing (i.e., the ability to use this knowledge) may be impaired. This systematic review aimed to investigate semantic processing in healthy aging and AD through behavioral responses and the N400 brain event-related potential. The results of the quantitative and qualitative analyses suggested an overall decrease in accuracy and increase in response times in healthy elderly as compared to young adults, as well as in individuals with AD as compared to age-matched controls. The influence of semantic association, as measured by N400 effect amplitudes, appears smaller in healthy aging and even more so in AD patients. Thus, semantic processing differences may occur in both healthy and pathological aging. The establishment of norms of healthy aging for these outcomes that vary between normal and pathological aging could eventually help early detection of AD.

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Association Between Fatty Acids Profile and Cerebral Blood Flow: An Exploratory fNIRS Study on Children with and without ADHD

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11102414 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 2414 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Silvia Grazioli ◽

Alessandro Crippa ◽

Maddalena Mauri ◽

Caterina Piazza ◽

Andrea Bacchetta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Memory Task ◽

Hierarchical Regression ◽

Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy ◽

Children With Adhd ◽

Hyperactivity Disorder ◽

Fatty Acids Profile ◽

Inverse Effect ◽

Nirs Signal

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) biostatus has been proposed as possible attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis biomarker. The present exploratory study aimed to investigate the association between PUFAs biostatus and cerebral cortex metabolism measured by functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) in a sample of children with and without ADHD. 24 children with ADHD and 22 typically developing (TD) peers, aged 8–14, were recruited. Linoleic, arachidonic, docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids levels were evaluated in whole blood. All children underwent fNIRS while performing an n-back working memory task. Between groups comparisons revealed lower levels of arachidonic acid in children with ADHD and stronger NIRS signal in TD participants, especially when completing more difficult tasks. Correlations conducted between fNIRS activation and PUFA biostatus revealed several associations between hemodynamic changes in the frontoparietal regions and fatty acids profile across participants. This result was also confirmed by the multiple hierarchical regression analyses that remarked an inverse effect of eicosapentaenoic acid levels on oxyhemoglobin values in right frontoparietal region. Such preliminary findings, if confirmed, would suggest that PUFAs could play a role in atypical neurodevelopment.

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The Omega-3 Index and Long-term Walnut Consumption in Elderly Participants of the WAHA Study (P08-107-19)

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzz044.p08-107-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Tony Jehi ◽

Sujatha Rajaram ◽

Joan Sabate ◽

Edward Bitok ◽

Keiji Oda

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Generalized Least Squares ◽

Control Group ◽

Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Healthy Elderly ◽

Habitual Diet ◽

Loma Linda University

Abstract Objectives To determine if consuming walnuts daily for 2 years would improve the omega-3 index in healthy elderly compared to habitual diet without walnuts. Methods Design: Secondary analysis of the Walnuts and Healthy Aging (WAHA) study, a 2-year, randomized controlled clinical trial, conducted in Loma Linda University, CA, USA and Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain. Subjects were randomly assigned to either a walnut or a control group. Study Population Included 193 WAHA study subjects from the Loma Linda center only, whose blood samples were collected and analyzed for RBC fatty acids. Statistical analysis To assess whether the changes of the Omega-3 index from baseline to year 1 and baseline to year 2 are significantly different between the walnut and control groups. Unstructured covariance model best fitted the data and was utilized. Then, repeated measures analyses were conducted to assess the delta change differences based on generalized least squares model. Results Omega-3 index did not significantly change between baseline and year 1 in either group. The index significantly increased by 1.5% (P < 0.001) in walnut group and by 1.8% (P < 0.001) in control group between baseline and year 2. This between-group difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusions Preliminary findings suggest that consuming walnuts, a rich source of ALA, may not be adequate to improve the omega-3 index compared to a walnut free habitual diet. Background intake of EPA and DHA may have a more pronounced influence on the index and needs to be further explored. Funding Sources California Walnut Commission, Folsom, CA.

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Predicting cerebral blood flow response to orthostatic stress from resting dynamics: effects of healthy aging

AJP Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpregu.2001.281.3.r716 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 281 (3) ◽

pp. R716-R722 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

K. Narayanan ◽

James J. Collins ◽

Jason Hamner ◽

Seiji Mukai ◽

Lewis A. Lipsitz

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Cerebral Blood Flow ◽

Transfer Function ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Transfer Functions ◽

Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity ◽

Elderly Subjects ◽

Elderly Age ◽

Healthy Elderly ◽

Posture Change

The transfer function relating arterial pressure (AP) to cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) during resting conditions has been used to predict the CBFV response to hypotension. We hypothesized that this approach could predict the CBFV response to posture change in elderly individuals if impaired autoregulation allowed changes in AP to be passively transferred to CBFV. AP (Finapres) and CBFV (middle cerebral artery transcranial Doppler) were measured in 10 healthy young (age 24 ± 1 yr) and 10 healthy elderly (age 72 ± 3 yr) subjects during 5 min of quiet sitting and 1 min of active standing while breathing was paced at 0.25 Hz. Transfer functions between AP and CBFV changes during sitting were estimated from each full waveform in both low-frequency (LF; 0.05–0.2 Hz) and heartbeat-frequency (HBF; 0.7–1.4 Hz) ranges. The impulse-response function was used to compute changes in CBFV during posture change. The LF transfer function did not predict orthostatic changes in CBFV in either group, suggesting normal cerebral autoregulation. In the HBF range, the prediction was high in elderly ( R = 0.65 ± 0.23) but not young subjects ( R = 0.19 ± 0.35; P < 0.003, young vs. elderly). Thus rapidly acting regulatory mechanisms that reduce the transmission of beat-to-beat changes in AP to CBFV may be engaged during posture change in young but not elderly subjects.

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