Studying Multilingualism and Group Differences in Adult Communication

2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 59-64
Author(s):  
Loraine K. Obler
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Research Center ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Aging Brain

The focus of this article is on the study of bilingual and multilingual adults at the Howard Goodglass Aphasia Research Center and the Language in the Aging Brain Laboratory by Drs. Obler and Albert along with former students and colleagues. Summaries of studies examining research in healthy bilingual adults, healthy monolingual older adults, and monolingual and bilingual individuals with aphasia are presented.

scholarly journals EEG Measures of Value-Directed Strategic Processing in Older Adults With and Without Mild Cognitive Impairment

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 292-293
Author(s):  
Lydia Nguyen ◽  
Shraddha Shende ◽  
Daniel Llano ◽  
Raksha Mudar
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Spectral Power ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Alpha Power ◽  
Strategic Processing ◽  
Unique Word

Abstract Value-directed strategic processing is important for daily functioning. It allows selective processing of important information and inhibition of irrelevant information. This ability is relatively preserved in normal cognitive aging, but it is unclear if mild cognitive impairment (MCI) affects strategic processing and its underlying neurophysiological mechanisms. The current study examined behavioral and EEG spectral power differences between 16 cognitively normal older adults (CNOA; mean age: 74.5 ± 4.0 years) and 16 individuals with MCI (mean age: 77.1 ± 4.3 years) linked to a value-directed strategic processing task. The task used five unique word lists where words were assigned high- or low-value based on letter case and were presented sequentially while EEG was recorded. Participants were instructed to recall as many words as possible after each list to maximize their score. Results revealed no group differences in recall of low-value words, but individuals with MCI recalled significantly fewer high-value words and total number of words relative to CNOA. Group differences were observed in theta and alpha bands for low-value words, with greater synchronized theta power for CNOA than MCI and greater desynchronized alpha power for MCI than CNOA. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that more effortful neural processing of low-value words in the MCI group, relative to the CNOA group, allowed them to match their behavioral performance to the CNOA group. Individuals with MCI appear to utilize more cognitive resources to inhibit low-value information and might show memory-related benefits if taught strategies to focus on high-value information processing.

scholarly journals Effects of aging on emotion recognition from dynamic multimodal expressions and vocalizations

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana S. Cortes ◽  
Christina Tornberg ◽  
Tanja Bänziger ◽  
Hillary Anger Elfenbein ◽  
Håkan Fischer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Emotion Recognition ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Positivity Effect ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Effects Of Aging

AbstractAge-related differences in emotion recognition have predominantly been investigated using static pictures of facial expressions, and positive emotions beyond happiness have rarely been included. The current study instead used dynamic facial and vocal stimuli, and included a wider than usual range of positive emotions. In Task 1, younger and older adults were tested for their abilities to recognize 12 emotions from brief video recordings presented in visual, auditory, and multimodal blocks. Task 2 assessed recognition of 18 emotions conveyed by non-linguistic vocalizations (e.g., laughter, sobs, and sighs). Results from both tasks showed that younger adults had significantly higher overall recognition rates than older adults. In Task 1, significant group differences (younger > older) were only observed for the auditory block (across all emotions), and for expressions of anger, irritation, and relief (across all presentation blocks). In Task 2, significant group differences were observed for 6 out of 9 positive, and 8 out of 9 negative emotions. Overall, results indicate that recognition of both positive and negative emotions show age-related differences. This suggests that the age-related positivity effect in emotion recognition may become less evident when dynamic emotional stimuli are used and happiness is not the only positive emotion under study.

scholarly journals Physical Activity Level Following Resistance Training in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Receiving Home Care: Results from a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 6682
Author(s):  
Hilde Bremseth Bårdstu ◽  
Vidar Andersen ◽  
Marius Steiro Fimland ◽  
Lene Aasdahl ◽  
Hilde Lohne-Seiler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Resistance Training ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cluster Randomized ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Older adults’ physical activity (PA) is low. We examined whether eight months of resistance training increased PA level in community-dwelling older adults receiving home care. A two-armed cluster-randomized trial using parallel groups was conducted. The included participants were >70 years and received home care. The resistance training group performed resistance training using body weight, elastic bands, and water canes twice per week for eight months. The control group was informed about the national PA guidelines and received motivational talks. The ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer was used to estimate PA. Outcomes included total PA (counts per minute), sedentary behavior (min/day), light PA (min/day), moderate-to-vigorous PA (min/day), and steps (mean/day). Between-group differences were analyzed using multilevel linear mixed models. Twelve clusters were randomized to either resistance training (7 clusters, 60 participants) or the control group (5 clusters, 44 participants). A total of 101 participants (median age 86.0 (interquartile range 80–90) years) had valid accelerometer data and were included in the analysis. There were no statistically significant between-group differences for any of the PA outcomes after four or eight months. This study offers no evidence of increased PA level following resistance training in older adults with home care.

Abstract W P156: Arterial Stiffness in Older Adults With and Without Stroke

Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ada Tang ◽  
Daria Shkredova ◽  
Derek W Stouth ◽  
Maureen J MacDonald ◽  
Jennifer J Heisz
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Arterial Stiffness ◽  
Cardiovascular Events ◽  
Pulse Transit Time ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Ongoing Work ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Stroke Group ◽  
The Relationship

Introduction: Silent cerebrovascular infarcts resulting from vascular disease can manifest as a decline in cognitive function. These silent events are also associated with increased risk of clinically overt stroke. Arterial stiffness is a marker that represents atherosclerotic progression and is a predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality. This study examined the relationship between arterial stiffness and cognitive impairment between adults aged 50-80 years old with and without stroke. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that elevated arterial stiffness would be observed in individuals with stroke, and also be associated with increased cognitive impairment across all participants. Methods: Cognition was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Arterial stiffness was quantified using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV, in m/s), calculated as cfPWV=D/Δt, where D was the distance measured between arterial sites and Δt was the pulse transit time. Higher values represent increased stiffness, and values >10 m/s are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular events. Results: Twenty-five participants were assessed: 11 participants 4.7±2.4 years post-stroke and 14 older adults without stroke. The non-stroke group was older (73.1±3.9 vs. 65.2±9.4 years, P=0.009), while the stroke group had lower MoCA scores (21.2±3.2 vs. 24.4±2.8, P=0.01). There were no between-group differences in cfPWV (stroke 9.4 m/s vs. older adults 9.9 m/s, P=0.49), when controlling for age and MoCA scores. In backward regression analysis, age explained 21% of the variance of cfPWV (P=0.03), while MoCA was not a contributor. Conclusions: In conclusion, these results suggest that age is a significant correlate of arterial stiffness, regardless of the presence of stroke or cognitive impairment. Ongoing work will examine whether stroke history also contributes to arterial stiffness when groups are matched for age.

scholarly journals Age-Related Differences in Resting-State EEG and Allocentric Spatial Working Memory Performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adeline Jabès ◽  
Giuliana Klencklen ◽  
Paolo Ruggeri ◽  
Jean-Philippe Antonietti ◽  
Pamela Banta Lavenex ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Eeg Activity ◽  
Recording Conditions

During normal aging resting-state brain activity changes and working memory performance declines as compared to young adulthood. Interestingly, previous studies reported that different electroencephalographic (EEG) measures of resting-state brain activity may correlate with working memory performance at different ages. Here, we recorded resting-state EEG activity and tested allocentric spatial working memory in healthy young (20–30 years) and older (65–75 years) adults. We adapted standard EEG methods to record brain activity in mobile participants in a non-shielded environment, in both eyes closed and eyes open conditions. Our study revealed some age-group differences in resting-state brain activity that were consistent with previous results obtained in different recording conditions. We confirmed that age-group differences in resting-state EEG activity depend on the recording conditions and the specific parameters considered. Nevertheless, lower theta-band and alpha-band frequencies and absolute powers, and higher beta-band and gamma-band relative powers were overall observed in healthy older adults, as compared to healthy young adults. In addition, using principal component and regression analyses, we found that the first extracted EEG component, which represented mainly theta, alpha and beta powers, correlated with spatial working memory performance in older adults, but not in young adults. These findings are consistent with the theory that the neurobiological bases of working memory performance may differ between young and older adults. However, individual measures of resting-state EEG activity could not be used as reliable biomarkers to predict individual allocentric spatial working memory performance in young or older adults.

scholarly journals Effect of Thyroid Hormone Therapy on Fatigability in Older Adults With Subclinical Hypothyroidism: A Nested Study Within a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. e89-e94
Author(s):  
Mirah J Stuber ◽  
Elisavet Moutzouri ◽  
Martin Feller ◽  
Cinzia Del Giovane ◽  
Douglas C Bauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Subclinical Hypothyroidism ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Coronary Heart Diseases ◽  
Starting Dose ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Fatigue often triggers screening for and treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism. However, data on the impact of levothyroxine on fatigue is limited and previous studies might not have captured all aspects of fatigue. Method This study is nested within the randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter TRUST trial, including community-dwelling participants aged ≥65 and older, with persistent subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH 4.60–19.99 mIU/L, normal free thyroxine levels) from Switzerland and Ireland. Interventions consisted of daily levothyroxine starting with 50 μg (25 μg if weight <50 kg or known coronary heart diseases) together with dose adjustments to achieve a normal TSH and mock titration in the placebo group. Main outcome was the change in physical and mental fatigability using the Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale over 1 year, assessed through multivariable linear regression with adjustment for country, sex, and levothyroxine starting dose. Results Among 230 participants, the mean ± standard deviation (SD) TSH was 6.2 ± 1.9 mIU/L at baseline and decreased to 3.1 ± 1.3 with LT4 (n = 119) versus 5.3 ± 2.3 with placebo (n = 111, p < .001) after 1 year. After adjustment we found no between-group difference at 1 year on perceived physical (0.2; 95% CI −1.8 to 2.1; p = .88), or mental fatigability (−1.0; 95% CI −2.8 to 0.8; p = .26). In participants with higher fatigability at baseline (≥15 points for the physical score [n = 88] or ≥13 points for the mental score [n = 41]), the adjusted between-group differences at 1 year were 0.4 (95% CI −3.6 to 2.8, p = .79) and −2.2 (95% CI −8.8 to 4.5, p = .51). Conclusions Levothyroxine in older adults with mild subclinical hypothyroidism provides no change in physical or mental fatigability.

scholarly journals KNOWLEDGE OF AGING, NEGATIVE AGE BIAS, AND POSITIVE AGE BIAS: AGE GROUP DIFFERENCES

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S80-S81
Author(s):  
Grace Caskie ◽  
Anastasia E Canell ◽  
Hannah M Bashian
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Age Bias ◽  
Negative Beliefs ◽  
Middle Aged Adults

Abstract Attitudes towards aging include both positive and negative beliefs about older adults (Iverson et al., 2017; Palmore, 1999). Palmore’s (1998) Facts on Aging Quiz, a widely used assessment of knowledge about aging, also identifies common societal misconceptions about aging. Findings regarding age group differences in attitudes toward aging are mixed (Bodner et al., 2012; Cherry & Palmore, 2008; Rupp et al., 2005). The current study compared knowledge of aging, negative age bias, and positive age bias between young adults (18-35 years, n=268) and middle-aged adults (40-55 years; n=277). Middle-aged adults reported significantly greater average knowledge of aging than young adults (p=.019), although both groups had relatively low knowledge (MA: M=13.0, YA: M=12.2). Middle-aged adults also showed significantly less negative age bias (p<.001) and significantly more positive age bias than young adults (p=.026). Although the total sample was significantly more likely to be incorrect than correct on 23 of the 25 facts (p<.001), young adults were significantly more likely than middle-aged adults (p<.001) to respond incorrectly for only 2 of 25 facts. Both facts reflected greater negative age bias among young adults than middle-aged adults. These facts concerned older adults’ ability to work as effectively as young adults (fact 9) and frequency of depression in older adults (fact 13). Results demonstrate that age bias is not limited to young adults and may continue through midlife, though negative age bias in particular may be lower for individuals approaching older adulthood, which could have implications for their psychological and physical well-being.

scholarly journals Changes in Cardiometabolic Risk Among Obese Older Adults After a 12-Month Exercise and Diet Intervention

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1612-1612
Author(s):  
Anna Bragg ◽  
Kristi Crowe-White ◽  
Amy Ellis ◽  
Julie Locher ◽  
Jamy Ard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Cardiometabolic Risk ◽  
Weight Maintenance ◽  
Exercise Group ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Intentional Weight Loss ◽  
Time Interaction ◽  
Weight Loss Group ◽  
Syndrome Classification

Abstract Objectives Obesity imposes risk to cardiometabolic health; however, intentional weight loss in obese older adults remains controversial. Using data from the CROSSROADS Study (clinicaltrials.gov #NCT00955903), this ancillary study investigated effects of exercise with and without intentional weight loss on changes in cardiometabolic risk assessed by four risk-scoring tools. Methods Participants (n = 134, 39% male, 23% African American, 70.2 ± 4.7 y) were randomized to exercise (n = 48), exercise + nutrient-dense weight maintenance diet (n = 44), or exercise + nutrient-dense caloric restriction of 500 kcals/day (n = 42). The following risk scores were calculated using baseline and 12-month data: Framingham risk assessment, Cardiometabolic Disease Staging (CMDS), metabolic syndrome classification by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and metabolic syndrome classification by the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel (ATP III). Generalized Estimating Equations were employed to determine differences between groups with ethnicity, sex, and age as covariates. Results Group-time interaction was not significant in application of IDF or ATPIII. Group-time interaction was significant for Framingham and CMDS (P = 0.005 and 0.041, respectively). Upon post-hoc analysis, significant within-group improvements in Framingham scores were observed for exercise + weight maintenance (P < 0.001, r = −1.682) and exercise + weight loss (P = 0.020, r = −0.881). In analysis of between-group differences in Framingham scores, a significant decrease was observed in the exercise + weight maintenance group (P = 0.001, r = −1.723) compared to the exercise group. For CMDS, the exercise + weight loss group had significant within-group improvements (P = 0.023, r = - 0.102). For between-group differences in CMDS, the exercise + weight loss group showed significant risk score reduction (P = 0.012, r = −0.142) compared to the exercise group. Conclusions Risk assessment by Framingham and CMDS showed greater sensitivity to change in cardiometabolic risk factors. Results suggest obese older adults can lower cardiometabolic risk by engaging in exercise + weight maintenance or exercise + weight loss by moderate caloric restriction. Funding Sources R01AG033094 NIA, K07AG043588 NIA, P30DK056336 NIDDK.

scholarly journals Leucine Supplementation Partially Protects Leg Lean Mass in Older Adults During Seven Days of Bed Rest (OR18-02-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Arentson-Lantz ◽  
Fego Galvan ◽  
Rachel Deer ◽  
Adam Wacher ◽  
Doug Paddon-Jones
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Clinical Research ◽  
Muscle Fiber ◽  
Lean Mass ◽  
Fiber Type ◽  
Bed Rest ◽  
Research Center ◽  
Leucine Supplementation ◽  
Clinical Research Center ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Objectives Older adults are at increased risk of being hospitalized or bedridden and experiencing a host of negative health outcomes including loss of lean body mass. We hypothesized that supplementing daily meals with a small quantity (3–4 g/meal) of leucine will partially preserve lean leg mass and function during bed rest. Methods Men and women (67.8 ± 1.1 y) were randomized to receive isoenergentic meals supplemented with leucine (LEU, 0.06 g/kg/meal; n = 10) or an alanine control, (CON, 0.06 g/kg/meal; n = 10). Subjects were admitted to the Clinical Research Center for 7 days of bed rest followed by 7 days of rehabilitation. Muscle fiber type and cross-sectional area (CSA) as well as single fiber characteristics were assessed from biopsies of the vastus lateralis obtained prior to (Pre-BR) and after bed rest (Post-BR) and after rehabilitation (Post-RE). Body composition measured using iDEXA was also determined at the same time points. Results Leucine-supplementation partially protected leg lean mass during bed rest (−1035 vs. −423 ± 143 g; P = 0.008). Leg lean mass did not differ between the groups Post-RE (P = 0.16). There was no significant effect of time (P = 0.16) or treatment (P = 0.92) on muscle fiber CSA; however, CON subjects, but not LEU subjects, exhibited an increased number of smaller fibers (<2000 um) and fewer larger fibers (>6000 um) Post-BR. Additionally, CON subjects tended to have a greater decrement in fiber width (P = 0.085) that did not return to baseline following rehabilitation. Conclusions Supplementing older adults with moderate amounts of leucine has the potential to partially negate some of the deleterious effects on muscle health during short bouts of inactivity. Funding Sources National Institutes of Health, The Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, Sealy Center on Aging and Institute for Translational Sciences-Clinical Research Center.

scholarly journals Advanced Aging Enhances the Positivity Effect in Memory: Due to Cognitive Control or Age-Related Decline in Emotional Processing?

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michiko Sakaki ◽  
Jasmine A. L. Raw ◽  
Jamie Findlay ◽  
Mariel Thottam
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Emotional Processing ◽  
Aging Brain ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Positivity Effect ◽  
Old Adults ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Conditioned Responses

Older adults typically remember more positive than negative information compared to their younger counterparts; a phenomenon referred to as the ‘positivity effect.’ According to the socioemotional selectivity theory (SST), the positivity effect derives from the age-related motivational shift towards attaining emotionally meaningful goals which become more important as the perception of future time becomes more limited. Cognitive control mechanisms are critical in achieving such goals and therefore SST predicts that the positivity effect is associated with preserved cognitive control mechanisms in older adults. In contrast, the aging-brain model suggests that the positivity effect is driven by an age-related decline in the amygdala which is responsible for emotional processing and emotional learning. The aim of the current research was to address whether the age-related positivity effect is associated with cognitive control or impaired emotional processing associated with aging. We included older old adults, younger old adults and younger adults and tested their memory for emotional stimuli, cognitive control and amygdala-dependent fear conditioned responses. Consistent with prior research, older adults, relative to younger adults, demonstrate better memory for positive over negative images. We further found that within a group of older adults, the positivity effect increases as a function of age, such that older old adults demonstrated a greater positivity effect compared to younger older adults. Furthermore, the positivity effect in older old adults was associated with preserved cognitive control, supporting the prediction of SST. Contrary to the prediction of the aging-brain model, participants across all groups demonstrated similar enhanced skin conductance responses to fear conditioned stimuli – responses known to rely on the amygdala. Our results support SST and suggest that the positivity effect in older adults is achieved by the preserved cognitive control mechanisms and is not a reflection of the impaired emotional function associated with age.

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