scholarly journals Network-targeted stimulation engages neurobehavioral hallmarks of age-related memory decline

Neurology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 92 (20) ◽  
pp. e2349-e2354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aneesha S. Nilakantan ◽  
M.-Marsel Mesulam ◽  
Sandra Weintraub ◽  
Erica L. Karp ◽  
Stephen VanHaerents ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Recognition Memory ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Control Sample ◽  
Cortical Network ◽  
Sham Stimulation ◽  
Network Function ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
Full Intensity

ObjectiveTo test whether targeting hippocampal-cortical brain networks with high-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation in older adults influences behavioral and neural measures characteristic of age-related memory impairment.MethodsFifteen adults aged 64 to 80 years (mean = 72 years) completed a single-blind, sham-controlled experiment. Stimulation targets in parietal cortex were determined based on fMRI connectivity with the hippocampus. Recollection and recognition memory were assessed after 5 consecutive daily sessions of full-intensity stimulation vs low-intensity sham stimulation using a within-subjects crossover design. Neural correlates of recollection and recognition memory formation were obtained via fMRI, measured within the targeted hippocampal-cortical network vs a control frontal-parietal network. These outcomes were measured approximately 24 hours after the final stimulation session.ResultsRecollection was specifically impaired in older adults compared to a young-adult control sample at baseline. Relative to sham, stimulation improved recollection to a greater extent than recognition. Stimulation increased recollection fMRI signals throughout the hippocampal-cortical network, including at the targeted location of the hippocampus. Effects of stimulation on fMRI recollection signals were greater than those for recognition and were greater in the targeted network compared to the control network.ConclusionsAge-related recollection impairments were causally related to hippocampal-cortical network function in older adults. Stimulation selectively modified neural and behavioral hallmarks of age-related memory impairment, indicating effective engagement of memory intervention targets in older adults.

scholarly journals Inhibitory control and its relationship to positivity biases in older adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caoimhe McManus ◽  
David McGovern
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Recognition Memory ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Negative Information ◽  
Socioemotional Selectivity Theory ◽  
Positive Information ◽  
Active Suppression ◽  
Positivity Effect ◽  
Socioemotional Selectivity ◽  
Age Related

Older adults tend to focus on positive information over negative information; a phenomenon commonly referred to as the ‘positivity effect’. Socioemotional Selectivity Theory posits that this effect stems from age-related shifts in goals and relies heavily on the active suppression of negative information. The current study tested the hypothesis that inhibitory control is a key determinant of positivity biases in older adults using anti-saccade and recognition memory tasks. Results indicated a significant correlation between levels of inhibitory control and the positivity effect. These findings highlight the key role played by inhibitory control in determining positivity biases amongst older adults.

scholarly journals Basic And Evolutionary Survival Effects In Adaptive Memory Of Younger And Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen P.L. Lau
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Adaptive Memory ◽  
Positive Information ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Survival Scenario ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
Memory Advantage ◽  
Survival Effect

Adaptive memory is a memory advantage for stimuli encoded in a survival scenario (e.g., stranded in grasslands) relative to a control scenario (Nairne, Thompson & Pandeirada, 2007). Basic (survival vs. non-survival scenarios) and evolutionary survival effects (high-evolutionary survival vs. low-evolutionary survival scenarios) in adaptive memory were explored in two age groups. Little research has been done with older adults. An extensive pilot study was conducted to select best matched control scenarios. Experiment 1 explored age differences in adaptive memory with a within-subjects manipulation of scenarios and found an age-equivalent basic survival effect. Experiment 2 replicated the basic survival effect in younger adults with a between-subjects design. Considering the age-related preference for processing positive information in older adults, Experiment 3 examined the survival effect with a positive control scenario. Similar results to the previous experiments were found. Overall, the data demonstrated a robust but age equivalent basic survival effect.

scholarly journals Lower brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels are associated with age-related memory impairment in community-dwelling older adults: the Sefuri study

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshito Mizoguchi ◽  
Hiroshi Yao ◽  
Yoshiomi Imamura ◽  
Manabu Hashimoto ◽  
Akira Monji
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Hippocampal Atrophy ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Behavioral Memory ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract The beneficial effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)—a member of the neurotrophin family—on cognitive function or dementia are well established in both rodents and human beings. In contrast, little is known about the association of proBDNF—a precursor protein with opposing neuronal effects of BDNF—with cognitive function in non-demented older adults. We analyzed brain magnetic resonance imaging findings of 256 community-dwelling older adults (mean age of 68.4 years). Serum BDNF and proBDNF levels were measured by quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Logistic regression analysis revealed that older age, less physical activity, hippocampal atrophy, and lower BDNF levels were independently associated with memory impairment determined by the Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test. Path analysis based on structural equation modeling indicated that age, sport activity, hippocampal atrophy and BDNF but not proBDNF were individually associated with Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test scores. These findings suggest that impaired BDNF function, in addition to physical inactivity and hippocampal atrophy, is associated with age-related memory impairment. Therefore, BDNF may be a potential target for dementia prevention.

scholarly journals Evidence Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Can Improve Saccadic Eye Movement Control in Older Adults

Vision ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Po Chen ◽  
Andreas Stenling ◽  
Liana Machado
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Eye Movement ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Movement Control ◽  
Saccadic Eye Movement ◽  
Eye Movement Control ◽  
Sham Stimulation ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Age Related

Objectives: Ageing is associated with declines in voluntary eye movement control, which negatively impact the performance of daily activities. Therapies treating saccadic eye movement control deficits are currently lacking. To address the need for an effective therapy to treat age-related deficits in saccadic eye movement control, the current study investigated whether saccadic behaviour in older adults can be improved by anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex using a montage that has been proven to be effective at improving nonoculomotor control functions. Method: The tDCS protocol entailed a 5 cm × 7 cm anodal electrode and an encephalic cathodal reference electrode positioned over the contralateral supraorbital area. In two experiments, healthy older men completed one active (1.5 mA current for 10 min) and one sham stimulation session, with the session order counterbalanced across participants, and eye movement testing following stimulation. In the first experiment, participants rested during the tDCS (offline), whereas in the follow-up experiment, participants engaged in antisaccades during the tDCS (online). Results: Analyses revealed improvements in saccadic performance following active anodal tDCS relative to sham stimulation in the online experiment, but not in the offline experiment, which was presumably due to the activation of the relevant networks during tDCS promoting more targeted effects. Discussion: These outcomes converge with findings pertaining to nonoculomotor cognitive functions, and provide evidence that tDCS can improve saccadic eye movement control in older adults.

scholarly journals Age-Related Differences in Ventral Striatal and Default Mode Network Function During Reciprocated Trust

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominic S. Fareri ◽  
Katherine Hackett ◽  
Lindsey J. Tepfer ◽  
Victoria A. Kelly ◽  
Nicole Henninger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Default Mode Network ◽  
Trust Game ◽  
Opposite Pattern ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Temporoparietal Junction ◽  
Default Mode ◽  
Network Function ◽  
Social Closeness ◽  
Age Related

Social relationships change across the lifespan as social networks narrow and motivational priorities shift to the present. Interestingly, aging is also associated with changes in executive function, including decision-making abilities, but it remains unclear how age-related changes in both domains interact to impact financial decisions involving other people. To study this problem, we recruited 50 human participants (N_younger = 26, ages 18-34; N_older = 24, ages 63-80) to play an economic trust game as the investor with three partners (friend, stranger, and computer) who played the role of investee. Investors underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during the trust game while investees were seated outside of the scanner. Building on our previous work with younger adults showing both enhanced striatal responses and altered default-mode network (DMN) connectivity as a function of social closeness during reciprocated trust, we predicted that these relations would exhibit age-related differences. We found that striatal responses to reciprocated trust from friends relative to strangers and computers were blunted in older adults relative to younger adults, thus supporting our primary pre-registered hypothesis regarding social closeness. We also found that older adults exhibited enhanced DMN connectivity with the temporoparietal junction (TPJ) during reciprocated trust from friends compared to computers while younger adults exhibited the opposite pattern. Taken together, these results advance our understanding of age-related differences in sensitivity to social closeness in the context of trusting others.

Reversion of age-related recognition memory impairment by iron chelation in rats

2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 1052-1059 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Noêmia Martins de Lima ◽  
Caroline Pietá Dias ◽  
Juliana Presti Torres ◽  
Arethuza Dornelles ◽  
Vanessa Athaíde Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Recognition Memory ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Iron Chelation ◽  
Age Related

scholarly journals Basic And Evolutionary Survival Effects In Adaptive Memory Of Younger And Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen P.L. Lau
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Adaptive Memory ◽  
Positive Information ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Survival Scenario ◽  
Within Subjects ◽  
Memory Advantage ◽  
Survival Effect

Adaptive memory is a memory advantage for stimuli encoded in a survival scenario (e.g., stranded in grasslands) relative to a control scenario (Nairne, Thompson & Pandeirada, 2007). Basic (survival vs. non-survival scenarios) and evolutionary survival effects (high-evolutionary survival vs. low-evolutionary survival scenarios) in adaptive memory were explored in two age groups. Little research has been done with older adults. An extensive pilot study was conducted to select best matched control scenarios. Experiment 1 explored age differences in adaptive memory with a within-subjects manipulation of scenarios and found an age-equivalent basic survival effect. Experiment 2 replicated the basic survival effect in younger adults with a between-subjects design. Considering the age-related preference for processing positive information in older adults, Experiment 3 examined the survival effect with a positive control scenario. Similar results to the previous experiments were found. Overall, the data demonstrated a robust but age equivalent basic survival effect.

Age-Related Differences in Processing Dynamic Information to Identify Vowel Quality

1992 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 892-902 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Allen Fox ◽  
Lida G. Wall ◽  
Jeanne Gokcen
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Vowel Quality ◽  
Perceptual Cues ◽  
Dynamic Information ◽  
Process Dynamic ◽  
Center Condition ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Control Version ◽  
Older Subjects ◽  
Whole Word

This study examined age-related differences in the use of dynamic acoustic information (in the form of formant transitions) to identify vowel quality in CVCs. Two versions of 61 naturally produced, commonly occurring, monosyllabic English words were created: a control version (the unmodified whole word) and a silent-center version (in which approximately 62% of the medial vowel was replaced by silence). A group of normal-hearing young adults (19–25 years old) and older adults (61–75 years old) identified these tokens. The older subjects were found to be significantly worse than the younger subjects at identifying the medial vowel and the initial and final consonants in the silent-center condition. These results support the hypothesis of an age-related decrement in the ability to process dynamic perceptual cues in the perception of vowel quality.

Activity Engagement in Cognitive Aging: A Review of the Evidence

2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne Rogalski ◽  
Muriel Quintana
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
Neuroprotective Effects ◽  
Activity Engagement ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Related Cognitive Decline

The population of older adults is rapidly increasing, as is the number and type of products and interventions proposed to prevent or reduce the risk of age-related cognitive decline. Advocacy and prevention are part of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA’s) scope of practice documents, and speech-language pathologists must have basic awareness of the evidence contributing to healthy cognitive aging. In this article, we provide a brief overview outlining the evidence on activity engagement and its effects on cognition in older adults. We explore the current evidence around the activities of eating and drinking with a discussion on the potential benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, alcohol, and coffee. We investigate the evidence on the hypothesized neuroprotective effects of social activity, the evidence on computerized cognitive training, and the emerging behavioral and neuroimaging evidence on physical activity. We conclude that actively aging using a combination of several strategies may be our best line of defense against cognitive decline.

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