scholarly journals The Effect of Working Memory Rehabilitation on Visual Memory and Memory Span

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mansour Mahmoudi Aghdam ◽  
Esmaeil Soleimani ◽  
Ali Issa Zadegan
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Memory Rehabilitation ◽  
The Mean

Introduction: Age-related cognitive decline or cognitive aging is largely the result of structural and functional decline in specific areas of the brain, but lifestyle also contributes to this cognitive decline. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of working memory rehabilitation on visual memory and memory span in ageing. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design and a control group. The study population included all elderly people who lived in Bukan Nursing Home from April to July 2019 (N = 120). Among these individuals, 30 elderly people were selected by convenience sampling method and then randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups (two groups of 15 people). Kim Karad Visual Memory Test and Wechsler Memory Span Test were taken from the groups in pretest. The working memory rehabilitation was performed in 18 sessions (each sessions 60-minute) and after which the test was performed again. The data were analyzed by multivariate covariance test according to its assumptions. Results: The results showed that after the rehabilitation of working memory, in the experimental group, the mean of short, medium and long components of visual memory were 12.00, 10.8 and 12.33, respectively, and the direct and inverse of memory span were 11.66 and 9.66, respectively. In the control group, the average of short, medium and long components of visual memory is 7.00, 6.70 and 9.00, respectively, and direct and inverse of memory span is 8.33 and 6.46, respectively. The difference in the mean scores between the two groups in the components of visual memory and memory span after the intervention was significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The results showed that working memory rehabilitation can improve visual memory and memory span, and it is recommended that this rehabilitation method be used to improve the cognitive functions of the elderly.

scholarly journals The Effect of Computer Games on Improving Working Memory, Visual Memory, and Control of Executive Functions amongst the Elderly in Tehran

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prosha Moradi ◽  
◽  
Abas Masjedi Arani ◽  
Mahdi Jafari ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Computer Games ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Experimental Group

Introduction & purpose: Cognitive ability decline is among the age-related changes in the elderly. Recent research has shown that computer games has a positive effect on cognitive abilities. Accordingly, the present study aimed at determining the effect of computer games on improving working memory, visual memory, and executive functions amongst the elderly in the city of Tehran. Methodology: The present study had a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with the control group that was carried out on 40 elderly people selected using targeted sampling method in Tehran. The participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental or the control group after reviewing the inclusion criteria and clinical interview by the researchers. The experimental group was asked to play a one-hour computer game of Lumosity during 15 sessions and the control group was not allowed to play any computer games during this time. The data were collected in two stages of pre-test and post-test. Finally, the collected data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 25. Findings: Computer games had a significant effect on the improvement of working memory, visual memory, and executive functions amongst the elderly in the experimental group compared to the control group (P<0.05). Discussion and Conclusion: Computer games can be helpful to improve memory and cognitive functions amongst the elderly. Accordingly, it is recommended to use these games in nursing homes for elderly people and the related centers should use these games to rehabilitate the elderly.

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.

scholarly journals Resting‐State EEG Microstates Parallel Age‐Related Differences in Allocentric Spatial Working Memory Performance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adeline Jabès ◽  
Giuliana Klencklen ◽  
Paolo Ruggeri ◽  
Christoph M. Michel ◽  
Pamela Banta Lavenex ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Spatial Working Memory ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Age Related

AbstractAlterations of resting-state EEG microstates have been associated with various neurological disorders and behavioral states. Interestingly, age-related differences in EEG microstate organization have also been reported, and it has been suggested that resting-state EEG activity may predict cognitive capacities in healthy individuals across the lifespan. In this exploratory study, we performed a microstate analysis of resting-state brain activity and tested allocentric spatial working memory performance in healthy adult individuals: twenty 25–30-year-olds and twenty-five 64–75-year-olds. We found a lower spatial working memory performance in older adults, as well as age-related differences in the five EEG microstate maps A, B, C, C′ and D, but especially in microstate maps C and C′. These two maps have been linked to neuronal activity in the frontal and parietal brain regions which are associated with working memory and attention, cognitive functions that have been shown to be sensitive to aging. Older adults exhibited lower global explained variance and occurrence of maps C and C′. Moreover, although there was a higher probability to transition from any map towards maps C, C′ and D in young and older adults, this probability was lower in older adults. Finally, although age-related differences in resting-state EEG microstates paralleled differences in allocentric spatial working memory performance, we found no evidence that any individual or combination of resting-state EEG microstate parameter(s) could reliably predict individual spatial working memory performance. Whether the temporal dynamics of EEG microstates may be used to assess healthy cognitive aging from resting-state brain activity requires further investigation.

scholarly journals Gene Expression Profile in Different Age Groups and Its Association with Cognitive Function in Healthy Malay Adults in Malaysia

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1611
Author(s):  
Nur Fathiah Abdul Abdul Sani ◽  
Ahmad Imran Zaydi Amir Amir Hamzah ◽  
Zulzikry Hafiz Abu Abu Bakar ◽  
Yasmin Anum Mohd Mohd Yusof ◽  
Suzana Makpol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Successful Aging ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Genetic Network ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Related Cognitive Decline

The mechanism of cognitive aging at the molecular level is complex and not well understood. Growing evidence suggests that cognitive differences might also be caused by ethnicity. Thus, this study aims to determine the gene expression changes associated with age-related cognitive decline among Malay adults in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 160 healthy Malay subjects, aged between 28 and 79, and recruited around Selangor and Klang Valley, Malaysia. Gene expression analysis was performed using a HumanHT-12v4.0 Expression BeadChip microarray kit. The top 20 differentially expressed genes at p < 0.05 and fold change (FC) = 1.2 showed that PAFAH1B3, HIST1H1E, KCNA3, TM7SF2, RGS1, and TGFBRAP1 were regulated with increased age. The gene set analysis suggests that the Malay adult’s susceptibility to developing age-related cognitive decline might be due to the changes in gene expression patterns associated with inflammation, signal transduction, and metabolic pathway in the genetic network. It may, perhaps, have important implications for finding a biomarker for cognitive decline and offer molecular targets to achieve successful aging, mainly in the Malay population in Malaysia.

scholarly journals Effect of musical training on auditory memory

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cátia Costa ◽  
Cristina Nazaré
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Pattern Recognition ◽  
Cognitive Development ◽  
Recognition Test ◽  
Musical Training ◽  
Auditory Memory ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Musical Practice ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Memory Pattern

Abstract Background Musical practice leads to cognitive development, requiring the activation of several processing mechanisms that are based on encoding and storing sounds through memory. The objective was to evaluate the auditory memory (ability to recognize tonal patterns) in musicians and non-musicians, comparing their performance. Methods Two groups with normal hearing and aged between 17 and 18 years old were compared, one of musicians (N = 14, with average of 8 years of musical training) and a control group (N = 14). Pure tone audiogram and an auditory working memory/pattern recognition test of non-verbal sounds (tonal) were performed. The participant heard 2 consecutive sequences of 6 tonal sounds each and had to say whether they were the same or different from each other. In total 30 pairs of sequences are presented (binaurally). Results The mean of percentage of correct responses in the memory/pattern recognition test was higher in musician’s group than in control group with statistically significant differences between groups (P = 0.002). The difference between the mean of percentage of correct responses in each group was 11.44%. Conclusions The musicians present better auditory memory/recognition of non-verbal (tonal) sounds in relation to the non-musicians, which points to the effectiveness of musical practice in the cognitive development of working memory and recognition of sound patterns. This study, according to others in the field, shows that musical training improves memory and auditory skills, which are known to be fundamental to the academic success of young people in this age group.

Processing Speed and Working Memory Span: Their Differential Role in Superficial and Deep Memory Processes in Schizophrenia

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gildas Brébion ◽  
Rodrigo A. Bressan ◽  
Lyn S. Pilowsky ◽  
Anthony S. David
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Memory Deficit ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Independent Variables ◽  
Group Processing ◽  
Two Factors

Previous work has suggested that decrement in both processing speed and working memory span plays a role in the memory impairment observed in patients with schizophrenia. We undertook a study to examine simultaneously the effect of these two factors. A sample of 49 patients with schizophrenia and 43 healthy controls underwent a battery of verbal and visual memory tasks. Superficial and deep encoding memory measures were tallied. We conducted regression analyses on the various memory measures, using processing speed and working memory span as independent variables. In the patient group, processing speed was a significant predictor of superficial and deep memory measures in verbal and visual memory. Working memory span was an additional significant predictor of the deep memory measures only. Regression analyses involving all participants revealed that the effect of diagnosis on all the deep encoding memory measures was reduced to non-significance when processing speed was entered in the regression. Decreased processing speed is involved in verbal and visual memory deficit in patients, whether the task require superficial or deep encoding. Working memory is involved only insofar as the task requires a certain amount of effort. (JINS, 2011, 17, 485–493)

scholarly journals PARASYMPATHETIC INFLUENCE ON COGNITIVE AGING IS MODERATED BY SYMPATHETIC ACTIVITY, ESPECIALLY IN EARLY MIDLIFE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S94-S94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik L Knight ◽  
Ryan Giuliano ◽  
Sean Shank ◽  
Megan Clarke ◽  
David M Almeida
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
Cognitive Change ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Cognitive Test ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Age Related

Abstract The two branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) have been individually linked to age-related changes in cognitive functioning: The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is thought to support healthy cognitive aging, whereas the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) has been linked to heightened cognitive decline. Despite these separate findings and despite the integrative nature of the ANS, little work has examined the two branches simultaneously to better understand their interactive effects on age-related cognitive changes. We examined cognitive change in two waves of the MIDUS cognitive project and indexed PNS and SNS activity from heart rate variability and epinephrine levels (respectively) from the MIDUS biomarker project (n = 764, 56% female, mean age = 54.1 years). Our findings indicate that higher PNS levels attenuate cognitive decline, but only among individuals with low SNS levels; at higher SNS levels, the beneficial effects of the PNS are blocked. Further, lower PNS levels can be somewhat compensated for by increased SNS levels. This pattern was most robust among individuals transitioning to mid-life (i.e., 35-40 years old at the initial cognitive test). These results suggest that interventions targeting the ANS as a modifiable factor in cognitive aging should consider both ANS branch’s effects simultaneously, particularly in the early stages of midlife.

scholarly journals Assessment of Cognitive Aging Using an SSVEP-Based Brain–Computer Interface System

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saraswati Sridhar ◽  
Vidya Manian
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Detection Accuracy ◽  
Cognitive Deterioration ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Frequency Detection ◽  
Band Power ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Bci System

Cognitive deterioration caused by illness or aging often occurs before symptoms arise, and its timely diagnosis is crucial to reducing its medical, personal, and societal impacts. Brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) stimulate and analyze key cerebral rhythms, enabling reliable cognitive assessment that can accelerate diagnosis. The BCI system presented analyzes steady-state visually evoked potentials (SSVEPs) elicited in subjects of varying age to detect cognitive aging, predict its magnitude, and identify its relationship with SSVEP features (band power and frequency detection accuracy), which were hypothesized to indicate cognitive decline due to aging. The BCI system was tested with subjects of varying age to assess its ability to detect aging-induced cognitive deterioration. Rectangular stimuli flickering at theta, alpha, and beta frequencies were presented to subjects, and frontal and occipital Electroencephalographic (EEG) responses were recorded. These were processed to calculate detection accuracy for each subject and calculate SSVEP band power. A neural network was trained using the features to predict cognitive age. The results showed potential cognitive deterioration through age-related variations in SSVEP features. Frequency detection accuracy declined after age group 20–40, and band power declined throughout all age groups. SSVEPs generated at theta and alpha frequencies, especially 7.5 Hz, were the best indicators of cognitive deterioration. Here, frequency detection accuracy consistently declined after age group 20–40 from an average of 96.64% to 69.23%. The presented system can be used as an effective diagnosis tool for age-related cognitive decline.

scholarly journals C-24 Longitudinal Trajectories of Working Memory Performance in Typically Aging Older Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 1053-1053
Author(s):  
M Gonzalez Catalan ◽  
C Lindbergh ◽  
A Staffaroni ◽  
S Walters ◽  
K Casaletto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Clinical Dementia Rating ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Time Interaction ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Random Slopes ◽  
Aging Adults

Abstract Objective Cross-sectional studies have shown age-related differences in working memory (WM), but the trajectory is unclear due to the scarcity of longitudinal studies. Additional research is needed to better characterize the course of age-related changes in WM in older adults. The present study sought to address this gap in the literature by conducting serial assessments of WM in a longitudinally followed cohort of typically aging adults. We hypothesized a significant age × time interaction, such that WM would show pronounced declines with advancing age. Methods 640 functionally intact participants in an aging cohort (clinical dementia rating = 0; age range 52-99, mean age = 75) completed a computerized WM measure, Running Letter Memory (RLM), every ~15 months for up to 8.5 years (mean follow-up = 1.9 years). Longitudinal changes in RLM scores were analyzed using linear mixed effects models, allowing for random slopes and intercepts. All models were adjusted for sex and education. Results RLM performance did not significantly decline over time (b = -.14, p = .43). As hypothesized, there was a significant age × time interaction predicting RLM scores (b = -.08, p = .006). Specifically, RLM performance remained relatively stable (or slightly improved) until around age 75, beyond which increasingly precipitous declines were observed with advancing age. Conclusion The present results suggest that WM performance does not evidence declines until the mid-70s in typically aging adults, at which point increasingly steep decline trajectories are observed with advancing age. These findings highlight that cognitive aging does not occur at a constant rate in late life.

scholarly journals Lactobacillus paracasei PS23 Delays Progression of Age-Related Cognitive Decline in Senescence Accelerated Mouse Prone 8 (SAMP8) Mice

Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 894 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shih-Yi Huang ◽  
Li-Han Chen ◽  
Ming-Fu Wang ◽  
Chih-Chieh Hsu ◽  
Ching-Hung Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Brain Dysfunction ◽  
Lactobacillus Paracasei ◽  
Oxidative Enzymes ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Chemotactic Protein ◽  
Age Related Cognitive Decline ◽  
Samp8 Mice ◽  
Senescence Accelerated Mouse

Probiotic supplements are potential therapeutic agents for age-related disorders due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effect of probiotics on age-related brain dysfunction remains unclear. To investigate the effects of Lactobacillus paracasei PS23 (LPPS23) on the progression of age-related cognitive decline, male and female senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice were divided into two groups (n = 6 each): the control and PS23 groups. From the age of 16 weeks, these groups were given saline and LPPS23, respectively, because SAMP8 mice start aging rapidly after four months of age. After 12 weeks of treatment, we evaluated the effect of LPPS23 by analyzing their appearance, behavior, neural monoamines, anti-oxidative enzymes, and inflammatory cytokines. The PS23 group showed lower scores of senescence and less serious anxiety-like behaviors and memory impairment compared to the control group. The control mice also showed lower levels of neural monoamines in the striatum, hippocampus, and serum. Moreover, LPPS23 induced the anti-oxidative enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Higher levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP1) and lower levels of interleukin (IL)-10 indicated that LPPS23 modulated the inflammation. Our results suggest that LPPS23 supplements could delay age-related cognitive decline, possibly by preventing oxidation and inflammation and modulating gut–brain axis communication.

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