scholarly journals Age-Related Deficits in Binocular Vision Are Associated With Poorer Inhibitory Control in Healthy Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Lin ◽  
Raghda Al Ani ◽  
Ewa Niechwiej-Szwedo
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Binocular Vision ◽  
Binocular Disparity ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Young Group ◽  
Antisaccade Task ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Central Nervous System Impairment

A robust association between reduced visual acuity and cognitive function in older adults has been revealed in large population studies. The aim of this work was to assess the relation between stereoacuity, a key aspect of binocular vision, and inhibitory control, an important component of executive functions. Inhibition was tested using the antisaccade task in older adults with normal or reduced stereopsis (study 1), and in young adults with transiently reduced stereopsis (study 2). Older adults with reduced stereopsis made significantly more errors on the antisaccade task in comparison to those with normal stereopsis. Specifically, there was a significant correlation between stereoacuity and antisaccade errors (r = 0.27, p = 0.019). In contrast, there were no significant differences in antisaccade errors between the normal and reduced stereopsis conditions in the young group. Altogether, results suggest that the association between poorer stereopsis and lower inhibitory control in older adults might arise due to central nervous system impairment that affects the processing of binocular disparity and antisaccades. These results add to a growing body of literature, which highlights the interdependence of sensory and cognitive decline in older adults.

Processing gender stereotypes in dementia patients and older healthy adults: a self-paced reading study

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (s2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Müller-Feldmeth ◽  
Katharina Ahnefeld ◽  
Adriana Hanulíková
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Sentence Processing ◽  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Dementia Patients ◽  
Age Related

AbstractWe used self-paced reading to examine whether stereotypical associations of verbs with women or men as prototypical agents (e.g. the craftsman knits a sweater) are activated during sentence processing in dementia patients and healthy older adults. Effects of stereotypical knowledge on language processing have frequently been observed in young adults, but little is known about age-related changes in the activation and integration of stereotypical information. While syntactic processing may remain intact, semantic capacities are often affected in dementia. Since inferences based on gender stereotypes draw on social and world knowledge, access to stereotype information may also be affected in dementia patients. Results from dementia patients (n = 9, average age 86.6) and healthy older adults (n = 14, average age 79.5) showed slower reading times and less accuracy in comprehension scores for dementia patients compared to the control group. While activation of stereotypical associations of verbs was visible in both groups, they differed with respect to the time-course of processing. The effect of stereotypes on comprehension accuracy was visible for healthy adults only. The evidence from reading times suggests that older adults with and without dementia engage stereotypical inferences during reading, which is in line with research on young adults.

scholarly journals Blunted increases in skin sympathetic nerve activity are related to attenuated reflex vasodilation in aged human skin

2016 ◽  
Vol 121 (6) ◽  
pp. 1354-1362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna E. Stanhewicz ◽  
Jody L. Greaney ◽  
Lacy M. Alexander ◽  
W. Larry Kenney
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Sympathetic Nerve Activity ◽  
Local Heating ◽  
Doppler Flowmetry ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Cutaneous Vasodilation ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Dorsum Of Foot ◽  
Reflex Cutaneous Vasodilation ◽  
Cutaneous Vascular Conductance

Reflex cutaneous vasodilation in response to passive heating is attenuated in human aging. This diminished response is mediated, in part, by age-associated reductions in endothelial function; however, the contribution of altered skin sympathetic nervous system activity (SSNA) is unknown. We hypothesized that 1) healthy older adults would demonstrate blunted SSNA responses to increased core temperature compared with young adults and 2) the decreased SSNA response would be associated with attenuated cutaneous vasodilation. Reflex vasodilation was elicited in 13 young [23 ± 1 (SE) yr] and 13 older (67 ± 2 yr) adults using a water-perfused suit to elevate esophageal temperature by 1.0°C. SSNA (peroneal microneurography) and red cell flux (laser Doppler flowmetry) in the innervated dermatome (the dorsum of foot) were continuously measured. SSNA was normalized to, and expressed as, a percentage of baseline. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated as flux/mean arterial pressure and expressed as a percentage of maximal CVC (local heating, 43°C). Reflex vasodilation was attenuated in older adults ( P < 0.001). During heating, SSNA increased in both groups ( P < 0.05); however, the response was significantly blunted in older adults ( P = 0.01). The increase in SSNA during heating was linearly related to cutaneous vasodilation in both young ( R2 = 0.87 ± 0.02, P < 0.01) and older ( R2 = 0.76 ± 0.05, P < 0.01) adults; however, slope of the linear regression between ΔSSNA and ΔCVC was reduced in older compared with young (older: 0.05 ± 0.01 vs. young: 0.08 ± 0.01; P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that age-related impairments in reflex cutaneous vasodilation are mediated, in part, by blunted efferent SSNA during hyperthermia.

Kinematic Analysis of Dance-Based Exergaming: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernest K. Ofori ◽  
Savitha Subramaniam ◽  
Shuaijie Wang ◽  
Tanvi Bhatt
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Postural Stability ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Aging Populations ◽  
Cortical Pathology

Background: Recent studies demonstrate improvements in both postural stability and mobility among aging populations and those with stroke who are exposed to dance-based exergaming (DBExG). However, age-related deficits and aging with cortical pathology may lead to distinct movement adaptation patterns during DBExG, which could impact therapeutic outcomes.Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the movement kinematics (postural stability and mobility) of healthy older adults, older adults with stroke, and young adults for different paces of dance during DBExG. Method: The study included 33 particpants (11 participant from each group of healthy older adults, older adults with chronic stroke, and healthy young adults) who performed the DBExG using slow- (SP), medium- (MP), and fast-paced (FP) songs with movements in the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions. Center of mass (CoM) sway area, excursion (Ex), and peaks as well as hip, knee, and ankle joint excursions were computed. Results: Results of the study revealed that CoM sway areas and Exs were greater for healthy young adults than for older adults with stroke for the SP dance (p < 0.05) and that there were significantly more AP CoM peaks for young adults than for healthy older adults and those with stroke for the FP dance (p < 0.05). Young adults also exhibited greater hip and ankle Exs than older adults with stroke (p < 0.05) for all song paces. Similarly, knee and ankle Exs were greater for healthy older adults than for older adults with stroke for all song paces (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The quantitative evaluation and comparison of the movement patterns presented for the three groups could provide a foundation for both assessing and designing therapeutic DBExG protocols for these populations.

scholarly journals Neurometabolic Correlates of Reactive and Proactive Motor Inhibition in Young and Older Adults: Evidence from Multiple Regional 1H-MR Spectroscopy

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akila Weerasekera ◽  
Oron Levin ◽  
Amanda Clauwaert ◽  
Kirstin-Friederike Heise ◽  
Lize Hermans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Proactive Inhibition ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Reactive Inhibition ◽  
Age Related ◽  
The Right ◽  
Age Range

Abstract Suboptimal inhibitory control is a major factor contributing to motor/cognitive deficits in older age and pathology. Here, we provide novel insights into the neurochemical biomarkers of inhibitory control in healthy young and older adults and highlight putative neurometabolic correlates of deficient inhibitory functions in normal aging. Age-related alterations in levels of glutamate–glutamine complex (Glx), N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), and myo-inositol (mIns) were assessed in the right inferior frontal gyrus (RIFG), pre-supplementary motor area (preSMA), bilateral sensorimotor cortex (SM1), bilateral striatum (STR), and occipital cortex (OCC) with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). Data were collected from 30 young (age range 18–34 years) and 29 older (age range 60–74 years) adults. Associations between age-related changes in the levels of these metabolites and performance measures or reactive/proactive inhibition were examined for each age group. Glx levels in the right striatum and preSMA were associated with more efficient proactive inhibition in young adults but were not predictive for reactive inhibition performance. Higher NAA/mIns ratios in the preSMA and RIFG and lower mIns levels in the OCC were associated with better deployment of proactive and reactive inhibition in older adults. Overall, these findings suggest that altered regional concentrations of NAA and mIns constitute potential biomarkers of suboptimal inhibitory control in aging.

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 Aging Affects Lower Limb Joint Moments and Muscle Responses to a Split-Belt Treadmill Perturbation

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongyual Yoo ◽  
Junmo An ◽  
Kap-Ho Seo ◽  
Beom-Chan Lee
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Rectus Femoris ◽  
Biceps Femoris ◽  
Young Group ◽  
Joint Moments ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Muscle Responses ◽  
Perturbation Period

Age-related changes cause more fall-related injuries and impede the recoveries by older adults compared to younger adults. This study assessed the lower limb joint moments and muscle responses to split-belt treadmill perturbations in two groups (14 healthy young group [23.36 ± 2.90 years] and 14 healthy older group [70.93 ± 4.36 years]) who performed two trials of unexpected split-belt treadmill perturbations while walking on a programmable split-belt treadmill. A motion capture system quantified the lower limb joint moments, and a wireless electromyography system recorded the lower limb muscle responses. The compensatory limb's (i.e., the tripped limb's contralateral side) joint moments and muscle responses were computed during the pre-perturbation period (the five gait cycles before the onset of a split-belt treadmill perturbation) and the recovery period (from the split-belt treadmill perturbation to the baseline gait relying on the ground reaction forces' profile). Joint moments were assessed by maximum joint moments, and muscle responses were quantified by the normalization (%) and co-contraction index (CCI). Joint moments and muscle responses of the compensatory limb during the recovery period were significantly higher for the YG than the OG, and joint moments (e.g., knee flexion and extension and hip flexion moments) and muscle responses during the recovery period were higher compared to the pre-perturbation period for both groups. For CCI, the older group showed significantly higher co-contraction for biceps femoris/rectus femoris muscles than the young group during the recovery period. For both groups, co-contraction for biceps femoris/rectus femoris muscles was higher during the pre-perturbation period than the recovery period. The study confirmed that older adults compensated for muscle weakness by using lower joint moments and muscle activations and increasing muscle co-contractions to recover balance after split-belt treadmill perturbations. A better understanding of the recovery mechanisms of older adults who train on fall-inducing systems could improve therapeutic regimens.

scholarly journals Cognitive aging and verbal labeling in continuous visual memory

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 1196-1213
Author(s):  
Alicia Forsberg ◽  
Wendy Johnson ◽  
Robert H. Logie
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Visual Memory ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Age Related

Abstract The decline of working memory (WM) is a common feature of general cognitive decline, and visual and verbal WM capacity appear to decline at different rates with age. Visual material may be remembered via verbal codes or visual traces, or both. Souza and Skóra, Cognition, 166, 277–297 (2017) found that labeling boosted memory in younger adults by activating categorical visual long-term memory (LTM) knowledge. Here, we replicated this and tested whether it held in healthy older adults. We compared performance in silence, under instructed overt labeling (participants were asked to say color names out loud), and articulatory suppression (repeating irrelevant syllables to prevent labeling) in the delayed estimation paradigm. Overt labeling improved memory performance in both age groups. However, comparing the effect of overt labeling and suppression on the number of coarse, categorical representations in the two age groups suggested that older adults used verbal labels subvocally more than younger adults, when performing the task in silence. Older adults also appeared to benefit from labels differently than younger adults. In younger adults labeling appeared to improve visual, continuous memory, suggesting that labels activated visual LTM representations. However, for older adults, labels did not appear to enhance visual, continuous representations, but instead boosted memory via additional verbal (categorical) memory traces. These results challenged the assumption that visual memory paradigms measure the same cognitive ability in younger and older adults, and highlighted the importance of controlling differences in age-related strategic preferences in visual memory tasks.

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