Aging and Memory: Patterns of Change, Variability, and Directed Training
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1
Umea University, Sweden
Based on data from a 20-year longitudinal study, we have previously shown that conclusions on how aging affects cognition across the adult life span vary greatly depending on whether they are based on cross-sectional or longitudinal studies. Here we extend this work to analyses of functional brain activity patterns. Previous age-comparative functional neuroimaging studies have revealed evidence for under-as well as over-recruitment in regional brain activity as a function of increasing age. However, past conclusions rest on cross-sectional designs. Preliminary longitudinal analyses indicate that such analyses are more sensitive than cross-sectional comparisons and that they mainly show under-recruitment in older age, notably in frontal cortex. Analyses of inter-individual differences in cognitive performance reveal substantial heterogeneity within the aging population, and brain imaging data suggest that stable rather than declining cognitive functioning is correlated with a “youth-like” brain response. Transitions in the positive direction (i.e. higher performance with increasing age) are rare, but investigations of the effects of directed training show evidence for plasticity in older age. Recent evidence, including preliminary results from our group, indicates that one basis for improved cognitive performance after cognitive training could be enhanced dopaminergic neurotransmission. These molecular imaging cognitive-training findings will be related to recent observations of age-related reductions in the responsiveness of the striatal dopamine system to cognitive challenges. Collectively, these findings support the notion of a key role of the fronto-striatal system in cognitive aging, and suggest that targeting the dopamine system is central in attempts at neurorehabilitation in older age.
References
1. Fischer et al. Biological Psychiatry 2010, 67, 575-580
2. Dahlin et al. Science 2008, 320, 1510-1512
3. Persson et al. Cerebral Cortex 2006, 16, 907-915
Conference:
The 20th Annual Rotman Research Institute Conference, The frontal lobes, Toronto, Canada, 22 Mar - 26 Mar, 2010.
Presentation Type:
Oral Presentation
Topic:
Symposium 9: NeuroRehabilitation
Citation:
Nyberg
L
(2010). Aging and Memory: Patterns of Change, Variability, and Directed Training.
Conference Abstract:
The 20th Annual Rotman Research Institute Conference, The frontal lobes.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2010.14.00036
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Received:
28 Jun 2010;
Published Online:
28 Jun 2010.
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Correspondence:
Lars Nyberg, Umea University, Umea, Sweden, Lars.Nyberg@umu.se