Chapter 1 Normal Brain Aging

Superior longitudinal fasciculus and language functioning in healthy aging

“…acquired knowledge) and “fluid” abilities (e.g. reasoning, working memory, processing speed) (Caserta et al, 2009; Cattell, 1971; Horn, 1978). It is often assumed that fluid abilities show a decline with increasing age, while crystallized abilities remain relatively stable or even show a positive relationship with increasing age (Cattell, 1971; Horn, 1978; Singer et al, 2003).…”

“…Across adulthood, the brain undergoes a variety of structural and cognitive changes that reflect healthy aging (Caserta et al, 2009). Typical changes in brain morphology include decreased volume, reduced synaptic density, and increased white matter abnormalities (Jernigan et al, 2001; Masliah, Mallory, Hansen, DeTeresa, & Terry, 1993; Resnick, Pham, Kraut, Zonderman, & Davatzikos, 2003).…”

“…Yet, the regional distribution and the cognitive correlates of this tissue degradation remain unclear. The structural deterioration of brain tissue in older adults is thought to be responsible for age-related cognitive decline; thus, studies have begun investigating the correlations between structural and functional changes (Bendlin et al, 2010; Caserta et al, 2009). This research has focused heavily on working memory, processing speed, and executive processes, while other aspects of cognition, such as language functioning have received less attention (Charlton et al, 2008; Gunning-Dixon & Raz, 2000; Gunning-Dixon & Raz, 2003).…”

Functional Neuroimaging in Dementia and other Amnesic Disorders: A Radiological Review

“…Individuals with a history of hypertension, for example, are likely to have multiple white matter insults which compromise cognitive functioning, independent of aging processes. The health of the elderly group has not been well-documented in most previous studies and elderly participants are rarely excluded, or placed into a separate group, due to healthrelated problems (Caserta et al, 2009). In addition, recent results show that white matter tracts within the frontal and temporal lobes, regions critical for higher cognitive functions, continue to mature well into the 4th decade of life (Aine et al, 2011).…”

“…While data are incomplete, another consistent finding has been a decline in other cognitive domains, such as arithmetic/numerical ability and perceptual speed. Alternatively, other cognitive functions such as verbal ability, word knowledge and semantic memory remain quite preserved even to old age (Caserta et al, 2009).…”