Cognitive Functioning in Healthy Aging: The Role of Reserve and Lifestyle Factors Early in Life

Fritsch, Thomas; McClendon, McKee J.; Smyth, Kathleen A.; Lerner, Alan J.; Friedland, Robert P.; Larsen, Janet D.

doi:10.1093/geront/47.3.307

Cited by 105 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…This subclinical impairment of working/episodic memory is in good agreement with a large body of research showing a gradual decline in both working memory and episodic memory during healthy aging (Cook et al, 2007;Henderson, 2007 (Fritsch et al, 2007;Luo and Craik, 2008). In our cohort, the age-related decline in memory performance was comparable for objects and positions.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Healthy aging attenuates task-related specialization in the human medial temporal lobe

Ramsøy

Liptrot

Skimminge

et al. 2012

Neurobiology of Aging

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Recent research on aging has established important links between the neurobiology of normal aging and age-related decline in episodic memory, yet the exact nature of this relationship is still unknown. Functional neuroimaging of regions such as the medial temporal lobe (MTL) have produced conflicting findings. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we have recently shown that young healthy individuals show a stronger activation of the MTL during encoding of objects as compared with encoding of positions. Using the same encoding task, the present study addressed the question whether this greater MTL activation during encoding of objects varies with age. Fifty-four healthy individuals aged between 18 and 81 years underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while they encoded and subsequently made new-old judgments on objects and positions. Region of interest (ROI) analysis of task related changes in the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal was performed in native space after correction for gender effects and individual differences in cerebral blood flow. The hippocampus, amygdala, and parahippocampal, perirhinal, entorhinal, and temporopolar cortices of right and left hemisphere were defined as ROIs. Aging had an adverse effect on memory performance that was similar for memorizing objects or positions. In left and right MTL, relatively greater activation for object stimuli was attenuated in older individuals. Age-related attenuation in content specificity was most prominent in the recognition stage. During recognition, the larger response to objects gradually decreased with age in all ROIs apart from left temporopolar and entorhinal cortex. An age-related attenuation was also present during encoding, but only in right parahippocampus and amygdala. Our results suggest that memory-related processing in the MTL becomes gradually less sensitive to content during normal aging.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Healthy aging attenuates task-related specialization in the human medial temporal lobe

Ramsøy

Liptrot

Skimminge

et al. 2012

Neurobiology of Aging

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show abstract

“…average age of 22) was significantly related to low cognitive test scores nearly 58 years later [81] . Even the level of participation in extracurricular high school programs that involved mental activity was directly related to verbal fluency in older adulthood [78] . Physical activity early in life also appears to benefit later life cognitive function, as being physically active between the ages of 15-25 was positively associated with cognitive functioning for older men [60] , and regular exercise during midlife (i.e.…”

Section: How Long Does Past Activity Impact Current Cognition?mentioning

confidence: 98%

“…spouse). Fritsch et al [78] examined the high school yearbooks of mid-1940s graduates of the same high school, and used each individual's involvement in various clubs (i.e. athletics, academics, service) as the basis for their activity level when they were younger adults.…”

Section: How Should This Information Be Acquired?mentioning

confidence: 99%

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How Can We Not ‘Lose It’ if We Still Don’t Understand How to ‘Use It’? Unanswered Questions about the Influence of Activity Participation on Cognitive Performance in Older Age – A Mini-Review

Bielak¹

2009

Gerontology

135

147

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The ‘use it or lose it’ hypothesis of cognitive aging predicts that engagement in intellectual, social, and physical activities offers protective benefits from age-related cognitive decline and lowers dementia risk. Although this hypothesis has not yet been supported conclusively, there is some empirical evidence in favor of the proposal. However, a number of questions surrounding the relationship between activity participation and cognitive ability in older adulthood are not yet well answered. This mini-review identifies seven key methodological and theoretical issues that are critical to our understanding and eventual possible promotion of activity participation as a way to maintain cognitive well-being. These include the mechanisms involved, the optimal ways of assessing activity engagement, which cognitive domains receive the most benefit from activity engagement, the temporal nature and the directionality of the relationship, the influence of demographic variables such as age, gender, or education, and whether one activity domain offers the most benefit to cognition. The current knowledge on each of these issues is critically evaluated, including describing what we already know about the issue, and identifying potential difficulties and opportunities that may exist in finding an answer. More studies need to take on the challenge of specifically targeting these issues, as each is essential to moving the field forward.

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“…Many authors have discussed the role and the nature of multiple factors that influence normal and disease-related cognitive changes that occur in aging: educational attainment, physical exercise, social factors experienced such as life habits, medical disorders, occupational complexity [31] . There is a growing awareness that the development and clinical manifestation of dementia may be explained by individual differences in environmental factors that occur not only in late or adult life but also in childhood and youth, resulting in the cognitive reserve.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Age at Observation Time Affect the Clinical Presentation of Mild Cognitive Impairment?

Vicini-Chilovi¹,

Riva²,

Conti³

et al. 2010

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord

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Background: To date, there are no published data investigating the role of age in the clinical and neuropsychological presentation of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The aim of the study was to evaluate whether age at the time of evaluation modulates clinical, functional or cognitive profiles in MCI subjects. Methods: A total of 167 outpatients with a clinical diagnosis of MCI were consecutively enrolled and entered in the study. Clinical and demographic characteristics were carefully recorded. Each patient underwent a wide neuropsychological standardized assessment. Results: MCI subjects were divided into 3 groups according to their age at observation time: 58 MCI patients were classified as young (≤69 years), 89 as old (70–79 years) and 20 as very old (≧80 years). The 3 groups did not differ in demographic characteristics, general cognitive functions and memory impairment. Very old MCI subjects showed a significantly greater impairment than younger MCI patients in cognitive domains involving executive functions. In particular, very old MCI patients were more frequently classified as having multiple-domain amnestic MCI. Conclusion: Present data highlight that the clinical presentation of MCI is affected by age: at presentation, very old MCI subjects show a worse performance than younger MCI subjects on multiple abilities, particularly on executive functions.

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Cognitive Functioning in Healthy Aging: The Role of Reserve and Lifestyle Factors Early in Life

Abstract: Our study suggests that reserve is dynamic, but it is most amenable to change in early life. We conclude that an active, engaged lifestyle, emphasizing mental activity and educational pursuits in early life, can have a positive impact on cognitive functioning in late life.

Cited by 105 publications

References 37 publications

Healthy aging attenuates task-related specialization in the human medial temporal lobe

Healthy aging attenuates task-related specialization in the human medial temporal lobe

How Can We Not ‘Lose It’ if We Still Don’t Understand How to ‘Use It’? Unanswered Questions about the Influence of Activity Participation on Cognitive Performance in Older Age – A Mini-Review

Does Age at Observation Time Affect the Clinical Presentation of Mild Cognitive Impairment?

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