Neuroimaging studies of normal aging The effects of normal aging on cognition Neuroimaging as a scientific tool The physiological basis of cognitive changes in normal aging
Attention Executive function Visuospatial skills Memory Language
Working Memory is the ability to maintain and manipulate information over short periods of time necessary to guide behavior
> MAINTAIN > MAINTAIN and MANIPULATE
Where’s the flag? Is this supposed to be fun? Should I kick it?
Mean Reaction Time (msec) Task Condition 70s-80s 50s-60s 20s-30s ALONECOUNTINGDIGIT SPAN
STRUCTURALFUNCTIONAL Magnetic Resonance ImagingPositron Emission Tomography
Structural brain changes with aging changes in brain volume youngold
FRONTAL OTHER BRAIN REGIONS
STRUCTURALFUNCTIONAL Magnetic Resonance ImagingPositron Emission Tomography
OLD YOUNG
red = right eye blue = left eye Ocular dominance columnsPrimary visual cortex (V1) SPATIAL RESOLUTION
TEMPORAL RESOLUTION
+ + + CUEDELAYRESPONSE
YOUNGELDERLY UNDER RECRUITMENT OVER RECRUITMENT YOUNG OLD NON-SELECTIVE RECRUITMENT
Reaction Time (msec) 2 Letters6 Letters
FASTESTSLOWESTYOUNG
FAST > SLOW Neural recruitment Information processing speed LESS > MORE
Memory Load Young Old Reaction Time (msec)
FASTESTSLOWEST YOUNG OLD
Neural recruitment LESS > MORE FAST > SLOW Information processing speed SLOW > FAST YOUNGOLD
Summary Age-related decline in selective cognitive processes Functional MRI is a powerful method with excellent spatial and temporal resolution to study the physiological basis of cognitive decline in normal aging Evidence for selective prefrontal cortical dysfunction (I.e. under-recruitment) with normal aging Possible neural as well as behavioral compensation
EVXRCe time Working memory taskFunctional MRI