Searching for genetic influences on normal cognitive ageing
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Generalized Psychophysiological Interaction (PPI) Analysis of Memory Related Connectivity in Individuals at Genetic Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: November 14, 2017
Ian J Deary1, Alan F Wright, Sarah E Harris
1Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK. I.Deary@ed.ac.uk <I.Deary@ed.ac.uk>
Abstract:
Differences in non-pathological cognitive ageing provide a useful case study for the opportunities and challenges facing cognitive science as it embraces advances in genetics. One replicated contributor to these differences is variability in the gene for apolipoprotein E. Genetic variations that influence neurodegenerative diseases, learning and memory, cardiovascular disease, and oxidative stress are among the candidates for influence on cognitive ageing differences. The area suffers the same problems as other domains in which quantitative trait loci are sought: uncertainty regarding the genetic architecture, unreliable strategies for candidate gene selection, lack of power leading to unreplicated findings, and poor characterisation of the phenotype. However, current progress in genetic knowledge, technology and informatics will contribute to progress in this important area.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Biological Influences on Intelligence
Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Cognitivism
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process information is...
Heritability

