Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
06:03
The Active Place Avoidance (APA) Test, an Effective, Versatile and Repeatable Spatial Learning Task for Mice
Published on: February 16, 2024
Hippocampal volumes are important predictors for memory function in elderly women
Martin A Ystad1, Astri J Lundervold, Eike Wehling
1Department of Biomedicine, Neuroinformatics and Image Analysis Laboratory, University of Bergen, Jonas Lies vei 91, 5009 Bergen, Norway. martin.ystad@biomed.uib.no
BMC Medical Imaging
|August 25, 2009
Summary
Gender and left hippocampal volume predict verbal memory in aging, independent of APOE genotype. This research explores cognitive decline and brain structure in healthy adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Aging
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Normal aging is associated with cognitive decline, hippocampal volume changes, and APOE gene variability.
- Investigating the interplay between these factors is crucial for understanding cognitive aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between hippocampal volume, APOE genotype, and verbal memory function in healthy adults.
- To identify predictors of verbal memory decline in aging.
Main Methods:
- 3D MRI for hippocampal volumetry, PCR for APOE genotyping, and neuropsychological testing (CVLT).
- Statistical analysis using conditional inference trees, scatterplot matrices, and linear regression.
Main Results:
- Hippocampal volume decreases with age; left hippocampal volume is larger than right.
- Verbal memory (CVLT-LD) correlates with hippocampal volume.
- Gender and left hippocampal volume are primary predictors of verbal memory; APOE genotype has no significant impact.
Conclusions:
- Gender and left hippocampal volume are key predictors of verbal memory in normal aging.
- APOE genotype does not influence verbal memory or hippocampal volume in this cohort.
