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Updated: Apr 18, 2026

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation tDCS for Memory Enhancement
Published on: September 18, 2021
Effector memory CD4(+) T cells are associated with cognitive performance in a senior population
Cláudia Serre-Miranda1, Susana Roque1, Nadine Correia Santos1
1Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) (C.S.-M., S.R., N.C.S., C.P.-N., P.C., J.A.P., N.S., M.C.-N.), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory (C.S.-M., S.R., N.C.S., C.P.-N., P.C., J.A.P., N.S., M.C.-N.), Braga/Guimarães; and Clinical Academic Center-Braga (C.S.-M., S.R., N.C.S., C.P.-N., P.C., J.A.P., N.S.), Braga, Portugal.
Objective:
Immunosenescence and cognitive decline are common markers of the aging process. Taking into consideration the heterogeneity observed in aging processes and the recently described link between lymphocytes and cognition, we herein explored the possibility of an association between alterations in lymphocytic populations and cognitive performance.
Methods:
In a cohort of cognitively healthy adults (n = 114), previously characterized by diverse neurocognitive/psychological performance patterns, detailed peripheral blood immunophenotyping of both the innate and adaptive immune systems was performed by flow cytometry.
Results:
Better cognitive performance was associated with lower numbers of effector memory CD4(+) T cells and higher numbers of naive CD8(+) T cells and B cells. Furthermore, effector memory CD4(+) T cells were found to be predictors of general and executive function and memory, even when factors known to influence cognitive performance in older individuals (e.g., age, sex, education, and mood) were taken into account.
Conclusions:
This is the first study in humans associating specific phenotypes of the immune system with distinct cognitive performance in healthy aging.
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