Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 13, 2026
14:11
Imaging Dendritic Spines of Rat Primary Hippocampal Neurons using Structured Illumination Microscopy
Published on: May 4, 2014
16.4K
Coupled changes in hippocampal structure and cognitive ability in later life
Devasuda Anblagan1,2,3,4, Maria C Valdés Hernández1,2,3,4, Stuart J Ritchie1,5
1Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK.
Brain and Behavior
|February 28, 2018
Summary
Higher mean diffusivity (MD) in the hippocampus at age 73 predicts less cognitive decline in verbal memory, working memory, and processing speed by age 76 in healthy adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Radiology
Background:
- The hippocampus is crucial for cognitive functions that often decline with age.
- Aging can lead to structural and functional changes in the hippocampus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate coupled changes in hippocampal structure and cognitive abilities (verbal memory, working memory, processing speed) in community-dwelling adults.
- To determine if baseline hippocampal structure predicts cognitive decline over a 3-year period.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 655 adults at age 73 and 469 at age 76.
- Assessed hippocampal structure using MRI (volume, H_ICV, FA, MD, T1).
- Evaluated cognitive function across three domains: verbal memory, working memory, and processing speed.
Main Results:
- Hippocampal volume, FA, and T1 decreased, while MD increased from age 73 to 76.
- Higher baseline hippocampal mean diffusivity (MD) was significantly associated with a greater decline in all three cognitive domains.
- Baseline hippocampal volume, FA, and T1 were not significantly associated with cognitive decline after multiple comparisons correction.
Conclusions:
- Increased hippocampal MD at age 73 is a predictor of cognitive decline in healthy aging.
- These findings may aid in diagnosing early aging-related neuropathologies.
- Understanding hippocampal aging provides insights into cognitive health maintenance.
Related Concept Videos
01:38Cognitive Dissonance
37.5K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
37.5K
01:23Characteristics of Life
263.2K
Biology is a natural science that studies life and living organisms, including their structure, function, development, interactions, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. The field's scope is extensive and divided into several specialized disciplines, such as anatomy, physiology, ethology, genetics, and many more. All living things share a few key traits, including cellular organization, heritable genetic material and the ability to adapt/evolve, metabolism to regulate energy needs, the...
263.2K
02:42Half-life of a Reaction
39.4K
The half-life of a reaction (t1/2) is the time required for one-half of a given amount of reactant to be consumed. In each succeeding half-life, half of the remaining concentration of the reactant is consumed. For example, during the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, during the first half-life (from 0.00 hours to 6.00 hours), the concentration of H2O2 decreases from 1.000 M to 0.500 M. During the second half-life (from 6.00 hours to 12.00 hours), the concentration decreases from 0.500 M to...
39.4K
02:39The Angiosperm Life Cycle
73.1K
Plants have a life cycle split between two multicellular stages: a haploid stage—with cells containing one set of chromosomes—and a diploid stage—with cells containing two sets of chromosomes. The haploid stage is the gamete-producing gametophyte, and the diploid stage is the spore-producing sporophyte.
73.1K
02:40The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes
39.3K
The “tree of life” describes the evolution of life and the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The root of the tree is the common ancestor to all life on Earth. All other species radiate from this point, much like the branches of a tree. The numerous tips of these branches on the tree of life represent every living, or extant, species. Extinct species, which are species that no longer exist, can be found towards the center of the tree. Currently, these organisms, both...
39.3K
01:20Spin–Spin Coupling: Two-Bond Coupling (Geminal Coupling)
1.7K
Two NMR-active nuclei bonded to a central atom can be involved in geminal or two-bond coupling. Geminal coupling is commonly seen between diastereotopic protons in chiral molecules and unsymmetrical alkenes, among others.
The central atom need not be NMR-active because its electrons are affected by the electron polarization of the spin-active atoms. However, spin information is transmitted less effectively than in one-bond coupling, and 2J values are usually weaker than 1J values. The energy of...
The central atom need not be NMR-active because its electrons are affected by the electron polarization of the spin-active atoms. However, spin information is transmitted less effectively than in one-bond coupling, and 2J values are usually weaker than 1J values. The energy of...
1.7K