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Neurocognitive Profiles of Older Adults with Working-Memory Dysfunction
Alireza Salami1,2, Anna Rieckmann2,3, Nina Karalija2,3
1Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|June 15, 2018
Summary
Older adults show distinct cognitive profiles. A subgroup with lower working memory (WM) performance exhibits reduced brain connectivity and integrity in key networks, unlike those with intact episodic memory.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Individual differences in cognition are evident in older adults.
- Links between cognitive performance variations and brain measures in aging are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify distinct subgroups based on working memory (WM) performance in older adults.
- To investigate the neurobiological underpinnings of these cognitive subgroups.
Main Methods:
- Latent profile analysis of n-back WM task performance in 181 older adults (ages 64-68).
- Analysis of brain imaging (fMRI, DTI), dopamine binding, genetic data, and offline cognitive tests.
Main Results:
- Two subgroups identified: higher-performing (63%) and lower-performing (31%).
- The lower-performing group showed reduced fronto-parietal network (FPN) connectivity, weaker load-dependent BOLD modulation, lower striatal coupling, and impaired FPN structural integrity.
- This group also had lower frontal dopamine D2 binding and genetic predisposition for reduced dopamine efficiency, while maintaining intact episodic memory and default-mode network function.
Conclusions:
- A distinct subgroup of older adults with impaired WM functioning exists.
- This impairment is associated with reduced cortico-striatal coupling and aberrant FPN integrity, independent of episodic memory decline.
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