The aging mind: A complex challenge for research and practice

TMS-derived short afferent inhibition discriminates cognitive status in older adults without dementia

Aging is a complex and diverse biological process characterized by progressive molecular, cellular, and tissue damage, resulting in a loss of physiological integrity and heightened vulnerability to pathology. This biological diversity corresponds with highly variable cognitive trajectories, which are further confounded by genetic and environmental factors that influence the resilience of the aging brain. Given this complexity, there is a need for neurophysiological indicators that not only discern physiologic and pathologic aging but also closely align with cognitive trajectories. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) may have utility in this regard as a non-invasive brain stimulation tool that can characterize features of cortical excitability. Particularly, as a proxy for central cholinergic function, short-afferent inhibition (SAI) dysfunction is robustly associated with cognitive deficits in the latter stages of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD). In this study, we evaluated SAI in healthy young adults and older adults who, though absent clinical diagnoses, were algorithmically classified as cognitively normal (CN) or cognitively impaired (CI) according to the Jak/Bondi actuarial criteria. We report that SAI is preserved in the Old-CN cohort relative to the young adults, and SAI is significantly diminished in the Old-CI cohort relative to both young and CN older adults. Additionally, diminished SAI was significantly associated with impaired sustained attention and working memory. As a proxy measure for central cholinergic deficits, we discuss the potential value of SAI for discerning physiological and pathological aging.

Enhancing Foreign Language Learning Approaches to Promote Healthy Aging: A Systematic Review

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the best approaches to teaching a foreign language to older people to help them achieve the desired results and explore their benefits. This review strictly follows the PRISMA methodology for systematic reviews and meta-analyses to identify the core experimental studies that deal with the topic of foreign language learning approaches among the older generations. Altogether eight studies detected were included in the systematic review. The available sources were found in Web of Science and Scopus. The findings indicate that foreign language learning can promote seniors' welfare and successful aging despite their learning outcomes, which means that the key benefit for third-age foreign language learners while learning a foreign language is not the achieved proficiency level, but the feeling of subjective satisfaction. This can be a good incentive to achieve better learning outcomes, provided that learners have been offered a pleasant and safe learning environment, using suitable learning approaches during which they can build on their acquired knowledge and experience, as well as discuss the topics they are interested in. Thus, foreign language teachers play an important part in seniors' educational process because their teaching methods and materials when adapted to the elderly's educational needs can have a positive impact on the maintenance and possibly, enhancement of the older people's cognitive functions and on the improvement of their mental activity, which consequently maintains their healthy aging.

Impact of Exercise Interventions on Sustained Brain Health Outcomes in Frail Older Individuals: A Comprehensive Review of Systematic Reviews

Several systematic review studies highlight exercise's positive impact on brain health outcomes for frail individuals. This study adopts a Comprehensive Review of reviews (CRs) approach to amalgamate data from existing reviews, focusing on exercise's influence on brain health outcomes in older frail and pre-frail adults. The methodology involves a thorough search of Portuguese, Spanish, and English-indexed databases (i.e., Ebsco Health, Scielo, ERIC, LILACS, Medline, Web of Science, SportDiscus) from 1990 to 2022, with the AMSTAR-2 tool assessing evidence robustness. The search terms "physical exercise", "elderly frail", and "systematic review" were employed. Results: Out of 12 systematically reviewed studies, four presented high-quality (with metanalyses), while eight exhibit critically low quality. Positive trends emerge in specific cognitive and neuromotor aspects, yet challenges persist in psychosocial domains, complex cognitive tasks, and ADL outcomes. This study yields reasonable and promising evidence regarding exercise's influence on quality of life and depression in frail older individuals. However, the impact on biochemical markers remains inconclusive, emphasizing the need for standardized methodologies. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of acknowledging methodological nuances for clinicians and policymakers when translating these results into impactful interventions for aging populations. This emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive and customized approach to exercise interventions aimed at fostering the sustainability of overall well-being in older individuals, aligning with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.