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Menéndez-Granda M, Schmidt N, Orth M, Klink K, Horn S, Kliegel M, Peter J. The effect of loss incentives on prospective memory in healthy older adults: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial using ultra-high field fMRI. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:722. [PMID: 37803337 PMCID: PMC10557285 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05229-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prospective memory is important for our health and independence but declines with age. Hence, interventions to enhance prospective memory, for example by providing an incentive, may promote healthy ageing. The neuroanatomical correlates of prospective memory and the processing of incentive-related prospective memory changes in older adults are not fully understood. In an fMRI study, we will therefore test whether incentives improve prospective memory in older adults and how prospective memory is processed in the brain in general, and when incentives are provided. Since goals and interests change across adulthood, avoiding losses is becoming more important for older adults than achieving gains. We therefore posit that loss-related incentives will enhance prospective memory, which will be subserved by increased prefrontal and midbrain activity. METHODS We will include n = 60 healthy older adults (60-75 years of age) in a randomized, single-blind, and parallel-group study. We will acquire 7T fMRI data in an incentive group and a control group (n = 30 each, stratified by education, age, and sex). Before and after fMRI, all participants will complete questionnaires and cognitive tests to assess possible confounders (e.g., income, personality traits, sensitivity to reward or punishment). DISCUSSION The results of this study will clarify whether loss-related incentives can enhance prospective memory and how any enhancement is processed in the brain. In addition, we will determine how prospective memory is processed in the brain in general. The results of our study will be an important step towards a better understanding of how prospective memory changes when we get older and for developing interventions to counteract cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Menéndez-Granda
- University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nadine Schmidt
- University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Michael Orth
- University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Katharina Klink
- University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian Horn
- Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Kliegel
- Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Centre for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Centre of Expertise in Life Course Research, LIVES Centre, Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jessica Peter
- University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Swiss Institute for Translational and Entrepreneurial Medicine, Bern, Switzerland.
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Schmidt N, Menéndez-Granda M, Münger R, Reber TP, Bayen UJ, Gümüsdagli FE, Hering A, Joly-Burra E, Kliegel M, Peter J. Modulating prospective memory and attentional control with high-definition transcranial current stimulation: Study protocol of a randomized, double-blind, and sham-controlled trial in healthy older adults. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289532. [PMID: 37549139 PMCID: PMC10406223 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to remember future intentions (i.e., prospective memory) is influenced by attentional control. At the neuronal level, frontal and parietal brain regions have been related to attentional control and prospective memory. It is debated, however, whether more or less activity in these regions is beneficial for older adults' performance. We will test that by systematically enhancing or inhibiting activity in these regions with anodal or cathodal high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation in older adults. We will include n = 105 healthy older volunteers (60-75 years of age) in a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, and parallel-group design. The participants will receive either cathodal, anodal, or sham high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation of the left or right inferior frontal gyrus, or the right superior parietal gyrus (1mA for 20 min). During and after stimulation, the participants will complete tasks of attentional control and prospective memory. The results of this study will clarify how frontal and parietal brain regions contribute to attentional control and prospective memory in older healthy adults. In addition, we will elucidate the relationship between attentional control and prospective memory in that age group. The study has been registered with ClinicalTrials.gov on the 12th of May 2021 (trial identifier: NCT04882527).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Schmidt
- University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marta Menéndez-Granda
- University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ronya Münger
- University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thomas P. Reber
- Faculty of Psychology, Uni Distance Suisse, Brig, Switzerland
| | - Ute J. Bayen
- Institute for Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Fabian E. Gümüsdagli
- Institute for Experimental Psychology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Alexandra Hering
- Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg School for Social and Behavioural Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
| | - Emilie Joly-Burra
- Cognitive Aging Lab (CAL), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Centre for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Centre of Expertise in Life Course Research, LIVES Centre, Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Kliegel
- Cognitive Aging Lab (CAL), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Centre for the Interdisciplinary Study of Gerontology and Vulnerability, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Swiss Centre of Expertise in Life Course Research, LIVES Centre, Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jessica Peter
- University Hospital of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Morand A, Segobin S, Lecouvey G, Gonneaud J, Eustache F, Rauchs G, Desgranges B. Alterations in resting-state functional connectivity associated to the age-related decline in time-based prospective memory. Cereb Cortex 2022; 33:4374-4383. [PMID: 36130116 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Time-based prospective memory (TBPM) is defined as the ability to remember to perform intended actions at a specific time in the future. TBPM is impaired in aging, and this decline has been associated with white-matter alterations within the superior fronto-occipital fasciculus. In the present study, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging from 22 healthy young (26 ± 5.2 years) and 23 older (63 ± 6.1 years) participants to investigate how age-related alterations in resting-state functional connectivity are related to TBPM performance, and whether these alterations are associated with the white-matter disruptions we have previously observed with diffusion tensor imaging. Whole-brain analyses revealed lower resting-state functional connectivity in older participants compared with younger ones, which in turn correlated with TBPM performance. These correlations were mainly located in the salience network and the parietal part of the frontoparietal network. Our findings suggest that resting-state functional connectivity alterations contribute to the age-related decline in TBPM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandrine Morand
- Normandie Universite, UNICAEN, PSL Universite Paris, EPHE, Inserm, U1077, CHU de Caen, NIMH, GIP Cyceron, Pole des Formations et de Recherche en Sante, 2 rue des Rochambelles, F-14032 Caen Cedex CS 14032, France
- Normandie Universite, UNICAEN, Inserm, U1237, PHIND, Institut Blood and Brain @Caen-Normandie, GIP Cyceron, Bd Henri Becquerel, BP 5229, 14074 Caen Cedex 5, France
| | - Shailendra Segobin
- Normandie Universite, UNICAEN, PSL Universite Paris, EPHE, Inserm, U1077, CHU de Caen, NIMH, GIP Cyceron, Pole des Formations et de Recherche en Sante, 2 rue des Rochambelles, F-14032 Caen Cedex CS 14032, France
| | - Grégory Lecouvey
- Normandie Universite, UNICAEN, PSL Universite Paris, EPHE, Inserm, U1077, CHU de Caen, NIMH, GIP Cyceron, Pole des Formations et de Recherche en Sante, 2 rue des Rochambelles, F-14032 Caen Cedex CS 14032, France
| | - Julie Gonneaud
- Normandie Universite, UNICAEN, Inserm, U1237, PHIND, Institut Blood and Brain @Caen-Normandie, GIP Cyceron, Bd Henri Becquerel, BP 5229, 14074 Caen Cedex 5, France
| | - Francis Eustache
- Normandie Universite, UNICAEN, PSL Universite Paris, EPHE, Inserm, U1077, CHU de Caen, NIMH, GIP Cyceron, Pole des Formations et de Recherche en Sante, 2 rue des Rochambelles, F-14032 Caen Cedex CS 14032, France
| | - Géraldine Rauchs
- Normandie Universite, UNICAEN, PSL Universite Paris, EPHE, Inserm, U1077, CHU de Caen, NIMH, GIP Cyceron, Pole des Formations et de Recherche en Sante, 2 rue des Rochambelles, F-14032 Caen Cedex CS 14032, France
- Normandie Universite, UNICAEN, Inserm, U1237, PHIND, Institut Blood and Brain @Caen-Normandie, GIP Cyceron, Bd Henri Becquerel, BP 5229, 14074 Caen Cedex 5, France
| | - Béatrice Desgranges
- Normandie Universite, UNICAEN, PSL Universite Paris, EPHE, Inserm, U1077, CHU de Caen, NIMH, GIP Cyceron, Pole des Formations et de Recherche en Sante, 2 rue des Rochambelles, F-14032 Caen Cedex CS 14032, France
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Highly superior autobiographical memory in aging: A single case study. Cortex 2021; 143:267-280. [PMID: 34167804 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2021.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Whilst countless studies have shown that aging is associated with cognitive decline in the general population, near to nothing is known about this association in elderly individuals naturally exhibiting enhanced memory capabilities. The identification of a 75 years old individual (GC) with highly superior autobiographical memory (HSAM), and his willingness to volunteer to our study over a period of five years, allowed us to investigate this issue in a single case study. At the age of 75 years, GC was screened for HSAM with the Public Events Quiz and the Random Dates Quiz, with a positive outcome. GC's memory performance was extraordinarily higher than normal-memory control subjects (>3 standard deviations), and comparable to a group of younger HSAM individuals (mean age of 32.5 years; Santangelo et al., 2018). GC underwent general neuropsychological (Mini-Mental State Examination), personality (Personality Assessment Inventory), and brain morphological (brain volumes and lesions) assessments, showing no deviation from normal ranges. To gain insight into the brain mechanisms underlying his memory performance, GC underwent functional brain imaging during the retrieval of memories associated with random dates. The latter were also rated in terms of reliving quality and emotional valence. Similar to younger HSAM individuals, GC's access to past memories recruited a wide network of prefrontal and temporo-parietal regions, especially during the recollection of memories associated with a lower reliving rating, suggesting a compensatory mechanism in HSAM. Increased activity in the insula was instead associated with emotionally-positive memories. Five years later, GC was tested again for HSAM and showed no sign of memory decline, whereby his memory performance was indistinguishable from the tests he performed five years earlier. GC's case suggests that highly superior memory performance can manifest without apparent decline in physiological aging. Implications of the current findings for the extant models of autobiographical memory are discussed.
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