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Navakkode S, Kennedy BK. Neural ageing and synaptic plasticity: prioritizing brain health in healthy longevity. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1428244. [PMID: 39161341 PMCID: PMC11330810 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1428244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Ageing is characterized by a gradual decline in the efficiency of physiological functions and increased vulnerability to diseases. Ageing affects the entire body, including physical, mental, and social well-being, but its impact on the brain and cognition can have a particularly significant effect on an individual's overall quality of life. Therefore, enhancing lifespan and physical health in longevity studies will be incomplete if cognitive ageing is over looked. Promoting successful cognitive ageing encompasses the objectives of mitigating cognitive decline, as well as simultaneously enhancing brain function and cognitive reserve. Studies in both humans and animal models indicate that cognitive decline related to normal ageing and age-associated brain disorders are more likely linked to changes in synaptic connections that form the basis of learning and memory. This activity-dependent synaptic plasticity reorganises the structure and function of neurons not only to adapt to new environments, but also to remain robust and stable over time. Therefore, understanding the neural mechanisms that are responsible for age-related cognitive decline becomes increasingly important. In this review, we explore the multifaceted aspects of healthy brain ageing with emphasis on synaptic plasticity, its adaptive mechanisms and the various factors affecting the decline in cognitive functions during ageing. We will also explore the dynamic brain and neuroplasticity, and the role of lifestyle in shaping neuronal plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheeja Navakkode
- Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Centre for Healthy Longevity, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Life Sciences Institute Neurobiology Programme, Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Brian K. Kennedy
- Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Centre for Healthy Longevity, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Life Sciences Institute Neurobiology Programme, Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Departments of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Buck Institute for Research on Ageing, Novato, CA, United States
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Mirabella G. Beyond Reactive Inhibition: Unpacking the Multifaceted Nature of Motor Inhibition. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13050804. [PMID: 37239277 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13050804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhibition is a pillar of cognitive control, i [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Mirabella
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
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Kang W, Wang J, Malvaso A. Inhibitory Control in Aging: The Compensation-Related Utilization of Neural Circuits Hypothesis. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 13:771885. [PMID: 35967887 PMCID: PMC9371469 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.771885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As one of the core executive functions, inhibitory control plays an important role in human life. Inhibitory control refers to the ability to suppress task irrelevant information both internally and externally. Modern cognitive neuroscience has extensively investigated the neural basis of inhibitory control, less is known about the inhibitory control mechanisms in aging. Growing interests in cognitive declines of aging have given raise to the compensation-related utilization of neural circuits hypothesis (CRUNCH). In this review, we survey both behavioral, functional, and structural changes relevant to inhibitory control in aging. In line with CRUNCH, we found that older adults engage additional brain regions than younger adults when performing the same cognitive task, to compensate for declining brain structures and functions. Moreover, we propose CRUNCH could well take functional inhibitory deficits in older adults into account. Finally, we provide three sensible future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weixi Kang
- Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Weixi Kang,
| | - Junxin Wang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Antonio Malvaso
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
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Chaudhary S, Zhornitsky S, Chao HH, van Dyck CH, Li CSR. Emotion Processing Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease: An Overview of Behavioral Findings, Systems Neural Correlates, and Underlying Neural Biology. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 2022; 37:15333175221082834. [PMID: 35357236 PMCID: PMC9212074 DOI: 10.1177/15333175221082834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
We described behavioral studies to highlight emotional processing deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The findings suggest prominent deficit in recognizing negative emotions, pronounced effect of positive emotion on enhancing memory, and a critical role of cognitive deficits in manifesting emotional processing dysfunction in AD. We reviewed imaging studies to highlight morphometric and functional markers of hippocampal circuit dysfunction in emotional processing deficits. Despite amygdala reactivity to emotional stimuli, hippocampal dysfunction conduces to deficits in emotional memory. Finally, the reviewed studies implicating major neurotransmitter systems in anxiety and depression in AD supported altered cholinergic and noradrenergic signaling in AD emotional disorders. Overall, the studies showed altered emotions early in the course of illness and suggest the need of multimodal imaging for further investigations. Particularly, longitudinal studies with multiple behavioral paradigms translatable between preclinical and clinical models would provide data to elucidate the time course and underlying neurobiology of emotion processing dysfunction in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shefali Chaudhary
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Simon Zhornitsky
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Herta H. Chao
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA,VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Christopher H. van Dyck
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA,Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Chiang-Shan R. Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA,Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA,Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA,Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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Zhornitsky S, Chaudhary S, Le TM, Chen Y, Zhang S, Potvin S, Chao HH, van Dyck CH, Li CSR. Cognitive dysfunction and cerebral volumetric deficits in individuals with Alzheimer's disease, alcohol use disorder, and dual diagnosis. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2021; 317:111380. [PMID: 34482052 PMCID: PMC8579376 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2021.111380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiological surveys suggest that excessive drinking is associated with higher risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study utilized data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center to examine cognition as well as gray/white matter and ventricular volumes among participants with AD and alcohol use disorder (AD/AUD, n = 52), AD only (n = 701), AUD only (n = 67), and controls (n = 1283). AUD diagnosis was associated with higher Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) in AD than in non-AD. AD performed worse on semantic fluency and Trail Making Test A + B (TMT A + B) and showed smaller total GMV, WMV, and larger ventricular volume than non-AD. AD had smaller regional GMV in the inferior/superior parietal cortex, hippocampal formation, occipital cortex, inferior frontal gyrus, posterior cingulate cortex, and isthmus cingulate cortex than non-AD. AUD had significantly smaller somatomotor cortical GMV and showed a trend towards smaller volume in the hippocampal formation, relative to non-AUD participants. Misuse of alcohol has an additive effect on dementia severity among AD participants. Smaller hippocampal volume is a common feature of both AD and AUD. Although AD is associated with more volumetric deficits overall, AD and AUD are associated with atrophy in largely distinct brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Zhornitsky
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA.
| | - Shefali Chaudhary
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
| | - Thang M Le
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
| | - Stéphane Potvin
- Centre de recherche de l'Institut, Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Herta H Chao
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA; VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Christopher H van Dyck
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Chiang-Shan R Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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