Age-related slowing of memory retrieval: contributions of perceptual speed and cerebral white matter integrity.

Full Abstract

Previous research suggests that, in reaction time (RT) measures of episodic memory retrieval, the unique effects of adult age are relatively small compared to the effects aging shares with more elementary abilities such as perceptual speed. Little is known, however, regarding the mechanisms of perceptual speed. We used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to test the hypothesis that white matter integrity, as indexed by fractional anisotropy (FA), serves as one mechanism of perceptual slowing in episodic memory retrieval. Results indicated that declines in FA in the pericallosal frontal region and in the genu of the corpus callosum, but not in other regions, mediated the relationship between perceptual speed and episodic retrieval RT. This relation held, though to a different degree, for both hits and correct rejections. These findings suggest that white matter integrity in prefrontal regions is one mechanism underlying the relation between individual differences in perceptual speed and episodic retrieval.

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Author information

Author/s: Bucur, Barbara (B); Madden, David J (DJ); Spaniol, Julia (J); Provenzale, James M (JM); Cabeza, Roberto (R); White, Leonard E (LE); Huettel, Scott A (SA);

Affiliation: Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, USA. Bucurb@aol.com

Grants: R01 AG011622 (Agency:United States NIA) ; R01 AG011622-12 (Agency:United States NIA) ; R01 AG19731 (Agency:United States NIA) ; R37 AG002163 (Agency:United States NIA) ; R37 AG002163-24 (Agency:United States NIA) ; T32 AG000029-33 (Agency:United States NIA) ; T32 AG00029 (Agency:United States NIA)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Neurobiology of aging (Neurobiol Aging), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jul; vol 29 (issue 7) : pp 1070-9

Dates: Created 2008/05/26; Completed 2008/06/20; Revised 2008/07/02;

PMID: 17383774, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Aged
Aging - physiology
Brain - anatomy & histology; physiology
Female
Humans
Male

Male
Mental Recall - physiology
Middle Aged
Nerve Fibers, Myelinated - ultrastructure
Reaction Time - physiology
Speech Perception - physiology
Task Performance and Analysis

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