Download - Brain Cognition
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THE AGING BRAIN-cognition-
Presented byRonald Lucchino, PhD
Di f P li Al h i A i i NMDirector of Policy, Alzheimers Association, [email protected]
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OBJECTIVESObjective 1: To be able to describe the age related j g
cognitive changes in the aging brain
Objective 2: To be able to describe age associated j g(negative) cognitive changes in the brainbrain
Objective 3: To be able to describe how to improve the brains cognitive function as we gage
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G l O i HGeneral Overview -How the Brain Works
-Cognition-g
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Anatomy and Function of the Brain yInvolved in Cognition
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Inside the Human Brain
The Brains Vital Statistics
Adult weight: about 3 dpounds
Adult size: a medium cauliflower
Number of neurons: Number of neurons: 100,000,000,000 (100 billion)
Number of synapses (the y p (gap between neurons): 100,000,000,000,000 (100 trillion)
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Inside the
Neurons
Human BrainNeurons
The brain has billions of h i hneurons, each with an axon
and many dendrites.
T t h lth To stay healthy, neurons must communicate with each other, carry out , ymetabolism, and repair themselves.
Neurotransmitters carry the message between synapse.
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id h iMajor Cognitive Functioning areas of the brain
Inside the Human BrainMajor Cognitive Functioning areas of the brain
1 Cerebral Hemispheres where sensory information1. Cerebral Hemispheres where sensory information received from the outside world is processed; this part of the brain controls voluntary movement andof the brain controls voluntary movement and regulates conscious thought and mental activity: accounts for 85% of brains weight accounts for 85% of brains weight consists of two hemispheres connected by the corpus callosum
i d b t l ll d th b l t is covered by an outer layer called the cerebral cortex
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Hippocampus: where short-term memories are converted to long-term memoriesThalamus: receives sensory and limbic information and sends to cerebral cortexHypothalamus:: monitors certain activities and controls bodys internal clock
(pituitary gland)Limbic system:: t l ti d i ti ti b h i (i l d thLimbic system:: controls emotions and instinctive behavior (includes the
hippocampus and parts of the cortex)Prefrontal cortex: high executive function - attention span, perseverance,
planning, judgment, impulse control, organization, self-monitoring and supervision, problem solving, critical thinking, forward thinking, learning from
experience and mistakes, ability to feel and express emotions, influences the limbicexperience and mistakes, ability to feel and express emotions, influences the limbic system, empathy
Frontal cortex: Attach significance to external stimuli form provisionalFrontal cortex: Attach significance to external stimuli, form provisional plan, monitor performance, use feedback to alter behavior
Brocas area: is the area in the left frontal lobe specialized for the production of language - speech.
Wernickes area: the region of the cortex in the superior and posterior region of the left temporal lobe that helps mediate language comprehensionthe left temporal lobe that helps mediate language comprehension.
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Working memory - self order pointed task memories (both shortWorking memory - self order pointed task, memories (both short-term and long-term declarative) held briefly in mind that enable a
particular task to be accomplished (e.g., efficiently searching a room for pa t cu a tas to be acco p s ed (e.g., e c e t y sea c g a oo olost keys).
i diEpisodic memory - is a neurocognitive (brain/mind) system, uniquely different from other memory systems, that enables human
b i t b t ibeings to remember past experiences
Long term memory paired associate learning and recallLong term memory- paired associate learning and recallof past events, names, faces places
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Inside the Human Brain
Cognitive Activity in the Brain
Hearing Words Speaking Words Seeing Words Thinking about Words
Different mental activities take place in different parts of the brain. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans can measure this activity Chemicals tagged with a tracer light up activatedthis activity. Chemicals tagged with a tracer light up activated regions shown in red and yellow.
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id h iMinor Cognitive Functioning areas
Inside the Human BrainMinor Cognitive Functioning areas
of the brain
2. Cerebellum in charge of balance and coordination: takes up about 10% of brain consists of two hemispheres receives information from eyes, ears, and muscles and joints
b b d d i iabout bodys movements and position
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id h iMinor Cognitive Functioning areas
Inside the Human BrainMinor Cognitive Functioning areas
of the brain
3. Brain Stem connects the spinal cord with the brain
relays and receives messages to and from muscles, skin, and other organs
controls automatic functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing
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Wh t i A i ?What is Aging?
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1. inevitable
2. irreversible
3. variable3. variable
4 linear we are continuously age year after year4. linear - we are continuously age year after year
5 l ti it ( t ) th b d h th5. plasticity (compensatory) - the body has theability to compensate for lossability to compensate for loss
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AGING CURVEMaximum vitality
100
vitality vitality
% vitality
y
deathminimumvitality
30birth senescence
vitality
ageconception
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\What is Vitalityy
The ability to respond to stress, the amount of reserve capacityreserve capacity
Th t b f f ti i ll The greater number of functioning cells per organ the greater the ability to respond to stress
Maximum vitality is 100%.Maximum vitality is 100%.
L f it lit i 0 8% ft 30 Loss of vitality is 0.8% per year after age 30
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DETERMINANTS OF AGING
INTERACTION BETWEEN THE FOLLOWING:
1. GENETICS - AT BIRTH 100% OF FUNCTION IS DETERMINED BY GENETICS, REDUCING IN IMPORTANCE WITH AGING
P i i f l lif l Positive gene - few to none early, lifelong or late-onset genetic diseases
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Neutral to negative genes increase vulnerability to Neutral to negative genes- increase vulnerability to early, lifelong or late-onset genetic diseases
possible cardiovascular dysfunction
possible mild osteoporosis
possible rheumatoid disease
sensory impairment
possible diabetes
marked decline in cognition
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Negative genes- early, lifelong or late-onset genetic g g y, g gdiseases
inherited diseases developmental disabilitiesp Alzheimers disease
d ti ( d li i iti ) dementia (severe decline in cognition) severe cardiovascular disease severe osteoporosis cancer cancer neuro-muscular (Parkinson) Rheumatoid diseases
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2. LIFESTYLE - INCREASES IN IMPORTANCE TO 7O% BY AGE 60
Diet
Physical exercise
Mental exercise
Attitude/self-esteem
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3. ENVIRONMENT
Air and water
Home
Society
Physical barriersPhysical barriers
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DESCRIPTORS OF AGING
SUCCESSFUL AGING
USUAL AGING
PATHOLOGICAL AGING
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SUCCESSFUL AGING deleterious effects of aging are minimized, preserving function
P itig g , p g
until senescence increases vulnerability to loss (e.g.,memory decline)
Positive genes)
Positive lifestyle good diet physical exercise mental exercise positive attitude positive attitude
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USUAL AGING Physical or mental functional decline from the interaction ofPhysical or mental functional decline from the interaction of
neutral or negative genes and poor lifestyle from birth to about age 70 causing a loss of some independenceage 70 causing a loss of some independence
Neutral to negative genes
P lif t l Poor life style poor diet
little physical exercise
little mental exercise
t l t ti ttit d neutral to negative attitude
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PATHOLOGICAL AGINGSerious functional limitations from the interaction of
either genetically inherited or developmental traits with poor lifestyle causing a substantial reduction in daily p y g y
activities
Negative gene Negative gene Negative lifestyle
poor diet
no physical exercise
no mental exercise
ttit d very poor attitude
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TERMS TO DESCRIBE AGINGTERMS TO DESCRIBE AGING
Age related changes- changes that every one will experience as they age (time and magnitude may vary)
Age associated changes -changes that are not age related and not experienced by everyone. The types and magnitude of changes depend on the interaction of not positive: genes, lifestyle, environment
Di i t d h hDisease associated changes - When age associated changes results in a reduced functional capacity with a loss of independence (home carecapacity with a loss of independence (home care, hospital care, nursing home)
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Wh t i C itiWhat is Cognition
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Three components of Cognitionp g
Input - sensory
P i I f tiProcessing Information
Output - motor
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Sensory Input ( l d f )Sensory Input (type, location and intensity of input) vision vision
hearing/balance/orientationll/t t smell/taste
pain touch
temperaturep thirst
muscle tone muscle tone blood pressure
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Information Process (speed) -(neurons and synaptic connections)
identify input (different regions of brain)fy p ( ff g f )type, intensity and location
interpret input p p
integrate response ( l b ) integrate response (multi brain)conscience, memory, behavior, emotions, movement
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Motor ResponseMotor Responseappropriate (type and intensity)app op iate (type and intensity)
directed
reflexreflex
h h bhigher brain
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The brain can only make an appropriate respond if:
it f th t d i t it f i t i l acuity of the type and intensity of input in clear (no multi sensory overload)
neurons and synaptic connections are intact neurons and synaptic connections are intact
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Cognitive Functionsg memory - learning or training new information
higher executive skills- handling complex tasks, abstract thought, planning, problem solvingg , p g, p g
reasoning ability - respond to problems, judgment
spatial and orientation ability- organizing objects, finding way in familiar surroundings
language finding words following conversation language - finding words, following conversation
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Moderators Influencing Cognitiong g Genetics Education Fitness Expertise skills
Lif t l Lifestyle Occupation Occupation Leisure time activitiesLeisure time activities
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Major Cognitive Developmentj g p
Process rate or speed of input
Memory transfer
Inhibitors of irrelevant information
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Phylogeny and Ontogeny Development of Cognition
Development of Cognition Expression of CognitionDevelopment of Cognition Expression of Cognition
Evolution - genetics nerve net g(phylogeny) (basic behavior)
Developmental influences- endocrine E i f /h ( t ) (h l b h i )Expression of genes/hormones (ontogeny) (hormonal behavior)
Environment influences cortical behaviorEnvironment influences cortical behavior (External modification of genes) (cognition)
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Cognitive Abilitiesg
Crystalline/pragmatic abilities lifelong acquisition of learning and acculturation verbal knowledgelearning and acculturation verbal knowledge, comprehension
Fluid/mechanical abilities (innate) the biological ( ) gconstrained of genetic hardwiring of the cognitive system - process based, - reasoning, speed of processing - not p , g, p p gaffected by experience or knowledge
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Aging Changes in the BrainAging Changes in the Brain -Cognition-Cognition
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Less than 30 years ago, the prevailing medical
wisdom declared that "senility" was the result of
i h l i h d i f h ieither normal aging or hardening of the arteries.
Today we are closer to truly understanding theToday we are closer to truly understanding the
aging brain for which one of the benchmarks ofaging brain, for which one of the benchmarks of
the decline in cognitive reserve capacity isthe decline in cognitive reserve capacity is
memory.y
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C i i R C iCognitive Reserve Capacity -
the developmental plasticity of
cognitive function in older adults g
occurs within a limited rangeoccurs within a limited range
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Three Determinants that InfluencesThree Determinants that Influences Cognitive Reserve Capacity Over g p y
Lifespan1. Evolution selects benefits for humans over time - declines
with reproductive fitness.
2. Age related increase in need for culture knowledge acquisition crystalline cognition (knowledge acquisition)
3. Age related decrease in fluid intelligence (nerve net)
Ontogeny moves from growth (youth) to maintenance (adult) to reduction of loss older adult)
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CognitionCognitionInput - sensory
ProcessingProcessing
Output - motor
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Sensory InputSensory InputDifferential reduction in acuity in theDifferential reduction in acuity in the type and intensity of sensory input -yp y y p
starting at about the age of 30
Sl i iti f i t Slower in recognition of input
Slower in processing speed of input