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Imaging hippocampal function across the human life span: Is memory decline normal or not?
Author(s) -
Small Scott A.,
Tsai Wei Yann,
DeLaPaz Robert,
Mayeux Richard,
Stern Yaakov
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.10105
Subject(s) - hippocampal formation , subiculum , entorhinal cortex , neuroscience , dentate gyrus , hippocampus , psychology , episodic memory , cognition
Memory function commonly declines in later life. Whether memory decline represents a disease process or whether it is part of normal aging remains unknown. Here we answer this question by assessing the function of multiple subregions that make up the hippocampal circuit across the human life span. A newly developed MRI approach—designed to detect functional changes in individual hippocampal subregions—was used to assess the hippocampal circuit in 70 subjects between 20 and 88 years of age. Using strict parametric criteria, analysis revealed that function in two hippocampal subregions—the subiculum and the dentate gyrus—decline normally with age. In contrast, function in the entorhinal cortex declines pathologically. Single‐subject analysis revealed that hippocampal dysfunction, found in 60% of elders was selectively correlated with memory decline. These results show that memory decline is caused by different mechanisms and suggests how memory decline should be approached clinically.