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Functional phenotyping of successful aging in long‐term memory: Preserved performance in the absence of neural compensation
Author(s) -
Düzel Emrah,
Schütze Hartmut,
Yonelinas Andrew P.,
Heinze HansJochen
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
hippocampus
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.767
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1098-1063
pISSN - 1050-9631
DOI - 10.1002/hipo.20834
Subject(s) - neuroscience , psychology , prefrontal cortex , default mode network , hippocampal formation , recall , long term memory , functional magnetic resonance imaging , cognition , cognitive psychology
We investigated whether preservation of encoding‐related brain activity patterns in older age reflects successful aging in long‐term memory. Using a statistical matching technique, we identified groups of healthy older adults with different degrees of Functional Activity Deviation during Encoding (FADE) from young adults in a memory network comprising hippocampal, temporal, occipital, and retrosplenial regions. High FADE scores were associated with impairment in recollection, abnormal activity in the default mode network, and lower gray matter density in bilateral ventral prefrontal cortex and left rhinal cortex; a constellation previously associated with increased risk for dementia. Low FADE scores functionally phenotyped successful aging because recollection was well preserved and there was no evidence for compensatory prefrontal activation. Thus, for some individuals successful aging in long‐term memory reflects the preservation of a functionally specific memory network, and can occur in the absence of compensatory brain activity. ©2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.