Revealing the differences between normal and pathological ageing using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

McGeown, William J. (William Jonathan)

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to use fMRI to examine the brain activation patterns found in normal and pathological ageing on specific cognitive tasks. The cognitive paradigms that were chosen, consisted of an n-back working memory task and a semantic memory and processing task. Manipulation of the n-back task enabled vigilance and working memory load to be investigated. Patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and individuals with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) were compared to normal elderly and young controls. The experiments showed that the patterns of brain activation found in normal and pathological ageing do not appear to fall along the same continuum. When comparing the elderly group to the young group, areas of under-activation could be seen, in addition to other regions of activation which were thought to be due to compensation. The comparison of the normal to the pathological groups revealed distinct differences in the levels and locations of the significant activations. On the vigilance and working memory tasks, the behavioural scores and reaction times of the pathological groups were not significantly different from the normal elderly, yet substantial differences could be identified in the brain activation patterns. The semantic memory task, contrary to expectation, revealed a significant difference in behavioural performance between the young group and the elderly group. Both the reaction times and the performance scores of the AD group were significantly different compared to the elderly, however. Significant differences also occurred in the brain activation patterns of both pathological groups (AD and MCI) compared to the elderly. The differences that were present between the normal and pathological groups on each of the tasks, suggest that sensitive cognitive fMRI paradigms might be very useful in resolving diagnostic ambiguity in people at increased risk of developing AD.

Citation

McGeown, W. J. (. J. Revealing the differences between normal and pathological ageing using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). (Thesis). University of Hull. https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4217946

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Apr 28, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 23, 2023
• Keywords: Psychology
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4217946
• Additional Information: Department of Psychology, The University of Hull
• Award Date: Sep 1, 2005