by A new study conducted by psychologists at the University of Arizona has shed light on the possible reasons behind the decline in spatial memory experienced by some older adults. The researchers explored both age-dependent and age-independent factors that contribute to memory decline in both younger and older individuals.
The study focused on the hippocampus, a region of the brain associated with memory and navigation. The researchers discovered that neural representations in the hippocampus could explain why some older adults have difficulty learning new environments and remembering locations. This finding could be particularly useful in predicting the level of memory decline in the early stages of dementia.
The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was inspired by a previous study conducted on rats by Professor Carol Barnes. Her study investigated specialized cells in the hippocampus called place cells, which are triggered and fire when an individual enters a specific location. The study found that older rats showed difficulties in remapping for different environments compared to younger rats, indicating inferior spatial memory performance.
Building on Professor Barnes’ work, the University of Arizona researchers recruited 25 younger adults and 22 older adults, all of whom were healthy. The participants took part in a virtual reality experiment where they were required to memorize the layouts and locations of six shops in two virtual cities. The researchers then tested the participants’ spatial memory using a series of questions while scanning their brains using functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Consistent with Professor Barnes’ study, the researchers found that older adults, on average, showed neural representations that did not differentiate well between environments compared to younger adults. However, the study also revealed an age-independent factor affecting memory retention. The researchers discovered that distinct neurons in the hippocampus serve different functions. When a group of neurons takes up the same function, there is a risk that some features of the environment may not be accurately represented, leading to low-fidelity neural signals.
The study also uncovered an age-dependent factor. The researchers described this as the quality of neural signals coming from other parts of the brain into the hippocampus, such as visual information. Even high-performing older adults in the experiment exhibited a decrease in the quality of incoming neural signals into the hippocampus, potentially linked to changes in brain plasticity with age.
The insights gained from this study, particularly regarding the remapping index and fidelity of neural signals, could be valuable in predicting the extent of memory decline in individuals with dementia. To further advance their research, the team plans to replicate the study using immersive virtual reality experiments that incorporate body-based cues and navigation for a more naturalistic approach.
This study contributes to a better understanding of the factors influencing spatial memory decline in older adults and could potentially pave the way for developing interventions to mitigate memory loss associated with aging and dementia.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
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