title: Age-related cognitive deficits mediated by changes in the striatal dopamine system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study examined the influence of losses in dopaminergic function on age-related cognitive deficits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven healthy subjects (21-68 years of age) completed a set of cognitive tasks used to assess perceptual speed and episodic memory. D(2) receptor binding was measured in the caudate and the putamen by using positron emission tomography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A gradual age-related deterioration was found for all cognitive tasks and for D(2) binding in both striatal structures. Statistical control of D(2) binding eliminated the age-related cognitive variation, whereas residual effects of D(2) binding were seen after the analysis controlled for age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  D(2) receptor binding is a more important factor than chronological age in accounting for variation in cognitive performance across the adult lifespan. Changes in dopaminergic neurotransmission play an important role in aging-related cognitive decline.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Sweden. lars.backman@psyk.uu.se
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bäckman
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ginovart
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Wahlin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wahlin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Halldin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Farde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D004298:Dopamine