[Attention and aging].
Due to progress in the cognitive theories in the last twenty years, the description of attentional deficits associated with normal or pathological aging has substantially improved. In this article, attentional deficits are presented according to Posner theory, which describes three sub-systems in a global network of attention: vigilance, selective attention, command. This theory not only characterizes the functions of these subsystems, but gives precise indications about their anatomical and neurochemical substrates. Several clinical tests can be described for each of these different subsystems. The main attentional deficits are presented in the second part of this paper: if some decline of the attentional command occurs in normal aging, a real deficit in this subsystem is found in most degenerative processes (frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases). Alzheimer disease is also frequently associated with a deficit of selective spatial attention, early in the evolution of the disease.
Siéroff
Eric
E
Laboratoire de psychologie expérimentale, Université Paris V / CNRS. eric.sieroff@univ-paris5.fr
Piquard
Ambre
A
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D012016:Reference Values