Generality and specificity in cognitive aging: a volumetric brain analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether, in old age, brain volume differences are associated with age-related change in general mental ability and/or specific cognitive abilities.


METHODS
The authors investigate the association between brain volumes and current cognitive function in a well-characterized sample of healthy old people (aged 79-80) whose intelligence was recorded at age 11. This allowed estimation of intellectual change over the life span.


RESULTS
After accounting for childhood intelligence, associations were found between specific cognitive measures and brain volumes. An association was also found between volumes and the general intelligence factor g. After removing the influence of g from each of the specific cognitive measures, no remaining significant associations were found between brain volumes and the specific part of each test.


CONCLUSIONS
Generalized cognitive aging is associated with brain volume differences, but there is no evidence in this sample that specific components of cognitive aging are associated with differences in brain volume.
Staff
Roger T
RT
Department of Bio-medical Physics, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK. r.staff@biomed.abdn.ac.uk
Murray
Alison D
AD
Deary
Ian J
IJ
Whalley
Lawrence J
LJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001076:Aptitude / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests