title: Longitudinal evidence for diminished frontal cortex function in aging.
abstract: Cross-sectional estimates of age-related changes in brain structure and function were compared with 6-y longitudinal estimates. The results indicated increased sensitivity of the longitudinal approach as well as qualitative differences. Critically, the cross-sectional analyses were suggestive of age-related frontal overrecruitment, whereas the longitudinal analyses revealed frontal underrecruitment with advancing age. The cross-sectional observation of overrecruitment reflected a select elderly sample. However, when followed over time, this sample showed reduced frontal recruitment. These findings dispute inferences of true age changes on the basis of age differences, hence challenging some contemporary models of neurocognitive aging, and demonstrate age-related decline in frontal brain volume as well as functional response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medical Biology (Physiology), Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden. lars.nyberg@physiol.umu.se
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nyberg
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salami
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Grégoria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kalpouzos
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kauppi
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lind
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pudas
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.forename: Lars-Göran
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Nilsson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013788:Thalamus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors