At the Heart of Cognitive Functioning in Aging

Anders Wåhlin; Lars Nyberg

doi:10.1016/j.tics.2019.06.004

At the Heart of Cognitive Functioning in Aging

Trends Cogn Sci. 2019 Sep;23(9):717-720. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2019.06.004. Epub 2019 Jul 11.

Authors

Anders Wåhlin¹, Lars Nyberg²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiation Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
² Department of Radiation Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden. Electronic address: lars.nyberg@umu.se.

PMID: 31303538
DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2019.06.004

Abstract

Several neural and non-neural factors contribute to individual differences in cognitive performance. Here we outline a sequence of vascular events where excessive transfer of arterial-pressure pulsatility damages hippocampal capillaries. We argue that the vascular alterations decrease the ability to sustain neural activity and thereby contribute to episodic-memory impairment in aging.

Keywords: arteries; blood–brain barrier; brain maintenance; episodic memory; hippocampus; neurovascular coupling; vascular.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Aging / physiology*
Cerebrovascular Disorders / physiopathology*
Cognitive Dysfunction / physiopathology*
Hippocampus / blood supply
Hippocampus / physiopathology*
Humans
Memory Disorders / physiopathology*
Memory, Episodic*