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Neurobiological findings associated with high cognitive performance in older adults: a systematic review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 April 2018

Wyllians Vendramini Borelli Open the ORCID record for Wyllians Vendramini Borelli [Opens in a new window] ,
Lucas Porcello Schilling ,
Graciane Radaelli ,
Luciana Borges Ferreira ,
Leonardo Pisani ,
Mirna Wetters Portuguez  and
Jaderson Costa da Costa
Wyllians Vendramini Borelli
Affiliation:
Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Lucas Porcello Schilling
Affiliation:
Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Graciane Radaelli
Affiliation:
Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Luciana Borges Ferreira
Affiliation:
Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Leonardo Pisani
Affiliation:
Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Mirna Wetters Portuguez
Affiliation:
Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Jaderson Costa da Costa*
Affiliation:
Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Jaderson Costa da Costa, MD, Ph.D., Brain Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (BraIns), Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 6690, Porto Alegre, RS, 90610-000, Brazil. Phone: 5551 3320 5959. Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Objectives:

to perform a comprehensive literature review of studies on older adults with exceptional cognitive performance.

Design:

We performed a systematic review using two major databases (MEDLINE and Web of Science) from January 2002 to November 2017.

Results:

Quantitative analysis included nine of 4,457 studies and revealed that high-performing older adults have global preservation of the cortex, especially the anterior cingulate region, and hippocampal volumes larger than normal agers. Histological analysis of this group also exhibited decreased amyloid burden and neurofibrillary tangles compared to cognitively normal older controls. High performers that maintained memory ability after three years showed reduced amyloid positron emission tomography at baseline compared with high performers that declined. A single study on blood plasma found a set of 12 metabolites predicting memory maintenance of this group.

Conclusion:

Structural and molecular brain preservation of older adults with high cognitive performance may be associated with brain maintenance. The operationalized definition of high-performing older adults must be carefully addressed using appropriate age cut-off and cognitive evaluation, including memory and non-memory tests. Further studies with a longitudinal approach that include a younger control group are essential.

Keywords

memoryagingmagnetic resonance imaging
Type
Review Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 30 , Issue 12: Issue Theme: Positive Psychiatry , December 2018 , pp. 1813 - 1825
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2018 

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