Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-g4j75 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-09T13:35:28.412Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Neuropsychological Profiles of Older Adults with Superior versus Average Episodic Memory: The Northwestern “SuperAger” Cohort

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 August 2021

Amanda Cook Maher Open the ORCID record for Amanda Cook Maher [Opens in a new window] ,
Beth Makowski-Woidan ,
Alan Kuang ,
Hui Zhang ,
Sandra Weintraub ,
M. Marsel Mesulam  and
Emily Rogalski
Amanda Cook Maher*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Neuropsychology Division, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology & Alzheimer’s Disease, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
Beth Makowski-Woidan
Affiliation:
Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology & Alzheimer’s Disease, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
Alan Kuang
Affiliation:
Department of Preventative Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
Hui Zhang
Affiliation:
Department of Preventative Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
Sandra Weintraub
Affiliation:
Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology & Alzheimer’s Disease, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
M. Marsel Mesulam
Affiliation:
Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology & Alzheimer’s Disease, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
Emily Rogalski
Affiliation:
Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology & Alzheimer’s Disease, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
*
*Correspondence and reprint requests to: Amanda Cook Maher, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan. 2101 Commonwealth Blvd., Suite C, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA. E-mail: [email protected]; Phone: (734) 936-6091; Fax: (734) 936-9262.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

SuperAgers are adults over the age of 80 with superior episodic memory performance and at least average-for-age performance in non-episodic memory domains. This study further characterized the neuropsychological profile of SuperAgers compared to average-for-age episodic memory peers to determine potential cognitive mechanisms contributing to their superior episodic memory performance.

Method:

Retrospective analysis of neuropsychological test data from 56 SuperAgers and 23 similar-age peers with average episodic memory was conducted. Independent sample t-tests evaluated between-group differences in neuropsychological scores. Multiple linear regression determined the influence of non-episodic memory function on episodic memory scores across participants.

Results:

As a group, SuperAgers had better scores than their average memory peers on measures of attention, working memory, naming, and speeded set shifting. Scores on tests of processing speed, visuospatial function, verbal fluency, response inhibition, and abstract reasoning did not differ. On an individual level, there was variability among SuperAgers with regard to non-episodic memory performance, with some performing above average-for-age across cognitive domains while others performed in the average-for-age range on non-memory tests. Across all participants, attention and executive function scores explained 20.4% of the variance in episodic memory scores.

Conclusions:

As a group, SuperAgers outperformed their average memory peers in multiple cognitive domains, however, there was considerable intragroup variability suggesting that SuperAgers’ episodic memory strength is not simply related to globally superior cognitive functioning. Attention and executive function performance explained approximately one-fifth of the variance in episodic memory and maybe areas to target with cognitive interventions.

Keywords

Healthy agingCognitive agingNeuropsychologyMemoryAttentionExecutive function
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 28 , Issue 6 , July 2022 , pp. 563 - 573
Copyright
Copyright © INS. Published by Cambridge University Press, 2021

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Anguera, J.A., Boccanfuso, J., Rintoul, J.L., Al-Hashimi, O., Faraji, F., Janowich, J., … Gazzaley, A. (2013). Video game training enhances cognitive control in older adults. Nature, 501(7465), 97–101. doi: 10.1038/nature12486 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baldo, J.V. & Shimamura, A.P. (2002). Frontal Lobes and Memory. In Baddeley, A.D., Kopelman, M.D., & Wilson, B.A. (Eds.), The Handbook of Memory Disorders (2nd ed., pp. 363–379). West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Bennett, D.A., Wilson, R.S., Boyle, P.A., Buchman, A.S., & Schneider, J.A. (2012). Relation of neuropathology to cognition in persons without cognitive impairment. Annals of Neurology, 72(4), 599–609. doi: 10.1002/ana.23654 Google ScholarPubMed
Benton, A.L. & Hamsher, K. deS. (1989). Multilingual Aphasia Examination (3rd ed.). Iowa City, IA: University of Iowa.Google Scholar
Bucker, R. (2004). Memory and executive function in aging and AD: Multiple factors that cause decline and reserve factors that compensate. Neuron, 44, 195–208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cholerton, B., Larson, E.B., Baker, L.D., Craft, S., Crane, P.K., Millard, S.P., … Montine, T.J. (2013). Neuropathologic correlates of cognition in a population-based sample. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 36(4), 699–709. doi: 10.3233/JAD-130281 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Constantinidou, F., Zaganas, I., Papastefanakis, E., Kasselimis, D., Nidos, A., & Simos, P.G. (2014). Age-related decline in verbal learning is moderated by demographic factors, working memory capacity, and presence of amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 20(8), 822–835. doi: 10.1017/S1355617714000678 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cook, A.H., Sridhar, J., Ohm, D., Rademaker, A., Mesulam, M.M., Weintraub, S., & Rogalski, E. (2017). Rates of cortical atrophy in adults 80 years and older with superior vs average episodic memory. JAMA, 317(13), 1373–1375. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.0627 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cook Maher, A., Sridhar, J., Rademaker, A., Breiter, H., Reilly, J., Weintraub, S., & Rogalski, E.J. (2019). Working memory maintenance accuracy in elderly adults with extraordinatry episodic memory. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 15(7S_Part_30), 1562.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dekhtyar, M., Papp, K.V., Buckley, R., Jacobs, H.I.L., Schultz, A.P., Johnson, K.A., … Rentz, D.M. (2017). Neuroimaging markers associated with maintenance of optimal memory performance in late-life. Neuropsychologia, 100, 164–170. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2017.04.037 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gefen, T., Shaw, E., Whitney, K., Martersteck, A., Stratton, J., Rademaker, A., … Rogalski, E. (2014). Longitudinal neuropsychological performance of cognitive SuperAgers. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 62(8), 1598–1600. doi: 10.1111/jgs.12967 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Golden, C.J. (1987). Stroop Color and Word Test. Chicago: Stoelting.Google Scholar
Green, C.S. & Bavelier, D. (2003). Action video game modifies visual selective attention. Nature, 423(6939), 534–537. doi: 10.1038/nature01647 Google ScholarPubMed
Harrison, T.M., Weintraub, S., Mesulam, M.M., & Rogalski, E. (2012). Superior memory and higher cortical volumes in unusually successful cognitive aging. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Societ, 18(6), 1081–1085. doi: 10.1017/S1355617712000847 Google ScholarPubMed
Heaton, R., Miller, S.W., Taylor, M.J., & Grant, I. (2004). Revised Comprehensive Norms for an Expanded Halstead-Reitan Battery: Demographically Adjusted Neuropsychological Norms for African American and Caucasian Adults - Professional Manual. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc.Google Scholar
Hertzog, C., Dixon, R.A., Hultsch, D.F., & MacDonald, S.W. (2003). Latent change models of adult cognition: are changes in processing speed and working memory associated with changes in episodic memory? Psychology and Aging, 18(4), 755–769. doi: 10.1037/0882-7974.18.4.755 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ivnik, R.J., Malec, J.F., Smith, G.E., Tangalos, E.G., Peterson, R.C., Kokmen, E., & Kurland, L.T. (1992). Mayo’s older Americans normative studies: Updated AVLT norms for ages 56 to 97. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 6, 83–104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jefferson, A.L., Wong, S., Gracer, T.S., Ozonoff, A., Green, R.C., & Stern, R.A. (2007). Geriatric performance on an abbreviated version of the Boston naming test. Applied Neuropsychology, 14(3), 215–223. doi: 10.1080/09084280701509166 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Joubert, C. & Chainay, H. (2018). Aging brain: the effect of combined cognitive and physical training on cognition as compared to cognitive and physical training alone - a systematic review. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 13, 1267–1301. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S165399 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kaplan, E., Goodglass, H., & Weintraub, S. (1983). The Boston Naming Test. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger.Google Scholar
Li, C.H., He, X., Wang, Y.J., Hu, Z., & Guo, C.Y. (2017). Visual working memory capacity can be increased by training on distractor filtering efficiency. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 196. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00196 Google ScholarPubMed
Morris, J.C., Heyman, A., Mohs, R.C., Hughes, J.P., van Belle, G., Fillenbaum, G., … Clark, C. (1989). The Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD). Part I. Clinical and neuropsychological assessment of Alzheimer’s disease. Neurology, 39, 1159–1165.Google Scholar
Oksanen, J., Blanchet, F.G., Friendly, M., Kindt, R., Legendre, P., McGlinn, D., … Wagner, H. (2019). vegan: Community Ecology Package. R packageversion 2.5–6.Google Scholar
Reinhart, R.M.G. & Nguyen, J.A. (2019). Working memory revived in older adults by synchronizing rhythmic brain circuits. Nature Neuroscience, 22(5), 820–827. doi: 10.1038/s41593-019-0371-x CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reitan, R.M. (1955). The relation of the trail making test to organic brain damage. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psycholog, 19(5), 393–394.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rogalski, E., Gefen, T., Mao, Q., Connelly, M., Weintraub, S., Geula, C., … Mesulam, M.M. (2018). Cognitive trajectories and spectrum of neuropathology in SuperAgers: The first 10 cases. Hippocampus. doi: 10.1002/hipo.22828 Google ScholarPubMed
Rogalski, E.J., Gefen, T., Shi, J., Samimi, M., Bigio, E., Weintraub, S., … Mesulam, M.M. (2013). Youthful memory capacity in old brains: anatomic and genetic clues from the Northwestern SuperAging Project. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 25(1), 29–36. doi: 10.1162/jocn_a_00300 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schmidt, M. (2004). Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test: A handbook. Torrance, CA: Western Psychological Services.Google Scholar
Steinberg, B.A., Bieliauskas, L.A., Smith, G.E., Ivnik, R.J., & Malec, J.F. (2005). Mayo’s older Americans normative studies: Age- and IQ-adjusted norms for the auditory verbal learning test and the visual spatial learning test. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 19(3–4), 464–523. doi: 10.1080/13854040590945193 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sun, F.W., Stepanovic, M.R., Andreano, J., Barrett, L.F., Touroutoglou, A., & Dickerson, B.C. (2016). Youthful brains in older adults: Preserved neuroanatomy in the default mode and salience networks contributes to youthful memory in Superaging. The Journal of Neuroscience, 36(37), 9659–9668. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1492-16.2016 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Verhaeghen, P. & Salthouse, T.A. (1997). Meta-analyses of age-cognition relations in adulthood: estimates of linear and nonlinear age effects and structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 122(3), 231–249.Google ScholarPubMed
Wechsler, D. (1997a). Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Third Edition (WAIS-III) Administration and Scoring Manual. San Antonio: The Psychological Corporation.Google Scholar
Wechsler, D. (1997b). Wecshler Memory Scale. Third Edition Manual. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation.Google Scholar
Wechsler, D. (2001). Wechsler Test of Adult Reading (WTAR). San Antonio, TX: Harcourt Assessment.Google Scholar
Weintraub, S. & Mesulam, M. (1993). Four neuropsychological profiles in dementia. In Boller, F. & Grafman, J. (Eds.), Handbook of Neuropsychology, Vol. 8 (pp. 253–282). Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers.Google Scholar
Weintraub, S., Powell, D.H., & Whitla, D.K. (1994). Successful cognitive aging: Individual differences among physicians on a computerized test of mental state. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 28, 15–34.Google Scholar
Weintraub, S., Salmon, D., Mercaldo, N., Ferris, S., Graff-Radford, N.R., Chui, H., … Morris, J.C. (2009). The Alzheimer’s Disease Centers’ Uniform Data Set (UDS): The neuropsychologic test battery. Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders, 23(2), 91–101. doi: 10.1097/WAD.0b013e318191c7dd Google ScholarPubMed
Yesavage, J.A. & Brink, T.L. (1983). Development and validation of a geriatric depression screening scale: A preliminary report. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 17(1), 37–49. doi: 10.1016/0022-3956(82)90033-4.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Cook Maher et al. supplementary material

Table S1
Download Cook Maher et al. supplementary material(File)
File 13.2 KB