Brain Aging and Development

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Questions and Answers

At what age does white matter volume typically start to decline?

50 years

60 years

40 years (correct)

30 years

What is a common characteristic of hyperintense images found in MRIs of older adults?

They suggest improved cognitive functioning.

They signal higher levels of myelination.

They are often found in periventricular regions. (correct)

They indicate increased gray matter.

What condition is most closely associated with hyperintense images in white matter?

Obesity

Hyperactivity

Diabetes (correct)

Insomnia

Which hypothesis suggests that older adults recruit areas contralateral to those involved in a task for effective cognitive functioning?

Hemispheric Asymmetry Reduction in OLDer adults (HAROLD) Signup and view all the answers

What does the Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition (STAC) emphasize about the aging brain?

It has potential for neuroplasticity with new stimulation. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Compensation-Related Utilization of Neural Circuits Hypothesis (CRUNCH) propose?

Older adults use alternative regions for cognitive tasks. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT associated with white matter lesions in older adults?

Physical fitness Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of ischemic damage that affects white matter?

Inadequate blood supply Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes Hebb’s postulate regarding plasticity?

Repetitive firing of correlated neurons strengthens connections. Signup and view all the answers

Which area of the brain shows the greatest rate of atrophy with advanced age?

Frontal Lobes Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between hypertension and brain volume loss?

Hypertension increases the rate of volume loss Signup and view all the answers

At what age does whole brain volume start to decline?

Age 30 Signup and view all the answers

Which lobes show the least change with age?

Occipital lobes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the hippocampus is true?

The hippocampus is highly susceptible to Alzheimer's Disease Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the changes in the brain that occur with normal aging versus those associated with neurodegeneration?

Normalcy-Pathology Homology Signup and view all the answers

What might protect women from age-related reduction in frontal lobes compared to men?

Larger frontal lobes in women Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of myelin in the white matter of the brain?

It encloses parts of neurons and affects signal transmission Signup and view all the answers

Which area of the brain exhibits stable atrophy rates until mid-50s or 60s?

Hippocampus Signup and view all the answers

Which brain structure may not show any noticeable change with age?

Corpus callosum Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Brain areas that mature later are more susceptible to age-related decline due to thinner myelin.
Whole brain volume begins to decrease after age 30, with a more pronounced loss starting in the mid-50s to early 60s.
Ventricular and fissure volume increases from age 60 onwards, more so in men than women.
Frontal lobes exhibit the highest atrophy rates, with slower declines from age 20 to 60, then accelerating afterward.
Hypertension accelerates brain volume loss and atrophy, particularly affecting the frontal lobes and hippocampus.
Women typically have larger frontal lobes and experience less age-related reduction than men.

Specific Brain Areas and Their Aging

The hippocampus shows significant size reduction with age, with stable atrophy rates until mid-50s or 60s.
Prolonged hypertension adversely impacts the atrophy of the hippocampus, the extent of which correlates with the duration of hypertension.
The entorhinal cortex generally exhibits minimal changes during normal aging.
Parietal lobes demonstrate less atrophy compared to the frontal lobes.
Occipital lobes, including the primary visual cortex, show minimal aging changes but start to decrease in size after age 60.

Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's Disease

Normalcy-Pathology Homology distinguishes normal aging from neurodegeneration, particularly in regions like the hippocampus and frontal lobes that are also at risk for Alzheimer's Disease (AD).
Despite plasticity in the hippocampus facilitating learning, it may increase vulnerability to age-related declines and AD.
Changes due to aging in the brain are distinct from early signs of AD, as established by Fjell et al. (2014).

Gray Matter and White Matter

Gray matter is primarily composed of cell bodies, whereas white matter consists of myelinated neuron parts, contributing to its lighter appearance.
White matter volume increases with myelination until approximately age 40, then begins to decline more rapidly than gray matter in older adults.

MRI Findings and Cognitive Functioning

Hyperintense images on MRI, often found in white matter near ventricles, are associated with age, hypertension, diabetes, and smoking.
Such changes are indicative of ischemic damage due to small vessel disease and are linked to poorer cognitive function.

Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults

Hemispheric Asymmetry Reduction in OLDer adults (HAROLD) indicates increased recruitment of contralateral areas during cognitive tasks to enhance functioning.
Compensation-Related Utilization of Neural Circuits Hypothesis (CRUNCH) posits that older adults activate specialized and alternative brain regions more to compensate for cognitive declines.
The Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition (STAC) asserts that the aging brain retains neuroplasticity potential through new learning and stimulation.
Hebb's postulate emphasizes the role of correlated neuron activity and repetitive stimulation in achieving neural plasticity.

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Description

Explore how different areas of the brain are affected by aging. This quiz delves into the relationship between myelination, brain volume loss, and age-related declines in cognitive functions. Understand the changes in brain structure that occur as we grow older, particularly after age 30.