Questions and Answers
At what age does white matter volume typically start to decline?
What is a common characteristic of hyperintense images found in MRIs of older adults?
What condition is most closely associated with hyperintense images in white matter?
Which hypothesis suggests that older adults recruit areas contralateral to those involved in a task for effective cognitive functioning?
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What does the Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition (STAC) emphasize about the aging brain?
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What does the Compensation-Related Utilization of Neural Circuits Hypothesis (CRUNCH) propose?
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Which of the following is NOT associated with white matter lesions in older adults?
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What is the primary cause of ischemic damage that affects white matter?
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Which of the following statements best describes Hebb’s postulate regarding plasticity?
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Which area of the brain shows the greatest rate of atrophy with advanced age?
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What is the relationship between hypertension and brain volume loss?
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At what age does whole brain volume start to decline?
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Which lobes show the least change with age?
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Which of the following statements about the hippocampus is true?
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Which term describes the changes in the brain that occur with normal aging versus those associated with neurodegeneration?
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What might protect women from age-related reduction in frontal lobes compared to men?
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What is the role of myelin in the white matter of the brain?
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Which area of the brain exhibits stable atrophy rates until mid-50s or 60s?
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Which brain structure may not show any noticeable change with age?
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Study Notes
Age-Related Brain Development and Changes
- 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.
