Cognitive rescue in aging through prior training

Newswise — BUFFALO, NY- July 19, 2023 – The paper titled "Cognitive rescue in aging through prior training in rats" has been recently published in the journal "Aging (Albany NY)" and is also listed as "Aging-US" in Web of Science. The paper is found in Volume 15, Issue 13 of the journal and presents research focused on cognitive improvement in aging rats through prior training.

Cognitive decline, particularly in spatial memory, is a common occurrence in aging individuals. To enhance the well-being of the aging population, it is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding of the processes that are affected during aging. Memory persistence in daily life can be influenced by various factors, such as events that occur around the time of learning or prior experiences from early life. Exploring the impact of these factors on memory and cognitive function can lead to the development of effective methods to promote cognitive health and improve overall well-being in aging individuals.

The study conducted by researchers Alexandra Gros and Szu-Han Wang from The University of Edinburgh builds upon the concept of behavioral tagging, where memories in young individuals can persist for a longer duration if a novel event is introduced around the time of encoding. With this principle in mind, the researchers aimed to explore the processes that are affected in aging and investigate whether prior training can serve as a potential rescue mechanism. By understanding how memory and cognitive functions are impacted in aging and exploring the potential benefits of prior training, this study seeks to contribute valuable insights into developing strategies that can enhance cognitive function and well-being in older individuals.

“Here we asked if cognitive training in young and mid-life would improve cognitive aging and which elements of the cognitive processes at old age are preferentially protected through such training.”

In the study involving aged rats, two groups received training in an appetitive delayed matching-to-place task. However, one of the groups had an additional benefit; they received prior training of the same task during their young and mid-life stages, making it a longitudinal study. The results of the research demonstrated that the group of rats without prior training experienced a decline in long-term memory during late aging. This decline suggests that the processes of encoding and consolidation, which are crucial for memory formation, were affected in these aged rats. On the other hand, the group that received prior training showed better preservation of long-term memory, highlighting the potential benefits of early and mid-life cognitive training in enhancing memory retention during aging.

Conversely, short-term memory remained intact, and the introduction of novelty during memory reactivation and reconsolidation facilitated memory retention in aging. Prior training had a positive impact on cognition, enhancing task performance, bolstering short-term and intermediate memory, and promoting stronger encoding for long-term memory. Notably, learning ability, short-term memories, and motor and motivation functions remained unaffected in older age, indicating a phase where memory-related processes are compromised before more evident navigation or learning deficits arise in advanced aging. In conclusion, the study's findings reveal a selective impairment in encoding for long-term memory formation during early aging, coupled with an additional impairment in consolidation during later aging.