Age-Related Changes in Hemispherical Specialization for Attentional Networks

Abstract

Many cognitive functions face a decline in the healthy elderly. Within the cognitive domains, both attentional processes and executive functions are impaired with aging. Attention includes three attentional networks, i.e., alerting, orienting, and executive control, showing a hemispheric lateralized pattern in adults. This lateralized pattern could play a role in modulating the efficiency of attentional networks. For these reasons, it could be relevant to analyze the age-related change of the hemispheric specialization of attentional networks. This study aims to clarify this aspect with a lateralized version of the Attentional Network Test for Interaction (ANTI)-Fruit. One hundred seventy-one participants took part in this study. They were divided in three age groups: youth (N = 57; range: 20–30); adults (N = 57; range 31–64), and elderly/older people (N = 57; range: 65–87). The results confirmed the previous outcomes on the efficiency and interactions among attentional networks. Moreover, an age-related generalized slowness was evidenced. These findings also support the hypothesis of a hemispheric asymmetry reduction in elderly/older adults.

Higher-Level Executive Functions in Healthy Elderly and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review

“…The results of this systematic review seem to highlight a higher prevalence of higherlevel executive functions disease in elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment than in healthy elderly, confirming results already observed with other executive functions, such as cognitive and motor inhibition, conflict control, and cognitive flexibility [122], although some of these EFs are also compromised in healthy elderly [123]. MCI shows modifications over every aspect investigated in this research, highlighting significant differences that could worsen the quality of life.…”

Learned Irrelevance, Perseveration, and Cognitive Aging: A Cross-Sectional Study of Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults

“…There is an array of evidence that suggests performance in PE declines with age, but whether this cognitive decline affects LI remains uncertain. Our results are consistent with other data suggesting that some mechanisms (within shifting abilities) responsible for proper cognitive function deteriorate with age while others do not [ 37 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. Others have conceptualized a rate of decline for cognitive ability [ 45 , 46 ], which is a more sensible approach in our view.…”

Engagement in a structured physical activity program and its effects upon health-related quality of life in elderly women: An observational study

“…It is also well-established that lifestyles including PA in the elderly contribute to better executive functioning, as higher level cognitive processes that are fundamental in targeting goals, effortful behavior and environment adaptation ( Corbo and Casagrande, 2022 ). Elderly people preserve some cognitive skills (e.g., language and crystallized intelligence as knowledge of general facts) while other cognitive processes like executive functions deteriorate and interfere with daily routines ( Casagrande et al, 2021 ). To counteract this trend, PA programs are well-established strategies for improving working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control within the realm of executive functions in cognitively healthy older adults, as recently reported in a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials ( Xiong et al, 2021 ).…”