Evaluating the neuropeptide–social cognition link in ageing: the mediating role of basic cognitive skills

Abstract

The roles of oxytocin (OT) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) as crucial modulators of social cognition and related behaviours have been extensively addressed in the literature. The involvement of these neuropeptides in social cognition in ageing, however, and a potential mediating effect of basic cognitive capacities on this link, are not well understood. To fill these research gaps, this study assessed associations of plasma OT and AVP levels with dynamic emotion identification accuracy in generally healthy older men (aged 55–95 years) and probed the underlying roles of crystallized and fluid cognition in these associations. Higher plasma OT levels were associated with lower accuracy in dynamic emotion identification, with this negative relationship fully mediated by cognition. For plasma AVP levels, in contrast, there was no association with dynamic emotion identification accuracy. Integrated within existing theoretical accounts, results from this study advance understanding of the neuropeptide–social cognition link in ageing and support basic cognitive capacities as mediators in this association. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Interplays between oxytocin and other neuromodulators in shaping complex social behaviours’.

Single Dose Intranasal Oxytocin Administration: Data from Healthy Younger and Older Adults

“…Older women and men are a population understudied regarding the effect of OT on brain and behavioral function despite evidence that OT impacts functions that also change with age. For example, previous research has shown that OT modulates trust-related evaluations and decisions [7], dynamic social and emotional information processing [9,12], and functional brain networks relevant to decision-making, including the salience network and the default mode network [2,3]. Making these OT-related data publicly available is an important step toward enhancing scientific knowledge about the role of neuropeptides in shaping social cognition and social behavior in adulthood and aging [12].…”

“…For example, previous research has shown that OT modulates trust-related evaluations and decisions [7], dynamic social and emotional information processing [9,12], and functional brain networks relevant to decision-making, including the salience network and the default mode network [2,3]. Making these OT-related data publicly available is an important step toward enhancing scientific knowledge about the role of neuropeptides in shaping social cognition and social behavior in adulthood and aging [12]. Additionally, OT research in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) is very limited to date [13] and currently, it is unclear if intranasal OT administration attenuates cognitive impairments in aging and ADRD [14].…”

Does activation of oxytocinergic reward circuits postpone the decline of the aging brain?

“…They do not address the possible impact of a chronic enhancement of the oxytocinergic activity in the hypothalamus. In one study in elderly men, a negative association was actually found between plasma oxytocin and both crystallized and fluid cognitive skills (Polk et al, 1858). However, a systematic meta-analysis has been conducted on studies where central and peripheral oxytocin had been measured coordinately (Valstad et al, 2017).…”

Oxytocin does not stand alone

“…However, the link with neuropeptides is understudied. Polk and colleagues [ 84 ] examine the link between oxytocin and social cognition in ageing, finding that higher levels of plasma oxytocin were associated with lower accuracy in emotion identification, while plasma levels of arginine-vasopressin had no relation to emotion identification accuracy. These novel findings support the involvement of oxytocin in age-related neural processes and the possible interactions between oxytocin and basic cognitive capacities.…”