Speaker
Description
As the world’s population continues to age, the promotion of healthy cognitive ageing is becoming increasingly important. While Alzheimer’s research has traditionally focused on identifying risk factors and early biomarkers of the disease, comparatively less attention has been paid to protective factors such as cognitive reserve (CR). Cognitive reserve serves as a dynamic mediator that enables the brain to adapt to and compensate for age-related neuronal changes. It supports both cognitive performance and emotional regulation and can delay the onset of cognitive impairment.
Executive functions (EF) — including inhibition, cognitive flexibility and updating — are closely linked to CR and fall under the broader concept of cognitive control (CC). These top-down processes, which are essential for goal-directed behaviour, are primarily supported by the prefrontal cortex (PFC), one of the brain regions most susceptible to age-related decline.
Neuropsychophysiological and imaging techniques are increasingly being used to investigate the neural correlates of CC and EF in older adults. Particular attention is being paid to the early detection of executive dysfunction in individuals in the early stages of cognitive decline, from SCD to MCI.
Understanding how the ageing PFC maintains, compensates for, or fails to recruit neural resources is critical for assessing cognitive trajectories and developing targeted interventions. Identifying early neurophysiological markers of executive control dysfunction can support the development of cognitive training strategies aimed at maintaining autonomy and improving quality of life in older adults at risk of cognitive decline.
| If you're submitting a symposium talk, what's the symposium title? | “Typical and Atypical” Aging: From Cognitive Aging to Neurocognitive Disorders |
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| If you're submitting a symposium, or a talk that is part of a symposium, is this a junior symposium? | No |
