Department of Integrative Medical Biology (Physiology), Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Dec 28;107(52):22682-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1012651108. Epub 2010 Dec 14.
Cross-sectional estimates of age-related changes in brain structure and function were compared with 6-y longitudinal estimates. The results indicated increased sensitivity of the longitudinal approach as well as qualitative differences. Critically, the cross-sectional analyses were suggestive of age-related frontal overrecruitment, whereas the longitudinal analyses revealed frontal underrecruitment with advancing age. The cross-sectional observation of overrecruitment reflected a select elderly sample. However, when followed over time, this sample showed reduced frontal recruitment. These findings dispute inferences of true age changes on the basis of age differences, hence challenging some contemporary models of neurocognitive aging, and demonstrate age-related decline in frontal brain volume as well as functional response.
对大脑结构和功能与年龄相关的变化进行了横断面评估，并与 6 年的纵向评估进行了比较。结果表明，纵向方法的敏感性更高，而且存在定性差异。关键是，横断面分析提示与年龄相关的额区过度募集，而纵向分析则显示随着年龄的增长额区募集减少。横断面观察到的过度募集反映了一个特定的老年样本。然而，随着时间的推移，这个样本显示出额区募集减少。这些发现对基于年龄差异的真正年龄变化的推论提出了质疑，因此挑战了一些当代的神经认知老化模型，并证明了额区大脑体积和功能反应随年龄的相关性下降。
