Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest, Toronto, Canada.
Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2012 Aug;36(7):1729-39. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2011.11.007. Epub 2011 Dec 7.
This review article surveys the evidence for age-related changes in memory from cognitive and neuroimaging studies. It is probable that the observed declines in episodic memory with increasing age are a consequence of impairments in both acquisition (encoding) and retrieval - possibly for similar reasons - but the present review focuses on the former set of processes. An additional emphasis is on a processing approach to understanding age-related encoding deficiencies; we suggest that many problems stem from a decline in the ability to self-initiate deeper semantic processing operations. The article briefly discusses the role of declining sensory and perceptual abilities, but focuses primarily on the nature of processing resources, their consequences for memory acquisition, and on age-related changes in cognition and neural functioning. We also survey the evidence for neuroplasticity in the older brain, and how compensatory activities at behavioral and neural levels can reduce age-related problems. Finally, we review recent studies of brain and cognitive training procedures. Age-related memory problems are real, but there are also grounds for optimism.
这篇综述文章调查了认知和神经影像学研究中与年龄相关的记忆变化的证据。随着年龄的增长，情景记忆的衰退很可能是由于获取（编码）和检索的损伤——可能是出于类似的原因——但本综述侧重于前一组过程。本文还重点介绍了一种理解与年龄相关的编码缺陷的加工方法；我们认为，许多问题源于自主启动更深层次语义加工操作的能力下降。本文简要讨论了感官和知觉能力下降的作用，但主要关注加工资源的性质、它们对记忆获取的影响，以及与年龄相关的认知和神经功能变化。我们还调查了老年人大脑神经可塑性的证据，以及行为和神经水平的代偿活动如何减少与年龄相关的问题。最后，我们回顾了最近关于大脑和认知训练程序的研究。与年龄相关的记忆问题是真实存在的，但也有理由感到乐观。
