BIOLOGICAL FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR NEUROBEHAVIORAL AGING

为了提高我们对潜在机制的理解 负责与年龄和性别有关的性别差异 认知和精神运动任务的表现，生物因素 已知的改变神经功能的方法将被测量并与 性能。已知的精神运动测试受年龄和 100名健康的男性和女性将接受性别测试 年龄从40岁到70岁不等。神经行为电池将会 包括言语记忆和学习、运动速度和 除了情绪和个性特征外，还有感觉-运动表现。 此外，针对人口统计信息、医疗信息的问卷调查 历史，爱好和终身训练史和神经学 将对考试进行评估。我们假设早些时候， 无症状性脑血管疾病 的危险因素是脑血管改变的生物标志 功能调节神经心理表现。风险因素 对于脑血管疾病，即身高/体重、血压、 心脏病(EKG)、糖尿病(空腹血糖) 高脂血症(如胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白、高密度脂蛋白2、高密度脂蛋白3)、酒精和 将测量香烟的使用情况。脑血管功能会 应用多谱勒容积血流定量颈动脉血流研究 米。中国人动脉粥样硬化斑块的数量和组成 颈动脉将通过双向扫描进行定量。 中枢神经系统中的白质变化被认为是 继发于脑血管疾病的人在正常衰老时会 通过使用大脑的磁共振成像(MRI)进行可视化。 脑动脉粥样硬化的电生理相关性将是 使用POWER定量脑电图法确定 频谱分析应与其他脑血管疾病相关联 测量和神经行为表现。第二个假设是 与年龄相关的运动速度性别差异(简单反应 时间和手指敲击)在一定程度上是由于身体上的差异 活动。在过去，人们通常会进行体力活动 通过自我报告。我们建议精确测量最大有氧量 容量(最大摄氧量)，并将结果与运动测量相关联 速度。第三个假设是外周的改变 感觉感受器(振动、热感觉阈值) 指尖是决定衰老的重要机制-- 感觉-运动表现的相关性别差异(普渡 挂板)。使用这种方法，我们希望确定重要的 负责与年龄和性别有关的机制 在言语记忆和学习、运动速度和感觉上的差异- 马达性能。

To improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms responsible for age-related ani gender-related differences in the performance of cognitive and psychomotor tasks, biological factors known to alter neural function will be measured and correlated with performance. Psychomotor tests known to be affect by age and gender will be administered to 100 healthy men and women ranging in age from 40 to 70+ years. The neurobehavioral battery will include measures of verbal memory and learning, motor speed and sensory-motor performance besides mood and personality profile. In addition, questionnaires for demographic information, medical history, hobbies and life long training history and a neurological examination will be assessed. We hypothesize that early, asymptomatic cerebrovascular disease as indicated by the presence of risk factors are biological markers of altered cerebrovascular function modulates neuropsychological performance. Risk factors for cerebrovascular disease, namely height/weight, blood pressure, heart disease (EKG), diabetes mellitus (fasting blood glucose) hyperlipidemia (e.g., cholesterol, LDL, HDL2, HDL3), alcohol and cigarette use will be measured. Cerebrovascular function will be quantitated with carotid flow studies using a Doppler Volume Flow Meter. The quantity and composition of atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid arteries will be quantitated with duplex scanning. White matter changes in the central nervous system believed to be secondary to cerebrovascular disease in normal aging will be visualized by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Electrophysiologic correlates of cerebral atherosclerosis will be determined with quantitative electroencephalography using power spectral analysis to be correlated with the other cerebrovascular measures and neurobehavioral performance. A second hypothesis is that age-related gender differences in motor speed (simple reaction time and finger tapping) are due in part to differences in physical activity. In the past physical activity has usually been obtained by self-report. We propose to accurately measure maximal aerobic capacity (VO2 max) and correlate the results with measures of motor speed. The third hypothesis is that alterations in peripheral sensory receptors (vibration, thermal perception thresholds) in the fingertips is an important mechanism responsible for age- related gender differences in sensory-motor performance (Purdue Pegboard). Using this approach we hope to determine the important mechanisms responsible for age-related and gender-related differences in verbal memory and learning, motor speed and sensory- motor-performance.