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Abstract #2333

Age-Related Effects in Brain Activation with Working Memory Tasks: An fMRI Study

Jeehye Seo1, Seong-Uk Jin1, Hee-Kyung Kim1, Jang Woo Park1, Moon Han1, Jong Su Baeck1, Yongmin Chang1, 2, Kyung Jin Suh3

1Medical & Biological Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea; 2Radiology and Molecular Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea; 3Radiology, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeong Ju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea

A decline in working memory is well documented with increasing age and age-related differences are seen in working memory tasks using functional neuroimaging techniques . The aim of this study is to elucidate age-related effects on functional activation during working memory task through continuous distribution of age. Sixty-eight healthy subjects aged 18 to 70 years old performed an n-back memory task. We found that with increasing age, working memory activation network showed decreased activation, whereas 2-back deactivation network showed increased brain activation. Decreased brain activity has interpreted as a reflection of cognitive deficits in older adults, and increased activity has interpreted as compensatory.

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Keywords

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