主观记忆减退老年人情节记忆的认知神经机制及其干预研究

There is increasing evidence that subjective memory complaints (SMC) in individuals with unimpaired performance on memory tests may represent the first symptomatic manifestation of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The proposed project will adopt neuroimaging techniques combined with behavioral approach to explore the cognitive neural mechanisms of episodic memory processing in the elderly with SMC. We will carry out intervention to investigate whether memory training will promote the episodic memory and other cognitive functions, and restore the impaired brain function in the elderly with SMC. Further, the project will explore whether emotion training will boost the effect of memory training as well as the underling neurocognitive mechanisms..The proposed project has the potential to reveal the underlying neural mechanisms of episodic memory in the elderly with SMC and to bring novel insights for understanding human memory and pathogenesis of AD. The project will also prove that memory training combined with emotion training will be a more efficient approach to ameliorate the episodic memory impairment in the elderly with SMC. Moreover, the findings will provide scientific evidence and technological guidance in postponing late-life cognitive deterioration and preventing neurodegenerative diseases.

主观记忆减退期(subjective memory complaints, SMC)是老年性痴呆自然发病过程的最初始阶段。本项目拟针对主观记忆减退老年人这一痴呆高危人群，开展情节记忆的认知神经机制及干预研究。结合行为学和fMRI技术，探索主观记忆减退老年人情节记忆加工相关的神经通路是否存在异常；考察记忆训练是否能提高主观记忆减退老年人的情节记忆等认知功能，并带来脑功能的恢复；在此基础上，进一步探索积极情绪是否能够促进主观记忆减退老年人从记忆训练中的获益，以及其作用的脑神经机制。.预期研究成果将阐明主观记忆减退老年人情节记忆加工的神经机制，推动对人类记忆和老年性痴呆发病规律的深入理解；而且证实记忆训练和情绪促进训练相结合的综合训练是一种改善情节记忆能力更为有效的新途径，为延缓主观记忆减退老年人的认知衰退，提高其功能独立性和生活质量，预防痴呆提供科学依据和方法指导。

项目背景：近年来，主观记忆减退(subjective memory decline, SMD)的概念引起了认知老化及痴呆领域研究者的广泛兴趣。虽然SMD在记忆行为测验上的成绩目前还没表现出明显下降，但是其大脑情节记忆相关脑区活动可能已经发生了病理性改变，提示对SMD进行深入研究对于痴呆早期识别和干预的重要意义。.研究内容：本项目针对SMD这一痴呆高危人群，开展情节记忆的认知神经机制及干预研究。结合行为学和静息态fMRI技术，探索SMD情节记忆加工相关的神经通路是否存在异常；考察认知训练是否能提高SMD的情节记忆；并进一步分析了基线情绪状态的个体差异对认知训练效果的影响。.重要结果：1) 前额叶、海马和旁海马皮层等脑结构很容易受到老化进程的影响，而且海马和旁海马皮层功能连接的个体差异与情节记忆等认知测验上的表现显著相关。2) 认知训练能有效改善SMD的情节记忆和日常记忆功能，而且枕叶、颞叶等后部脑区的神经活动发生功能性改变。3) 基线情绪状态越积极的个体经过认知训练后情节记忆成绩提升越多；而且积极情绪状态是通过杏仁核-海马环路发挥作用。.科学意义：本研究为老年性痴呆早期识别和诊断提供理论指导;证实记忆训练能有效改善SMD的情节记忆能力，为延缓SMD的认知衰退，预防痴呆提供科学依据和方法指导。这一结果提示情绪性因素对于SMD的记忆加工及其干预有重要影响。希望今后能继续得到基金委资助，开展后续研究，进一步深入探讨情绪性调节如何影响SMD的记忆加工。