ABSTRACT Background Part-list cuing impairment is the counterintuitive finding that presenting a subset of previously studied items as a retrieval cue can impair memory for the remaining items. This study examined the temporal persistence of part-list cuing impairment in younger and older adults. Methods Younger and older adults studied item lists under two encoding conditions: a single study trial versus two study-test cycles, the latter assumed to induce more associative encoding than the former. Participants then completed a critical test with part-list cues to assess the initial effect, followed by a final uncued test to assess the persistence of part-list cuing impairment. Results Part-list cuing impairment was lasting when items were encoded through a single study trial, but transient when items were encoded through two study-test cycles. This encoding-dependent dissociation was observed equally in younger and older adults. Conclusions The present findings provide evidence for two distinct, age-invariant mechanisms underlying part-list cuing impairment in younger and older adults: lasting retrieval inhibition in low associative encoding conditions, and transient strategy disruption in higher associative encoding conditions.

ABSTRACT This study examined the role of memory-specific self-regulatory focus in guiding young and older adults’ usage of everyday memory strategies Participants included 164 young (ages 18–23) and 204 older (ages 68–75) adults. Structural equation modeling tested our hypothesis that participants’ prevention-based and promotion-based self-regulatory focus influences memory strategy use through memory beliefs (memory self-efficacy, present control, future control) and participant perceptions of the memory strategies’ focus toward maximizing memory functioning versus preventing future memory decline. We modeled participants’ utilization of both use-it-or-lose-it strategies (commonly used by older adults) and task-focused strategies (commonly used by young adults). Older adults endorsed stronger prevention-based and promotion-based self-regulatory focus than young adults did. We also found strong evidence that, for older adults, the significant relationship between self-regulatory focus and memory strategy use for both use-it-or-lose-it and task-focused strategies was frequently mediated by memory beliefs and less frequently mediated by the perceived focus of the strategies. In contrast, self-regulatory focus did not predict memory strategy use for young adults. Results suggest that encouraging a promotion- or prevention-focused lens based on an individual’s memory self-efficacy and perceived control over their memory may foster optimal memory strategy selection in older adults’ daily lives.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to examine the associations between age, chronic pain, cognitive function, and pain sensitivity by comparing older and younger adults. The study included 30 older adults with chronic pain, 31 older adults without pain, 26 young adults with chronic pain, and 31 young adults without pain. Cognitive functions were assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination, Stroop Test, and Clock Drawing Test. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were measured in the trapezius, deltoid, and tibialis anterior regions using an algometer. Significant differences were observed in most cognitive functions and PPTs between the groups, particularly between older adults with and without chronic pain, and young adults with and without chronic pain. Generally, moderate to strong negative correlations were found between pain sensitivity and cognitive performance in older adults with chronic pain. In contrast, young adults with chronic pain showed weaker and fewer correlations between pain sensitivity and cognitive function. Chronic pain has a more significant negative impact on cognitive function in older adults, who also exhibit stronger associations between pain sensitivity and cognitive decline. In contrast, younger adults with chronic pain demonstrate weaker correlations, potentially due to adaptive coping mechanisms. These findings highlight the need for age-specific interventions targeting both pain and cognitive decline in older populations.

ABSTRACT Objective We compared how young and older adults’ memory self-efficacy (MSE) responded to changes in item framing and examined how MSE relates to depressive affect, humility, and objective memory abilities in these two age groups. Method Ninety-one young and eighty-five older adults completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale, the Humility Inventory-15 and a memory self-efficacy questionnaire that contained 27 items from the Memory Assessment Clinics-Self-Report Scale worded positively, neutrally or negatively. They then took an objective memory test. Results Older adults’ MSE was affected by item framing with neutrally worded items resulting in higher MSE than positively or negatively worded items. In contrast, the MSE of young adults was impervious to framing effects. Regardless of question framing, increased depressive affect related to lower MSE across both age groups, whereas higher humility counterintuitively predicted higher MSE in young, but not older, adults. Conclusions Together, our results support past research and suggest new avenues for understanding the many factors that influence the subjective memory of young and older adults. Based on our findings, we recommend that researchers and practitioners utilize positively worded questionnaire items to evaluate MSE given that this approach was least vulnerable to depressive affect and resulted in the most accurate memory self-reports.

ABSTRACT Background/Study Context The main aim of the current study was to investigate the role of adult age in the moral stereotyping of moral foundations. The five core moral foundations of Moral Foundations Theory were measured, including the individualizing foundations of harm and fairness and the binding foundations of ingroup loyalty, authority, and purity. Methods Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three experimental conditions: a self-evaluation condition where participants completed the moral questionnaire as themselves, a condition where participants provided ratings as they believed a typical younger adult would answer them, and a condition where participants provided ratings as they believed a typical older adult would answer them. Experiment 1 included younger and older adult participants, and Experiment 2 included participants across adulthood (range 19 to 85). Results Older adulthood was associated with higher individualizing foundations ratings (Experiment 1, Experiment 2) and higher binding foundations ratings (Experiment 1). Results found significant moral stereotyping, with participants tending to imagine older adults providing significantly lower ratings on individualizing moral foundations than younger adults but higher ratings on binding moral foundations. Finally, older adults were more accurate in their predictions of the moral foundations ratings of younger adults than vice versa. Conclusion The authors suggest that adult age group is a salient factor that people form generalizations about regarding moral foundations, which could then contribute to either real or perceived “generational divides” on various sociocultural issues.

ABSTRACT Objectives This exploratory study aimed to identify biomarkers of neuroplasticity that prevent cognitive decline. This study examined activity-dependent changes in the neurologic proteome that contributed to post-exercise improvements in processing speed in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods Participants included 20 older adult Veterans with MCI recruited through the VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) who participated in moderate-high intensity water-based activity thrice weekly for six months. Plasma protein concentration was measured using the Olink Target 96 Neurology Assay. Processing speed measures included the Trail Making Test Trial A (TMT-A), the Stroop Color (SC) and Word (SW) trials, and the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Results Preliminary analyses revealed two proteins of interest: neuropilin-2 (NRP2) and neuroblastoma suppressor of tumorigenicity 1 (NBL1). Primary analyses used mixed effects models to determine the impact of changes in neurologic-related proteins on changes in processing speed after exercise. Results indicated that decreased levels of NRP2 were associated with improved outcomes on the SDMT after exercise. In contrast, changes in NBL1 had no significant effect on the relationship between exercise and processing speed. Conclusion These results support previous research linking NRP2 function to synaptic plasticity downscaling and present NRP2 as a potential target for cognitive intervention.

ABSTRACT Background Prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain and depressive symptoms in adults is high; however, whether there is an association between these conditions in older adults is unknown. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the association of depressive symptoms with chronic musculoskeletal pain, and specifically with chronic LBP and knee osteoarthritis (OA), in community-dwelling older adults. In addition, we explored whether physical activity can mitigate these associations. Methods A cross-sectional study design. A cross-sectional study design. Participants recruited were older adults (age ≥60 years) living in the community. Chronic musculoskeletal pain was assessed by specific questions regarding the presence of chronic LBP and knee OA. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Multivariable regression model adjusted for potential confounders (i.e., age, sex, economic status, body composition, and physical activity) was used to investigate the association between chronic musculoskeletal pain and depressive symptoms. Separate analyses were also conducted for older adults with LBP and with knee OA. Results A total of 509 (69% women) older adults were recruited. The regression analysis showed that musculoskeletal pain was associated with higher depressive symptoms ( β = 2.52, 95% CI: 0.50 to 4.54; p-value < .05) compared with older adults without chronic musculoskeletal pain. Similarly, in the fully adjusted model, which included physical activity, LBP was associated with higher depressive symptoms ( β = 2.80, 95% CI: 0.82 to 4.79; p-value < .01). The association between knee OA and depressive symptoms was not statistically significant after adjusting for physical activity ( β = 2.00, 95% CI: −0.13 to 4.13; p-value = .06). Conclusion Older adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain have higher depressive symptoms scores, when compared to those without musculoskeletal pain. Physical activity does not seem to influence this association.

ABSTRACT Background Several studies have proven the presence of cohesion difficulties in neurogenic communication disorders. However, we still have very little information about discourse cohesion in the intact adult population and the factors that influence it. The aim of the present study is to provide additional information on this topic and to assess the effect of age and education on discourse cohesion. Methods One hundred and eighty-two healthy Slovak-speaking adult participants were divided into three age groups and three education groups were asked to tell Cinderella's story. The cohesion of the obtained discourse samples was evaluated. Results Our study indicates no significant effect of age. However, an increasing tendency of the occurrence of cohesive tie errors with increasing age was described. Education, on the other hand, turned out to be a statistically significant factor and had an impact on the overall use of cohesive ties as well as the use of referential pronouns. Conclusion Our findings suggest that monitoring the influence of education when creating normative data for discourse cohesion is more important than monitoring the effect of age.

ABSTRACT Objective To observe the effects of Tai Chi training on depression symptoms and serum kynurenine metabolites in perimenopausal women and explore the mechanism of Tai Chi training in anti-depression. Methods A total of 72 perimenopausal women with depression were randomly selected from Lishi District and divided into a Tai Chi training group (36 cases) and a control group (36 cases). At the same time, 36 perimenopausal healthy women were randomly selected as the normal group. The Tai Chi training group was intervened with 24 simplified Tai Chi exercises, and the depression self-rating scale was used to evaluate the depression status. The levels of tryptophan (Trp) and kynurenine (KYN) metabolites in serum were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection. Results Before the experiment, compared with the normal healthy group, the depression self-rating scale scores, serum KYN and quinolinic acid (QUIN) levels, and KYN/Trp ratio of the control group and Tai Chi group were significantly increased (p < .01), and the serum kynurenic acid (KYNA) level was significantly decreased (p < .01). After the experiment, compared with the normal healthy group, the depression self-rating scale scores of the Tai Chi group were significantly decreased (p < .01), the serum KYNA content was increased (p < .01), the serum KYN and QUIN contents were significantly decreased (p < .01), and the KYN/Trp ratio was significantly decreased (p < .01). Conclusion Tai Chi training can significantly improve depression symptoms in perimenopausal women. The mechanism of Tai Chi training in improving depression symptoms in perimenopausal women may be achieved by regulating abnormal kynurenine metabolism.

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to analyze the effect and potential mechanism of cognitive intervention and rehabilitation training in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus complicated with mild cognitive impairment. Methods In this study, 128 elderly patients with diabetes mellitus complicated with mild cognitive impairment were randomly divided into the control group and the training group. The effects of the two groups were compared before and after the cognitive intervention. The expression of miR-134-5p was assessed by qRT-PCR. The relationships between miR-134-5p and Mini-Mental State Examination Scale and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale were evaluated. Results After 3-month management, the Mini-Mental State Examination Scale, Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale, the Chinese version of the diabetes self-efficacy rating scale, and WHO quality of life brief were improved in both control group and training group, and the training group showed better improvement. Cognitive intervention and rehabilitation training restricted the expression of miR-134-5p. The levels of miR-134-5p were pertinent to cognitive function. Conclusion Cognitive intervention and rehabilitation training might prevent the development of diabetes mellitus complicated with mild cognitive impairment by inhibiting miR-134-5p.