OBJECTIVE Advanced age is accompanied by a deterioration in memory performance that can profoundly influence activities of daily living. However, the neural processes responsible for age-related memory decline are not fully understood. Here, we used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in combination with electroencephalography (EEG) to assess age-related changes in neuroplasticity in the human prefrontal cortex. METHODS TMS-evoked cortical potentials (TEPs) were recorded before and following the neuroplasticity-inducing intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), applied to the left lateral prefrontal cortex in healthy young (n = 33, mean age 22 ± 3 years) and older adults (n = 33, mean age 68 ± 7 years). RESULTS iTBS increased the amplitude of the positive TEP component at 60 ms after the TMS pulse (P60) in young, but not older adults. This age-related decline in P60 plasticity response was associated with poorer visuospatial associative (but not working) memory performance in older adults. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that neuroplasticity in the human lateral prefrontal cortex is reduced in older relative to young adults, and this may be an important factor in age-related memory decline. SIGNIFICANCE This may have important implications for the early detection of cognitive decline and dementia.

中文翻译：

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与年龄相关的神经可塑性下降对外侧前额叶皮层的间歇性 theta 爆发刺激及其与晚年记忆表现的关系

目的 高龄伴随着记忆力下降，这会严重影响日常生活活动。然而，导致与年龄相关的记忆力下降的神经过程尚不完全清楚。在这里，我们使用经颅磁刺激 (TMS) 结合脑电图 (EEG) 来评估人类前额叶皮层神经可塑性的年龄相关变化。方法 在神经可塑性诱导间歇性θ脉冲刺激 (iTBS) 之前和之后记录 TMS 诱发的皮层电位 (TEP)，应用于健康年轻人（n = 33，平均年龄 22 ± 3 岁）及以上的左侧前额叶皮层成人（n = 33，平均年龄 68 ± 7 岁）。结果 iTBS 在 TMS 脉冲 (P60) 后 60 ms 增加了年轻人而非老年人的正 TEP 分量的幅度。这种与年龄相关的 P60 可塑性反应下降与老年人较差的视觉空间联想（但不是工作）记忆表现有关。结论 这些发现表明，相对于年轻人，老年人外侧前额叶皮层的神经可塑性降低，这可能是与年龄相关的记忆力下降的一个重要因素。意义 这可能对认知衰退和痴呆的早期检测具有重要意义。