Cognitive plasticity in normal and pathological aging

Figures & data

Table 1 “Normal” age groups by gender

Age group (years)	Gender
	Male	Female	Total
55–64	57	98	155
65–69	70	96	166
70–74	76	107	183
75–89	51	46	97
90+	67	120	187
Total	321	467	788

Table 2 Composition of the pathology groups (MCI and AD) according to gender and age group

	Age group (years)				Gender
	55–64	65–69	70–74	75–89	Male	Female
MCI (N = 57)	0	7	14	36	28	29
AD (N = 98)	2	4	17	75	57	41
	2	11	31	111	85	70

Abbreviations: MCI, mild cognitive impairment; AD, Alzheimer’s disease.

Figure 1 Learning performance on (A) healthy elders, (B) MCI individuals, and (C) AD patients. The mean number of words correctly recalled (y-axis) is plotted as a function of the trial (1–7 in the x-axis), for each age group. The first trial is considered as the baseline, whereas trials 2–5 are the training phase, and trial 6 is considered the post-test; the 7th trial is a delayed trial performed (see the text).

Abbreviations: MCI, mild cognitive impairment; AD, Alzheimer’s disease.

Table 3 Learning comparison in gain score (Trial 6–Trial 1) and delayed scores (Trial 6–Trial 7), t-test

Group	Age group (years)	Comparison	Mean diff
Normal	55–64	T6-T1	5.85	t(154) = 29.85; P < 0.001
		T6-T7	1.02	t(154) = 6.82; P < 0.001
	65–69	T6-T1	5.46	t(165) = 32.48; P < 0.001
		T6-T7	1.26	t(165) = 8.61; P < 0.001
	70–74	T6-T1	5.59	t(181) = 29.70; P < 0.001
		T6-T7	1.63	t(180) = 12.19; P < 0.001
	75–89	T6-T1	5.28	t(96) = 22.39; P < 0.001
		T6-T7	1.51	t(95) = 8.09; P < 0.001
	≥90	T6-T1	3.08	t(172) = 18.01; P < 0.001
		T6-T7	1.29	t(170) = 7.83; P < 0.001
MCI	70–74	T6-T1	3.36	t(32) = 18.01; P < 0.001
		T6-T7	3.03	t(32) = 7.83; P < 0.001
	75–89	T6-T1	3.40	t(59) = 8.78; P < 0.001
		T6-T7	2.61	t(58) = 10.07; P < 0.001
AD	70–74	T6-T1	2.06	t(16) = 4.35; P < 0.001
		T6-T7	3.24	t(16) = 7.78; P < 0.001
	75–89	T6-T1	2.48	t(74) = 11.40; P < 0.001
		T6-T7	3.28	t(74) = 14.42; P < 0.001

Abbreviations: MCI, mild cognitive impairment; AD, Alzheimer’s disease.