Aging-related losses in dopamine D2/3 receptor availability are linked to working-memory decline across five yearsShow others and affiliations
2025 (English)In: Cerebral Cortex, ISSN 1047-3211, E-ISSN 1460-2199, Vol. 35, no 2, article id bhae481Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Although age differences in the dopamine system have been suggested to contribute to age-related cognitive decline based on cross-sectional data, recent large-scale cross-sectional studies reported only weak evidence for a correlation among aging, dopamine receptor availability, and cognition. Regardless, longitudinal data remain essential to make robust statements about dopamine losses as a basis for cognitive aging. We present correlations between changes in D2/3 dopamine receptor availability and changes in working memory measured over 5 yr in healthy, older adults (n = 128, ages 64 to 68 yr at baseline). Greater decline in D2/3 dopamine receptor availability in working memory-relevant regions (caudate, middle frontal cortex, hippocampus) was related to greater decline in working memory performance in individuals who exhibited working memory reductions across time (n = 43; caudate: rs = 0.494; middle frontal cortex: rs = 0.506; hippocampus; rs = 0.423), but not in individuals who maintained performance (n = 41; caudate: rs = 0.052; middle frontal cortex: rs = 0.198; hippocampus; rs = 0.076). The dopamine–working memory link in decliners was not observed in the orbitofrontal cortex, which does not belong to the core working memory network. Our longitudinal analyses support the notion that aging-related changes in the dopamine system contribute to working memory decline in aging.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Oxford University Press, 2025. Vol. 35, no 2, article id bhae481
Keywords [en]
aging, cognitive decline, dopamine 2/3-receptor availability, longitudinal, working memory
National Category
Neurosciences Neurology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-236191DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae481ISI: 001389805300001PubMedID: 39756432Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85217150219OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-236191DiVA, id: diva2:1944968
Funder
Swedish Research CouncilKnut and Alice Wallenberg FoundationRagnar Söderbergs stiftelseThe Swedish Brain Foundation2025-03-172025-03-172025-03-17Bibliographically approved