Age-related decline in associative learning in healthy Chinese adults

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 8; no. 11; p. e80648
• Main Authors: Lee, Annie, Archer, Jo, Wong, Caroline Kai Yun, Chen, Shen-Hsing Annabel, Qiu, Anqi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 12.11.2013; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Age; Age effects; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Associative learning; Associative memory; Attention; Automation; Biomedical engineering; Brain research; China; Cognition; Cognitive ability; Dementia; Female; Humans; Learning; Male; Memory; Middle Aged; Older people; Paired-Associate Learning - physiology; Pattern recognition; Performance evaluation; Recall; Recognition; Recognition (Psychology); Spatial discrimination learning; Spatial memory; Strategy; Studies; Vocabulary development; Volumetric analysis; Young Adult; China; Singapore
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080648

Paired associates learning (PAL) has been widely used in aging-related research, suggesting an age-related decline in associative learning. However, there are several cognitive processes (attention, spatial and recognition memory, strategy, and associative learning) involved in PAL. It is unclear which component contributes to the decline in PAL performance associated with age effects. The present study determines whether age effects on associative learning are independent of other cognitive processes involved in PAL. Using a validated computerized cognitive program (CANTAB), we examined cognitive performance of associative learning, spatial and recognition memory, attention and strategy use in 184 Singaporean Chinese adults aged from 21 to 80 years old. Linear regression revealed significant age-related decline in associative learning, spatial and recognition memory, and the level of strategy use. This age-related decline in associative learning remains even after adjusting for attention, spatial and recognition memory, and strategy use. These results show that age effects on associative learning are independent of other cognitive processes involved in PAL.