Ageing and cognition

Abstract

With an increasingly ageing population that is expected to double by 2050 in the U.S., it is paramount that we further understand the neurological changes that occur during ageing. This is relevant not only in the context of “pathological” ageing, where the development of many neurodegenerative disorders is typically a feature of only the older population (and indeed, age is the primary risk factor for many conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease), but also for what is considered to be “normal” or “healthy” ageing. Specifically, a significant proportion of the older population are affected by “age-related cognitive decline” (ARCD), which is both independent of dementia and has an incidence 70% higher than dementia alone. However, whilst it is reported that there are pathogenic and phenotypic overlaps between healthy and pathological ageing, it is clear that there is a need to identify the pathways and understand the mechanisms that contribute to this loss of cognitive function with normal ageing, particularly in light of the increasing life expectancy of the global population. Importantly, there is an increasing body of evidence implicating zinc homeostasis as a key player in learning and memory and also potentially ARCD. Further research will ultimately contribute to the development of targeted therapeutics that will promote successful brain ageing. In this chapter we will explore the notion of ARCD, with a perspective on potential key neurochemical pathways that can be targeted for future intervention.