Kurzfassung

In healthy elderly, the performance in trained cognitive tasks improves through training. However, elderly are mostly unable to use these improvements beyond the specific training, i.e. there is only little transfer of training effects to other contexts. In a previous work, we demonstrated that transfer can be predicted by the cerebral inter-hemispheric structural connectivity, a basic requirement for inter-hemispheric communication. Based on that finding, the new consortium AgeGain aims at...In healthy elderly, the performance in trained cognitive tasks improves through training. However, elderly are mostly unable to use these improvements beyond the specific training, i.e. there is only little transfer of training effects to other contexts. In a previous work, we demonstrated that transfer can be predicted by the cerebral inter-hemispheric structural connectivity, a basic requirement for inter-hemispheric communication. Based on that finding, the new consortium AgeGain aims at investigating neurobiological mechanisms of transfer in detail by elaborating brain network capabilities representing transfer using a multimodal neuroimaging approach. Furthermore, potential modulators of transfer capability, especially physical activity, cerebral vascular lesions, and amyloid burden will be analyzed. Findings will have a strong impact on future clinical basic and healthcare research evaluating life style and training strategies to maintain successful and lifelong learning. The project is funded by the BMBF with approx. 1 million € over a period of 4 years.
 

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