Pupillary responses and memory-guided visual search reveal age-related and Alzheimer’s-related memory decline

摘要: Abstract Episodic memory – composed of for unique spatiotemporal experiences is known to decline with aging, and even more severely in Alzheimer ’s disease (AD). Memory trial-unique objects spatial scenes depends on the integrity hippocampus interconnected structures that are among first areas affected AD. We reasoned objects-in-scenes would be impaired further impairments observed asked younger adults, healthy older adults at-risk developing cognitive impairments, probable early AD find changing items (‘targets’) within images natural scenes, measuring repeated-trial changes search efficiency pupil diameter. Compared took longer detect target repeated they required fixations those were dispersed. Whereas individuals showed some benefit this task, had substantially detection times, numerous, dispersed compared age-matched adults. Correspondingly, pupillary responses novel diminished aging AD, memory-related weaker absent Our results suggest several nonverbal measures from memory-guided visual tasks can index Alzheimer’s status, including dynamics. The task measurements sensitive brain associated Alzheimer’s-related neurodegeneration, well tolerated across a range abilities, thus, it may prove useful diagnostics longitudinal tracking decline.