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@INPROCEEDINGS{Iliopoulos:283115,
author = {Iliopoulos, Panagiotis and Gellersen, Helena M. and Rong,
Boyan and Cichy, Radoslaw Martin and Maass, Anne and Düzel,
Emrah},
title = {{C}ognitive training–related volumetric changes in the
{A}36 perirhinal area are associated with mnemonic
discrimination gains in older adults: a 7{T} {MRI} study},
journal = {Alzheimer's and dementia},
volume = {21},
number = {S7},
issn = {1552-5260},
reportid = {DZNE-2026-00011},
pages = {e108566},
year = {2025},
abstract = {Background:Mnemonic discrimination (MD), the ability to
distinguish between similar but distinct memories, relies
heavily on the integrity of key medial temporal lobe (MTL)
regions. Aging is associated with declines in MD, but
evidence suggests that cognitive training may help mitigate
this decline. While prior research has shown that such
training can improve MD performance, little is known about
the relationship between these behavioral improvements and
structural changes in specific brain regions. This study
investigates whether an 8-week web-based MD training program
enhances MD in older adults and examines whether these gains
are linked to volumetric changes in MTL areas, including the
A36 perirhinal area, a critical region for object and scene
memory.Method:A total of 151 older adults (age M = 69.71
years, SD = 4.17) participated in an 8-week web-based MD
training program. Participants were divided into three
groups: object stimuli training (OG), scene stimuli training
(SG), and an active control group (AC). A subset of OG (n =
33) and AC (n = 28) participants underwent pre- and
post-training 7T MRI scans (MP2RAGE 0.6 mm; T2w imaging: 0.4
x 0.4 x 1 mm along the hippocampal axis). The training
required participants to differentiate between similar
objects and scenes ('lures') and repeated items
('repeats’) in a progressively challenging MD task. Pre-
and post-training, participants completed a behavioral
battery assessing MD and cognitive transfer effects.
Volumetric changes in key MTL subregions, including the A36
perirhinal area, were assessed using the T2w ASHS algorithm
for the MTL areas’ segmentations.Result:Behavioral results
showed significant gains in MD in the OG and SG groups
compared to the control group. Notably, within the object
training but not the control group, volumetric increases in
the left A36 perirhinal area were specifically linked to MD
performance gains for scenes (ie. near transfer to scenes)
but not objects. This suggests a robust link between
structural plasticity and MD behavioral
improvement.Conclusion:Our findings indicate that an 8-week
MD training program enhances memory performance in older
adults and induces structural changes in the A36 perirhinal
area, highlighting the potential for cognitive training to
support brain health during aging.},
month = {Jul},
date = {2025-07-27},
organization = {Alzheimer’s Association
International Conference, Toronto
(Canada), 27 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025},
cin = {AG Düzel / AG Maaß / AG Berron},
ddc = {610},
cid = {I:(DE-2719)5000006 / I:(DE-2719)1311001 /
I:(DE-2719)5000070},
pnm = {353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353)},
pid = {G:(DE-HGF)POF4-353},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)1 / PUB:(DE-HGF)16},
doi = {10.1002/alz70861_108566},
url = {https://pub.dzne.de/record/283115},
}