1. Key periods of cognitive decline in a nonhuman primate model of cognitive aging, the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)
- Author
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Caroline Fonta, Pascal Girard, Amirouche Sadoun, Maxime Rosito, Centre de recherche cerveau et cognition (CERCO), Institut des sciences du cerveau de Toulouse. (ISCT), Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès (UT2J)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-CHU Toulouse [Toulouse]-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Toulouse - Jean Jaurès (UT2J)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-CHU Toulouse [Toulouse]-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Images et Modèles, Centre de Recherche en Acquisition et Traitement de l'Image pour la Santé (CREATIS), Université Jean Monnet [Saint-Étienne] (UJM)-Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL)-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon (INSA Lyon), Université de Lyon-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Université de Lyon-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)-Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Université de Lyon-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Université Jean Monnet [Saint-Étienne] (UJM)-Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL)-Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon (INSA Lyon), and Université de Lyon-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)
- Subjects
Male ,0301 basic medicine ,Aging ,Spatial memory ,Executive Function ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,biology.animal ,Animals ,Learning ,Cognitive Dysfunction ,Cognitive decline ,ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS ,Spatial Memory ,Behavior, Animal ,biology ,Working memory ,[SCCO.NEUR]Cognitive science/Neuroscience ,General Neuroscience ,Marmoset ,Callithrix ,Cognition ,Executive functions ,biology.organism_classification ,Disease Models, Animal ,030104 developmental biology ,Cognitive Aging ,Life expectancy ,Female ,Neurology (clinical) ,Geriatrics and Gerontology ,Psychology ,Neuroscience ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Developmental Biology - Abstract
It is well established that human life expectancy increases considerably with an ever-growing number of people suffering from age-related cognitive decline and degenerative brain diseases. This necessitates the development of animal models to counteract or stop the progression of the decline early enough. Presently, primate models are few, and many studies argue for the marmoset as an interesting primate model presenting a short life span and being easily available in research laboratories. In this article, we propose the marmoset as a valid model for cognitive decline. Using a computer touch screen, we trained 35 marmosets from 2 to 14 years of age to perform reversal learning and delayed-matching-to-position tasks. We found typical age-related cognitive deficits related to executive functions and spatial working memory. Applying a recursive algorithm, we detected 2 critical periods from which deficits appear. Mainly, response strategy deficits appear from age 4, whereas impairments in inhibitory control appear from age 7–8. Furthermore, the presence of outliers, sometimes at an early age, suggests pathological cognitive deficits that would require imaging exploration in parallel to behavior.
- Published
- 2019
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