Most likely, only a combination of data collected in different models will help to decipher the principal factors that contribute to age-dependent cognitive decline in our species.
Each animal model of human aging has its inherent advantages and limitations, since no single model exactly reflects the age-related processes that occur in humans. Behavioral, morphological or neurophysiological correlates of aging are extensively studied in diverse organisms, ranging from caenortabitidis ( C. Īnimal models have long been recognized as a necessary means to study complex biological processes, especially those on the level of integrative functions. The importance of studying life-long changes in cognitive functions, though acknowledged, has not yet been adequately addressed. Thus, understanding the specific roles and interactions between genetic and environmental factors or individual experiences requires analysis of cognitive changes throughout the entire life. Furthermore, cognitive status in early life is suggested to be an important predictor of late-life cognitive abilities. A combination of genetic, environmental and social factors is believed to contribute to this diversity. This general trend has its notable exceptions, represented by the early onset of cognitive deficits in some individuals, in contrast to others who preserve remarkably high cognitive functions until very old age. Cognitive abilities are rapidly established during development, stabilize in adults and may decline with aging.
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