健康与遗传心理学研究室知识库

情节记忆衰退是认知老化最典型的表现之一，维持和促进老年人的记忆功能、延缓海马衰退对提升老年人的生活质量有重要意义。尽管己有不同层面的证据为有氧运动与认知功能及老化大脑之间的积极联系提供了支持证据，但对有氧运动能否能促进记忆功能和海马灰质体积存在争议，对于有氧运动如何影响海马亚区体积以及海马功能则尚不明确。
舞蹈是一种集运动、认知、社交等多种刺激于一体的多成分有氧运动。现有研究表明，舞蹈在促进老年人认知功能上有着积极的作用，但关于舞蹈如何影响老年人的记忆功能以及脑结构和功能，目前研究尚处于起步阶段。舞蹈的“多成分”的特点可能使其成为一种在训练效果和实践上都有优势的认知促进手段。
本论文结合横断和干预研究，从行为和脑的层面，通过三个研究逐渐深入地探讨了舞蹈对老年人情节记忆和海马的影响。研究1通过横断数据考察了长期舞蹈经验与记忆功能的相关，发现有长期舞蹈经验的中老年人的情节记忆能力更好、记忆主诉更少，而且舞蹈和记忆能力的积极关系独立于人口学因素和认知及体育休闲活动的水平;而且跳舞经验对记忆表现出剂量反应效应，跳舞时间越长，情究3通过四个月的舞蹈训练RCT研究来考察舞蹈对老年人记忆功能和海马体积与静息态功能连接的影响。训练后，仅舞蹈组表现出有氧能力提升的趋势，舞蹈组和拉伸组(积极对照组)的总体体力活动水平均明显提高。消极对照组相比，舞蹈组和拉伸组都表现出言语和视觉延时回忆成绩提升的趋势，记忆成绩的提升与有氧能力、体力活动水平的提升正相关。舞蹈组的右侧旁海马灰质体积在训练后减小。舞蹈组的旁海马/海马与枕叶、额叶的功能连接在训练后增强，与顶叶的功能连接减弱，旁海马一梭状回连接的增强与记忆成绩的提升相关。
本研究的发现说明老年人情节记忆和海马的可塑性，舞蹈有益于老年人维持和促进记忆功能，这一积极效应与舞蹈对海马功能的影响有关。

Episodic memory decline caused by the deterioration of hippocampus is one of the most typical manifestations of cognitive aging. Maintaining and promoting memory function as well as delaying hippocampal deterioration is important for improving the quality of life of the elderly. Although different levels of evidence provides supporting evidence for the positive links among aerobic exercise, cognitive function, and aging brains, it is controversial whether aerobic exercise can improve memory function and hippocampal volume. Moreover, it is unclear how aerobic exercise affects the volumes of hippocampal subregions and hippocampal function.

Dance is a multi-component aerobic exercise integrating physical exercise, cognition, and social stimulation. Evidence shows that dance induces cognitive benefits for older adults, but it is still unclear about the impacts of dance on memory and brain structure and function. The "multi-component" characteristics of dance may make it advantageous in both cognitive enhancement and intervention implementation.

The present study investigated the effects of dance on episodic memory and hippocampus by using cross-sectional and interventional data. Study 1 used cross-sectional data to examine the relationship between long-term dance experience and memory function, finding that dancers had better memory performance and fewer memory complaints. The association between dance and memory was independent of demographical factors and leisure activities, and the relationship was dose-responding,that is, longer dance years was associated with better memory performance. Study 2 was a meta-analysis that examined whether short-term dance training improved memory function in elderly. The results showed that dance training improved memory function compared with controls, while no difference was found between dance and other interventions. Dance showed differential effects on different types of memory.

Dance enhanced verbal memory but not visual memory; dance improved performance on immediate and delayed recall but not recognition. Study 3 investigated the impacts of dance on memory function, hippocampal volume, and resting-state function by conducting a four-month dance randomized controlled trial. Improvement in aerobic fitness was only observed in dance group but not the stretching group (active control), and both dance and stretching groups demonstrated greater physical activity levels.Compared with passive controls, both dance and stretching groups showed increased performance on verbal and visual delayed memory. Memory improvements were correlated with changes in aerobic fitness and physical activity. Dance group had reduced grey matter volume in right parahippocampus and increased white matter volume in right hippocampus. Compared to the stretching group, dance group showed increased functional connectivity between parahippocampus/hippocampus and occipital and frontal lobes and decreased parahippocampal connectivity with the parietal lobe. The improvement in parahippocampus-fusiform gyrus connectivity positively correlated with memory improvement.

The results suggest the plasticity of memory and hippocampus in elderly. Dance benefits the maintaining and promoting of memory function, and the beneficial effect is related to dance-related impact on hippocampal function.