Cognitive Training and Enrichment Modulates Neural Plasticity and Enhances Cognitive Reserve in Aging Rats.

Objectives: Cognitive decline in non-pathological aging is widely prevalent among the aging population. The current study assessed the impact of cognitive training (Ct) with multiple modules targeting various facets of learning and memory and the additional influence of an enriched environment (Ct+e...

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Published in:Experimental Aging Research Vol. 51; no. 5; pp. 720 - 744
Main Authors: Stephen, JenishaChris, Kharkongor, Ronyson, Khan, UlfathTasneem, Kathirvel, Muniraj, Radhakrishnan, Rameshkumar
Format: equations & formulas pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Oct-Dec2025
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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        0361073X
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      issn: 0361073X
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      dt: Oct-Dec2025
      vid: 51
      iid: 5
      pid: 377
      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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        188122248
        183889705
        188122248
        188122248
        10.1080/0361073X.2025.2476331
        188122248
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        atl: Cognitive Training and Enrichment Modulates Neural Plasticity and Enhances Cognitive Reserve in Aging Rats.
      aug:
        au:
          Stephen, JenishaChris
          Kharkongor, Ronyson
          Khan, UlfathTasneem
          Kathirvel, Muniraj
          Radhakrishnan, Rameshkumar
        affil: Department of Anatomy, Dr. Arcot Lakshmanasamy Mudaliar Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Chennai, India
      sug:
        subj:
          Rehabilitation, Cognitive
          Neuronal Plasticity
          Aging
          Hippocampus Physiology
          Hippocampus Metabolism
          Memory
          Learning
          Animal Studies
          India
          Models, Biological
          Male
          Rats
          Gene Expression
          Memory, Short Term
          Recognition (Psychology)
          Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
          Genes, Tumor Suppressor
          Control Group
          Neurons
          Spatial Perception
          Visual Perception
          Staining and Labeling
          Blotting, Western
          Descriptive Statistics
          Data Analysis Software
          Analysis of Variance
          Post Hoc Analysis
          Cell Communication
          Male
      ab: Objectives: Cognitive decline in non-pathological aging is widely prevalent among the aging population. The current study assessed the impact of cognitive training (Ct) with multiple modules targeting various facets of learning and memory and the additional influence of an enriched environment (Ct+ee) on hippocampal subfields of aging male rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats aged 18 months were sorted into Control, Ct, and Ct+ee groups and were exposed to the respective modules for 30 days. Spontaneous behavioral tasks to assess working memory and recognition memory were performed. The hippocampal proper (CA1, CA3) and dentate gyrus (DG) neurons were analyzed for dendrite length, arborization, and spine density. The Synaptophysin, PSD 95 and BDNF, p53 and p-tau levels in the hippocampus were quantified. Results: The Ct group and Ct+ee group performed significantly better than the control group in behavioural tasks and had improved dendrite profiles of DG and basal tree of CA1 region of hippocampus. The Ct+ee group had increased dendrite length, arborization, and spine density in CA1, CA3 and DG neurons. Ct and Ct+ee groups showed increased expression of synaptophysin, PSD95 and BDNF and decreased p53 and p-tau levels in the hippocampus. Conclusion: Cognitive training modules targeting specific mnemonic functions and enriched environment with diverse cognitive stimulators had a comprehensive effect on the neuronal health augmenting the impoverished cognitive reserve in aging rats.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        equations & formulas
        pictorial
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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