Clinicopathological correlates of executive dysfunction

The Canadian population is aging, which includes an increase in age-associated diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, that affect the brain and its ability to function. Specific areas of the brain are responsible for working memory, our ability to remember how and when to perform activities of daily life, such as maintaining personal hygiene and cooking. Impaired working memory is an early indicator of many age related diseases of the brain. This study will identify structural changes in brain areas associated with working memory and compare them to performance on clinical tests of working memory. Identifying the structural brain changes associated with impaired working memory will help develop potential indicators of future decline in brain function. The ability of older adults to remain independent and maintain a good quality of life relies on their ability to perform activities of daily living successfully. Early detection of impaired working memory may allow for early diagnosis, monitoring and intervention to improve the quality of life of individuals living with neurodegenerative disease.