Resting-state EEG aperiodic exponent moderates the association between age and memory performance in older adults
Campbell, Alicia J. LU
; Anijärv, Toomas Erik
LU
; Johansson, Mikael
LU
; Pace, Thomas
; Lagopoulos, Jim
; Hermens, Daniel F.
; Levenstein, Jacob M.
and Andrews, Sophie C.
(2026)
In Neurobiology of Aging
160.
p.10-21
- Abstract
Memory functions are susceptible to age-related cognitive decline, making it essential to explore the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms that contribute to memory function during healthy ageing. Resting-state EEG (rsEEG) parameters, particularly the aperiodic exponent, a marker of cortical excitation-inhibition balance, and individual alpha peak frequency, a correlate of neural processing efficiency, have demonstrated associations with ageing and cognitive functions. This study investigated associations between these rsEEG markers and performance across multiple memory systems in healthy older adults (n = 99) aged 50–84 years, specifically the direct associations of these markers on memory across episodic, working, and visual... (More)
Memory functions are susceptible to age-related cognitive decline, making it essential to explore the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms that contribute to memory function during healthy ageing. Resting-state EEG (rsEEG) parameters, particularly the aperiodic exponent, a marker of cortical excitation-inhibition balance, and individual alpha peak frequency, a correlate of neural processing efficiency, have demonstrated associations with ageing and cognitive functions. This study investigated associations between these rsEEG markers and performance across multiple memory systems in healthy older adults (n = 99) aged 50–84 years, specifically the direct associations of these markers on memory across episodic, working, and visual short-term memory systems, assessed via computerised tasks, as well as their moderating effects on age-memory relationships. While no direct associations were seen between rsEEG markers and memory performance across tasks beyond the contribution of age, gender and education, results revealed significant moderating effects of the aperiodic exponent on age-related performance in episodic and visual short-term memory. Notably, for individuals with a higher exponent, age was not significantly associated with episodic or visual short-term memory performance, whereas those with average and lower exponent values showed poorer performance with older age. These findings suggest that average and lower aperiodic exponents may reflect a marker of decrement in age-related memory performance and higher exponents may index an underlying protective mechanism against age-related memory decline. This investigation extends the current understanding of cognitive ageing mechanisms by identifying the aperiodic exponent as a potential biomarker explaining individual differences in cognitive ageing trajectories in older adult populations, particularly in episodic and visual short-term memory systems, and establishes a framework for studying neuroprotective mechanisms and developing interventions to preserve cognitive function in older adults.
(Less)
- author
- Campbell, Alicia J.
LU
; Anijärv, Toomas Erik
LU
; Johansson, Mikael
LU
; Pace, Thomas
; Lagopoulos, Jim
; Hermens, Daniel F.
; Levenstein, Jacob M.
and Andrews, Sophie C.
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-04
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- epub
- subject
- keywords
- Age, Alpha, Aperiodic, Cognition, Electroencephalography, Memory, Periodic
- in
- Neurobiology of Aging
- volume
- 160
- pages
- 12 pages
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105026169886
- pmid:41468657
- ISSN
- 0197-4580
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2025.12.008
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Authors.
- id
- 35666242-9957-4cf5-af09-938882447766
- date added to LUP
- 2026-02-19 16:15:51
- date last changed
- 2026-02-23 11:30:23
@article{35666242-9957-4cf5-af09-938882447766,
abstract = {{<p>Memory functions are susceptible to age-related cognitive decline, making it essential to explore the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms that contribute to memory function during healthy ageing. Resting-state EEG (rsEEG) parameters, particularly the aperiodic exponent, a marker of cortical excitation-inhibition balance, and individual alpha peak frequency, a correlate of neural processing efficiency, have demonstrated associations with ageing and cognitive functions. This study investigated associations between these rsEEG markers and performance across multiple memory systems in healthy older adults (n = 99) aged 50–84 years, specifically the direct associations of these markers on memory across episodic, working, and visual short-term memory systems, assessed via computerised tasks, as well as their moderating effects on age-memory relationships. While no direct associations were seen between rsEEG markers and memory performance across tasks beyond the contribution of age, gender and education, results revealed significant moderating effects of the aperiodic exponent on age-related performance in episodic and visual short-term memory. Notably, for individuals with a higher exponent, age was not significantly associated with episodic or visual short-term memory performance, whereas those with average and lower exponent values showed poorer performance with older age. These findings suggest that average and lower aperiodic exponents may reflect a marker of decrement in age-related memory performance and higher exponents may index an underlying protective mechanism against age-related memory decline. This investigation extends the current understanding of cognitive ageing mechanisms by identifying the aperiodic exponent as a potential biomarker explaining individual differences in cognitive ageing trajectories in older adult populations, particularly in episodic and visual short-term memory systems, and establishes a framework for studying neuroprotective mechanisms and developing interventions to preserve cognitive function in older adults.</p>}},
author = {{Campbell, Alicia J. and Anijärv, Toomas Erik and Johansson, Mikael and Pace, Thomas and Lagopoulos, Jim and Hermens, Daniel F. and Levenstein, Jacob M. and Andrews, Sophie C.}},
issn = {{0197-4580}},
keywords = {{Age; Alpha; Aperiodic; Cognition; Electroencephalography; Memory; Periodic}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{10--21}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Neurobiology of Aging}},
title = {{Resting-state EEG aperiodic exponent moderates the association between age and memory performance in older adults}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2025.12.008}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2025.12.008}},
volume = {{160}},
year = {{2026}},
}