Contextual Processing and the Impacts of Aging and Neurodegeneration: A Scoping Review

Contextual processing (or context processing; CP) is an integral component of cognition. CP allows people to manage their thoughts and actions by adjusting surroundings. involves the formation internal representation in relation environment, maintenance this information over a period time, updating mental representations reflect changes environment. Each these functions can be affected aging associated conditions. Here, we introduced contextual research summarized literature studying impact normal neurodegeneration-related cognitive decline on CP. Through searching PubMed, PsycINFO, Google Scholar databases, 23 studies were retrieved that focused aging, mild cogniitve impairment (MCI), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's (PD) Results indicated particularly vulnerable neurodegeneration. Older adults had delayed onset reduced amplitude electrophysiological response detection, comparison, execution. MCI patients demonstrated clear signs impaired compared aging. The only study AD suggested decreased proactive control participants maintaining information, but seemingly intact reactive control. Studies PD restricted non-demented older participants, who showed limited ability use motor processes, exhibiting more or less These data suggest with age further impacted accelerated neurodegeneration, providing insights for improving intervention strategies. This review highlights need increased attention important understudied field.