Measuring brain activity associated with subsequent relational memory in typically developing periadolescent children: preliminary data from the PRANK study

The developing brain undergoes significant structural and functional changes that are associated with substantial cognitive changes, and this maturational trajectory continues during the periadolescent epoch. One such change is improvement in relational memory (RM) abilities. Normal RM requires the hippocampus, as demonstrated by the distinct memory deficits of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) associated with AD‐related hippocampal pathology. Lifelong risk factors for late onset AD may affect childhood brain development in ways that affect vulnerability to AD and other memory deficits later in life. This possibility motivates investigation into the brain’s developmental trajectory and correlations with AD‐vulnerable cognitive abilities, especially memory.