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Kraft JN, Indahlastari A, Boutzoukas EM, Hausman HK, Hardcastle C, Albizu A, O'Shea A, Evangelista ND, Van Etten EJ, Bharadwaj PK, Song H, Smith SG, DeKosky ST, Hishaw GA, Wu S, Marsiske M, Cohen R, Alexander GE, Porges E, Woods AJ. The impact of a tDCS and cognitive training intervention on task-based functional connectivity. GeroScience 2024; 46:3325-3339. [PMID: 38265579 PMCID: PMC11009202 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01077-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Declines in several cognitive domains, most notably processing speed, occur in non-pathological aging. Given the exponential growth of the older adult population, declines in cognition serve as a significant public health issue that must be addressed. Promising studies have shown that cognitive training in older adults, particularly using the useful field of view (UFOV) paradigm, can improve cognition with moderate to large effect sizes. Additionally, meta-analyses have found that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive form of brain stimulation, can improve cognition in attention/processing speed and working memory. However, only a handful of studies have looked at concomitant tDCS and cognitive training, usually with short interventions and small sample sizes. The current study assessed the effect of a tDCS (active versus sham) and a 3-month cognitive training intervention on task-based functional connectivity during completion of the UFOV task in a large older adult sample (N = 153). We found significant increased functional connectivity between the left and right pars triangularis (the ROIs closest to the electrodes) following active, but not sham tDCS. Additionally, we see trending behavioral improvements associated with these functional connectivity changes in the active tDCS group, but not sham. Collectively, these findings suggest that tDCS and cognitive training can be an effective modulator of task-based functional connectivity above and beyond a cognitive training intervention alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica N Kraft
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 1249 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32603, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Aprinda Indahlastari
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 1249 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32603, USA
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Emanuel M Boutzoukas
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 1249 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32603, USA
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Hanna K Hausman
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 1249 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32603, USA
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Cheshire Hardcastle
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 1249 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32603, USA
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Alejandro Albizu
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 1249 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32603, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Andrew O'Shea
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 1249 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32603, USA
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Nicole D Evangelista
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 1249 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32603, USA
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Emily J Van Etten
- Brain Imaging, Behavior and Aging Laboratory, Department of Psychology and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Pradyumna K Bharadwaj
- Brain Imaging, Behavior and Aging Laboratory, Department of Psychology and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Hyun Song
- Brain Imaging, Behavior and Aging Laboratory, Department of Psychology and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Samantha G Smith
- Brain Imaging, Behavior and Aging Laboratory, Department of Psychology and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Steven T DeKosky
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 1249 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32603, USA
- McKnight Brain Institute and Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Georg A Hishaw
- Department of Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Physiological Sciences Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs, and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona and Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Samuel Wu
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Michael Marsiske
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 1249 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32603, USA
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ronald Cohen
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 1249 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32603, USA
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Gene E Alexander
- McKnight Brain Institute and Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Physiological Sciences Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs, and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona and Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Eric Porges
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 1249 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32603, USA
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Adam J Woods
- Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, 1249 Center Drive, Gainesville, FL, 32603, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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Basaia S, Zavarella M, Rugarli G, Sferruzza G, Cividini C, Canu E, Cacciaguerra L, Bacigaluppi M, Martino G, Filippi M, Agosta F. Caudate functional networks influence brain structural changes with aging. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae116. [PMID: 38665962 PMCID: PMC11043654 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurogenesis decline with aging may be associated with brain atrophy. Subventricular zone neuron precursor cells possibly modulate striatal neuronal activity via the release of soluble molecules. Neurogenesis decay in the subventricular zone may result in structural alterations of brain regions connected to the caudate, particularly to its medial component. The aim of this study was to investigate how the functional organization of caudate networks relates to structural brain changes with aging. One hundred and fifty-two normal subjects were recruited: 52 young healthy adults (≤35 years old), 42 middle-aged (36 ≤ 60 years old) and 58 elderly subjects (≥60 years old). In young adults, stepwise functional connectivity was used to characterize regions that connect to the medial and lateral caudate at different levels of link-step distances. A statistical comparison between the connectivity of medial and lateral caudate in young subjects was useful to define medial and lateral caudate connected regions. Atrophy of medial and lateral caudate connected regions was estimated in young, middle-aged and elderly subjects using T1-weighted images. Results showed that middle-aged and elderly adults exhibited decreased stepwise functional connectivity at one-link step from the caudate, particularly in the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital brain regions, compared to young subjects. Elderly individuals showed increased stepwise functional connectivity in frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes compared to both young and middle-aged adults. Additionally, elderly adults displayed decreased stepwise functional connectivity compared to middle-aged subjects in specific parietal and subcortical areas. Moreover, in young adults, the medial caudate showed higher direct connectivity to the basal ganglia (left thalamus), superior, middle and inferior frontal and inferior parietal gyri (medial caudate connected region) relative to the lateral caudate. Considering the opposite contrast, lateral caudate showed stronger connectivity to the basal ganglia (right pallidum), orbitofrontal, rostral anterior cingulate and insula cortices (lateral caudate connected region) compared to medial caudate. In elderly subjects, the medial caudate connected region showed greater atrophy relative to the lateral caudate connected region. Brain regions linked to the medial caudate appear to be more vulnerable to aging than lateral caudate connected areas. The adjacency to the subventricular zone may, at least partially, explain these findings. Stepwise functional connectivity analysis can be useful to evaluate the role of the subventricular zone in network disruptions in age-related neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Basaia
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Zavarella
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Rugarli
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Giacomo Sferruzza
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Camilla Cividini
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Canu
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Cacciaguerra
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Bacigaluppi
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Gianvito Martino
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Neurophysiology Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Agosta
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
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Tsai WX, Tsai SJ, Lin CP, Huang NE, Yang AC. Exploring timescale-specific functional brain networks and their associations with aging and cognitive performance in a healthy cohort without dementia. Neuroimage 2024; 289:120540. [PMID: 38355076 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Functional brain networks (FBNs) coordinate brain functions and are studied in fMRI using blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal correlations. Previous research links FBN changes to aging and cognitive decline, but various physiological factors influnce BOLD signals. Few studies have investigated the intrinsic components of the BOLD signal in different timescales using signal decomposition. This study aimed to explore differences between intrinsic FBNs and traditional BOLD-FBN, examining their associations with age and cognitive performance in a healthy cohort without dementia. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 396 healthy participants without dementia (men = 157; women = 239; age range = 20-85 years) were enrolled in this study. The BOLD signal was decomposed into several intrinsic signals with different timescales using ensemble empirical mode decomposition, and FBNs were constructed based on both the BOLD and intrinsic signals. Subsequently, network features-global efficiency and local efficiency values-were estimated to determine their relationship with age and cognitive performance. RESULTS The findings revealed that the global efficiency of traditional BOLD-FBN correlated significantly with age, with specific intrinsic FBNs contributing to these correlations. Moreover, local efficiency analysis demonstrated that intrinsic FBNs were more meaningful than traditional BOLD-FBN in identifying brain regions related to age and cognitive performance. CONCLUSIONS These results underscore the importance of exploring timescales of BOLD signals when constructing FBN and highlight the relevance of specific intrinsic FBNs to aging and cognitive performance. Consequently, this decomposition-based FBN-building approach may offer valuable insights for future fMRI studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Xiang Tsai
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Jen Tsai
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Po Lin
- Institute of Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Norden E Huang
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Albert C Yang
- Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan; Digital Medicine and Smart Healthcare Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan.
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Snytte J, Setton R, Mwilambwe-Tshilobo L, Natasha Rajah M, Sheldon S, Turner GR, Spreng RN. Structure-Function Interactions in the Hippocampus and Prefrontal Cortex Are Associated with Episodic Memory in Healthy Aging. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0418-23.2023. [PMID: 38479810 PMCID: PMC10972739 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0418-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging comes with declines in episodic memory. Memory decline is accompanied by structural and functional alterations within key brain regions, including the hippocampus and lateral prefrontal cortex, as well as their affiliated default and frontoparietal control networks. Most studies have examined how structural or functional differences relate to memory independently. Here we implemented a multimodal, multivariate approach to investigate how interactions between individual differences in structural integrity and functional connectivity relate to episodic memory performance in healthy aging. In a sample of younger (N = 111; mean age, 22.11 years) and older (N = 78; mean age, 67.29 years) adults, we analyzed structural MRI and multiecho resting-state fMRI data. Participants completed measures of list recall (free recall of words from a list), associative memory (cued recall of paired words), and source memory (cued recall of the trial type, or the sensory modality in which a word was presented). The findings revealed that greater structural integrity of the posterior hippocampus and middle frontal gyrus were linked with a pattern of increased within-network connectivity, which together were related to better associative and source memory in older adulthood. Critically, older adults displayed better memory performance in the context of decreased hippocampal volumes when structural differences were accompanied by functional reorganization. This functional reorganization was characterized by a pruning of connections between the hippocampus and the limbic and frontoparietal control networks. Our work provides insight into the neural mechanisms that underlie age-related compensation, revealing that the functional architecture associated with better memory performance in healthy aging is tied to the structural integrity of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie Snytte
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1G1, Canada
| | - Roni Setton
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
| | - Laetitia Mwilambwe-Tshilobo
- Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
- Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540
| | - M Natasha Rajah
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1G1, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Signy Sheldon
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1G1, Canada
| | - Gary R Turner
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - R Nathan Spreng
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1G1, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 1A1, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada
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Raykov PP, Knights E, Cam-Can, Henson RN. Does functional system segregation mediate the effects of lifestyle on cognition in older adults? Neurobiol Aging 2024; 134:126-134. [PMID: 38070445 PMCID: PMC10789480 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2023.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/02/2024]
Abstract
Healthy aging is typically accompanied by cognitive decline. Previous work has shown that engaging in multiple, non-work activities during midlife can have a protective effect on cognition several decades later, rendering it less dependent on brain structural health; the definition of "cognitive reserve". Other work has shown that increasing age is associated with reduced segregation of large-scale brain functional networks. Here we tested the hypothesis that functional segregation (SyS) mediates this effect of middle-aged lifestyle on late-life cognition. We used fMRI data from three tasks in the CamCAN dataset, together with cognitive data on fluid intelligence, episodic memory, and retrospective lifestyle data from the Lifetime of Experiences Questionnaire (LEQ). In all three tasks, we showed that SyS related to fluid intelligence even after adjusting for the (nonlinear) age effects. However, we found no evidence that SyS in late-life mediated the relationship between non-specific (non-occupation) midlife activities and either measure of cognition in late-life. Thus, the brain correlates of cognitive reserve arising from mid-life activities remain to be discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petar P Raykov
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, UK.
| | - Ethan Knights
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Cam-Can
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Richard N Henson
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK
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Tang R, Elman JA, Dale AM, Dorros SM, Eyler LT, Fennema-Notestine C, Gustavson DE, Hagler DJ, Lyons MJ, Panizzon MS, Puckett OK, Reynolds CA, Franz CE, Kremen WS. Childhood Disadvantage Moderates Late Midlife Default Mode Network Cortical Microstructure and Visual Memory Association. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2024; 79:glad114. [PMID: 37096346 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glad114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood disadvantage is a prominent risk factor for cognitive and brain aging. Childhood disadvantage is associated with poorer episodic memory in late midlife and functional and structural brain abnormalities in the default mode network (DMN). Although age-related changes in DMN are associated with episodic memory declines in older adults, it remains unclear if childhood disadvantage has an enduring impact on this later-life brain-cognition relationship earlier in the aging process. Here, within the DMN, we examined whether its cortical microstructural integrity-an early marker of structural vulnerability that increases the risk for future cognitive decline and neurodegeneration-is associated with episodic memory in adults at ages 56-66, and whether childhood disadvantage moderates this association. METHODS Cortical mean diffusivity (MD) obtained from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure microstructural integrity in 350 community-dwelling men. We examined both visual and verbal episodic memory in relation to DMN MD and divided participants into disadvantaged and nondisadvantaged groups based on parental education and occupation. RESULTS Higher DMN MD was associated with poorer visual memory but not verbal memory (β = -0.11, p = .040 vs β = -0.04, p = .535). This association was moderated by childhood disadvantage and was significant only in the disadvantaged group (β = -0.26, p = .002 vs β = -0.00, p = .957). CONCLUSIONS Lower DMN cortical microstructural integrity may reflect visual memory vulnerability in cognitively normal adults earlier in the aging process. Individuals who experienced childhood disadvantage manifested greater vulnerability to cortical microstructure-related visual memory dysfunction than their nondisadvantaged counterparts who exhibited resilience in the face of low cortical microstructural integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongxiang Tang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jeremy A Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Anders M Dale
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Stephen M Dorros
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Lisa T Eyler
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Desert Pacific Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Christine Fennema-Notestine
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Daniel E Gustavson
- Institute for Behavior Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Donald J Hagler
- Department of Radiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Michael J Lyons
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Olivia K Puckett
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Chandra A Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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Spalek K, Coynel D, de Quervain D, Milnik A. Sex-dependent differences in connectivity patterns are related to episodic memory recall. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:5612-5623. [PMID: 37647201 PMCID: PMC10619411 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that females typically outperform males on episodic memory tasks. In this study, we investigated if (1) there are differences between males and females in their connectome characteristics, (2) if these connectivity patterns are associated with memory performance, and (3) if these brain connectome characteristics contribute to the differences in episodic memory performance between sexes. In a sample of 655 healthy young subjects (n = 391 females; n = 264 males), we derived brain network characteristics from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) data using models of crossing fibers within each voxel of the brain and probabilistic tractography (graph strength, shortest path length, global efficiency, and weighted transitivity). Group differences were analysed with linear models and mediation analyses were used to explore how connectivity patterns might relate to sex-dependent differences in memory performance. Our results show significant sex-dependent differences in weighted transitivity (d = 0.42), with males showing higher values. Further, we observed a negative association between weighted transitivity and memory performance (r = -0.12). Finally, these distinct connectome characteristics partially mediated the observed differences in memory performance (effect size of the indirect effect r = 0.02). Our findings indicate a higher interconnectedness in females compared to males. Additionally, we demonstrate that the sex-dependent differences in episodic memory performance can be partially explained by the differences in this connectome measure. These results further underscore the importance of sex-dependent differences in brain connectivity and their impact on cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara Spalek
- Division of Cognitive NeuroscienceDepartment of BiomedicineUniversity of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Division of Molecular NeuroscienceDepartment of BiomedicineUniversity of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Hoekzema Lab, Adult PsychiatryUniversity Medical Centre AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - David Coynel
- Division of Cognitive NeuroscienceDepartment of BiomedicineUniversity of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Research Cluster Molecular and Cognitive NeurosciencesUniversity of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Dominique de Quervain
- Division of Cognitive NeuroscienceDepartment of BiomedicineUniversity of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Research Cluster Molecular and Cognitive NeurosciencesUniversity of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Psychiatric University Clinics, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Annette Milnik
- Division of Cognitive NeuroscienceDepartment of BiomedicineUniversity of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Division of Molecular NeuroscienceDepartment of BiomedicineUniversity of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Psychiatric University Clinics, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
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Stolz C, Bulla A, Soch J, Schott BH, Richter A. Openness to Experience is associated with neural and performance measures of memory in older adults. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci 2023; 18:nsad041. [PMID: 37632761 PMCID: PMC10533339 DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsad041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related decline in episodic memory performance is a well-replicated finding across numerous studies. Recent studies focusing on aging and individual differences found that the Big Five personality trait Openness to Experience (hereafter: Openness) is associated with better episodic memory performance in older adults, but the associated neural mechanisms are largely unclear. Here, we investigated the relationship between Openness and memory network function in a sample of 352 participants (143 older adults, 50-80 years; 209 young adults, 18-35 years). Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a visual memory encoding task. Functional memory brain-network integrity was assessed using the similarity of activations during memory encoding (SAME) scores, which reflect the similarity of a participant's memory network activity compared to prototypical fMRI activity patterns of young adults. Openness was assessed using the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. Older vs young adults showed lower memory performance and higher deviation of fMRI activity patterns (i.e. lower SAME scores). Specifically in older adults, high Openness was associated with better memory performance, and mediation analysis showed that this relationship was partially mediated by higher SAME scores. Our results suggest that trait Openness may constitute a protective factor in cognitive aging by better preservation of the brain's memory network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Stolz
- Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN), Magdeburg 39118, Germany
- Department of Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg 39106, Germany
| | - Ariane Bulla
- Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN), Magdeburg 39118, Germany
| | - Joram Soch
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen 37075, Germany
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience (BCCN), Berlin 10115, Germany
| | - Björn H Schott
- Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN), Magdeburg 39118, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen 37075, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen 37075, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Anni Richter
- Department of Behavioral Neurology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN), Magdeburg 39118, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Germany
- Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health (C-I-R-C), Jena-Magdeburg-Halle, Germany
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9
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Elmer S, Kurthen I, Meyer M, Giroud N. A multidimensional characterization of the neurocognitive architecture underlying age-related temporal speech processing. Neuroimage 2023; 278:120285. [PMID: 37481009 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Healthy aging is often associated with speech comprehension difficulties in everyday life situations despite a pure-tone hearing threshold in the normative range. Drawing on this background, we used a multidimensional approach to assess the functional and structural neural correlates underlying age-related temporal speech processing while controlling for pure-tone hearing acuity. Accordingly, we combined structural magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography, and collected behavioral data while younger and older adults completed a phonetic categorization and discrimination task with consonant-vowel syllables varying along a voice-onset time continuum. The behavioral results confirmed age-related temporal speech processing singularities which were reflected in a shift of the boundary of the psychometric categorization function, with older adults perceiving more syllable characterized by a short voice-onset time as /ta/ compared to younger adults. Furthermore, despite the absence of any between-group differences in phonetic discrimination abilities, older adults demonstrated longer N100/P200 latencies as well as increased P200 amplitudes while processing the consonant-vowel syllables varying in voice-onset time. Finally, older adults also exhibited a divergent anatomical gray matter infrastructure in bilateral auditory-related and frontal brain regions, as manifested in reduced cortical thickness and surface area. Notably, in the younger adults but not in the older adult cohort, cortical surface area in these two gross anatomical clusters correlated with the categorization of consonant-vowel syllables characterized by a short voice-onset time, suggesting the existence of a critical gray matter threshold that is crucial for consistent mapping of phonetic categories varying along the temporal dimension. Taken together, our results highlight the multifaceted dimensions of age-related temporal speech processing characteristics, and pave the way toward a better understanding of the relationships between hearing, speech and the brain in older age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Elmer
- Department of Computational Linguistics, Computational Neuroscience of Speech & Hearing, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Competence center Language & Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Ira Kurthen
- Department of Computational Linguistics, Computational Neuroscience of Speech & Hearing, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Meyer
- Department of Comparative Language Science, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Center for Neuroscience Zurich, University and ETH of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Language Evolution (ISLE), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Cognitive Psychology Unit, Alpen-Adria University, Klagenfurt, Austria
| | - Nathalie Giroud
- Department of Computational Linguistics, Computational Neuroscience of Speech & Hearing, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Center for Neuroscience Zurich, University and ETH of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Competence center Language & Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland
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10
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Almeida J, Martins AR, Amaral L, Valério D, Bukhari Q, Schu G, Nogueira J, Spínola M, Soleimani G, Fernandes F, Silva AR, Fregni F, Simis M, Simões M, Peres A. The cerebellum is causally involved in episodic memory under aging. GeroScience 2023; 45:2267-2287. [PMID: 36749471 PMCID: PMC10651631 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00738-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Episodic memory decline is a major signature of both normal and pathological aging. Many neural regions have been implicated in the processes subserving both episodic memory and typical aging decline. Here, we demonstrate that the cerebellum is causally involved episodic memory under aging. We show that a 12-day neurostimulation program delivered to the right cerebellum led to improvements in episodic memory performance under healthy aging that long outlast the stimulation period - healthy elderly individuals show episodic memory improvement both immediately after the intervention program and in a 4-month follow-up. These results demonstrate the causal relevance of the cerebellum in processes associated with long-term episodic memory, potentially highlighting its role in regulating and maintaining cognitive processing. Moreover, they point to the importance of non-pharmacological interventions that prevent or diminish cognitive decline in healthy aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Almeida
- Proaction Lab, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
- CINEICC, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Ana R Martins
- Proaction Lab, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Lénia Amaral
- Proaction Lab, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- CINEICC, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, USA
| | - Daniela Valério
- Proaction Lab, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- CINEICC, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Qasim Bukhari
- Proaction Lab, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- CINEICC, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Guilherme Schu
- Proaction Lab, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- CINEICC, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Joana Nogueira
- CINEICC, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Psychological Assessment and Psychometrics Laboratory, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Mónica Spínola
- CINEICC, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Psychological Assessment and Psychometrics Laboratory, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- NOVA LINCS, University of Madeira, Caminho da Penteada, 9020-105, Funchal, Portugal
| | - Ghazaleh Soleimani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic), Tehran, Iran
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | | | - Ana R Silva
- CINEICC, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Psychological Assessment and Psychometrics Laboratory, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Felipe Fregni
- Spaulding Neuromodulation Center, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marcel Simis
- Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mário Simões
- CINEICC, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- Psychological Assessment and Psychometrics Laboratory, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - André Peres
- Proaction Lab, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
- CINEICC, Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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11
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Pedersen R, Johansson J, Salami A. Dopamine D1-signaling modulates maintenance of functional network segregation in aging. AGING BRAIN 2023; 3:100079. [PMID: 37408790 PMCID: PMC10318303 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbas.2023.100079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Past research has shown that as individuals age, there are decreases in within-network connectivity and increases in between-network connectivity, a pattern known as functional dedifferentiation. While the mechanisms behind reduced network segregation are not fully understood, evidence suggests that age-related differences in the dopamine (DA) system may play a key role. The DA D1-receptor (D1DR) is the most abundant and age-sensitive receptor subtype in the dopaminergic system, known to modulate synaptic activity and enhance the specificity of the neuronal signals. In this study from the DyNAMiC project (N = 180, 20-79y), we set out to investigate the interplay among age, functional connectivity, and dopamine D1DR availability. Using a novel application of multivariate Partial Least squares (PLS), we found that older age, and lower D1DR availability, were simultaneously associated with a pattern of decreased within-network and increased between-network connectivity. Individuals who expressed greater distinctiveness of large-scale networks exhibited more efficient working memory. In line with the maintenance hypotheses, we found that older individuals with greater D1DR in caudate exhibited less dedifferentiation of the connectome, and greater working memory, compared to their age-matched counterparts with less D1DR. These findings suggest that dopaminergic neurotransmission plays an important role in functional dedifferentiation in aging with consequences for working memory function at older age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Pedersen
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Jarkko Johansson
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Alireza Salami
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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12
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Fletcher E, Farias S, DeCarli C, Gavett B, Widaman K, De Leon F, Mungas D. Toward a statistical validation of brain signatures as robust measures of behavioral substrates. Hum Brain Mapp 2023; 44:3094-3111. [PMID: 36939069 PMCID: PMC10171525 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The "brain signature of cognition" concept has garnered interest as a data-driven, exploratory approach to better understand key brain regions involved in specific cognitive functions, with the potential to maximally characterize brain substrates of behavioral outcomes. Previously we presented a method for computing signatures of episodic memory. However, to be a robust brain measure, the signature approach requires a rigorous validation of model performance across a variety of cohorts. Here we report validation results and provide an example of extending it to a second behavioral domain. In each of two discovery data cohorts, we derived regional brain gray matter thickness associations for two domains: neuropsychological and everyday cognition memory. We computed regional association to outcome in 40 randomly selected discovery subsets of size 400 in each cohort. We generated spatial overlap frequency maps and defined high-frequency regions as "consensus" signature masks. Using separate validation datasets, we evaluated replicability of cohort-based consensus model fits and explanatory power by comparing signature model fits with each other and with competing theory-based models. Spatial replications produced convergent consensus signature regions. Consensus signature model fits were highly correlated in 50 random subsets of each validation cohort, indicating high replicability. In comparisons over each full cohort, signature models outperformed other models. In this validation study, we produced signature models that replicated model fits to outcome and outperformed other commonly used measures. Signatures in two memory domains suggested strongly shared brain substrates. Robust brain signatures may therefore be achievable, yielding reliable and useful measures for modeling substrates of behavioral domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Fletcher
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Sarah Farias
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Charles DeCarli
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Brandon Gavett
- School of Psychological ScienceUniversity of Western AustraliaPerthAustralia
| | - Keith Widaman
- School of EducationUniversity of California, RiversideRiversideCaliforniaUSA
| | - Fransia De Leon
- School of MedicineUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Dan Mungas
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
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13
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Ren P, Hou G, Ma M, Zhuang Y, Huang J, Tan M, Wu D, Luo G, Zhang Z, Rong H. Enhanced putamen functional connectivity underlies altered risky decision-making in age-related cognitive decline. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6619. [PMID: 37095127 PMCID: PMC10126002 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33634-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Risky decision-making is critical to survival and development, which has been compromised in elderly populations. However, the neural substrates of altered financial risk-taking behavior in aging are still under-investigated. Here we examined the intrinsic putamen network in modulating risk-taking behaviors of Balloon Analogue Risk Task in healthy young and older adults using resting-state fMRI. Compared with the young group, the elderly group showed significantly different task performance. Based on the task performance, older adults were further subdivided into two subgroups, showing young-like and over-conservative risk behaviors, regardless of cognitive decline. Compared with young adults, the intrinsic pattern of putamen connectivity was significantly different in over-conservative older adults, but not in young-like older adults. Notably, age-effects on risk behaviors were mediated via the putamen functional connectivity. In addition, the putamen gray matter volume showed significantly different relationships with risk behaviors and functional connectivity in over-conservative older adults. Our findings suggest that reward-based risky behaviors might be a sensitive indicator of brain aging, highlighting the critical role of the putamen network in maintaining optimal risky decision-making in age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Ren
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shenzhen Mental Health Center/Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
| | - Gangqiang Hou
- Department of Radiology, Shenzhen Mental Health Center/Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Manxiu Ma
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Yuchuan Zhuang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Jiayin Huang
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shenzhen Mental Health Center/Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Meiling Tan
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shenzhen Mental Health Center/Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Donghui Wu
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shenzhen Mental Health Center/Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Guozhi Luo
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shenzhen Mental Health Center/Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhiguo Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Han Rong
- Department of Psychiatry, Shenzhen Mental Health Center/Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
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14
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Hill PF, de Chastelaine M, Rugg MD. Patterns of retrieval-related cortico-striatal connectivity are stable across the adult lifespan. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:4542-4552. [PMID: 36124666 PMCID: PMC10110447 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Memory retrieval effects in the striatum are well documented and robust across experimental paradigms. However, the functional significance of these effects, and whether they are moderated by age, remains unclear. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging paired with an associative recognition task to examine retrieval effects in the striatum in a sample of healthy young, middle-aged, and older adults. We identified anatomically segregated patterns of enhanced striatal blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) activity during recollection- and familiarity-based memory judgments. Successful recollection was associated with enhanced BOLD activity in bilateral putamen and nucleus accumbens, and neither of these effects were reliably moderated by age. Familiarity effects were evident in the head of the caudate nucleus bilaterally, and these effects were attenuated in middle-aged and older adults. Using psychophysiological interaction analyses, we observed a monitoring-related increase in functional connectivity between the caudate and regions of the frontoparietal control network, and between the putamen and bilateral retrosplenial cortex and intraparietal sulcus. In all instances, monitoring-related increases in cortico-striatal connectivity were unmoderated by age. These results suggest that the striatum, and the caudate in particular, couples with the frontoparietal control network to support top-down retrieval-monitoring operations, and that the strength of these inter-regional interactions is preserved in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul F Hill
- Psychology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States
| | | | - Michael D Rugg
- Center for Vital Longevity, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX 75235, United States
- School of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
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15
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Noroozian M, Kormi-Nouri R, Nyberg L, Persson J. Hippocampal and motor regions contribute to memory benefits after enacted encoding: cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:3080-3097. [PMID: 35802485 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurobiological underpinnings of action-related episodic memory and how enactment contributes to efficient memory encoding are not well understood. We examine whether individual differences in level (n = 338) and 5-year change (n = 248) in the ability to benefit from motor involvement during memory encoding are related to gray matter (GM) volume, white matter (WM) integrity, and dopamine-regulating genes in a population-based cohort (age range = 25-80 years). A latent profile analysis identified 2 groups with similar performance on verbal encoding but with marked differences in the ability to benefit from motor involvement during memory encoding. Impaired ability to benefit from enactment was paired with smaller HC, parahippocampal, and putamen volume along with lower WM microstructure in the fornix. Individuals with reduced ability to benefit from encoding enactment over 5 years were characterized by reduced HC and motor cortex GM volume along with reduced WM microstructure in several WM tracts. Moreover, the proportion of catechol-O-methyltransferase-Val-carriers differed significantly between classes identified from the latent-profile analysis. These results provide converging evidence that individuals with low or declining ability to benefit from motor involvement during memory encoding are characterized by low and reduced GM volume in regions critical for memory and motor functions along with altered WM microstructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Noroozian
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, South Kargar Str., Tehran 13185/1741, Iran
| | - Reza Kormi-Nouri
- School of Law, Psychology and Social Work, Örebro University, Fakultetsgatan 1, Örebro 702 81, Sweden
| | - Lars Nyberg
- Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiology, Umeå University, Universitetstorget 4, Umeå 901 87, Sweden
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, Universitetstorget 4, Umeå 901 87, Sweden
- Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Umeå University, Universitetstorget 4, Umeå 901 87, Sweden
| | - Jonas Persson
- School of Law, Psychology and Social Work, Center for Lifespan Developmental Research (LEADER), Örebro University, Fakultetsgatan 1, Örebro 702 81, Sweden
- Aging Research Center (ARC), Stockholm University and Karolinska Institute, Tomtebodavägen 18A, Solna 171 65, Sweden
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16
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Radhakrishnan V, Gallea C, Valabregue R, Krishnan S, Kesavadas C, Thomas B, James P, Menon R, Kishore A. Cerebellar and basal ganglia structural connections in humans: Effect of aging and relation with memory and learning. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1019239. [PMID: 36776439 PMCID: PMC9908607 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1019239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The cerebellum and basal ganglia were initially considered anatomically distinct regions, each connected via thalamic relays which project to the same cerebral cortical targets, such as the motor cortex. In the last two decades, transneuronal viral transport studies in non-human primates showed bidirectional connections between the cerebellum and basal ganglia at the subcortical level, without involving the cerebral cortical motor areas. These findings have significant implications for our understanding of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. While these subcortical connections were established in smaller studies on humans, their evolution with natural aging is less understood. Methods In this study, we validated and expanded the previous findings of the structural connectivity within the cerebellum-basal ganglia subcortical network, in a larger dataset of 64 subjects, across different age ranges. Tractography and fixel-based analysis were performed on the 3 T diffusion-weighted dataset using Mrtrix3 software, considering fiber density and cross-section as indicators of axonal integrity. Tractography of the well-established cerebello-thalamo-cortical tract was conducted as a control. We tested the relationship between the structural white matter integrity of these connections with aging and with the performance in different domains of Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination. Results Tractography analysis isolated connections from the dentate nucleus to the contralateral putamen via the thalamus, and reciprocal tracts from the subthalamic nucleus to the contralateral cerebellar cortex via the pontine nuclei. Control tracts of cerebello-thalamo-cortical tracts were also isolated, including associative cerebello-prefrontal tracts. A negative linear relationship was found between the fiber density of both the ascending and descending cerebellum-basal ganglia tracts and age. Considering the cognitive assessments, the fiber density values of cerebello-thalamo-putaminal tracts correlated with the registration/learning domain scores. In addition, the fiber density values of cerebello-frontal and subthalamo-cerebellar (Crus II) tracts correlated with the cognitive assessment scores from the memory domain. Conclusion We validated the structural connectivity within the cerebellum-basal ganglia reciprocal network, in a larger dataset of human subjects, across wider age range. The structural features of the subcortical cerebello-basal ganglia tracts in human subjects display age-related neurodegeneration. Individual morphological variability of cerebellar tracts to the striatum and prefrontal cortex was associated with different cognitive functions, suggesting a functional contribution of cerebellar tracts to cognitive decline with aging. This study offers new perspectives to consider the functional role of these pathways in motor learning and the pathophysiology of movement disorders involving the cerebellum and striatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vineeth Radhakrishnan
- Comprehensive Care Centre for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Cecile Gallea
- INSERM, CNRS, Paris Brain Institute, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Romain Valabregue
- INSERM, CNRS, Paris Brain Institute, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Syam Krishnan
- Comprehensive Care Centre for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Chandrasekharan Kesavadas
- Department of Imaging Sciences and Interventional Radiology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Bejoy Thomas
- Department of Imaging Sciences and Interventional Radiology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Praveen James
- Comprehensive Care Centre for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Ramshekhar Menon
- Department of Neurology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Asha Kishore
- Comprehensive Care Centre for Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, India,Parkinson and Movement Disorder Centre, Department of Neurology, Aster Medcity, Kochi, India,*Correspondence: Asha Kishore, ✉
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17
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Wu K, Jelfs B, Mahmoud SS, Neville K, Fang JQ. Tracking functional network connectivity dynamics in the elderly. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1146264. [PMID: 37021138 PMCID: PMC10069653 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1146264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has shown that aging disturbs healthy brain organization and functional connectivity. However, how this age-induced alteration impacts dynamic brain function interaction has not yet been fully investigated. Dynamic function network connectivity (DFNC) analysis can produce a brain representation based on the time-varying network connectivity changes, which can be further used to study the brain aging mechanism for people at different age stages. Method This presented investigation examined the dynamic functional connectivity representation and its relationship with brain age for people at an elderly stage as well as in early adulthood. Specifically, the resting-state fMRI data from the University of North Carolina cohort of 34 young adults and 28 elderly participants were fed into a DFNC analysis pipeline. This DFNC pipeline forms an integrated dynamic functional connectivity (FC) analysis framework, which consists of brain functional network parcellation, dynamic FC feature extraction, and FC dynamics examination. Results The statistical analysis demonstrates that extensive dynamic connection changes in the elderly concerning the transient brain state and the method of functional interaction in the brain. In addition, various machine learning algorithms have been developed to verify the ability of dynamic FC features to distinguish the age stage. The fraction time of DFNC states has the highest performance, which can achieve a classification accuracy of over 88% by a decision tree. Discussion The results proved there are dynamic FC alterations in the elderly, and the alteration was found to be correlated with mnemonic discrimination ability and could have an impact on the balance of functional integration and segregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaichao Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, China
- School of Engineering, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Beth Jelfs
- Department of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Beth Jelfs
| | - Seedahmed S. Mahmoud
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, China
| | - Katrina Neville
- School of Engineering, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - John Q. Fang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, China
- *Correspondence: John Q. Fang
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18
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Xia H, He Q, Chen A. Understanding cognitive control in aging: A brain network perspective. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1038756. [PMID: 36389081 PMCID: PMC9659905 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1038756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive control decline is a major manifestation of brain aging that severely impairs the goal-directed abilities of older adults. Magnetic resonance imaging evidence suggests that cognitive control during aging is associated with altered activation in a range of brain regions, including the frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes. However, focusing on specific regions, while ignoring the structural and functional connectivity between regions, may impede an integrated understanding of cognitive control decline in older adults. Here, we discuss the role of aging-related changes in functional segregation, integration, and antagonism among large-scale networks. We highlight that disrupted spontaneous network organization, impaired information co-processing, and enhanced endogenous interference promote cognitive control declines during aging. Additionally, in older adults, severe damage to structural network can weaken functional connectivity and subsequently trigger cognitive control decline, whereas a relatively intact structural network ensures the compensation of functional connectivity to mitigate cognitive control impairment. Thus, we propose that age-related changes in functional networks may be influenced by structural networks in cognitive control in aging (CCA). This review provided an integrative framework to understand the cognitive control decline in aging by viewing the brain as a multimodal networked system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haishuo Xia
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qinghua He
- Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Antao Chen
- School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Antao Chen,
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19
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Mary A, Bastin C, Lina JM, Rauchs G. Editorial: The impact of age-related changes in brain network organization and sleep on memory. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:1049278. [PMID: 36268189 PMCID: PMC9577460 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1049278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alison Mary
- UR2NF—Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Research Unit at CRCN - Center for Research in Cognition and Neurosciences and UNI—ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Alison Mary
| | - Christine Bastin
- GIGA-Cyclotron Research Centre In Vivo Imaging & Psychology and Neuroscience of Cognition, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Jean-Marc Lina
- Center for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Electrical Engineering, École de Technologie Supérieure, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherches Mathématiques, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Géraldine Rauchs
- Normandie Univ, University of Caen, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, U1237, Physiopathology and Imaging of Neurological Disorders (PhIND), GIP Cyceron, Institut Blood and Brain @ Caen-Normandie, Caen, France
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20
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Folvik L, Sneve MH, Ness HT, Vidal-Piñeiro D, Raud L, Geier OM, Walhovd KB, Fjell AM. Sustained upregulation of widespread hippocampal-neocortical coupling following memory encoding. Cereb Cortex 2022; 33:4844-4858. [PMID: 36190442 PMCID: PMC10110434 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Systems consolidation of new experiences into lasting episodic memories involves hippocampal-neocortical interactions. Evidence of this process is already observed during early post-encoding rest periods, both as increased hippocampal coupling with task-relevant perceptual regions and reactivation of stimulus-specific patterns following intensive encoding tasks. We investigate the spatial and temporal characteristics of these hippocampally anchored post-encoding neocortical modulations. Eighty-nine adults participated in an experiment consisting of interleaved memory task- and resting-state periods. We observed increased post-encoding functional connectivity between hippocampus and individually localized neocortical regions responsive to stimuli encountered during memory encoding. Post-encoding modulations were manifested as a nearly system-wide upregulation in hippocampal coupling with all major functional networks. The configuration of these extensive modulations resembled hippocampal-neocortical interaction patterns estimated from active encoding operations, suggesting hippocampal post-encoding involvement exceeds perceptual aspects. Reinstatement of encoding patterns was not observed in resting-state scans collected 12 h later, nor when using other candidate seed regions. The similarity in hippocampal functional coupling between online memory encoding and offline post-encoding rest suggests reactivation in humans involves a spectrum of cognitive processes engaged during the experience of an event. There were no age effects, suggesting that upregulation of hippocampal-neocortical connectivity represents a general phenomenon seen across the adult lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Line Folvik
- Department of Psychology, Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of Oslo, Forskningsveien 3A, 0373 Oslo, Norway
| | - Markus H Sneve
- Department of Psychology, Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of Oslo, Forskningsveien 3A, 0373 Oslo, Norway
| | - Hedda T Ness
- Department of Psychology, Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of Oslo, Forskningsveien 3A, 0373 Oslo, Norway
| | - Didac Vidal-Piñeiro
- Department of Psychology, Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of Oslo, Forskningsveien 3A, 0373 Oslo, Norway
| | - Liisa Raud
- Department of Psychology, Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of Oslo, Forskningsveien 3A, 0373 Oslo, Norway
| | - Oliver M Geier
- Department of Diagnostic Physics, Oslo University Hospital, Postbox 4950 Nydalen, OUS, Rikshospitalet, 0424 Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristine B Walhovd
- Department of Psychology, Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of Oslo, Forskningsveien 3A, 0373 Oslo, Norway.,Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Postbox 4950 Nydalen, OUS, Rikshospitalet, 0424 Oslo, Norway
| | - Anders M Fjell
- Department of Psychology, Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of Oslo, Forskningsveien 3A, 0373 Oslo, Norway.,Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Postbox 4950 Nydalen, OUS, Rikshospitalet, 0424 Oslo, Norway
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21
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Resting-state functional connectivity does not predict individual differences in the effects of emotion on memory. Sci Rep 2022; 12:14481. [PMID: 36008438 PMCID: PMC9411155 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18543-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Emotion-laden events and objects are typically better remembered than neutral ones. This is usually explained by stronger functional coupling in the brain evoked by emotional content. However, most research on this issue has focused on functional connectivity evoked during or after learning. The effect of an individual’s functional connectivity at rest is unknown. Our pre-registered study addresses this issue by analysing a large database, the Cambridge Centre for Ageing and Neuroscience, which includes resting-state data and emotional memory scores from 303 participants aged 18–87 years. We applied regularised regression to select the relevant connections and replicated previous findings that whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity can predict age and intelligence in younger adults. However, whole-brain functional connectivity predicted neither an emotional enhancement effect (i.e., the degree to which emotionally positive or negative events are remembered better than neutral events) nor a positivity bias effect (i.e., the degree to which emotionally positive events are remembered better than negative events), failing to support our pre-registered hypotheses. These results imply a small or no association between individual differences in functional connectivity at rest and emotional memory, and support recent notions that resting-state functional connectivity is not always useful in predicting individual differences in behavioural measures.
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22
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Zhang C, Cui X, Lian S, Xiao R, Qiao H, Li S, Lou Y, Feng Y, Zhuang L, Du J, Liu X. Intelligent algorithm for dynamic functional brain network complexity from CN to AD. INT J INTELL SYST 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/int.22737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chenghui Zhang
- School of Computer Science Qufu Normal University Rizhao China
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Zhejiang University Hangzhou China
| | - Xinchun Cui
- School of Computer Science Qufu Normal University Rizhao China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Cryptography and Information Security Guilin China
| | - Shujun Lian
- School of Management Qufu Normal University Rizhao China
| | - Ruyi Xiao
- School of Computer Science Qufu Normal University Rizhao China
| | - Hong Qiao
- School of Business Shandong Normal University Jinan China
| | - Shancang Li
- Department of Computer Science University of the West of England Bristol UK
| | - Yue Lou
- Department of Neurology Zhejiang Hospital Hangzhou China
| | - Yue Feng
- Department of Radiology Zhejiang Hospital Hangzhou China
| | - Liying Zhuang
- Department of Neurology Zhejiang Hospital Hangzhou China
| | - Jianzong Du
- Respiratory Medicine Zhejiang Hospital Hangzhou China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Department of Neurology Zhejiang Hospital Hangzhou China
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23
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Alm KH, Soldan A, Pettigrew C, Faria AV, Hou X, Lu H, Moghekar A, Mori S, Albert M, Bakker A. Structural and Functional Brain Connectivity Uniquely Contribute to Episodic Memory Performance in Older Adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:951076. [PMID: 35903538 PMCID: PMC9315224 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.951076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we examined the independent contributions of structural and functional connectivity markers to individual differences in episodic memory performance in 107 cognitively normal older adults from the BIOCARD study. Structural connectivity, defined by the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measure of radial diffusivity (RD), was obtained from two medial temporal lobe white matter tracts: the fornix and hippocampal cingulum, while functional connectivity markers were derived from network-based resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) of five large-scale brain networks: the control, default, limbic, dorsal attention, and salience/ventral attention networks. Hierarchical and stepwise linear regression methods were utilized to directly compare the relative contributions of the connectivity modalities to individual variability in a composite delayed episodic memory score, while also accounting for age, sex, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of amyloid and tau pathology (i.e., Aβ42/Aβ40 and p-tau181), and gray matter volumes of the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus. Results revealed that fornix RD, hippocampal cingulum RD, and salience network functional connectivity were each significant independent predictors of memory performance, while CSF markers and gray matter volumes were not. Moreover, in the stepwise model, the addition of sex, fornix RD, hippocampal cingulum RD, and salience network functional connectivity each significantly improved the overall predictive value of the model. These findings demonstrate that both DTI and rsfMRI connectivity measures uniquely contributed to the model and that the combination of structural and functional connectivity markers best accounted for individual variability in episodic memory function in cognitively normal older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylie H. Alm
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Anja Soldan
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Corinne Pettigrew
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Andreia V. Faria
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Xirui Hou
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Hanzhang Lu
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Abhay Moghekar
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Susumu Mori
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Marilyn Albert
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Arnold Bakker
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States,*Correspondence: Arnold Bakker,
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24
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Oishi K, Soldan A, Pettigrew C, Hsu J, Mori S, Albert M, Oishi K. Changes in pairwise functional connectivity associated with changes in cognitive performance in cognitively normal older individuals: A two-year observational study. Neurosci Lett 2022; 781:136618. [PMID: 35398188 PMCID: PMC9990522 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Neurobiological substrates of cognitive decline in cognitively normal older individuals have been investigated by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, but little is known about the relationship between longitudinal changes in the whole brain. In this study, we examined two-year changes in functional connectivity among 80 gray matter areas and investigated the relationship to two-year changes in cognitive performance. A cross-validated permutation variable importance measure was applied to select features related to a change in cognitive performance. Age-corrected changes in eleven pairs of functional connections were selected as important features, all related to brain areas that belong to the default mode network. A linear regression model with cross-validation demonstrated a mean correlation coefficient of 0.55 between measured and predicted changes in the cognitive composite score. These results suggest that intra- and inter-network connections in the default mode network are associated with cognitive changes over two years among cognitively normal individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumiko Oishi
- Center for Imaging Science, The Johns Hopkins University, Whiting School of Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anja Soldan
- Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Corinne Pettigrew
- Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Johnny Hsu
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Susumu Mori
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marilyn Albert
- Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kenichi Oishi
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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25
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Hsieh S, Yang MH. Potential Diffusion Tensor Imaging Biomarkers for Elucidating Intra-Individual Age-Related Changes in Cognitive Control and Processing Speed. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:850655. [PMID: 35557836 PMCID: PMC9087335 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.850655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive aging, especially cognitive control, and processing speed aging have been well-documented in the literature. Most of the evidence was reported based on cross-sectional data, in which inter-individual age effects were shown. However, there have been some studies pointing out the possibility of overlooking intra-individual changes in cognitive aging. To systematically examine whether age-related differences and age-related changes might yield distinctive patterns, this study directly compared cognitive control function and processing speed between different cohorts versus follow-up changes across the adult lifespan. Moreover, considering that cognitive aging has been attributed to brain disconnection in white matter (WM) integrity, this study focused on WM integrity via acquiring diffusion-weighted imaging data with an MRI instrument that are further fitted to a diffusion tensor model (i.e., DTI) to detect water diffusion directionality (i.e., fractional anisotropy, FA; mean diffusivity, MD; radial diffusivity, RD; axial diffusivity, AxD). Following data preprocessing, 114 participants remained for further analyses in which they completed the two follow-up sessions (with a range of 1-2 years) containing a series of neuropsychology instruments and computerized cognitive control tasks. The results show that many significant correlations between age and cognitive control functions originally shown on cross-sectional data no longer exist on the longitudinal data. The current longitudinal data show that MD, RD, and AxD (especially in the association fibers of anterior thalamic radiation) are more strongly correlated to follow-up aging processes, suggesting that axonal/myelin damage is a more robust phenomenon for observing intra-individual aging processes. Moreover, processing speed appears to be the most prominent cognitive function to reflect DTI-related age (cross-sectional) and aging (longitudinal) effects. Finally, converging the results from regression analyses and mediation models, MD, RD, and AxD appear to be the representative DTI measures to reveal age-related changes in processing speed. To conclude, the current results provide new insights to which indicator of WM integrity and which type of cognitive changes are most representative (i.e., potentially to be neuroimaging biomarkers) to reflect intra-individual cognitive aging processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shulan Hsieh
- Cognitive Electrophysiology Laboratory: Control, Aging, Sleep, and Emotion, Department of Psychology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Institute of Allied Health Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Public Health, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Heng Yang
- Cognitive Electrophysiology Laboratory: Control, Aging, Sleep, and Emotion, Department of Psychology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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26
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Yang Z, Caldwell JZK, Cummings JL, Ritter A, Kinney JW, Cordes D. Sex Modulates the Pathological Aging Effect on Caudate Functional Connectivity in Mild Cognitive Impairment. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:804168. [PMID: 35479489 PMCID: PMC9037326 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.804168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To assess the pathological aging effect on caudate functional connectivity among mild cognitive impairment (MCI) participants and examine whether and how sex and amyloid contribute to this process. Materials and Methods Two hundred and seventy-seven functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) sessions from 163 cognitive normal (CN) older adults and 309 sessions from 139 participants with MCI were included as the main sample in our analysis. Pearson's correlation was used to characterize the functional connectivity (FC) between caudate nuclei and each brain region, then caudate nodal strength was computed to quantify the overall caudate FC strength. Association analysis between caudate nodal strength and age was carried out in MCI and CN separately using linear mixed effect (LME) model with covariates (education, handedness, sex, Apolipoprotein E4, and intra-subject effect). Analysis of covariance was conducted to investigate sex, amyloid status, and their interaction effects on aging with the fMRI data subset having amyloid status available. LME model was applied to women and men separately within MCI group to evaluate aging effects on caudate nodal strength and each region's connectivity with caudate nuclei. We then evaluated the roles of sex and amyloid status in the associations of neuropsychological scores with age or caudate nodal strength. An independent cohort was used to validate the sex-dependent aging effects in MCI. Results The MCI group had significantly stronger age-related increase of caudate nodal strength compared to the CN group. Analyzing women and men separately revealed that the aging effect on caudate nodal strength among MCI participants was significant only for women (left: P = 6.23 × 10-7, right: P = 3.37 × 10-8), but not for men (P > 0.3 for bilateral caudate nuclei). The aging effects on caudate nodal strength were not significantly mediated by brain amyloid burden. Caudate connectivity with ventral prefrontal cortex substantially contributed to the aging effect on caudate nodal strength in women with MCI. Higher caudate nodal strength is significantly related to worse cognitive performance in women but not in men with MCI. Conclusion Sex modulates the pathological aging effects on caudate nodal strength in MCI regardless of amyloid status. Caudate nodal strength may be a sensitive biomarker of pathological aging in women with MCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengshi Yang
- Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, NV, United States
- Department of Brain Health, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | | | - Jeffrey L. Cummings
- Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, Department of Brain Health, School of Integrated Health Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | - Aaron Ritter
- Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | - Jefferson W. Kinney
- Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, Department of Brain Health, School of Integrated Health Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | - Dietmar Cordes
- Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, NV, United States
- Department of Brain Health, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, United States
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
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27
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Blinkouskaya Y, Caçoilo A, Gollamudi T, Jalalian S, Weickenmeier J. Brain aging mechanisms with mechanical manifestations. Mech Ageing Dev 2021; 200:111575. [PMID: 34600936 PMCID: PMC8627478 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2021.111575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Brain aging is a complex process that affects everything from the subcellular to the organ level, begins early in life, and accelerates with age. Morphologically, brain aging is primarily characterized by brain volume loss, cortical thinning, white matter degradation, loss of gyrification, and ventricular enlargement. Pathophysiologically, brain aging is associated with neuron cell shrinking, dendritic degeneration, demyelination, small vessel disease, metabolic slowing, microglial activation, and the formation of white matter lesions. In recent years, the mechanics community has demonstrated increasing interest in modeling the brain's (bio)mechanical behavior and uses constitutive modeling to predict shape changes of anatomically accurate finite element brain models in health and disease. Here, we pursue two objectives. First, we review existing imaging-based data on white and gray matter atrophy rates and organ-level aging patterns. This data is required to calibrate and validate constitutive brain models. Second, we review the most critical cell- and tissue-level aging mechanisms that drive white and gray matter changes. We focuse on aging mechanisms that ultimately manifest as organ-level shape changes based on the idea that the integration of imaging and mechanical modeling may help identify the tipping point when normal aging ends and pathological neurodegeneration begins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yana Blinkouskaya
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030, United States
| | - Andreia Caçoilo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030, United States
| | - Trisha Gollamudi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030, United States
| | - Shima Jalalian
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030, United States
| | - Johannes Weickenmeier
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030, United States.
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28
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Ness HT, Folvik L, Sneve MH, Vidal-Piñeiro D, Raud L, Geier OM, Nyberg L, Walhovd KB, Fjell AM. Reduced Hippocampal-Striatal Interactions during Formation of Durable Episodic Memories in Aging. Cereb Cortex 2021; 32:2358-2372. [PMID: 34581398 PMCID: PMC9157302 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Encoding of durable episodic memories requires cross-talk between the hippocampus and multiple brain regions. Changes in these hippocampal interactions could contribute to age-related declines in the ability to form memories that can be retrieved after extended time intervals. Here we tested whether hippocampal–neocortical– and subcortical functional connectivity (FC) observed during encoding of durable episodic memories differed between younger and older adults. About 48 younger (20–38 years; 25 females) and 43 older (60–80 years; 25 females) adults were scanned with fMRI while performing an associative memory encoding task. Source memory was tested ~20 min and ~6 days postencoding. Associations recalled after 20 min but later forgotten were classified as transient, whereas memories retained after long delays were classified as durable. Results demonstrated that older adults showed a reduced ability to form durable memories and reduced hippocampal–caudate FC during encoding of durable memories. There was also a positive relationship between hippocampal–caudate FC and higher memory performance among the older adults. No reliable age group differences in durable memory–encoding activity or hippocampal–neocortical connectivity were observed. These results support the classic theory of striatal alterations as one cause of cognitive decline in aging and highlight that age-related changes in episodic memory extend beyond hippocampal–neocortical connections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hedda T Ness
- Research Group for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway
| | - Line Folvik
- Research Group for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway
| | - Markus H Sneve
- Research Group for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway
| | - Didac Vidal-Piñeiro
- Research Group for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway
| | - Liisa Raud
- Research Group for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway
| | - Oliver M Geier
- Department of Diagnostic Physics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo 0424, Norway
| | - Lars Nyberg
- Research Group for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway.,Department of Radiation Sciences, Radiology, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.,Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden.,Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Kristine B Walhovd
- Research Group for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, 0372 Oslo, Norway
| | - Anders M Fjell
- Research Group for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo 0373, Norway.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, 0372 Oslo, Norway
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29
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Quantifying Age-Related Changes in Brain and Behavior: A Longitudinal versus Cross-Sectional Approach. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0273-21.2021. [PMID: 34281979 PMCID: PMC8354716 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0273-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cross-sectional versus longitudinal comparisons of age-related change have often revealed differing results. In the current study, we used within-subject task-based fMRI to investigate changes in voxel-based activations and behavioral performance across the life span in the Reference Ability Neural Network cohort, at both baseline and 5 year follow-up. We analyzed fMRI data from between 127 and 159 participants (20–80 years) on a battery of tests relating to each of four cognitive reference abilities. We applied a Gaussian age kernel to capture continuous change across the life span using a 5 year sliding window centered on each age in our participant sample, with a subsequent division into young, middle, and old age brackets. This method was applied separately to both cross-sectional approximations of change and real longitudinal changes adopting a comparative approach. We then focused on longitudinal measurements of neural change to identify regions expressing peak changes and fluctuations of sign change across our sample. Our results revealed several regions expressing divergence between cross-sectional and longitudinal measurements in each domain and age bracket; behavioral comparisons between measurements showed differences in change curves for all four domains, with processing speed displaying the steepest declines. In the longitudinal change measurement, we found lack of support for age-related frontal increases across analysis types, instead finding more posterior regions displaying peak increases in activation, particularly in the old age bracket. Our findings encourage greater focus on longitudinal measurements of age-related changes, which display appreciable differences from cross-sectional approximations.
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Stimulation of the Social Brain Improves Perspective Selection in Older Adults: A HD-tDCS Study. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2021; 21:1233-1245. [PMID: 34287817 PMCID: PMC8563543 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-021-00929-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
There is evidence for dissociable, causal roles for two key social brain regions in young adults. Specifically, the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) is associated with embodied perspective taking, whereas the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) is associated with the integration of social information. However, it is unknown whether these causal brain-behaviour associations are evident in older adults. Fifty-two healthy older adults were stratified to receive either rTPJ or dmPFC anodal high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation in a sham-controlled, double-blinded, repeated-measures design. Self-other processing was assessed across implicit and explicit level one (line-of-sight) and level two (embodied rotation) visual perspective taking (VPT) tasks, and self-other encoding effects on episodic memory. Both rTPJ and dmPFC stimulation reduced the influence of the alternate perspective during level one VPT, indexed by a reduced congruency effect (difference between congruent and incongruent perspectives). There were no stimulation effects on level two perspective taking nor self-other encoding effects on episodic memory. Stimulation to the rTPJ and dmPFC improved perspective selection during level one perspective taking. However, dissociable effects on self-other processing, previously observed in young adults, were not identified in older adults. The results provide causal evidence for age-related changes in social brain function that requires further scrutinization.
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Gómez-Ramírez J, González-Rosa JJ. Intra- and interhemispheric symmetry of subcortical brain structures: a volumetric analysis in the aging human brain. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 227:451-462. [PMID: 34089103 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02305-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Here, we address the hemispheric interdependency of subcortical structures in the aging human brain. In particular, we investigated whether subcortical volume variations can be explained by the adjacency of structures in the same hemisphere or are due to the interhemispheric development of mirror subcortical structures in the brain. Seven subcortical structures in each hemisphere were automatically segmented in a large sample of 3312 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of elderly individuals in their 70s and 80s. We performed Eigenvalue analysis, and found that anatomic volumes in the limbic system and basal ganglia show similar statistical dependency whether considered in the same hemisphere (intrahemispherically) or different hemispheres (interhemispherically). Our results indicate that anatomic bilaterality of subcortical volumes is preserved in the aging human brain, supporting the hypothesis that coupling between non-adjacent subcortical structures might act as a mechanism to compensate for the deleterious effects of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Javier J González-Rosa
- Department of Psychology, Universidad de Cádiz, Cádiz, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Cádiz (INIBICA), Cádiz, Spain
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In Pursuit of Healthy Aging: Effects of Nutrition on Brain Function. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22095026. [PMID: 34068525 PMCID: PMC8126018 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22095026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Consuming a balanced, nutritious diet is important for maintaining health, especially as individuals age. Several studies suggest that consuming a diet rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components such as those found in fruits, nuts, vegetables, and fish may reduce age-related cognitive decline and the risk of developing various neurodegenerative diseases. Numerous studies have been published over the last decade focusing on nutrition and how this impacts health. The main objective of the current article is to review the data linking the role of diet and nutrition with aging and age-related cognitive decline. Specifically, we discuss the roles of micronutrients and macronutrients and provide an overview of how the gut microbiota-gut-brain axis and nutrition impact brain function in general and cognitive processes in particular during aging. We propose that dietary interventions designed to optimize the levels of macro and micronutrients and maximize the functioning of the microbiota-gut-brain axis can be of therapeutic value for improving cognitive functioning, particularly during aging.
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Fletcher E, Gavett B, Crane P, Soldan A, Hohman T, Farias S, Widaman K, Groot C, Renteria MA, Zahodne L, DeCarli C, Mungas D. A robust brain signature region approach for episodic memory performance in older adults. Brain 2021; 144:1089-1102. [PMID: 33895818 PMCID: PMC8105039 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain signature concept aims to characterize brain regions most strongly associated with an outcome of interest. Brain signatures derive their power from data-driven searches that select features based solely on performance metrics of prediction or classification. This approach has important potential to delineate biologically relevant brain substrates for prediction or classification of future trajectories. Recent work has used exploratory voxel-wise or atlas-based searches, with some using machine learning techniques to define salient features. These have shown undoubted usefulness, but two issues remain. The preponderance of recent work has been aimed at categorical rather than continuous outcomes, and it is rare for non-atlas reliant voxel-based signatures to be reported that would be useful for modelling and hypothesis testing. We describe a cross-validated signature region model for structural brain components associated with baseline and longitudinal episodic memory across cognitively heterogeneous populations including normal, mild impairment and dementia. We used three non-overlapping cohorts of older participants: from the UC Davis Aging and Diversity cohort (n = 255; mean age 75.3 ± 7.1 years; 128 cognitively normal, 97 mild cognitive impairment, 30 demented and seven unclassified); from Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) 1 (n = 379; mean age 75.1 ± 7.2; 82 cognitively normal, 176 mild cognitive impairment, 121 Alzheimer's dementia); and from ADNI2/GO (n = 680; mean age 72.5 ± 7.1; 220 cognitively normal, 381 mild cognitive impairment and 79 Alzheimer's dementia). We used voxel-wise regression analysis, correcting for multiple comparisons, to generate an array of regional masks corresponding to different association strength levels of cortical grey matter with baseline memory and brain atrophy with memory change. Cognitive measures were episodic memory using Spanish and English Neuropsychological Assessment Scales instruments for UC Davis and ADNI-Mem for ADNI 1 and ADNI2/GO. Performance metric was the adjusted R2 coefficient of determination of each model explaining outcomes in two cohorts other than where it was computed. We compared within-cohort performances of signature models against each other and against other recent signature models of episodic memory. Findings were: (i) two independently generated signature region of interest models performed similarly in a third separate cohort; (ii) a signature region of interest generated in one imaging cohort replicated its performance level when explaining cognitive outcomes in each of other, separate cohorts; and (iii) this approach better explained baseline and longitudinal memory than other recent theory-driven and data-driven models. This suggests our approach can generate signatures that may be easily and robustly applied for modelling and hypothesis testing in mixed cognition cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Fletcher
- Department of Neurology, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Brandon Gavett
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Paul Crane
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Anja Soldan
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Timothy Hohman
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Sarah Farias
- Department of Neurology, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Keith Widaman
- Graduate School of Education, UC Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Colin Groot
- Department of Neurology and Alzheimer Center, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Laura Zahodne
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Charles DeCarli
- Department of Neurology, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Dan Mungas
- Department of Neurology, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
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Coelho A, Fernandes HM, Magalhães R, Moreira PS, Marques P, Soares JM, Amorim L, Portugal‐Nunes C, Castanho T, Santos NC, Sousa N. Reorganization of brain structural networks in aging: A longitudinal study. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:1354-1376. [PMID: 33527512 PMCID: PMC8248023 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Normal aging is characterized by structural and functional changes in the brain contributing to cognitive decline. Structural connectivity (SC) describes the anatomical backbone linking distinct functional subunits of the brain and disruption of this communication is thought to be one of the potential contributors for the age-related deterioration observed in cognition. Several studies already explored brain network's reorganization during aging, but most focused on average connectivity of the whole-brain or in specific networks, such as the resting-state networks. Here, we aimed to characterize longitudinal changes of white matter (WM) structural brain networks, through the identification of sub-networks with significantly altered connectivity along time. Then, we tested associations between longitudinal changes in network connectivity and cognition. We also assessed longitudinal changes in topological properties of the networks. For this, older adults were evaluated at two timepoints, with a mean interval time of 52.8 months (SD = 7.24). WM structural networks were derived from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, and cognitive status from neurocognitive testing. Our results show age-related changes in brain SC, characterized by both decreases and increases in connectivity weight. Interestingly, decreases occur in intra-hemispheric connections formed mainly by association fibers, while increases occur mostly in inter-hemispheric connections and involve association, commissural, and projection fibers, supporting the last-in-first-out hypothesis. Regarding topology, two hubs were lost, alongside with a decrease in connector-hub inter-modular connectivity, reflecting reduced integration. Simultaneously, there was an increase in the number of provincial hubs, suggesting increased segregation. Overall, these results confirm that aging triggers a reorganization of the brain structural network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Coelho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
| | - Henrique M. Fernandes
- Center for Music in the Brain (MIB)Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Ricardo Magalhães
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
| | - Pedro S. Moreira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
| | - Paulo Marques
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
| | - José M. Soares
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
| | - Liliana Amorim
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
| | - Carlos Portugal‐Nunes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
| | - Teresa Castanho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
| | - Nadine Correia Santos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of MedicineUniversity of MinhoBragaPortugal
- ICVS/3B’s, PT Government Associate LaboratoryBraga/GuimarãesPortugal
- Clinical Academic Center – BragaBragaPortugal
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Anatürk M, Kaufmann T, Cole JH, Suri S, Griffanti L, Zsoldos E, Filippini N, Singh‐Manoux A, Kivimäki M, Westlye LT, Ebmeier KP, de Lange AG. Prediction of brain age and cognitive age: Quantifying brain and cognitive maintenance in aging. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 42:1626-1640. [PMID: 33314530 PMCID: PMC7978127 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of brain maintenance refers to the preservation of brain integrity in older age, while cognitive reserve refers to the capacity to maintain cognition in the presence of neurodegeneration or aging-related brain changes. While both mechanisms are thought to contribute to individual differences in cognitive function among older adults, there is currently no "gold standard" for measuring these constructs. Using machine-learning methods, we estimated brain and cognitive age based on deviations from normative aging patterns in the Whitehall II MRI substudy cohort (N = 537, age range = 60.34-82.76), and tested the degree of correspondence between these constructs, as well as their associations with premorbid IQ, education, and lifestyle trajectories. In line with established literature highlighting IQ as a proxy for cognitive reserve, higher premorbid IQ was linked to lower cognitive age independent of brain age. No strong evidence was found for associations between brain or cognitive age and lifestyle trajectories from midlife to late life based on latent class growth analyses. However, post hoc analyses revealed a relationship between cumulative lifestyle measures and brain age independent of cognitive age. In conclusion, we present a novel approach to characterizing brain and cognitive maintenance in aging, which may be useful for future studies seeking to identify factors that contribute to brain preservation and cognitive reserve mechanisms in older age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melis Anatürk
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative NeuroimagingUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Tobias Kaufmann
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of Oslo, & Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University HospitalOsloNorway
| | - James H. Cole
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer ScienceUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Dementia Research Centre, Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Sana Suri
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative NeuroimagingUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Ludovica Griffanti
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative NeuroimagingUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Enikő Zsoldos
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative NeuroimagingUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Nicola Filippini
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative NeuroimagingUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Archana Singh‐Manoux
- Epidemiology of Ageing and Neurodegenerative diseasesUniversité de Paris, INSERM U1153ParisFrance
- Department of Epidemiology and Public HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Mika Kivimäki
- Department of Epidemiology and Public HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Lars T. Westlye
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of Oslo, & Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
| | | | - Ann‐Marie G. de Lange
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- NORMENT, Institute of Clinical MedicineUniversity of Oslo, & Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University HospitalOsloNorway
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of OsloOsloNorway
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36
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Schaeverbeke JM, Gabel S, Meersmans K, Luckett ES, De Meyer S, Adamczuk K, Nelissen N, Goovaerts V, Radwan A, Sunaert S, Dupont P, Van Laere K, Vandenberghe R. Baseline cognition is the best predictor of 4-year cognitive change in cognitively intact older adults. Alzheimers Res Ther 2021; 13:75. [PMID: 33827690 PMCID: PMC8028179 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-021-00798-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We examined in cognitively intact older adults the relative weight of cognitive, genetic, structural and amyloid brain imaging variables for predicting cognitive change over a 4-year time course. METHODS One hundred-eighty community-recruited cognitively intact older adults (mean age 68 years, range 52-80 years, 81 women) belonging to the Flemish Prevent Alzheimer's Disease Cohort KU Leuven (F-PACK) longitudinal observational cohort underwent a baseline evaluation consisting of detailed cognitive assessment, structural MRI and 18F-flutemetamol PET. At inclusion, subjects were stratified based on Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) val66met polymorphism according to a factorial design. At inclusion, 15% were amyloid-PET positive (Centiloid >23.4). All subjects underwent 2-yearly follow-up of cognitive performance for a 4-year time period. Baseline cognitive scores were analysed using factor analysis. The slope of cognitive change over time was modelled using latent growth curve analysis. Using correlation analysis, hierarchical regression and mediation analysis, we examined the effect of demographic (age, sex, education) and genetic variables, baseline cognition, MRI volumetric (both voxelwise and region-based) as well as amyloid imaging measures on the longitudinal slope of cognitive change. RESULTS A base model of age and sex explained 18.5% of variance in episodic memory decline. This increased to 41.6% by adding baseline episodic memory scores. Adding amyloid load or volumetric measures explained only a negligible additional amount of variance (increase to 42.2%). A mediation analysis indicated that the effect of age on episodic memory scores was partly direct and partly mediated via hippocampal volume. Amyloid load did not play a significant role as mediator between age, hippocampal volume and episodic memory decline. CONCLUSION In cognitively intact older adults, the strongest baseline predictor of subsequent episodic memory decline was the baseline episodic memory score. When this score was included, only very limited explanatory power was added by brain volume or amyloid load measures. The data warn against classifications that are purely biomarker-based and highlight the value of baseline cognitive performance levels in predictive models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolien M Schaeverbeke
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Silvy Gabel
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karen Meersmans
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Emma S Luckett
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steffi De Meyer
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiomarker Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katarzyna Adamczuk
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Natalie Nelissen
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Valerie Goovaerts
- Neurology Department, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Ahmed Radwan
- Translational MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefan Sunaert
- Translational MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrick Dupont
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Koen Van Laere
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven and Division of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rik Vandenberghe
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Neurology Department, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.
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37
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Accelerated brain aging predicts impulsivity and symptom severity in depression. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:911-919. [PMID: 33495545 PMCID: PMC8115107 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-00967-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Multiple structural and functional neuroimaging measures vary over the course of the lifespan and can be used to predict chronological age. Accelerated brain aging, as quantified by deviations in the MRI-based predicted age with respect to chronological age, is associated with risk for neurodegenerative conditions, bipolar disorder, and mortality. Whether age-related changes in resting-state functional connectivity are accelerated in major depressive disorder (MDD) is unknown, and, if so, it is unclear if these changes contribute to specific cognitive weaknesses that often occur in MDD. Here, we delineated age-related functional connectivity changes in a large sample of normal control subjects and tested whether brain aging is accelerated in MDD. Furthermore, we tested whether accelerated brain aging predicts individual differences in cognitive function. We trained a support vector regression model predicting age using resting-state functional connectivity in 710 healthy adults aged 18-89. We applied this model trained on normal aging subjects to a sample of actively depressed MDD participants (n = 109). The difference between predicted brain age and chronological age was 2.11 years greater (p = 0.015) in MDD patients compared to control participants. An older MDD brain age was significantly associated with increased impulsivity and, in males, increased depressive severity. Unexpectedly, accelerated brain aging was also associated with increased placebo response in a sham-controlled trial of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation targeting the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. Our results indicate that MDD is associated with accelerated brain aging, and that accelerated aging is selectively associated with greater impulsivity and depression severity.
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38
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Hashimoto T, Yokota S, Matsuzaki Y, Kawashima R. Intrinsic hippocampal functional connectivity underlying rigid memory in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A case-control study. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2021; 25:1901-1912. [PMID: 33779333 PMCID: PMC8419294 DOI: 10.1177/13623613211004058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Atypical learning and memory in early life can promote atypical behaviors in later life. Less relational learning and inflexible retrieval in childhood may enhance restricted and repeated behaviors in patients with autism spectrum disorder. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms of atypical memory in children with autism spectrum disorder. We conducted picture–name pair learning and delayed-recognition tests with two groups: one group with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder children (aged 7–16, n = 41) and one group with typically developing children (n = 82) that matched the first group’s age, sex, and IQ. We assessed correlations between successful recognition scores and seed-to-whole-brain resting-state functional connectivity. Although both learning and retrieval performances were comparable between the two groups, we observed slightly lower category learning and significantly fewer memory gains in the autism spectrum disorder group than in the typically developing group. The right canonical anterior hippocampal network was involved in successful memory in youths with typically developing, while other memory systems may be involved in successful memory in youths with autism spectrum disorder. Context-independent and less relational memory processing may be associated with fewer memory gains in autism spectrum disorder. These atypical memory characteristics in autism spectrum disorder may accentuate their inflexible behaviors in some situations.
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39
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Reas ET, Hagler DJ, Zhong AJ, Lee RR, Dale AM, McEvoy LK. Brain microstructure mediates sex-specific patterns of cognitive aging. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:3218-3238. [PMID: 33510046 PMCID: PMC7906181 DOI: 10.18632/aging.202561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Normal brain aging is characterized by declining neuronal integrity, yet it remains unclear how microstructural injury influences cognitive aging and whether such mechanisms differ between sexes. Using restriction spectrum imaging (RSI), we examined sex differences in associations between brain microstructure and cognitive function in 147 community-dwelling older men and women (56-99 years). Gray and white matter microstructure correlated with global cognition, executive function, visuospatial memory, episodic memory, and logical memory, with the strongest associations for restricted, hindered and free isotropic diffusion. Associations were stronger for women than for men, a difference likely due to greater age-related variability in cognitive scores and microstructure in women. Isotropic diffusion mediated effects of age on cognition for both sexes, though distinct mediation patterns were present for women and men. For women, hippocampal and corpus callosum microstructure mediated age effects on verbal and visuospatial memory, respectively, whereas for men fiber microstructure (mainly fornix and corpus callosum) mediated age effects on executive function and visuospatial memory. These findings implicate sex-specific pathways by which changing brain cytoarchitecture contributes to cognitive aging, and suggest that RSI may be useful for evaluating risk for cognitive decline or monitoring efficacy of interventions to preserve brain health in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie T Reas
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Donald J Hagler
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | | | - Roland R Lee
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Radiology Services, VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Anders M Dale
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Linda K McEvoy
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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40
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Chen Q, Turnbull A, Baran TM, Lin FV. Longitudinal stability of medial temporal lobe connectivity is associated with tau-related memory decline. eLife 2020; 9:e62114. [PMID: 33382038 PMCID: PMC7803375 DOI: 10.7554/elife.62114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and cognitive decline is an important topic in the aging research field. Recent studies suggest that memory deficits are more susceptible to phosphorylated tau (Ptau) than amyloid-beta. However, little is known regarding the neurocognitive mechanisms linking Ptau and memory-related decline. Here, we extracted data from Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) participants with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Ptau collected at baseline, diffusion tensor imaging measure twice, 2 year apart, and longitudinal memory data over 5 years. We defined three age- and education-matched groups: Ptau negative cognitively unimpaired, Ptau positive cognitively unimpaired, and Ptau positive individuals with mild cognitive impairment. We found the presence of CSF Ptau at baseline was related to a loss of structural stability in medial temporal lobe connectivity in a way that matched proposed disease progression, and this loss of stability in connections known to be important for memory moderated the relationship between Ptau accumulation and memory decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanjing Chen
- Elaine C. Hubbard Center for Nursing Research on Aging, School of Nursing, University of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterUnited States
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterUnited States
| | - Adam Turnbull
- Elaine C. Hubbard Center for Nursing Research on Aging, School of Nursing, University of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterUnited States
- Department of Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterUnited States
| | - Timothy M Baran
- Department of Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterUnited States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of RochesterRochesterUnited States
| | - Feng V Lin
- Elaine C. Hubbard Center for Nursing Research on Aging, School of Nursing, University of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterUnited States
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterUnited States
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterUnited States
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterUnited States
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of RochesterRochesterUnited States
- School of Medicine, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
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41
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Walhovd KB, Bråthen ACS, Panizzon MS, Mowinckel AM, Sørensen Ø, de Lange AMG, Krogsrud SK, Håberg A, Franz CE, Kremen WS, Fjell AM. Within-session verbal learning slope is predictive of lifespan delayed recall, hippocampal volume, and memory training benefit, and is heritable. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21158. [PMID: 33273630 PMCID: PMC7713377 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78225-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Memory performance results from plasticity, the ability to change with experience. We show that benefit from practice over a few trials, learning slope, is predictive of long-term recall and hippocampal volume across a broad age range and a long period of time, relates to memory training benefit, and is heritable. First, in a healthy lifespan sample (n = 1825, age 4-93 years), comprising 3483 occasions of combined magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and memory tests over a period of up to 11 years, learning slope across 5 trials was uniquely related to performance on a delayed free recall test, as well as hippocampal volume, independent from first trial memory or total memory performance across the five learning trials. Second, learning slope was predictive of benefit from memory training across ten weeks in an experimental subsample of adults (n = 155). Finally, in an independent sample of male twins (n = 1240, age 51-50 years), learning slope showed significant heritability. Within-session learning slope may be a useful marker beyond performance per se, being heritable and having unique predictive value for long-term memory function, hippocampal volume and training benefit across the human lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine B Walhovd
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, POB 1094, 0317, Oslo, Norway.
- Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Norway.
| | - Anne Cecilie Sjøli Bråthen
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, POB 1094, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Matthew S Panizzon
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - Athanasia M Mowinckel
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, POB 1094, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Øystein Sørensen
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, POB 1094, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ann-Marie G de Lange
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, POB 1094, 0317, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stine Kleppe Krogsrud
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, POB 1094, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Asta Håberg
- Department of Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Carol E Franz
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - William S Kremen
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - Anders M Fjell
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, POB 1094, 0317, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Norway
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42
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Diaz Abrahan V, Shifres F, Justel N. Impact of music-based intervention on verbal memory: an experimental behavioral study with older adults. Cogn Process 2020; 22:117-130. [PMID: 32955643 DOI: 10.1007/s10339-020-00993-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Normal age-related declines have been reported in different cognitive functions, such as episodic memory. Some environmental factors have the potential to reduce cognitive decline and promote healthy aging. In this research, we employed musical improvisation as a focal music-based intervention to explore its effects as a modulator of verbal memory. We evaluated two types of verbal memory: a neutral one, employing the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (Study 1), and an emotional one, implementing the Spanish version of Affective Norms for English Words (Study 2) in a volunteer group of older adults. After the acquisition of neutral (Study 1) or emotional (Study 2) verbal information, the participants were exposed to musical improvisation (experimental condition) or two control conditions (rhythmic reproduction as a musically active control condition or a rest condition as a passive control condition) for 3 min. Then, memory was evaluated through two memory tasks (immediate and deferred free-recall and recognition tests). In both studies, we compared memory performance among musicians (with five or more years of music training) and non-musicians. We found a significant improvement in neutral verbal memory among participants involved in musical improvisation, who remembered more words than those in the control conditions. Differences were also found according to the musical experience of the sample, with musicians outperforming non-musicians. The current research supports the late-life cognitive benefits of music-based intervention and music training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Diaz Abrahan
- Lab. Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia Cognitiva (LINC), Centro de Estudios Multidisciplinarios en Sistemas Complejos y Ciencias del Cerebro (CEMSC3), Instituto de Ciencias Físicas (ICIFI), Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología (ECyT), Universidad de San Martín (UNSAM), 25 de Mayo 1169, 1er piso, Of. 18, San Martin, 1650, Argentina. .,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina. .,Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC), Córdoba, Argentina.
| | - Favio Shifres
- Laboratorio para el Estudio de la Experiencia Musical (LEEM), Departamento de Música, Facultad de Bellas Artes (FBA), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - Nadia Justel
- Lab. Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia Cognitiva (LINC), Centro de Estudios Multidisciplinarios en Sistemas Complejos y Ciencias del Cerebro (CEMSC3), Instituto de Ciencias Físicas (ICIFI), Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología (ECyT), Universidad de San Martín (UNSAM), 25 de Mayo 1169, 1er piso, Of. 18, San Martin, 1650, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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43
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Edde M, Dilharreguy B, Theaud G, Chanraud S, Helmer C, Dartigues JF, Amieva H, Allard M, Descoteaux M, Catheline G. Age-related change in episodic memory: role of functional and structural connectivity between the ventral posterior cingulate and the parietal cortex. Brain Struct Funct 2020; 225:2203-2218. [PMID: 32728934 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-020-02121-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
While the neural correlates of age-related episodic memory decline have been extensively studied, the precise involvement of the Posterior Cingulate Cortex (PCC) and posterior parietal cortex (the precuneus and the angular gyrus), remains unclear. The present study examined functional and structural neural correlates of age-related episodic memory change assessed over 12 years in 120 older adults (range 76-90 years). Episodic memory performance was measured using the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT); functional connectivity metrics were computed from resting-state fMRI images and structural connectivity metrics were assessed through microstructural properties of reconstructed tract using a native space pipeline. We found that FCSRT change was significantly associated with the functional connectivity between the ventral PCC and three parietal regions, the ventral superior, the inferior part of the precuneus, and the rostro dorsal part of the angular gyrus. This association was independent of hippocampal volume. In addition, we found the that change in FCSRT scores was associated with fractional anisotropy of the tract connecting the ventral PCC and the ventral superior part of the precuneus. Change in episodic memory in aging was therefore related to a combination of high functional connectivity and low structural connectivity between the ventral PCC and the ventral superior part of the precuneus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Edde
- EPHE, PSL, 33000, Bordeaux, France. .,CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, 33000, Bordeaux, France. .,, Bât. 2A - 2ème Étage - Case 22, 146 Rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux cedex, France.
| | | | - Guillaume Theaud
- Sherbrooke Connectivity Imaging Lab (SCIL), Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Sandra Chanraud
- EPHE, PSL, 33000, Bordeaux, France.,CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, 33000, Bordeaux, France.,INCIA, UMR 5287, Université de Bordeaux, 33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Catherine Helmer
- Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, Université de Bordeaux, 33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jean-François Dartigues
- INCIA, UMR 5287, Université de Bordeaux, 33000, Bordeaux, France.,Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, Université de Bordeaux, 33000, Bordeaux, France.,CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Hélène Amieva
- Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, Université de Bordeaux, 33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Michèle Allard
- EPHE, PSL, 33000, Bordeaux, France.,CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, 33000, Bordeaux, France.,CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Maxime Descoteaux
- Sherbrooke Connectivity Imaging Lab (SCIL), Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Gwénaëlle Catheline
- EPHE, PSL, 33000, Bordeaux, France.,CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, 33000, Bordeaux, France.,INCIA, UMR 5287, Université de Bordeaux, 33000, Bordeaux, France
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44
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Gazes Y, Lee S, Sakhardande J, Mensing A, Razlighi Q, Ohkawa A, Pleshkevich M, Luo L, Habeck C. fMRI-guided white matter connectivity in fluid and crystallized cognitive abilities in healthy adults. Neuroimage 2020; 215:116809. [PMID: 32276060 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined within-subject differences among three fluid abilities that decline with age: reasoning, episodic memory and processing speed, compared with vocabulary, a crystallized ability that is maintained with age. The data were obtained from the Reference Ability Neural Network (RANN) study from which 221 participants had complete behavioral data for all 12 cognitive tasks, three per ability, along with fMRI and diffusion weighted imaging data. We used fMRI task activation to guide white matter tractography, and generated mean percent signal change in the regions associated with the processing of each ability along with diffusion tensor imaging measures, fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), for each cognitive ability. Qualitatively brain regions associated with vocabulary were more localized and lateralized to the left hemisphere whereas the fluid abilities were associated with brain activations that were more distributed across the brain and bilaterally situated. Using continuous age, we observed smaller correlations between MD and age for white matter tracts connecting brain regions associated with the vocabulary ability than that for the fluid abilities, suggesting that vocabulary white matter tracts were better maintained with age. Furthermore, after multiple comparisons correction and accounting for age, education, and sex, the mean percent signal change for episodic memory showed positive associations with behavioral performance. Overall, the vocabulary ability may be better maintained with age due to the more localized brain regions involved, which places smaller reliance on long distance white matter tracts for signal transduction. These results support the hypothesis that functional activation and white matter structures underlying the vocabulary ability contribute to the ability's greater resistance against aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunglin Gazes
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W. 168th Street, P & S Box 16, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Seonjoo Lee
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W. 168th Street, P & S Box 16, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Jayant Sakhardande
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W. 168th Street, P & S Box 16, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Ashley Mensing
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W. 168th Street, P & S Box 16, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Qolamreza Razlighi
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W. 168th Street, P & S Box 16, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Ann Ohkawa
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W. 168th Street, P & S Box 16, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Maria Pleshkevich
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W. 168th Street, P & S Box 16, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Linggang Luo
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W. 168th Street, P & S Box 16, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Christian Habeck
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, 630 W. 168th Street, P & S Box 16, New York, NY, 10032, USA
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45
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Jiang J, Liu T, Crawford JD, Kochan NA, Brodaty H, Sachdev PS, Wen W. Stronger bilateral functional connectivity of the frontoparietal control network in near-centenarians and centenarians without dementia. Neuroimage 2020; 215:116855. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
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46
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Ziaei M, Bonyadi MR, Reutens DC. Role of the Hippocampus During Logical Reasoning and Belief Bias in Aging. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:111. [PMID: 32477096 PMCID: PMC7232576 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Reasoning requires initial encoding of the semantic association between premises or assumptions, retrieval of these semantic associations from memory, and recombination of information to draw a logical conclusion. Currently-held beliefs can interfere with the content of the assumptions if not congruent and inhibited. This study aimed to investigate the role of the hippocampus and hippocampal networks during logical reasoning tasks in which the congruence between currently-held beliefs and assumptions varies. Participants of younger and older age completed a series of syllogistic reasoning tasks in which two premises and one conclusion were presented and they were required to decide if the conclusion logically followed the premises. The belief load of premises was manipulated to be either congruent or incongruent with currently-held beliefs. Our whole-brain results showed that older adults recruited the hippocampus during the premise integration stage more than their younger counterparts. Functional connectivity using a hippocampal seed revealed that older, but not younger, adults recruited a hippocampal network that included anterior cingulate and inferior frontal regions when premises were believable. Importantly, this network contributed to better performance in believable inferences, only in older adults group. Further analyses suggested that, in older adults group, the integrity of the left cingulum bundle was associated with the higher rejection of believable premises more than unbelievable ones. Using multimodal imaging, this study highlights the importance of the hippocampus during premise integration and supports compensatory role of the hippocampal network during a logical reasoning task among older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Ziaei
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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47
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Radhakrishnan H, Stark SM, Stark CEL. Microstructural Alterations in Hippocampal Subfields Mediate Age-Related Memory Decline in Humans. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:94. [PMID: 32327992 PMCID: PMC7161377 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging, even in the absence of clear pathology of dementia, is associated with cognitive decline. Neuroimaging, especially diffusion-weighted imaging, has been highly valuable in understanding some of these changes in live humans, non-invasively. Traditional tensor techniques have revealed that the integrity of the fornix and other white matter tracts significantly deteriorates with age, and that this deterioration is highly correlated with worsening cognitive performance. However, traditional tensor techniques are still not specific enough to indict explicit microstructural features that may be responsible for age-related cognitive decline and cannot be used to effectively study gray matter properties. Here, we sought to determine whether recent advances in diffusion-weighted imaging, including Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI) and Constrained Spherical Deconvolution, would provide more sensitive measures of age-related changes in the microstructure of the medial temporal lobe. We evaluated these measures in a group of young (ages 20-38 years old) and older (ages 59-84 years old) adults and assessed their relationships with performance on tests of cognition. We found that the fiber density (FD) of the fornix and the neurite density index (NDI) of the fornix, hippocampal subfields (DG/CA3, CA1, and subiculum), and parahippocampal cortex, varied as a function of age in a cross-sectional cohort. Moreover, in the fornix, DG/CA3, and CA1, these changes correlated with memory performance on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), even after regressing out the effect of age, suggesting that they were capturing neurobiological properties directly related to performance in this task. These measures provide more details regarding age-related neurobiological properties. For example, a change in fiber density could mean a reduction in axonal packing density or myelination, and the increase in NDI observed might be explained by changes in dendritic complexity or even sprouting. These results provide a far more comprehensive view than previously determined on the possible system-wide processes that may be occurring because of healthy aging and demonstrate that advanced diffusion-weighted imaging is evolving into a powerful tool to study more than just white matter properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamsanandini Radhakrishnan
- Mathematical, Computational and Systems Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Shauna M. Stark
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Craig E. L. Stark
- Mathematical, Computational and Systems Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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48
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Li X, Wang Y, Wang W, Huang W, Chen K, Xu K, Zhang J, Chen Y, Li H, Wei D, Shu N, Zhang Z. Age-Related Decline in the Topological Efficiency of the Brain Structural Connectome and Cognitive Aging. Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:4651-4661. [PMID: 32219315 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain disconnection model has been proposed as a possible neural mechanism for cognitive aging. However, the relationship between structural connectivity degeneration and cognitive decline with normal aging remains unclear. In the present study, using diffusion MRI and tractography techniques, we report graph theory-based analyses of the brain structural connectome in a cross-sectional, community-based cohort of 633 cognitively healthy elderly individuals. Comprehensive neuropsychological assessment of the elderly subjects was performed. The association between age, brain structural connectome, and cognition across elderly individuals was examined. We found that the topological efficiency, modularity, and hub integration of the brain structural connectome exhibited a significant decline with normal aging, especially in the frontal, parietal, and superior temporal regions. Importantly, network efficiency was positively correlated with attention and executive function in elderly subjects and had a significant mediation effect on the age-related decline in these cognitive functions. Moreover, nodal efficiency of the brain structural connectome showed good performance for the prediction of attention and executive function in elderly individuals. Together, our findings revealed topological alterations of the brain structural connectome with normal aging, which provides possible structural substrates underlying cognitive aging and sensitive imaging markers for the individual prediction of cognitive functions in elderly subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yezhou Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Wenxiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Weijie Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Kewei Chen
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Banner Alzheimer's Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85006, USA
| | - Kai Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Junying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 10070, China
| | - Yaojing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - He Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 10070, China
| | - Dongfeng Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing 10070, China
| | - Ni Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Zhanjun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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49
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Li Q, Dong C, Liu T, Chen X, Perry A, Jiang J, Cheng J, Niu H, Kochan NA, Brodaty H, Sachdev PS, Wen W. Longitudinal Changes in Whole-Brain Functional Connectivity Strength Patterns and the Relationship With the Global Cognitive Decline in Older Adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:71. [PMID: 32256339 PMCID: PMC7090100 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is associated with changes in brain functional patterns as well as cognition. The present research sought to investigate longitudinal changes in whole brain functional connectivity strength (FCS) and cognitive performance scores in very old cognitively unimpaired individuals. We studied 34 cognitively normal elderly individuals at both baseline and 4-year follow-up (baseline age = 78 ± 3.14 years) with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (r-fMRI), structural MRI scans, and neuropsychological assessments conducted. Voxel-based whole brain FCS was calculated and we found that bilateral superior parietal and medial frontal regions showed decreased FCS, while the supplementary motor area (SMA) and insula showed increased FCS with age, along with a decrease in bilateral prefrontal cortical thickness. The changes of FCS in left precuneus were associated with an aging-related decline in global cognition. Taken together, our results suggest changes in FCS with aging with the precuneus as a hub and this may underlie changes in global cognition that accompany aging. These findings help better understand the normal aging mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiongge Li
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Dong
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China.,Centre for Healthy Brain Aging, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Tao Liu
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodan Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Alistair Perry
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Aging Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jiyang Jiang
- Centre for Healthy Brain Aging, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jian Cheng
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Haijun Niu
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Nicole A Kochan
- Centre for Healthy Brain Aging, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Henry Brodaty
- Centre for Healthy Brain Aging, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Perminder S Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Aging, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Wei Wen
- Centre for Healthy Brain Aging, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Neuropsychiatric Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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50
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Noguera C, Carmona D, Rueda A, Fernández R, Cimadevilla JM. Shall We Dance? Dancing Modulates Executive Functions and Spatial Memory. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17061960. [PMID: 32192128 PMCID: PMC7143315 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17061960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aging is generally considered to be related to physical and cognitive decline. This is especially prominent in the frontal and parietal lobes, underlying executive functions and spatial memory, respectively. This process could be successfully mitigated in certain ways, such as through the practice of aerobic sports. With regard to this, dancing integrates physical exercise with music and involves retrieval of complex sequences of steps and movements creating choreographies. METHODS In this study, we compared 26 non-professional salsa dancers (mean age 55.3 years, age-range 49-70 years) with 20 non-dancers (mean age 57.6 years, age-range 49-70 years) by assessing two variables: their executive functions and spatial memory performance. RESULTS results showed that dancers scored better that non-dancers in our tests, outperforming controls in executive functions-related tasks. Groups did not differ in spatial memory performance. CONCLUSIONS This work suggests that dancing can be a valid way of slowing down the natural age-related cognitive decline. A major limitation of this study is the lack of fitness assessment in both groups. In addition, since dancing combines multiple factors like social contact, aerobic exercise, cognitive work with rhythms, and music, it is difficult to determine the weight of each variable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Noguera
- Department of Psychology, University of Almeria, 04120 Almería, Spain; (C.N.); (D.C.); (A.R.)
- Health Research Center, University of Almeria, 04120 Almería, Spain;
| | - Dolores Carmona
- Department of Psychology, University of Almeria, 04120 Almería, Spain; (C.N.); (D.C.); (A.R.)
| | - Adrián Rueda
- Department of Psychology, University of Almeria, 04120 Almería, Spain; (C.N.); (D.C.); (A.R.)
| | - Rubén Fernández
- Health Research Center, University of Almeria, 04120 Almería, Spain;
- Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - José Manuel Cimadevilla
- Department of Psychology, University of Almeria, 04120 Almería, Spain; (C.N.); (D.C.); (A.R.)
- Health Research Center, University of Almeria, 04120 Almería, Spain;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-950-214-637
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