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Go J, Maeng SY, Chang DH, Park HY, Min KS, Kim JE, Choi YK, Noh JR, Ro H, Kim BC, Kim KS, Lee CH. Agathobaculum butyriciproducens improves ageing-associated cognitive impairment in mice. Life Sci 2024; 339:122413. [PMID: 38219919 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122413] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
AIMS The gut microbiota is increasingly recognised as a pivotal regulator of immune system homeostasis and brain health. Recent research has implicated the gut microbiota in age-related cognitive impairment and dementia. Agathobaculum butyriciproducens SR79 T (SR79), which was identified in the human gut, has been reported to be beneficial in addressing cognitive deficits and pathophysiologies in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. However, it remains unknown whether SR79 affects age-dependent cognitive impairment. MAIN METHOD To explore the effects of SR79 on cognitive function during ageing, we administered SR79 to aged mice. Ageing-associated behavioural alterations were examined using the open field test (OFT), tail suspension test (TST), novel object recognition test (NORT), Y-maze alternation test (Y-maze), and Morris water maze test (MWM). We investigated the mechanisms of action in the gut and brain using molecular and histological analyses. KEY FINDINGS Administration of SR79 improved age-related cognitive impairment without altering general locomotor activity or depressive behaviour in aged mice. Furthermore, SR79 increased mature dendritic spines in the pyramidal cells of layer III and phosphorylation of CaMKIIα in the cortex of aged mice. Age-related activation of astrocytes in the cortex of layers III-V of the aged brain was reduced following SR79 administration. Additionally, SR79 markedly increased IL-10 production and Foxp3 and Muc2 mRNA expression in the colons of aged mice. SIGNIFICANCE These findings suggest that treatment with SR79 may be a beneficial microbial-based approach for enhancing cognitive function during ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Go
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - So-Young Maeng
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; College of Biosciences & Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Ho Chang
- Microbiome Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Yeon Park
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong-Seon Min
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomaterials Science, College of Natural Resources and Life Science/Life and Industry Convergence Research Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Eun Kim
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Keun Choi
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Ran Noh
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunju Ro
- College of Biosciences & Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Byoung-Chan Kim
- Microbiome Convergence Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; HealthBiome, Inc., Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoung-Shim Kim
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; Department of Functional Genomics, KRIBB School, University of Science and Technology (UST), 217 Gajeong-ro, Youseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
| | - Chul-Ho Lee
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), 125 Gwahak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; Department of Functional Genomics, KRIBB School, University of Science and Technology (UST), 217 Gajeong-ro, Youseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
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Hotz I, Deschwanden PF, Mérillat S, Jäncke L. Associations between white matter hyperintensities, lacunes, entorhinal cortex thickness, declarative memory and leisure activity in cognitively healthy older adults: A 7-year study. Neuroimage 2023; 284:120461. [PMID: 37981203 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) is a growing epidemic that affects brain health and cognition. Therefore, a more profound understanding of the interplay between cSVD, brain atrophy, and cognition in healthy aging is of great importance. In this study, we examined the association between white matter hyperintensities (WMH) volume, number of lacunes, entorhinal cortex (EC) thickness, and declarative memory in cognitively healthy older adults over a seven-year period, controlling for possible confounding factors. Because there is no cure for cSVD to date, the neuroprotective potential of an active lifestyle has been suggested. Supporting evidence, however, is scarce. Therefore, a second objective of this study is to examine the relationship between leisure activities, cSVD, EC thickness, and declarative memory. METHODS We used a longitudinal dataset, which consisted of five measurement time points of structural MRI and psychometric cognitive ability and survey data, collected from a sample of healthy older adults (baseline N = 231, age range: 64-87 years, age M = 70.8 years), to investigate associations between cSVD MRI markers, EC thickness and verbal and figural memory performance. Further, we computed physical, social, and cognitive leisure activity scores from survey-based assessments and examined their associations with brain structure and declarative memory. To provide more accurate estimates of the trajectories and cross-domain correlations, we applied latent growth curve models controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS Less age-related thinning of the right (β = 0.92, p<.05) and left EC (β = 0.82, p<.05) was related to less declarative memory decline; and a thicker EC at baseline predicted less declarative memory loss (β = 0.54, p<.05). Higher baseline levels of physical (β = 0.24, p<.05), and social leisure activity (β = 0.27, p<.01) predicted less thinning of right EC. No relation was found between WMH or lacunes and declarative memory or between leisure activity and declarative memory. Higher education was initially related to more physical activity (β = 0.16, p<.05) and better declarative memory (β = 0.23, p<.001), which, however, declined steeper in participants with higher education (β = -.35, p<.05). Obese participants were less physically (β = -.18, p<.01) and socially active (β = -.13, p<.05) and had thinner left EC (β = -.14, p<.05) at baseline. Antihypertensive medication use (β = -.26, p<.05), and light-to-moderate alcohol consumption (β = -.40, p<.001) were associated with a smaller increase in the number of lacunes whereas a larger increase in the number of lacunes was observed in current smokers (β = 0.30, p<.05). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest complex relationships between cSVD MRI markers (total WMH, number of lacunes, right and left EC thickness), declarative memory, and confounding factors such as antihypertensive medication, obesity, and leisure activitiy. Thus, leisure activities and having good cognitive reserve counteracting this neurodegeneration. Several confounding factors seem to contribute to the extent or progression/decline of cSVD, which needs further investigation in the future. Since there is still no cure for cSVD, modifiable confounding factors should be studied more intensively in the future to maintain or promote brain health and thus cognitive abilities in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Hotz
- Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University Research Priority Program (URPP), University of Zurich, Stampfenbachstrasse 73, Zurich CH-8006, Switzerland.
| | - Pascal Frédéric Deschwanden
- Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University Research Priority Program (URPP), University of Zurich, Stampfenbachstrasse 73, Zurich CH-8006, Switzerland
| | - Susan Mérillat
- Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University Research Priority Program (URPP), University of Zurich, Stampfenbachstrasse 73, Zurich CH-8006, Switzerland
| | - Lutz Jäncke
- Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University Research Priority Program (URPP), University of Zurich, Stampfenbachstrasse 73, Zurich CH-8006, Switzerland
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Cui D, Wang D, Jin J, Liu X, Wang Y, Cao W, Liu Z, Yin T. Age- and sex-related differences in cortical morphology and their relationships with cognitive performance in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Quant Imaging Med Surg 2023; 13:1083-1099. [PMID: 36819243 PMCID: PMC9929420 DOI: 10.21037/qims-22-583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background The impacts of age and sex on brain structures related to cognitive function may be important for understanding the role of aging in Alzheimer disease for both sexes. We intended to investigate the age and sex differences of cortical morphology in middle-aged and older adults and their relationships with the decline of cognitive function. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we examined the cortical morphology in 204 healthy middle-aged and older adult participants aged 45 to 89 years using structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) data from the Dallas Lifespan Brain Study data set. Brain cortical thickness, surface complexity, and gyrification index were analyzed through a completely automated surface-based morphometric analysis using the CAT12 toolbox. Furthermore, we explored the correlation between cortical morphology differences and test scores for processing speed and working memory. Results There were no significant interactions of age and sex with cortical thickness, fractal dimension, or gyrification index. Rather, we found that both males and females showed age-related decreases in cortical thickness, fractal dimension, and gyrification index. There were significant sex differences in the fractal dimension in middle-aged participants and the gyrification index in older adult participants. In addition, there were significant positive correlations between the cortical thickness of the right superior frontal gyrus and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)-III Letter-Number Sequencing test scores in males (r=0.394; P<0.001; 95% CI for r values 0.216-0.577) and females (r=0.344; P<0.001; 95% CI for r values 0.197-0.491), respectively. Furthermore, a significant relationship between the gyrification index of the right supramarginal gyrus (SupraMG) and WAIS-III Digit Symbol test scores was observed in older adult participants (r=0.375; P<0.001; 95% CI for r values 0.203-0.522). Conclusions The results suggest that, compared with males, females have more extensive differences in cortical morphology. The gyrification index of the right SupraMG can be used as an imaging marker of sexual cognitive differences between males and females in older adults. This study helps to further understand sex differences in the aging of the brain and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Cui
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Tai’an, China;,School of Radiology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai’an, China
| | - Dianyu Wang
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China
| | - Jingna Jin
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China
| | - Xu Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuheng Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China
| | - Weifang Cao
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Tai’an, China;,School of Radiology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Tai’an, China
| | - Zhipeng Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China
| | - Tao Yin
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China;,Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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A diffusion MRI study of brain white matter microstructure in adolescents and adults with a Fontan circulation: Investigating associations with resting and peak exercise oxygen saturations and cognition. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 36:103151. [PMID: 35994923 PMCID: PMC9402393 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103151] [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: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Adolescents and adults with a Fontan circulation are at risk of cognitive dysfunction; Attention and processing speed are notable areas of concern. Underlying mechanisms and brain alterations associated with worse long-term cognitive outcomes are not well determined. This study investigated brain white matter microstructure in adolescents and adults with a Fontan circulation and associations with resting and peak exercise oxygen saturations (SaO2), predicted maximal oxygen uptake during exercise (% pred VO2), and attention and processing speed. METHODS Ninety-two participants with a Fontan circulation (aged 13-49 years, ≥5 years post-Fontan completion) had diffusion MRI. Averaged tract-wise diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics were generated for 34 white matter tracts of interest. Resting and peak exercise SaO2 and % pred VO2 were measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET; N = 81). Attention and processing speed were assessed using Cogstate (N = 67 and 70, respectively). Linear regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, and intracranial volume were performed to investigate associations between i) tract-specific DTI metrics and CPET variables, and ii) tract-specific DTI metrics and attention and processing speed z-scores. RESULTS Forty-nine participants were male (53%), mean age was 23.1 years (standard deviation (SD) = 7.8 years). Mean resting and peak exercise SaO2 were 93.1% (SD = 3.6) and 90.1% (SD = 4.7), respectively. Mean attention and processing speed z-scores were -0.63 (SD = 1.07) and -0.72 (SD = 1.44), respectively. Resting SaO2 were positively associated with mean fractional anisotropy (FA) of the left corticospinal tract (CST) and right superior longitudinal fasciculus I (SLF-I) and negatively associated with mean diffusivity (MD) and radial diffusivity (RD) of the right SLF-I (p ≤ 0.01). Peak exercise SaO2 were positively associated with mean FA of the left CST and were negatively associated with mean RD of the left CST, MD of the left frontopontine tract, MD, RD and axial diffusivity (AD) of the right SLF-I, RD of the left SLF-II, MD, RD and AD of the right SLF-II, and MD and RD of the right SLF-III (p ≤ 0.01). Percent predicted VO2 was positively associated with FA of the left uncinate fasciculus (p < 0.01). Negative associations were identified between mean FA of the right arcuate fasciculus, right SLF-II and right SLF-III and processing speed (p ≤ 0.01). No significant associations were identified between DTI-based metrics and attention. CONCLUSION Chronic hypoxemia may have long-term detrimental impact on white matter microstructure in people living with a Fontan circulation. Paradoxical associations between processing speed and tract-specific DTI metrics could be suggestive of compensatory white matter remodeling. Longitudinal investigations focused on the mechanisms and trajectory of altered white matter microstructure and associated cognitive dysfunction in people with a Fontan circulation are required to better understand causal associations.
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Jäncke L, Valizadeh SA. Identification of individual subjects based on neuroanatomical measures obtained seven years earlier. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:4642-4652. [PMID: 35831945 PMCID: PMC9543309 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We analyzed a dataset comprising 118 subjects who were scanned three times (at baseline, 1-year follow-up, and 7-year follow-up) using structural MRI over the course of seven years. We aimed to examine whether it is possible to identify individual subjects based on a restricted number of neuroanatomical features measured 7 years previously. We used FreeSurfer to compute 15 standard brain measures (total intracranial volume (ICV), total cortical thickness (CT), total cortical surface area (CA), cortical gray matter (CoGM), cerebral white matter (CeWM), cerebellar cortex (CBGM), cerebellar white matter (CBWM), subcortical volumes [thalamus, putamen, pallidum, caudatus, hippocampus, amygdala, accumbens], and brain stem volume). We used linear discriminant analysis (LDA), random forest machine learning (RF), and a newly developed rule-based identification approach (RBIA) for the identification process. Using RBIA, different sets of neuroanatomical features (ranging from 2 to 14) obtained at baseline were combined by if-then rules and compared to the same set of neuroanatomical features derived from the 7-year follow-up measurement. We achieved excellent identification results with LDA, while the identification results for RF were very good but not perfect. The RBIA produced the best results, achieving perfect participant identification for some 4-feature sets. The identification results improved substantially when using larger feature sets, with 14 neuroanatomical features providing perfect identification. Thus, this study shows again that the human brain is highly individual in terms of neuroanatomical features. These results are discussed in the context of the current literature on brain plasticity and the scientific attempts to develop brain-fingerprinting techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Jäncke
- Division Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,University Research Priority Program "Dynamics of Healthy Aging," University Zurich
| | - S A Valizadeh
- Division Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Saenz JL, Downer B, Garcia MA, Wong R. Rural/urban dwelling across the life-course and late-life cognitive ability in Mexico. SSM Popul Health 2022; 17:101031. [PMID: 35118187 PMCID: PMC8800130 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Urban advantages in older adults' cognitive function have been observed. Less is known about early-life urban dwelling and late-life cognition. We evaluate how rural/urban dwelling throughout life and rural to urban shifts in life relate with cognition in Mexico, a country experiencing aging and urbanization. METHODS Data came from the 2003 and 2012 Mexican Health and Aging Study (n = 12,238 adults age 50+). Early-life urban dwelling was self-reported. Late-life urban dwelling was based on population size of respondents' community of residence (community 2500+ people) at the time of survey. Cognitive function was measured across several cognitive tasks. We assess differences in baseline cognitive function and nine-year decline across groups using a latent change score model. RESULTS Cross-sectionally, compared to always rural dwellers, rural-urban transitions were associated with cognitive benefits, though individuals residing in urban areas continuously through life exhibited the highest levels of cognitive function (β = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.83, 0.96) even after adjusting for SES, health, and health behaviors (β = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.22, 0.35). Longitudinally, always urban dwellers exhibited slower decline than always rural dwellers when adjusting for baseline cognition (β = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.18), though faster decline when baseline cognition was not adjusted (β = -0.11, 95% CI: -0.18, -0.04). No differences were observed for cognitive change across comparison groups after adjusting for potential mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS Early- and late-life urban dwelling may result in cognitive advantages for older Mexican adults. Clinicians should consider where individuals resided throughout life to better understand a patient's likelihood of experiencing poor cognitive outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph L. Saenz
- University of Southern California, Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, 3715 McClintock Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Brian Downer
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Division of Rehabilitation Sciences, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Marc A. Garcia
- Syracuse University, Department of Sociology and Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs, 900 South Crouse Ave, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA
| | - Rebeca Wong
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Preventive Medicine and Population Health, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
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Hotz I, Deschwanden PF, Mérillat S, Liem F, Kollias S, Jäncke L. Associations of subclinical cerebral small vessel disease and processing speed in non-demented subjects: A 7-year study. Neuroimage Clin 2021; 32:102884. [PMID: 34911190 PMCID: PMC8633374 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Markers of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) have previously been associated with age-related cognitive decline. Using longitudinal data of cognitively healthy, older adults (N = 216, mean age at baseline = 70.9 years), we investigated baseline status and change in white matter hyperintensities (WMH) (total, periventricular, deep), normal appearing white matter (NAWM), brain parenchyma volume (BPV) and processing speed over seven years as well as the impact of different covariates by applying latent growth curve (LGC) models. Generally, we revealed a complex pattern of associations between the different CSVD markers. More specifically, we observed that changes of deep WMH (dWMH), as compared to periventricular WMH (pWMH), were more strongly related to the changes of other CSVD markers and also to baseline processing speed performance. Further, the number of lacunes rather than their volume reflected the severity of CSVD. With respect to the studied covariates, we revealed that higher education had a protective effect on subsequent total WMH, pWMH, lacunar number, NAWM volume, and processing speed performance. The indication of antihypertensive drugs was associated with lower lacunar number and volume at baseline and the indication of antihypercholesterolemic drugs came along with higher processing speed performance at baseline. In summary, our results confirm previous findings, and extend them by providing information on true within-person changes, relationships between the different CSVD markers and brain-behavior associations. The moderate to strong associations between changes of the different CSVD markers indicate a common pathological relationship and, thus, support multidimensional treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Hotz
- Division of Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; University Research Priority Program (URPP), Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Pascal Frédéric Deschwanden
- University Research Priority Program (URPP), Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Susan Mérillat
- University Research Priority Program (URPP), Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Franziskus Liem
- University Research Priority Program (URPP), Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Spyridon Kollias
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lutz Jäncke
- Division of Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; University Research Priority Program (URPP), Dynamics of Healthy Aging, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Speh A, Wang R, Winblad B, Kramberger MG, Bäckman L, Qiu C, Laukka EJ. The Relationship Between Cardiovascular Health and Rate of Cognitive Decline in Young-Old and Old-Old Adults: A Population-Based Study. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 84:1523-1537. [PMID: 34690136 PMCID: PMC8764601 DOI: 10.3233/jad-210280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background: Modifiable vascular risk factors have been associated with late-life cognitive impairment. The Life Simple 7 (LS7) score comprises seven cardiovascular health metrics: smoking, diet, physical activity, body mass index, plasma glucose, total serum cholesterol, and blood pressure. Objective: To investigate the association between individual and composite LS7 metrics and rate of cognitive decline, and potential differences in these associations between young-old and old-old individuals. Methods: This cohort study included 1,950 participants aged≥60 years (M = 70.7 years) from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care-Kungsholmen (SNAC-K), who underwent repeated neuropsychological testing (episodic and semantic memory, verbal fluency, processing speed, global cognition) across 12 years. The LS7 score was assessed at baseline and categorized as poor, intermediate, or optimal. Level and change in cognitive performance as a function of LS7 categories were estimated using linear mixed-effects models. Results: Having an optimal LS7 total score was associated with better performance (expressed in standard deviation units) at baseline for perceptual speed (β= 0.21, 95%CI 0.12–0.29), verbal fluency (β= 0.08, 0.00–0.16), and global cognition (β= 0.06, 0.00–0.12) compared to the poor group. Age-stratified analyses revealed associations for cognitive level and change only in the young-old (< 78 years) group. For the specific metrics, diverging patterns were observed for young-old and old-old individuals. Conclusion: Meeting the LS7 criteria for ideal cardiovascular health in younger old age is associated with slower rate of cognitive decline. However, the LS7 criteria may have a different meaning for cognitive function in very old adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreja Speh
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden.,Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.,Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Rui Wang
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden.,The Swedish School of Sport and Health Science, GIH, Stockholm, Sweden.,Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Bengt Winblad
- Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.,Theme Inflammation and Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Milica G Kramberger
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Lars Bäckman
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden
| | - Chengxuan Qiu
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden
| | - Erika J Laukka
- Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden.,Stockholm Gerontology Research Center, Stockholm, Sweden
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Sele S, Liem F, Mérillat S, Jäncke L. Age-related decline in the brain: a longitudinal study on inter-individual variability of cortical thickness, area, volume, and cognition. Neuroimage 2021; 240:118370. [PMID: 34245866 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies have shown that cortical volume declines with age. Although volume is a multiplicative measure consisting of thickness and area, few studies have focused on both its components. Information on decline variability and associations between person-specific changes of different brain metrics, brain regions, and cognition is sparse. In addition, the estimates have often been biased by the measurement error, because three repeated measures are minimally required to separate the measurement error from person-specific changes. With a sample size of N = 231, five repeated measures, and an observational time span of seven years, this study explores the associations between changes of different brain metrics, brain regions, and cognitive abilities in aging. Person-specific changes were obtained by latent growth curve models using Bayesian estimation. Our data indicate that both thickness and area are important contributors to volumetric changes. In most brain regions, area clearly declined on average over the years, while thickness showed only little decline. However, there was also substantial variation around the average slope in thickness and area. The correlation pattern of changes in thickness between brain regions was strong and largely homogenous. The pattern for changes in area was similar but weaker, indicating that factors affecting area may be more region-specific. Changes in thickness and volume were substantially correlated with changes in cognition. In some brain regions, changes in area were also related to changes in cognition. Overall, studying the associations between the trajectories of brain regions in different brain metrics provides insights into the regional heterogeneity of structural changes. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Many studies have described volumetric brain changes in aging. Few studies have focused on both its individual components: area and thickness. Longitudinal studies with three or more time points are highly needed, because they provide more precise average change estimates and, more importantly, allow us to quantify the associations between changes in the different brain metrics, brain regions, and other variables (e.g. cognitive abilities). Studying these associations is important because they can provide information regarding possible underlying factors of these changes. Our study, with a large sample size, five repeated measures, and an observational time span of seven years, provides new insights about the associations between person-specific changes in thickness, area, volume, and cognitive abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvano Sele
- Division Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; University Research Priority Program "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Franziskus Liem
- University Research Priority Program "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Susan Mérillat
- University Research Priority Program "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lutz Jäncke
- Division Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; University Research Priority Program "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Zimmerman B, Rypma B, Gratton G, Fabiani M. Age-related changes in cerebrovascular health and their effects on neural function and cognition: A comprehensive review. Psychophysiology 2021; 58:e13796. [PMID: 33728712 PMCID: PMC8244108 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The process of aging includes changes in cellular biology that affect local interactions between cells and their environments and eventually propagate to systemic levels. In the brain, where neurons critically depend on an efficient and dynamic supply of oxygen and glucose, age-related changes in the complex interaction between the brain parenchyma and the cerebrovasculature have effects on health and functioning that negatively impact cognition and play a role in pathology. Thus, cerebrovascular health is considered one of the main mechanisms by which a healthy lifestyle, such as habitual cardiorespiratory exercise and a healthful diet, could lead to improved cognitive outcomes with aging. This review aims at detailing how the physiology of the cerebral vascular system changes with age and how these changes lead to differential trajectories of cognitive maintenance or decline. This provides a framework for generating specific mechanistic hypotheses about the efficacy of proposed interventions and lifestyle covariates that contribute to enhanced cognitive well-being. Finally, we discuss the methodological implications of age-related changes in the cerebral vasculature for human cognitive neuroscience research and propose directions for future experiments aimed at investigating age-related changes in the relationship between physiology and cognitive mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Zimmerman
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Bart Rypma
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Gabriele Gratton
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Monica Fabiani
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
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11
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Oschwald J, Mérillat S, Jäncke L, Seidler RD. Fractional Anisotropy in Selected, Motor-Related White Matter Tracts and Its Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Associations With Motor Function in Healthy Older Adults. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:621263. [PMID: 34239423 PMCID: PMC8258250 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.621263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background While it is well-known that deficits in motor performance and brain structural connectivity occur in the course of healthy aging, it is still unclear if and how these changes are related to each other. While some cross-sectional studies suggest that white matter (WM) microstructure is positively associated with motor function in healthy older adults, more evidence is needed. Moreover, longitudinal data is required to estimate whether similar associations can be found between trajectories of change in WM microstructure and motor function. The current study addresses this gap by investigating age-associations and longitudinal changes in WM microstructure and motor function, and the cross-sectional (level-level) and longitudinal (level-change, change-change) association between these two domains. Method We used multiple-occasion data (covering 4 years) from a large sample (N = 231) of healthy older adults from the Longitudinal Healthy Aging Brain (LHAB) database. To measure WM microstructure, we used diffusion-weighted imaging data to compute mean FA in three selected WM tracts [forceps minor (FMIN); superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF); corticospinal tract (CST)]. Motor function was measured via two motor speed tests (grooved pegboard, finger tapping) and one motor strength test (grip force test), separately for the left and the right hand. The statistical analysis was conducted with longitudinal growth curve models in the structural equation modeling framework. Results The results revealed longitudinal decline and negative cross-sectional age-associations for mean WM FA in the FMIN and SLF, and for motor function in all tests, with a higher vulnerability for left than right hand motor performance. Regarding cross-domain associations, we found a significant positive level-level correlation among mean WM FA in the FMIN with motor speed. Mean FA in SLF and CST was not correlated with motor performance measures, and none of the level-change or change-change associations were significant. Overall, our results (a) provide important insights into aging-related changes of fine motor abilities and FA in selected white matter tracts associated with motor control, (b) support previous cross-sectional work showing that neural control of movement in older adults also involves brain structures outside the core motor system and (c) align with the idea that, in healthy aging, compensatory mechanisms may be in place and longer time delays may be needed to reveal level-change or change-change associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Oschwald
- University Research Priority Program "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Susan Mérillat
- University Research Priority Program "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lutz Jäncke
- University Research Priority Program "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Neuropsychology, Psychological Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rachael D Seidler
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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Klauser P, Cropley VL, Baumann PS, Lv J, Steullet P, Dwir D, Alemán-Gómez Y, Bach Cuadra M, Cuenod M, Do KQ, Conus P, Pantelis C, Fornito A, Van Rheenen TE, Zalesky A. White Matter Alterations Between Brain Network Hubs Underlie Processing Speed Impairment in Patients With Schizophrenia. SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN OPEN 2021; 2:sgab033. [PMID: 34901867 PMCID: PMC8650074 DOI: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgab033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Processing speed (PS) impairment is one of the most severe and common cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Previous studies have reported correlations between PS and white matter diffusion properties, including fractional anisotropy (FA), in several fiber bundles in schizophrenia, suggesting that white matter alterations could underpin decreased PS. In schizophrenia, white matter alterations are most prevalent within inter-hub connections of the rich club. However, the spatial and topological characteristics of this association between PS and FA have not been investigated in patients. In this context, we tested whether structural connections comprising the rich club network would underlie PS impairment in 298 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 190 healthy controls from the Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank. PS, measured using the digit symbol coding task, was largely (Cohen’s d = 1.33) and significantly (P < .001) reduced in the patient group when compared with healthy controls. Significant associations between PS and FA were widespread in the patient group, involving all cerebral lobes. FA was not associated with other cognitive measures of phonological fluency and verbal working memory in patients, suggesting specificity to PS. A topological analysis revealed that despite being spatially widespread, associations between PS and FA were over-represented among connections forming the rich club network. These findings highlight the need to consider brain network topology when investigating high-order cognitive functions that may be spatially distributed among several brain regions. They also reinforce the evidence that brain hubs and their interconnections may be particularly vulnerable parts of the brain in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Klauser
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, Victoria, Australia
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, and Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Service of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vanessa L Cropley
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, Victoria, Australia
| | - Philipp S Baumann
- Service of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jinglei Lv
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Whales,Australia
| | - Pascal Steullet
- Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Daniella Dwir
- Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yasser Alemán-Gómez
- Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Meritxell Bach Cuadra
- Department of Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Medical Image Analysis Laboratory, Center for Biomedical Imaging, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michel Cuenod
- Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kim Q Do
- Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Conus
- Service of General Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christos Pantelis
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, Victoria, Australia
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alex Fornito
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, and Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tamsyn E Van Rheenen
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew Zalesky
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne Health, Carlton South, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Malagurski B, Liem F, Oschwald J, Mérillat S, Jäncke L. Functional dedifferentiation of associative resting state networks in older adults - A longitudinal study. Neuroimage 2020; 214:116680. [PMID: 32105885 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Healthy aging is associated with weaker functional connectivity within resting state brain networks and stronger functional interaction between these networks. This phenomenon has been characterized as reduced functional segregation and has been investigated mainly in cross-sectional studies. Here, we used a longitudinal dataset which consisted of four occasions of resting state fMRI and psychometric cognitive ability data, collected from a sample of healthy older adults (baseline N = 232, age range: 64-87 y, age M = 70.8 y), to investigate the functional segregation of several well-defined resting state networks encompassing the whole brain. We characterized the ratio of within-network and between-network correlations via the well-established segregation index. Our findings showed a decrease over a 4-year interval in the functional segregation of the default mode, frontoparietal control and salience ventral attention networks. In contrast, we showed an increase in the segregation of the limbic network over the same interval. More importantly, the rate of change in functional segregation of the frontoparietal control network was associated with the rate of change in processing speed. These findings support the hypothesis of functional dedifferentiation in healthy aging as well as its role in cognitive function in elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigitta Malagurski
- University Research Priority Program "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Franziskus Liem
- University Research Priority Program "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jessica Oschwald
- University Research Priority Program "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Susan Mérillat
- University Research Priority Program "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lutz Jäncke
- University Research Priority Program "Dynamics of Healthy Aging", University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Division of Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Jäncke L, Sele S, Liem F, Oschwald J, Merillat S. Brain aging and psychometric intelligence: a longitudinal study. Brain Struct Funct 2019; 225:519-536. [DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-02005-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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