1
|
Pipoly M, Lee HK, Hazeltine E, Voss MW. Educational Attainment Moderates Task-State Control Network Connectivity Relations to Response Conflict Among Healthy Older Adults. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2024; 79:gbae077. [PMID: 38721999 PMCID: PMC11176974 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbae077] [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: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Older adult executive function varies widely due to brain and cognitive aging. Variance in older adult executive function is linked to increased response conflict from cognitive and brain aging. Cognitive reserve (CR) is a theoretical protective mechanism that lessens brain aging's impact on cognition and is associated with greater educational attainment. Recent work in rest-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) suggests CR proxies moderate the relationship between functional connectivity (FC) and cognitive performance. Brain network FC in "control networks," including the salience (SN), dorsal attention and frontoparietal networks, are associated with cognitive processes in older adults. CR is hypothesized to maintain cognitive processing in part through changes in how brain networks respond to cognitive demands. However, it is unclear how CR proxies like educational attainment are related to control network FC during performance when cognitive demands are increased relative to rest. Because CR is expressed more in those with higher education, we hypothesized stronger control network FC would relate to better performance, where this relationship would be strongest among the most educated. METHODS We collected flanker task data during fMRI to assess the impact of a CR proxy (i.e., educational attainment) on response conflict among older adult subjects (n = 42, age = 65-80). RESULTS Linear mixed-effects models showed more educated older adults with greater SN-FC had a smaller flanker effect (i.e., less influence of distractors; p < .001) during task performance. DISCUSSION For the first time, we show that educational attainment moderates the relationship between task-state SN-FC and executive function among older adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Pipoly
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Hyun Kyu Lee
- Department of Research and Development, Posit Science Inc., San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Eliot Hazeltine
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Michelle W Voss
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Callow DD, Spira AP, Zipunnikov V, Lu H, Wanigatunga SK, Rabinowitz JA, Albert M, Bakker A, Soldan A. Sleep and physical activity measures are associated with resting-state network segregation in non-demented older adults. Neuroimage Clin 2024; 43:103621. [PMID: 38823249 PMCID: PMC11179421 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2024.103621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Greater physical activity and better sleep are associated with reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia among older adults, but little is known about their combined associations with measures of brain function and neuropathology. This study investigated potential independent and interactive cross-sectional relationships between actigraphy-estimated total volume of physical activity (TVPA) and sleep patterns [i.e., total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE)] with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) measures of large scale network connectivity and positron emission tomography (PET) measures of amyloid-β. Participants were 135 non-demented older adults from the BIOCARD study (116 cognitively normal and 19 with mild cognitive impairment; mean age = 70.0 years). Using multiple linear regression analyses, we assessed the association between TVPA, TST, and SE with connectivity within the default-mode, salience, and fronto-parietal control networks, and with network modularity, a measure of network segregation. Higher TVPA and SE were independently associated with greater network modularity, although the positive relationship of SE with modularity was only present in amyloid-negative individuals. Additionally, higher TVPA was associated with greater connectivity within the default-mode network, while greater SE was related to greater connectivity within the salience network. In contrast, longer TST was associated with lower network modularity, particularly among amyloid-positive individuals, suggesting a relationship between longer sleep duration and greater network disorganization. Physical activity and sleep measures were not associated with amyloid positivity. These data suggest that greater physical activity levels and more efficient sleep may promote more segregated and potentially resilient functional networks and increase functional connectivity within specific large-scale networks and that the relationship between sleep and functional networks connectivity may depend on amyloid status.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel D Callow
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
| | - Adam P Spira
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, the United States of America; Johns Hopkins Center on Aging and Health, Baltimore, MD, the United States of America
| | - Vadim Zipunnikov
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, the United States of America
| | - Hanzhang Lu
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, the United States of America; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, the United States of America
| | - Sarah K Wanigatunga
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, the United States of America
| | - Jill A Rabinowitz
- Department of Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ US
| | - Marilyn Albert
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, the United States of America
| | - Arnold Bakker
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, the United States of America
| | - Anja Soldan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, the United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cui L, Hong H, Wang S, Zeng Q, Jiaerken Y, Yu X, Zhang R, Zhang Y, Xie L, Lin M, Liu L, Luo X, Li K, Liu X, Li J, Huang P, Zhang M. Small vessel disease and cognitive reserve oppositely modulate global network redundancy and cognitive function: A study in middle-to-old aged community participants. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26634. [PMID: 38553856 PMCID: PMC10980841 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26634] [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: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) can disrupt the global brain network and lead to cognitive impairment. Conversely, cognitive reserve (CR) can improve one's cognitive ability to handle damaging effects like SVD, partly by optimizing the brain network's organization. Understanding how SVD and CR collectively influence brain networks could be instrumental in preventing cognitive impairment. Recently, brain redundancy has emerged as a critical network protective metric, providing a nuanced perspective of changes in network organization. However, it remains unclear how SVD and CR affect global redundancy and subsequently cognitive function. Here, we included 121 community-dwelling participants who underwent neuropsychological assessments and a multimodal MRI examination. We visually examined common SVD imaging markers and assessed lifespan CR using the Cognitive Reserve Index Questionnaire. We quantified the global redundancy index (RI) based on the dynamic functional connectome. We then conducted multiple linear regressions to explore the specific cognitive domains related to RI and the associations of RI with SVD and CR. We also conducted mediation analyses to explore whether RI mediated the relationships between SVD, CR, and cognition. We found negative correlations of RI with the presence of microbleeds (MBs) and the SVD total score, and a positive correlation of RI with leisure activity-related CR (CRI-leisure). RI was positively correlated with memory and fully mediated the relationships between the MBs, CRI-leisure, and memory. Our study highlights the potential benefits of promoting leisure activities and keeping brain redundancy for memory preservation in older adults, especially those with SVD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Cui
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Hui Hong
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Shuyue Wang
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Qingze Zeng
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Yeerfan Jiaerken
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Xinfeng Yu
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Ruiting Zhang
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Yao Zhang
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Linyun Xie
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Miao Lin
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Lingyun Liu
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Xiao Luo
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Kaicheng Li
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Xiaocao Liu
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Jixuan Li
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Peiyu Huang
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Minming Zhang
- Department of RadiologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Qiu X, Robert AL, McAlaine K, Quan L, Mangano J, Weisskopf MG. Early-life participation in cognitively stimulating activities and risk of depression and anxiety in late life. Psychol Med 2024; 54:962-970. [PMID: 37706289 PMCID: PMC10937330 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723002702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early-life stressful experiences are associated with increased risk of adverse psychological outcomes in later life. However, much less is known about associations between early-life positive experiences, such as participation in cognitively stimulating activities, and late-life mental health. We investigated whether greater engagement in cognitively stimulating activities in early life is associated with lower risk of depression and anxiety in late life. METHODS We surveyed former participants of the St. Louis Baby Tooth study, between 22 June 2021 and 25 March 2022 to collect information on participants' current depression/anxiety symptoms and their early-life activities (N = 2187 responded). A composite activity score was created to represent the early-life activity level by averaging the frequency of self-reported participation in common cognitively stimulating activities in participants' early life (age 6, 12, 18), each rated on a 1 (least frequent) to 5 (most frequent) point scale. Depression/anxiety symptoms were measured by Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7). We used logistic regressions to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of outcome risk associated with frequency of early-life activity. RESULTS Each one-point increase in the early-life composite cognitive activity score was associated with an OR of 0.54 (95% CI 0.38-0.77) for late-life depression and an OR of 0.94 (95% CI 0.61-1.43) for late-life anxiety, adjusting for age, sex, race, parental education, childhood family structure, and socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS More frequent participation in cognitively stimulating activities during early life was associated with reduced risk of late-life depression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinye Qiu
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrea L. Robert
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kaleigh McAlaine
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luwei Quan
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph Mangano
- Metals and Metal Mixtures, Cognitive Aging, Remediation and Exposure Sources (MEMCARE) Harvard Radiation and Public Health Project, Inc
| | - Marc G. Weisskopf
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Petrican R, Fornito A, Boyland E. Lifestyle Factors Counteract the Neurodevelopmental Impact of Genetic Risk for Accelerated Brain Aging in Adolescence. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:453-464. [PMID: 37393046 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The transition from childhood to adolescence is characterized by enhanced neural plasticity and a consequent susceptibility to both beneficial and adverse aspects of one's milieu. METHODS To understand the implications of the interplay between protective and risk-enhancing factors, we analyzed longitudinal data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study (n = 834; 394 female). We probed the maturational correlates of positive lifestyle variables (friendships, parental warmth, school engagement, physical exercise, healthy nutrition) and genetic vulnerability to neuropsychiatric disorders (major depressive disorder, Alzheimer's disease, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia) and sought to further elucidate their implications for psychological well-being. RESULTS Genetic risk factors and lifestyle buffers showed divergent relationships with later attentional and interpersonal problems. These effects were mediated by distinguishable functional neurodevelopmental deviations spanning the limbic, default mode, visual, and control systems. More specifically, greater genetic vulnerability was associated with alterations in the normative maturation of areas rich in dopamine (D2), glutamate, and serotonin receptors and of areas with stronger expression of astrocytic and microglial genes, a molecular signature implicated in the brain disorders discussed here. Greater availability of lifestyle buffers predicted deviations in the normative functional development of higher density GABAergic (gamma-aminobutyric acidergic) receptor regions. The two profiles of neurodevelopmental alterations showed complementary roles in protection against psychopathology, which varied with environmental stress levels. CONCLUSIONS Our results underscore the importance of educational involvement and healthy nutrition in attenuating the neurodevelopmental sequelae of genetic risk factors. They also underscore the importance of characterizing early-life biomarkers associated with adult-onset pathologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raluca Petrican
- Institute of Population Health, Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
| | - Alex Fornito
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Emma Boyland
- Institute of Population Health, Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ai M, Morris TP, Zhang J, de la Colina AN, Tremblay-Mercier J, Villeneuve S, Whitfield-Gabrieli S, Kramer AF, Geddes MR. Resting-state MRI functional connectivity as a neural correlate of multidomain lifestyle adherence in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7487. [PMID: 37160915 PMCID: PMC10170147 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32714-1] [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: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Prior research has demonstrated the importance of a healthy lifestyle to protect brain health and diminish dementia risk in later life. While a multidomain lifestyle provides an ecological perspective to voluntary engagement, its association with brain health is still under-investigated. Therefore, understanding the neural mechanisms underlying multidomain lifestyle engagement, particularly in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), gives valuable insights into providing lifestyle advice and intervention for those in need. The current study included 139 healthy older adults with familial risk for AD from the Prevent-AD longitudinal aging cohort. Self-reported exercise engagement, cognitive activity engagement, healthy diet adherence, and social activity engagement were included to examine potential phenotypes of an individual's lifestyle adherence. Two adherence profiles were discovered using data-driven clustering methodology [i.e., Adherence to healthy lifestyle (AL) group and Non-adherence to healthy lifestyle group]. Resting-state functional connectivity matrices and grey matter brain features obtained from magnetic resonance imaging were used to classify the two groups using a support vector machine (SVM). The SVM classifier was 75% accurate in separating groups. The features that show consistently high importance to the classification model were functional connectivity mainly between nodes located in different prior-defined functional networks. Most nodes were located in the default mode network, dorsal attention network, and visual network. Our results provide preliminary evidence of neurobiological characteristics underlying multidomain healthy lifestyle choices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meishan Ai
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Timothy P Morris
- Department of Physical Therapy, Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jiahe Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Jennifer Tremblay-Mercier
- STOP-AD Centre, Centre for Studies on Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute Research Centre, Affiliated with, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sylvia Villeneuve
- STOP-AD Centre, Centre for Studies on Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute Research Centre, Affiliated with, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Arthur F Kramer
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Maiya R Geddes
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- STOP-AD Centre, Centre for Studies on Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Depping MS, Köhler-Ipek L, Ullrich P, Hauer K, Wolf RC. [Late-life depression and frailty-Epidemiological, clinical and neurobiological associations]. DER NERVENARZT 2023; 94:234-239. [PMID: 36799956 PMCID: PMC9992046 DOI: 10.1007/s00115-023-01444-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is the most common mental disorder in older adults and is influenced by age-related processes. Frailty is a well-established clinical expression of ageing that implies a state of increased vulnerability to stressor events as well as increased risks of disability, hospitalization and death. Neurobiological findings will disentangle the comorbidity of frailty and depression and may inform future management of depression in old age. OBJECTIVE This narrative review provides an overview of the comorbidity of late-life depression and frailty, with a focus on neuroscientific findings that are organized within the research domain criteria (RDoC) framework. RESULTS More than one third of old people with depression are affected by frailty, which results in more chronic depression and in poorer efficacy and tolerability of antidepressant medication. Depression and frailty share motivational and psychomotor characteristics, particularly apathy, decreased physical activity and fatigue. In patients with frailty, altered activity of the supplementary motor cortex is associated with motor performance deficits. Patients with late-life depression and apathy are characterized by abnormal structure and altered functional connectivity of the reward network and the salience network, along with altered functional connectivity of these networks with premotor brain areas. CONCLUSION Identifying frailty in older adults with depression is relevant for prognostic assessment and treatment. A better understanding of the neuronal mechanisms of comorbidity will provide potential targets for future personalized therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M S Depping
- Klinik für Allgemeine Psychiatrie, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Voßstr. 4, 69115, Heidelberg, Deutschland.
| | - L Köhler-Ipek
- Klinik für Allgemeine Psychiatrie, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Voßstr. 4, 69115, Heidelberg, Deutschland
| | - P Ullrich
- Geriatrisches Zentrum an der Medizinischen Fakultät der Universität Heidelberg, Agaplesion Bethanien Krankenhaus Heidelberg, Rohrbacher Str. 149, 69126, Heidelberg, Deutschland
| | - K Hauer
- Geriatrisches Zentrum an der Medizinischen Fakultät der Universität Heidelberg, Agaplesion Bethanien Krankenhaus Heidelberg, Rohrbacher Str. 149, 69126, Heidelberg, Deutschland
| | - R C Wolf
- Klinik für Allgemeine Psychiatrie, Zentrum für Psychosoziale Medizin, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Voßstr. 4, 69115, Heidelberg, Deutschland
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Nielson KA, McDonough IM, Soldan A. Editorial: Insights in neurocognitive aging and behavior: 2021. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1147618. [PMID: 36824267 PMCID: PMC9941662 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1147618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kristy A. Nielson
- Director, Aging, Imaging and Memory (AIM) Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Ian M. McDonough
- Alabama Research Institute on Aging, Department of Psychology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States
| | - Anja Soldan
- Cognitive Neuroscience Division, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Song S, Gaynor AM, Gazes Y, Lee S, Xu Q, Habeck C, Stern Y, Gu Y. Physical activity moderates the association between white matter hyperintensity burden and cognitive change. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:945645. [PMID: 36313016 PMCID: PMC9610117 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.945645] [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: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Greater physical activity (PA) could delay cognitive decline, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. White matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden is one of the key brain pathologies that have been shown to predict faster cognitive decline at a late age. One possible pathway is that PA may help maintain cognition by mitigating the detrimental effects of brain pathologies, like WMH, on cognitive change. This study aims to examine whether PA moderates the association between WMH burden and cognitive change. Materials and methods This population-based longitudinal study included 198 dementia-free adults aged 20-80 years. Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) was assessed by a self-reported questionnaire. Occupational physical activity (OPA) was a factor score measuring the physical demands of each job. Total physical activity (TPA) was operationalized as the average of z-scores of LTPA and OPA. Outcome variables included 5-year changes in global cognition and in four reference abilities (fluid reasoning, processing speed, memory, and vocabulary). Multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate the moderation effect of PA on the association between white matter hyperintensities and cognitive change, adjusting for age, sex, education, and baseline cognition. Results Over approximately 5 years, global cognition (p < 0.001), reasoning (p < 0.001), speed (p < 0.001), and memory (p < 0.05) scores declined, and vocabulary (p < 0.001) increased. Higher WMH burden was correlated with more decline in global cognition (Spearman's rho = -0.229, p = 0.001), reasoning (rho = -0.402, p < 0.001), and speed (rho = -0.319, p < 0.001), and less increase in vocabulary (rho = -0.316, p < 0.001). Greater TPA attenuated the association between WMH burden and changes in reasoning (βTPA^*WMH = 0.029, 95% CI = 0.006-0.052, p = 0.013), speed (βTPA^*WMH = 0.035, 95% CI = -0.004-0.065, p = 0.028), and vocabulary (βTPA^*WMH = 0.034, 95% CI = 0.004-0.065, p = 0.029). OPA seemed to be the factor that exerted a stronger moderation on the relationship between WMH burden and cognitive change. Conclusion Physical activity may help maintain reasoning, speed, and vocabulary abilities in face of WMH burden. The cognitive reserve potential of PA warrants further examination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suhang Song
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Alexandra M. Gaynor
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Yunglin Gazes
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Seonjoo Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Biostatistics, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Mental Health Data Science, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United States
| | - Qianhui Xu
- Department of Epidemiology, Joseph P. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Christian Habeck
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Yaakov Stern
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Yian Gu
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Epidemiology, Joseph P. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Rodrigues EA, Christie GJ, Farzan F, Moreno S. Does cognitive aging follow an orchid and dandelion phenomenon? Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:986262. [PMID: 36299615 PMCID: PMC9588970 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.986262] [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: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive reserve reflects the brain’s intrinsic adaptive capacity against the neurodegenerative effects of aging. The maintenance or enhancement of the brain’s cognitive reserve plays a crucial role in mitigating the severity of pathologies associated with aging. A new movement, social prescribing, which focuses on prescribing lifestyle activities as a treatment for patients, is growing in popularity as a solution against aging pathologies. However, few studies have demonstrated a clear impact of lifestyle activities on individual cognitive health, outside of floor and ceiling effects. Understanding who benefits from which lifestyle factors remains unclear. Here, we investigated the potential effects of lifestyle activities on individuals’ cognitive health from more than 3,530 older adults using a stratification method and advanced analysis technique. Our stratification methods allowed us to observe a new result: older adults who had relatively average cognitive scores were not impacted by lifestyle factors. By comparison, older adults with very high or very low cognitive scores were highly impacted by lifestyle factors. These findings expand the orchid and dandelion theory to the aging field, regarding the biological sensitivity of individuals to harmful and protective environmental effects. Our discoveries demonstrate the role of individual differences in the aging process and its importance for social prescribing programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emma A. Rodrigues
- School of Interactive Arts and Technology, Simon Fraser University, Surrey, BC, Canada
| | | | - Faranak Farzan
- School of Mechatronics and Systems Engineering, Simon Fraser University, Surrey, BC, Canada
| | - Sylvain Moreno
- School of Interactive Arts and Technology, Simon Fraser University, Surrey, BC, Canada
- Circle Innovation, Surrey, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Sylvain Moreno,
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Chen W, Zhang X, Xie H, He Q, Shi Z. Brain Functional Connectivity in Middle-Aged Hong Chuan Tai Chi Players in Resting State. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12232. [PMID: 36231536 PMCID: PMC9565129 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Tai Chi is an effective strategy for slowing cognitive decline, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We designed a cross-sectional study to examine brain functional connectivity in middle-aged Hong Chuan Tai Chi practitioners. Eighteen middle-aged Hong Chuan Tai Chi practitioners and 22 age-matched Tai Chi-naïve controls completed functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) tests to evaluate oxyhemoglobin changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), motor cortex (MC), and occipital cortex (OC) in five frequency intervals (I, 0.6-2 Hz; II, 0.145-0.6 Hz; III, 0.052-0.145 Hz; IV, 0.021-0.052 Hz; V, 0.0095-0.021 Hz). Wavelet phase coherence was used to analyze the match between the instantaneous phases of the two signals to accurately measure brain functional connectivity. Global cognition was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale. Compared with the control group, Hong Chuan Tai Chi practitioners had better global cognition (p < 0.01) and showed higher functional connectivity of the PFC, MC, and OC in intervals I, III, VI, and V in the resting state within the same brain hemispheres or between the left and right hemispheres. Our findings revealed that middle-aged Hong Chuan Tai Chi practitioners had higher functional connectivity of the PFC, MC, and OC across both brain hemispheres in cardiac activity, myogenic activity, sympathetic nervous system, and endothelial cell metabolic activities which may contribute to higher global cognition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weiqi Chen
- School of Physical Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250062, China
| | - Xianliang Zhang
- School of Physical Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250062, China
| | - Hui Xie
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Technical Aids for Old-Age Disability, National Research Center for Rehabilitation Technical Aids, Beijing 100176, China
| | - Qiang He
- School of Physical Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250062, China
| | - Zhenguo Shi
- School of Physical Education, Shandong University, Jinan 250062, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Soldan A, Alfini A, Pettigrew C, Faria A, Hou X, Lim C, Lu H, Spira AP, Zipunnikov V, Albert M. Actigraphy-estimated physical activity is associated with functional and structural brain connectivity among older adults. Neurobiol Aging 2022; 116:32-40. [PMID: 35551019 PMCID: PMC10167793 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Higher physical activity levels are associated with reduced cognitive decline among older adults; however, current understanding of underlying brain mechanisms is limited. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between actigraphy-estimated total volume of physical activity (TVPA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of white matter hyperintensities (WMH), and functional and structural brain connectivity, measured by resting-state functional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging. Study participants (N = 156, mean age = 71 years) included 136 with normal cognition and 20 with Mild Cognitive Impairment. Higher TVPA was associated with greater functional connectivity within the default-mode network and greater network modularity (a measure of network specialization), as well as with greater anisotropy and lower radial diffusion in white matter, suggesting better structural connectivity. These associations with functional and structural connectivity were independent of one another and independent of the level of vascular risk, APOE-ε4 status, cognitive reserve, and WMH volume, which were not associated with TVPA. Findings suggest that physical activity is beneficial for brain connectivity among older individuals with varying levels of risk for cognitive decline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anja Soldan
- Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Alfonso Alfini
- National Center on Sleep Disorders Research, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Corinne Pettigrew
- Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Andreia Faria
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Xirui Hou
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Chantelle Lim
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hanzhang Lu
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Adam P Spira
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Vadim Zipunnikov
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marilyn Albert
- Division of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Brichko R, Soldan A, Zhu Y, Wang MC, Faria A, Albert M, Pettigrew C. Age-Dependent Association Between Cognitive Reserve Proxy and Longitudinal White Matter Microstructure in Older Adults. Front Psychol 2022; 13:859826. [PMID: 35756247 PMCID: PMC9226781 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.859826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective This study examined the association of lifetime experiences, measured by a cognitive reserve (CR) composite score composed of years of education, literacy, and vocabulary measures, to level and rate of change in white matter microstructure, as assessed by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures. We also examined whether the relationship between the proxy CR composite score and white matter microstructure was modified by participant age, APOE-ε4 genetic status, and level of vascular risk. Methods A sample of 192 non-demented (n = 166 cognitively normal, n = 26 mild cognitive impairment) older adults [mean age = 70.17 (SD = 8.5) years] from the BIOCARD study underwent longitudinal DTI (mean follow-up = 2.5 years, max = 4.7 years). White matter microstructure was quantified by fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity (RD) values in global white matter tracts and medial temporal lobe (MTL) white matter tracts. Results Using longitudinal linear mixed effect models, we found that FA decreased over time and RD increased over time in both the global and MTL DTI composites, but the rate of change in these DTI measures was not related to level of CR. However, there were significant interactions between the CR composite score and age for global RD in the full sample, and for global FA, global RD, and MTL RD among those with normal cognition. These interactions indicated that among participants with a lower baseline age, higher CR composite scores were associated with higher FA and lower RD values, while among participants with higher age at baseline, higher CR composite scores were associated with lower FA and higher RD values. Furthermore, these relationships were not modified by APOE-ε4 genotype or level of vascular risk. Conclusion The association between level of CR and DTI measures differs by age, suggesting a possible neuroprotective effect of CR among late middle-aged adults that shifts to a compensatory effect among older adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rostislav Brichko
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Anja Soldan
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yuxin Zhu
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Mei-Cheng Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Andreia Faria
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Marilyn Albert
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Corinne Pettigrew
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States,*Correspondence: Corinne Pettigrew,
| | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Griffa A, Legdeur N, Badissi M, van den Heuvel MP, Stam CJ, Visser PJ, Hillebrand A. Magnetoencephalography Brain Signatures Relate to Cognition and Cognitive Reserve in the Oldest-Old: The EMIF-AD 90 + Study. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:746373. [PMID: 34899269 PMCID: PMC8656941 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.746373] [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: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The oldest-old subjects represent the fastest growing segment of society and are at high risk for dementia with a prevalence of up to 40%. Lifestyle factors, such as lifelong participation in cognitive and leisure activities, may contribute to individual cognitive reserve and reduce the risk for cognitive impairments. However, the neural bases underlying cognitive functioning and cognitive reserve in this age range are still poorly understood. Here, we investigate spectral and functional connectivity features obtained from resting-state MEG recordings in a cohort of 35 cognitively normal (92.2 ± 1.8 years old, 19 women) and 11 cognitively impaired (90.9 ± 1.9 years old, 1 woman) oldest-old participants, in relation to cognitive traits and cognitive reserve. The latter was approximated with a self-reported scale on lifelong engagement in cognitively demanding activities. Cognitively impaired oldest-old participants had slower cortical rhythms in frontal, parietal and default mode network regions compared to the cognitively normal subjects. These alterations mainly concerned the theta and beta band and partially explained inter-subject variability of episodic memory scores. Moreover, a distinct spectral pattern characterized by higher relative power in the alpha band was specifically associated with higher cognitive reserve while taking into account the effect of age and education level. Finally, stronger functional connectivity in the alpha and beta band were weakly associated with better cognitive performances in the whole group of subjects, although functional connectivity effects were less prominent than the spectral ones. Our results shed new light on the neural underpinnings of cognitive functioning in the oldest-old population and indicate that cognitive performance and cognitive reserve may have distinct spectral electrophysiological substrates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Griffa
- Division of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Center of Neuroprosthetics, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale De Lausanne (EPFL), Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Clinical Neurophysiology and MEG Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Nienke Legdeur
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Maryam Badissi
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Martijn P van den Heuvel
- Dutch Connectome Lab, Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Research, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Cornelis J Stam
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology and MEG Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Pieter Jelle Visser
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Arjan Hillebrand
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology and MEG Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|