scholarly journals The effect of vascular health factors on white matter microstructure mediates age-related differences in executive function performance

Cortex ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Hoagey ◽  
Linh T.T. Lazarus ◽  
Karen M. Rodrigue ◽  
Kristen M. Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Vascular Health ◽  
Age Related ◽  
White Matter Microstructure ◽  
Health Factors

scholarly journals Contributions of White Matter Connectivity and BOLD Modulation to Cognitive Aging: A Lifespan Structure-Function Association Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 1649-1661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina E Webb ◽  
Karen M Rodrigue ◽  
David A Hoagey ◽  
Chris M Foster ◽  
Kristen M Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Structure Function ◽  
Association Study ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Age Related ◽  
White Matter Microstructure ◽  
Task Accuracy ◽  
Back Task

Abstract The ability to flexibly modulate brain activation to increasing cognitive challenge decreases with aging. This age-related decrease in dynamic range of function of regional gray matter may be, in part, due to age-related degradation of regional white matter tracts. Here, a lifespan sample of 171 healthy adults (aged 20–94) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning including diffusion-weighted imaging (for tractography) and functional imaging (a digit n-back task). We utilized structural equation modeling to test the hypothesis that age-related decrements in white matter microstructure are associated with altered blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) modulation, and both in turn, are associated with scanner-task accuracy and executive function performance. Specified structural equation model evidenced good fit, demonstrating that increased age negatively affects n-back task accuracy and executive function performance in part due to both degraded white matter tract microstructure and reduced task-difficulty-related BOLD modulation. We further demonstrated that poorer white matter microstructure integrity was associated with weakened BOLD modulation, particularly in regions showing positive modulation effects, as opposed to negative modulation effects. This structure-function association study provides further evidence that structural connectivity influences functional activation, and the two mechanisms in tandem are predictive of cognitive performance, both during the task, and for cognition measured outside the scanner environment.

scholarly journals Contributions of white matter connectivity and BOLD modulation to cognitive aging: A lifespan structure-function association study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina E. Webb ◽  
Karen M. Rodrigue ◽  
David A. Hoagey ◽  
Chris M. Foster ◽  
Kristen M. Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Structure Function ◽  
Association Study ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Age Related ◽  
White Matter Microstructure ◽  
Task Accuracy ◽  
Back Task

AbstractThe ability to flexibly modulate brain activation to increasing cognitive challenge decreases with aging. This age-related decrease in dynamic range of function of regional gray matter may be, in part, due to age-related degradation of regional white matter tracts. Here, a lifespan sample of 171 healthy adults (aged 20-94) underwent MRI scanning including diffusion-weighted imaging (for tractography) and functional imaging (a digit n-back task). We utilized structural equation modeling to test the hypothesis that age-related decrements in white matter microstructure are associated with altered BOLD modulation, and both in turn, are associated with scanner-task accuracy and executive function performance. Specified structural equation model evidenced good fit, demonstrating that increased age negatively affects n-back task accuracy and executive function performance in part due to both degraded white matter tract microstructure and reduced task-difficulty related BOLD modulation. We further demonstrated that poorer white matter microstructure integrity was associated with weakened BOLD modulation, particularly in regions showing positive modulation effects, as opposed to negative modulation effects. This structure-function association study provides further evidence that structural connectivity influences functional activation, and the two mechanisms in tandem are predictive of cognitive performance, both during the task, and for cognition measured outside the scanner environment.

The Relations Between Physical Activity Level, Executive Function, and White Matter Microstructure in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Marissa A. Gogniat ◽  
Catherine M. Mewborn ◽  
Talia L. Robinson ◽  
Kharine R. Jean ◽  
L. Stephen Miller
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Neuropsychological Testing ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Average Intensity ◽  
Age Related

The population of older adults is increasing, indicating a need to examine factors that may prevent or mitigate age-related cognitive decline. The current study examined whether microstructural white matter characteristics mediated the relation between physical activity and executive function in older adults without any self-reported psychiatric and neurological disorders or cognitive impairment (N = 43, mean age = 73 y). Physical activity was measured by average intensity and number of steps via accelerometry. Diffusion tensor imaging was used to examine microstructural white matter characteristics, and neuropsychological testing was used to examine executive functioning. Parallel mediation models were analyzed using microstructural white matter regions of interest as mediators of the association between physical activity and executive function. Results indicated that average steps was significantly related to executive function (β = 0.0003, t = 2.829, P = .007), while moderate to vigorous physical activity was not (β = 0.0007, t = 1.772, P = .08). White matter metrics did not mediate any associations. This suggests that microstructural white matter characteristics alone may not be the mechanism by which physical activity impacts executive function in aging.

P2-170: Plasma ceramides predict age-related differences in white matter microstructure

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (7S_Part_12) ◽  
pp. P555-P556
Author(s):  
Christopher E. Gonzalez ◽  
Vijay K. Venkatraman ◽  
Yang An ◽  
Bennett Landman ◽  
Veera Venkata Ratnam Bandaru ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Age Related ◽  
White Matter Microstructure

scholarly journals The role of white matter microstructure in age-related deficits in task-switching

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolly Todd ◽  
Michie Pat ◽  
Fulham William ◽  
Cooper Patrick ◽  
Levi Christopher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Task Switching ◽  
Age Related ◽  
White Matter Microstructure

scholarly journals Age-related abnormalities in white matter microstructure in autism spectrum disorders

2012 ◽  
Vol 1479 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia M. Kleinhans ◽  
Gregory Pauley ◽  
Todd Richards ◽  
Emily Neuhaus ◽  
Nathalie Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorders ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Age Related ◽  
White Matter Microstructure ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

scholarly journals Endothelial Function Is Associated with White Matter Microstructure and Executive Function in Older Adults

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan F. Johnson ◽  
Brian T. Gold ◽  
Christopher A. Brown ◽  
Emily F. Anggelis ◽  
Alison L. Bailey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Endothelial Function ◽  
White Matter Microstructure
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document