Associations Between Lifetime Musical Activity and Resting‐State Functional Connectivity in Higher‐Order Brain Networks

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundEngagement in complex leisure activities, such as playing a musical instrument, may help preserve cognitive and brain health in older age (e.g. Böttcher et al., 2022). In this study, we investigated the associations between leisure‐time musical activity and resting‐state functional connectivity (RSFC) in three higher‐order networks, the Default Mode. Fronto‐Parietal and Salience Networks, in older adults.MethodIn total, 130 cognitively unimpaired older (aged 60 years and older) participants of the DZNE ‐ DELCODE (Jessen et al., 2018) were assessed. Two groups matched for their reserve proxies were identified (with musical activity during life: n = 65 and controls: n = 65) based on self‐reported musical instrument playing during life, as measured by the Lifetime of Experiences Questionnaire. The two groups were compared in global and local (seed‐to‐voxel) RSFC patterns using pre‐specified seeds of the three brain networks. A mediation analysis explored the interrelations between lifetime musical activity, RSFC, and cognitive composites (Wolfsgruber et al., 2020).ResultOlder participants with musical activity showed higher local RSFC between the medial prefrontal cortex (Default Mode Network seed) and temporal regions, namely the bilateral temporal poles as well as the right inferior and middle temporal gyrus, compared to controls (see Figure 1). There were no group differences in global RSFC of the three networks and no mediation effects of musical activity‐related RSFC on global and domain‐specific cognition.ConclusionWe show that self‐reported lifetime musical activity relates to higher RSFC between frontal and temporal core regions of the Default Mode Network in older adults. The finding implies that playing a musical instrument during life may help preserve neural functioning in a key network that is vulnerable to aging and AD.