Abstract
The prefrontal cortex and medial temporal lobe are particularly vulnerable to the effects of aging. The disconnection between them is suggested to be an important cause of cognitive decline in normal aging. Here, using multimodal intervention training, we investigated the functional plasticity in resting-state connectivity of these two regions in older adults. The multimodal intervention, comprised of cognitive training, Tai Chi exercise, and group counseling, was conducted to explore the regional connectivity changes in the default-mode network, as well as changes in prefrontal-based voxel-wise connectivity in the whole brain. Results showed that the intervention selectively affected resting-state functional connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex and medial temporal lobe. Moreover, the strength of resting-state functional connectivity between these regions correlated with individual cognitive performance. Our results suggest that multimodal intervention could postpone the effects of aging and improve the function of the regions that are most heavily influenced by aging, as well as play an important role in preserving the brain and cognition during old age.
Highlights
Normal aging causes changes in brain anatomy and function that result in decreased cognitive performance (AndrewsHanna et al, 2007; Tomasi and Volkow, 2012), neural plasticity is preserved in the aging brain (Burke and Barnes, 2006)
Further analysis revealed that performance on the Trail Making Test (TMT) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) was unchanged in the trained group (p = 0.855 and 0.831, respectively), but declined in the control group (p = 0.013 and 0.022, respectively)
By using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore the regional connectivity changes in the default-mode network (DMN) as well as changes in prefrontal-based voxel-wise connectivity in the whole brain, we were able to show that the intervention activities improved the resting-state connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and medial temporal lobe (MTL) regions
Summary
Normal aging causes changes in brain anatomy and function that result in decreased cognitive performance (AndrewsHanna et al, 2007; Tomasi and Volkow, 2012), neural plasticity is preserved in the aging brain (Burke and Barnes, 2006). Increasing evidence suggests that interventions promoting more involvement in activities that are cognitively, socially, and physically stimulating may help optimize structural morphology and cerebral functions (Boyke et al, 2008; Voss et al, 2010; Erickson et al, 2011; Pieramico et al, 2012). Such interventions are beneficial for maintaining a healthy brain and reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly (Nyberg et al, 2012). The frontal cortex is one of the regions which exhibit the greatest age-related neuronal loss (de Brabander et al, 1998) and volumetric declines (Cabeza and Dennis, 2012)
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