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Association of structural global brain network properties with intelligence in normal aging.
Florian U Fischer1, Dominik Wolf1, Armin Scheurich1
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
General intelligence may not consistently link with brain network structure in healthy older adults. However, in advanced elderly, stronger brain networks correlate with higher intelligence, suggesting resilience against cognitive aging.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Aging
- Brain Network Analysis
Background:
- Higher general intelligence is linked to reduced cognitive decline and dementia risk.
- Intelligence relies on global brain networks, not isolated regions.
- Previous studies show associations between brain networks and intelligence in younger adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between global structural brain network properties, general intelligence, and age in healthy elderly individuals.
- To explore how age-related changes in brain networks might influence intelligence.
- To examine the concept of cognitive reserve and brain resilience in aging.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 43 cognitively healthy elderly individuals (age 60-85).
- Assessment using Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) and diffusion-tensor imaging.
- Individual structural brain network reconstruction via deterministic tractography and graph theory analysis of global network properties.
Main Results:
- Global network properties correlated significantly with age.
- No significant correlation between network properties and WAIS-R scores was found in the overall elderly group.
- A significant correlation between network properties and WAIS-R scores emerged in a subgroup of individuals aged 75 and above.
Conclusions:
- General intelligence and global structural brain network properties may not be universally associated in all cognitively healthy elderly.
- Evidence suggests an association in advanced elderly, indicating potential age-related network deterioration thresholds.
- Network compensation for age-associated brain changes may serve as a surrogate for cognitive reserve and brain resilience.
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