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Superior longitudinal fasciculus and language functioning in healthy aging.

Kiely M Madhavan1, Tim McQueeny2, Steven R Howe2

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA; QLI, Omaha, NE, USA.

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Summary

White matter integrity in the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) declines differently in aging males and females. This age-related decline in SLF white matter impacts language functions, such as word retrieval and fluency, differently between sexes.

Keywords:
AgingDTILanguageNeuropsychology

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Aging
  • Neuroimaging

Background:

  • Age-related cognitive decline is linked to structural brain changes.
  • White matter integrity, particularly axonal integrity, is crucial for cognitive function.
  • Language functioning has received less research attention regarding age-related structural changes compared to other cognitive domains.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between age-related changes in the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) and language functioning decline.
  • To determine if white matter integrity in specific SLF bundles (parietal and temporal) is associated with age-related language impairments.
  • To explore potential sex differences in the association between SLF integrity and language performance.

Main Methods:

  • Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to reconstruct the left hemisphere's SLF in 112 healthy right-handed adults (ages 19-76).
  • Mean fractional anisotropy (FA) values, a measure of white matter integrity, were extracted from the parietal (SLFp) and temporal (SLFt) SLF bundles.
  • Language abilities were assessed using standardized tests including the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), Boston Naming Test (BNT), Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), and Semantic Fluency Test (SFT).

Main Results:

  • Sex-specific patterns of FA decline were observed across adulthood.
  • In males, higher SLFt FA correlated with better COWAT performance, and increased age and SLFp FA were linked to higher BNT scores.
  • In females, greater SLFp FA was associated with poorer COWAT performance, indicating differential effects on language function.

Conclusions:

  • White matter integrity of the SLF undergoes sex-specific patterns of decline during aging.
  • These age-related changes in SLF integrity differentially impact various aspects of language functioning in males and females.
  • The findings highlight the importance of considering sex as a biological variable in research on cognitive aging and neurodegenerative diseases affecting white matter.