Functional connectivity with the retrosplenial cortex predicts cognitive aging in rats
Jessica A Ash1, Hanbing Lu2, Lisa R Taxier1
1Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, Biomedical Research Center, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Baltimore, MD 21224.
Summary
Brain aging impacts functional connectivity (FC) and memory. Aged rats with memory deficits showed reduced cortical FC, while unimpaired rats displayed adaptive network remodeling, not just persistent youthful dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Aging Research
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Functional connectivity (FC) changes in brain networks characterize aging.
- Understanding the link between FC and cognitive variability in aging is challenging.
- Individual differences in memory during aging offer a model to study neural substrates.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate neural network substrates underlying cognitive aging.
- Examine how brain network dynamics relate to memory performance in aged rats.
- Differentiate network changes in successful versus impaired cognitive aging.
Main Methods:
- Utilized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) in a rat model.
- Employed a restrosplenial/posterior cingulate cortex seed region.
- Compared brain network FC across young adults, aged impaired, and aged unimpaired rats.
Main Results:
- Aged rats showed a large-scale network similar to the human default mode network (DMN).
- Aged impaired rats exhibited widespread cortical FC reductions, extending beyond the DMN.
- Aged unimpaired rats displayed preserved FC but lost an anticorrelated network seen in young adults.
Conclusions:
- Changes in rs-FC are directly linked to cognitive outcomes in aging.
- Successful cognitive aging involves adaptive neural network remodeling.
- Network dynamics in aged unimpaired rats differ qualitatively from young adults.
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