Size matters: Grey matter brain reserve predicts executive functioning in the elderly

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gerontology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Executive functioning (EF) is vital for daily life in the elderly.
• Impaired EF can predict dementia development.
• Brain reserve (BR) is a key factor in cognitive aging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate atrophy-corrected cortical grey matter (GM) volume as a brain reserve (BR) marker for EF in the elderly.
• To clarify the relationship between GM volume and EF in older adults.

Main Methods:

• Studied 206 pre-surgical elderly subjects (mean age 72.5 years).
• Assessed EF using the Trail Making Test B (TMT B).
• Measured global/lobar GM volumes using T1 MP-RAGE, adjusting for brain atrophy (brain parenchymal fraction).

Main Results:

• All GM volumes, particularly global GM, showed a significant association with TMT B, independent of GM atrophy.
• A negative correlation was observed (ß = -0.201 to -0.275, p = 0.001-0.012).

Conclusions:

• Atrophy-corrected GM volume is significantly associated with EF in the elderly.
• This metric may serve as a brain reserve (BR) predictor for cognitive decline in future research.