Combining lifestyle risks to disentangle brain structure and functional connectivity differences in older adults
Nora Bittner1,2, Christiane Jockwitz1,3,4, Thomas W Mühleisen2,5,6
1Institute of Anatomy I, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, 40225, Germany.
Nature Communications
|February 8, 2019
Summary
Combining lifestyle factors like alcohol, smoking, physical activity, and social integration impacts brain aging. These daily habits significantly influence brain structure and connectivity in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Aging Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Individual lifestyle choices significantly influence brain aging.
- Previous research often examined single lifestyle factors, neglecting combined effects.
- Understanding combined lifestyle impacts is crucial for brain health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the individual and combined effects of alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity, and social integration on brain structure and functional connectivity.
- To assess the relationship between a composite lifestyle risk score and neuroimaging markers in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a population-based cohort of 549 older adults.
- Assessed lifestyle variables including alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity, and social integration.
- Employed neuroimaging techniques to measure brain structure (gyrification) and functional connectivity.
Main Results:
- A combined lifestyle risk score correlated with reduced gyrification in specific brain regions (left premotor, right prefrontal cortex).
- Higher functional connectivity was observed in sensorimotor and prefrontal cortex with the combined score.
- Alcohol, physical activity, and social integration primarily influenced structural brain changes, while smoking predominantly affected functional connectivity.
Conclusions:
- The synergistic effect of combined lifestyle variables on brain health may exceed the sum of individual contributions.
- These lifestyle associations with brain structure and connectivity remained robust, independent of genetic risk, depressive symptoms, or education.
- Daily habits play a critical role in maintaining brain health throughout aging.
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