Disentangling the effects of age and mild traumatic brain injury on brain network connectivity: A resting state fMRI
M Bittencourt-Villalpando1, H J van der Horn1, N M Maurits1
1University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Neurology AB51, 9700RB Groningen, The Netherlands.
Introduction:
Cognitive complaints are common shortly after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) but may persist up to years. Age-related cognitive decline can worsen these symptoms. However, effects of age on mTBI sequelae have scarcely been investigated.
Methods:
Fifty-four mTBI patients (median age: 35 years, range 19-64 years, 67% male) and twenty age- and sex-matched healthy controls were studied using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging in the sub-acute phase. Independent component analysis was used to identify intrinsic connectivity networks (ICNs). A multivariate approach was adopted to evaluate the effects of age and group on the ICNs in terms of (static) functional network connectivity (FNC), intensities of spatial maps (SMs) and time-course spectral power (TC).
Results:
We observed significant age-related changes for a) FNC: changes between 10 pairs of ICNs, mostly involving the default mode (DM) and/or the cognitive-control (CC) domains; b) SMs: intensity decrease in clusters across three domains and intensity increase in clusters across two domains, including the CC but not the DM and c) TC: spectral power decrease within the 0-0.15 Hz range and increase within the 0.20-0.25 Hz range for increasing age within networks located in frontal areas, including the anterior DM. Groups only differed for TC within the 0.065-0.10 Hz range in the cerebellar ICN and no age × group interaction effect was found.
Conclusions:
We showed robust effects of age on connectivity between and within ICNs that are associated with cognitive functioning. Differences between mTBI patients and controls were only found for activity in the cerebellar network, increasingly recognized to participate in cognition. Our results suggest that to allow for capturing the true effects related to mTBI and its effects on cognitive functioning, age should be included as a covariate in mTBI studies, in addition to age-matching groups.
Insights
Age significantly impacts brain network connectivity after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), affecting cognitive functions. Including age as a factor is crucial for understanding mTBI
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Brain Imaging
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) frequently causes cognitive complaints that can persist long-term.
- Age-related cognitive decline may exacerbate mTBI symptoms, yet age effects on mTBI outcomes are understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of age on brain network connectivity following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
- To evaluate age-related changes in intrinsic connectivity networks (ICNs) in mTBI patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) was employed in 54 mTBI patients and 20 age/sex-matched controls.
- Independent component analysis (ICA) identified intrinsic connectivity networks (ICNs).
- Multivariate analysis assessed age and group effects on functional network connectivity (FNC), spatial map (SM) intensities, and time-course (TC) spectral power.
Main Results:
- Significant age-related alterations were observed in FNC, primarily involving default mode (DM) and cognitive-control (CC) networks.
- Age impacted SM intensities in CC networks and TC spectral power in frontal networks, including the anterior DM.
- Group differences were confined to TC in the cerebellar ICN; no age × group interaction was detected.
Conclusions:
- Age robustly affects connectivity within and between ICNs crucial for cognitive function.
- Cerebellar network activity differed between mTBI patients and controls, highlighting its role in cognition.
- Age should be incorporated as a covariate in mTBI research to accurately assess injury effects on cognition.
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