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Brainstem Dysfunction in Healthy Aging
1Dept. of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA.
Neuroimage
|June 11, 2021
Summary
Older adults show altered brainstem-brain connectivity during specific brain states, impacting cognitive function. This age-related weakening affects network synchronization and working memory performance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Aging Research
- Brain Imaging
Background:
- The brainstem is crucial for regulating brain activity and information processing.
- Understanding age-related changes in brainstem function is vital for cognitive health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related alterations in brainstem-brain interactions during distinct brain states.
- To analyze dynamic changes in functional connectivity using task-free functional MRI (fMRI).
Main Methods:
- Studied 79 young and 51 older adults using advanced brainstem segmentation and fMRI analysis.
- Identified 15 brain states via hierarchical clustering and characterized them using graph theory.
- Statistical analysis included Kruskal-Wallis tests and Spearman correlations.
Main Results:
- One specific brain state (cluster 21) was more prevalent in older adults, showing reduced modular strength and brainstem-cortical connectivity.
- Age-related gray matter differences correlated with this brain state's modular strength.
- Increased duration of brain state 21 was linked to poorer working memory.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest an age-related decline in brainstem network synchronization, impacting cortical and subcortical networks.
- This neural alteration in older adults is associated with diminished working memory capacity.
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