Age-related differences in network controllability are mitigated by redundancy in large-scale brain networks
William Stanford1, Peter J Mucha2, Eran Dayan3
1Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Communications Biology
|June 7, 2024
Summary
Brain network control declines with age, especially in key areas. Redundancy in brain networks helps maintain control and cognitive function during healthy aging.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Network Science
- Aging Research
Background:
- The aging brain exhibits significant topological changes.
- Mechanisms for maintaining robust brain network control amidst aging are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate age-associated differences in structural brain network controllability.
- Identify topological features that may mitigate age-related changes.
- Assess the impact on cognitive function.
Main Methods:
- Utilized diffusion MRI data from 480 cognitively intact participants (ages 40-90).
- Analyzed age-associated differences in average controllability of structural brain networks.
- Quantified network redundancy using multi-step path analysis.
Main Results:
- Found age-associated declines in average controllability, particularly in control hubs and frontoparietal/default mode networks.
- Demonstrated that network redundancy mitigates the impact of topological changes on controllability.
- Showed that network controllability, redundancy, and grey matter volume uniquely predict cognitive function.
Conclusions:
- Redundancy is crucial for maintaining robust brain network control in aging.
- Redundancy plays a significant role in cognitive function during healthy aging.
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