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A Whole-Brain Model of the Aging Brain During Slow Wave Sleep
Eleonora Lupi1, Gabriele Di Antonio2,3,4, Marianna Angiolelli5
1Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia 27100, Italy.
Eneuro
|October 15, 2024
Summary
Aging brains exhibit altered sleep slow-waves. Our model shows reduced inter-hemispheric connections decrease slow-wave duration and increase variability, suggesting reduced regional synchrony causes amplitude decline.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Computational Modeling
- Sleep Science
Background:
- Age-related changes impact sleep patterns and slow-wave activity.
- The exact mechanisms driving these age-related sleep alterations remain unclear.
- Slow waves are crucial for brain function and plasticity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To model age-related changes in slow-wave sleep dynamics.
- To investigate the impact of reduced inter-hemispheric connectivity on slow waves.
- To elucidate the mechanisms behind altered slow-wave properties during aging.
Main Methods:
- Adapted a whole-brain model linking structural connectivity to brain dynamics.
- Simulated slow-wave activity by progressively reducing inter-hemispheric connections in a connectome.
- Compared simulated electroencephalography (EEG) activity with source signals.
Main Results:
- The model successfully replicated empirical trends of decreased slow-wave duration and increased variability.
- A decrease in inter-hemispheric connections was directly linked to these observed changes.
- Reduced synchrony between brain regions was identified as the cause for decreased slow-wave amplitude.
Conclusions:
- Brain aging models can capture key alterations in slow-wave sleep.
- Reduced inter-hemispheric connectivity is a significant factor in age-related sleep changes.
- Decreased regional synchrony underlies the diminished amplitude of slow waves in aging brains.
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