The heterogeneity of aging brain: altered functional connectivity in default mode network in older adults during verbal fluency tests.
- Author:
Li DONG
1
;
Yuan SHEN
;
Xu LEI
;
Cheng LUO
;
Qing-wei LI
;
Wen-yuan WU
;
De-zhong YAO
;
Chun-bo LI
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; physiology; Brain; physiopathology; Cognitive Dysfunction; physiopathology; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Neuropsychological Tests
- From: Chinese Medical Journal 2012;125(4):604-610
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUNDSuccessful aging (SA) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are heterogeneous groups of aging. To explore the heterogeneity, the functional connectivity was studied in these populations.
METHODSThe present study utilized functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI) to investigate default mode network (DMN) in 8 healthy subjects of SA, 8 subjects of usual aging (UA), and 8 MCI patients during verbal fluency tests (VFTs). Functional connectivity (based seeds) of different groups was analyzed by using statistical test.
RESULTSCompared with SA and UA groups, MCI subjects exhibited decreased functional connectivity in the DMN regions, including the inferior parietal lobule and left angular gyrus (t = 3.53, P < 0.001). Compared with UA and MCI groups, the SA elderly exhibited increased functional connectivity in the precuneus (t = 3.53, P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONSThese findings suggested that abnormalities of functional connectivity in DMN might be related with semantic memory impairment in aging. Left angular gyrus and precuneus might be the potential imaging-based biomarker for distinguishing heterogeneous process of elderly.
