Research on brain aging using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) has typically focused on comparing “older” adults to younger adults. Importantly, these studies have often neglected the middle age group, which is also significantly impacted by brain aging, including by early changes in motor, memory, and cognitive functions. This study aims to address this limitation by examining the resting state networks in middle-aged adults via an exploratory whole-brain ROI-to-ROI analysis. Using rs-fMRI, we compared middle-aged adults (n=30) with younger adults (n=70) via an ROI-to-ROI correlation analysis, showing lower connectivity between the cerebellar (posterior) network and the salience network (left rostral prefrontal cortex), as well as between the salience network and the visual network (occipital regions) in the middle-aged group.This reduced connectivity suggests that aging affects how these brain regions synchronize and process information, potentially impairing the integration of cognitive, sensory, and emotional inputs. Additional within-group analyses showed that middle-aged adults exhibited weakened connections between networks but increased connections within the dorsal attention, fronto-parietal, visual, and default mode networks. In contrast, younger adults demonstrated enhanced connections between networks. These results underscore the role of the cerebellar, salience, and visual networks in brain aging and reveal distinct connectivity patterns associated with signs of early aging.

Research on brain aging using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) has typically focused on comparing “older” adults to younger adults. Importantly, these studies have often neglected the middle age group, which is also significantly impacted by brain aging, including by early changes in motor, memory, and cognitive functions. This study aims to address this limitation by examining the resting state networks in middle-aged adults via an exploratory whole-brain ROI-to-ROI analysis. Using rs-fMRI, we compared middle-aged adults (n=30) with younger adults (n=70) via an ROI-to-ROI correlation analysis, showing lower connectivity between the cerebellar (posterior) network and the salience network (left rostral prefrontal cortex), as well as between the salience network and the visual network (occipital regions) in the middle-aged group.This reduced connectivity suggests that aging affects how these brain regions synchronize and process information, potentially impairing the integration of cognitive, sensory, and emotional inputs. Additional within-group analyses showed that middle-aged adults exhibited weakened connections between networks but increased connections within the dorsal attention, fronto-parietal, visual, and default mode networks. In contrast, younger adults demonstrated enhanced connections between networks. These results underscore the role of the cerebellar, salience, and visual networks in brain aging and reveal distinct connectivity patterns associated with signs of early aging.

Research on brain aging using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) has typically focused on comparing “older” adults to younger adults. Importantly, these studies have often neglected the middle age group, which is also significantly impacted by brain aging, including by early changes in motor, memory, and cognitive functions. This study aims to address this limitation by examining the resting state networks in middle-aged adults via an exploratory whole-brain ROI-to-ROI analysis. Using rs-fMRI, we compared middle-aged adults (n=30) with younger adults (n=70) via an ROI-to-ROI correlation analysis, showing lower connectivity between the cerebellar (posterior) network and the salience network (left rostral prefrontal cortex), as well as between the salience network and the visual network (occipital regions) in the middle-aged group.This reduced connectivity suggests that aging affects how these brain regions synchronize and process information, potentially impairing the integration of cognitive, sensory, and emotional inputs. Additional within-group analyses showed that middle-aged adults exhibited weakened connections between networks but increased connections within the dorsal attention, fronto-parietal, visual, and default mode networks. In contrast, younger adults demonstrated enhanced connections between networks. These results underscore the role of the cerebellar, salience, and visual networks in brain aging and reveal distinct connectivity patterns associated with signs of early aging.

Research on brain aging using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) has typically focused on comparing “older” adults to younger adults. Importantly, these studies have often neglected the middle age group, which is also significantly impacted by brain aging, including by early changes in motor, memory, and cognitive functions. This study aims to address this limitation by examining the resting state networks in middle-aged adults via an exploratory whole-brain ROI-to-ROI analysis. Using rs-fMRI, we compared middle-aged adults (n=30) with younger adults (n=70) via an ROI-to-ROI correlation analysis, showing lower connectivity between the cerebellar (posterior) network and the salience network (left rostral prefrontal cortex), as well as between the salience network and the visual network (occipital regions) in the middle-aged group.This reduced connectivity suggests that aging affects how these brain regions synchronize and process information, potentially impairing the integration of cognitive, sensory, and emotional inputs. Additional within-group analyses showed that middle-aged adults exhibited weakened connections between networks but increased connections within the dorsal attention, fronto-parietal, visual, and default mode networks. In contrast, younger adults demonstrated enhanced connections between networks. These results underscore the role of the cerebellar, salience, and visual networks in brain aging and reveal distinct connectivity patterns associated with signs of early aging.

BACKGROUND: Active screening for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) using rectal specimens is recommended to limit the spread of antimicrobial resistance within certain high-risk populations. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of Vancomycin Resistance 3 Multiplexed Tandem PCR assay (AusDiagnostics, Australia), a rapid multiplex real-time PCR assay that detects vanA and/or vanB. METHODS: Two-hundred-and-eleven rectal swabs from Hematology and Oncology unit were submitted for VRE surveillance via direct detection of vanA and/or vanB by culture and by using Vancomycin Resistance 3 Multiplexed Tandem PCR assay. Enterococci were identified to the species level by using standard biochemical tests and BD Phoenix Automated Microbiology System (BD Diagnostic Systems, USA). Vancomycin susceptibility of enterococci was determined using Etest (BioMerieux, France). RESULTS: Compared to the culture method, Vancomycin Resistance 3 Multiplexed Tandem PCR assay had a sensitivity of 84.0%, specificity of 98.8%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 91.3%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 97.6%. The assay failed to detect 18 (8.5%) specimens because of the presence of PCR inhibitors; of the remaining 193 specimens, 25 (12.9%) were positive, 23 for vanA, and 2 for vanB. Although both sensitivity and specificity for vanA VRE was 100% compared to the culture method, all vanB-positive specimens tested negative by VRE culture. CONCLUSIONS: Vancomycin Resistance 3 Multiplexed Tandem PCR assay is a rapid and laborsaving option for VRE surveillance for direct use on rectal swabs. However, the high rate of PCR failure owing to the inhibitors in the specimens and the low specificity for vanB should be considered when interpreting the results.
Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Carbon-Oxygen Ligases/genetics ; DNA, Bacterial/*analysis ; Enterococcus/*drug effects/*genetics/growth & development/metabolism ; Humans ; *Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Rectum/*microbiology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Vancomycin/*pharmacology ; Vancomycin Resistance/*genetics