TY - JOUR
T1 - Cognitive stimulation of the default-mode network modulates functional connectivity in healthy aging
AU - De Marco, Matteo
AU - Meneghello, Francesca
AU - Duzzi, Davide
AU - Rigon, Jessica
AU - Pilosio, Cristina
AU - Venneri, Annalena
PY - 2016/3/1
Y1 - 2016/3/1
N2 - A cognitive-stimulation tool was created to regulate functional connectivity within the brain Default-Mode Network (DMN). Computerized exercises were designed based on the hypothesis that repeated task-dependent coactivation of multiple DMN regions would translate into regulation of resting-state network connectivity. Forty seniors (mean age: 65.90 years; SD: 8.53) were recruited and assigned either to an experimental group (n = 21) who received one month of intensive cognitive stimulation, or to a control group (n = 19) who maintained a regime of daily-life activities explicitly focused on social interactions. An MRI protocol and a battery of neuropsychological tests were administered at baseline and at the end of the study. Changes in the DMN (measured via functional connectivity of posterior-cingulate seeds), in brain volumes, and in cognitive performance were measured with mixed models assessing group-by-timepoint interactions. Moreover, regression models were run to test gray-matter correlates of the various stimulation tasks. Significant associations were found between task performance and gray-matter volume of multiple DMN core regions. Training-dependent up-regulation of functional connectivity was found in the posterior DMN component. This interaction was driven by a pattern of increased connectivity in the training group, while little or no up-regulation was seen in the control group. Minimal changes in brain volumes were found, but there was no change in cognitive performance. The training-dependent regulation of functional connectivity within the posterior DMN component suggests that this stimulation program might exert a beneficial impact in the prevention and treatment of early AD neurodegeneration, in which this neurofunctional pathway is progressively affected by the disease.
AB - A cognitive-stimulation tool was created to regulate functional connectivity within the brain Default-Mode Network (DMN). Computerized exercises were designed based on the hypothesis that repeated task-dependent coactivation of multiple DMN regions would translate into regulation of resting-state network connectivity. Forty seniors (mean age: 65.90 years; SD: 8.53) were recruited and assigned either to an experimental group (n = 21) who received one month of intensive cognitive stimulation, or to a control group (n = 19) who maintained a regime of daily-life activities explicitly focused on social interactions. An MRI protocol and a battery of neuropsychological tests were administered at baseline and at the end of the study. Changes in the DMN (measured via functional connectivity of posterior-cingulate seeds), in brain volumes, and in cognitive performance were measured with mixed models assessing group-by-timepoint interactions. Moreover, regression models were run to test gray-matter correlates of the various stimulation tasks. Significant associations were found between task performance and gray-matter volume of multiple DMN core regions. Training-dependent up-regulation of functional connectivity was found in the posterior DMN component. This interaction was driven by a pattern of increased connectivity in the training group, while little or no up-regulation was seen in the control group. Minimal changes in brain volumes were found, but there was no change in cognitive performance. The training-dependent regulation of functional connectivity within the posterior DMN component suggests that this stimulation program might exert a beneficial impact in the prevention and treatment of early AD neurodegeneration, in which this neurofunctional pathway is progressively affected by the disease.
KW - Alzheimer's disease
KW - Brain networks
KW - FMRI
KW - Mild cognitive impairment
KW - Resting state
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84952659410&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84952659410&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2015.12.001
DO - 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2015.12.001
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84952659410
VL - 121
SP - 26
EP - 41
JO - Brain Research Bulletin
JF - Brain Research Bulletin
SN - 0361-9230
ER -