Rzezak Patricia, Squarzoni Paula, Duran Fabio L, de Toledo Ferraz Alves Tania, Tamashiro-Duran Jaqueline, Bottino Cassio M, Ribeiz Salma, Lotufo Paulo A, Menezes Paulo R, Scazufca Marcia, Busatto Geraldo F
Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Old Age Research Group (PROTER), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
PLoS One. 2015 Oct 16;10(10):e0140945. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140945. eCollection 2015.
Inter-subject variability in age-related brain changes may relate to educational attainment, as suggested by cognitive reserve theories. This voxel-based morphometry study investigated the impact of very low educational level on the relationship between regional gray matter (rGM) volumes and age in healthy elders. Magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired in elders with low educational attainment (less than 4 years) (n = 122) and high educational level (n = 66), pulling together individuals examined using either of three MRI scanners/acquisition protocols. Voxelwise group comparisons showed no rGM differences (p<0.05, family-wise error corrected for multiple comparisons). When within-group voxelwise patterns of linear correlation were compared between high and low education groups, there was one cluster of greater rGM loss with aging in low versus high education elders in the left anterior cingulate cortex (p<0.05, FWE-corrected), as well as a trend in the left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (p<0.10). These results provide preliminary indication that education might exert subtle protective effects against age-related brain changes in healthy subjects. The anterior cingulate cortex, critical to inhibitory control processes, may be particularly sensitive to such effects, possibly given its involvement in cognitive stimulating activities at school or later throughout life.
认知储备理论表明，与年龄相关的大脑变化中的个体间差异可能与教育程度有关。这项基于体素的形态测量学研究调查了极低教育水平对健康老年人区域灰质（rGM）体积与年龄之间关系的影响。对低教育程度（少于4年）的老年人（n = 122）和高教育水平的老年人（n = 66）进行了磁共振成像数据采集，这些个体使用三种MRI扫描仪/采集协议中的任何一种进行检查。体素水平的组间比较显示没有rGM差异（p<0.05，经多重比较校正的家族性错误）。当比较高教育组和低教育组之间组内体素水平的线性相关模式时，在左前扣带回皮层中，低教育程度的老年人与高教育程度的老年人相比，有一组随着年龄增长rGM损失更大（p<0.05，FWE校正），在左背内侧前额叶皮层也有一个趋势（p<0.10）。这些结果提供了初步迹象，表明教育可能对健康受试者与年龄相关的大脑变化产生微妙的保护作用。前扣带回皮层对抑制控制过程至关重要，可能因其在学校或以后的生活中参与认知刺激活动而对这种影响特别敏感。
