Department of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Cereb Cortex. 2021 Oct 22;31(12):5637-5651. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhab187.
This study examines the relationship of engagement in different lifestyle activities to connectivity in large-scale functional brain networks, and whether network connectivity modifies cognitive decline, independent of brain amyloid levels. Participants (N = 153, mean age = 69 years, including N = 126 with amyloid imaging) were cognitively normal when they completed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, a lifestyle activity questionnaire, and cognitive testing. They were followed with annual cognitive tests up to 5 years (mean = 3.3 years). Linear regressions showed positive relationships between cognitive activity engagement and connectivity within the dorsal attention network, and between physical activity levels and connectivity within the default-mode, limbic, and frontoparietal control networks, and global within-network connectivity. Additionally, higher cognitive and physical activity levels were independently associated with higher network modularity, a measure of functional network specialization. These associations were largely independent of APOE4 genotype, amyloid burden, global brain atrophy, vascular risk, and level of cognitive reserve. Moreover, higher connectivity in the dorsal attention, default-mode, and limbic networks, and greater global connectivity and modularity were associated with reduced cognitive decline, independent of APOE4 genotype and amyloid burden. These findings suggest that changes in functional brain connectivity may be one mechanism by which lifestyle activity engagement reduces cognitive decline.
本研究考察了参与不同生活方式活动与大脑功能网络连接之间的关系，以及网络连接是否可以在不考虑脑淀粉样蛋白水平的情况下改变认知能力下降。参与者（N=153，平均年龄 69 岁，包括 N=126 进行了淀粉样蛋白成像）在完成静息态功能磁共振成像、生活方式活动问卷和认知测试时认知正常。他们每年接受一次认知测试，最长可达 5 年（平均 3.3 年）。线性回归显示，认知活动参与度与背侧注意网络内的连接呈正相关，与体力活动水平与默认模式、边缘和额顶控制网络内的连接呈正相关，与全网络内连接呈正相关。此外，较高的认知和体力活动水平与较高的网络模块化程度呈正相关，这是一种衡量功能网络专业化的指标。这些关联在很大程度上独立于 APOE4 基因型、淀粉样蛋白负担、全脑萎缩、血管风险和认知储备水平。此外，背侧注意网络、默认模式网络和边缘网络中的连接性较高，以及全脑连接性和模块化程度较高，与认知下降速度较慢有关，这与 APOE4 基因型和淀粉样蛋白负担无关。这些发现表明，功能性脑连接的变化可能是生活方式活动参与减少认知能力下降的一种机制。
