Neufeld Nicole, Parker Ashleigh F, Kwan Heather, Mazerolle Erin L, Gawryluk Jodie R
Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, BC, Canada.
Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health, University of Victoria, BC, Canada.
Neuroimage Rep. 2022 Oct 17;2(4):100140. doi: 10.1016/j.ynirp.2022.100140. eCollection 2022 Dec.
Normal aging is known to include declines in several cognitive domains, with parallel grey matter atrophy. However, there are inconsistencies in the largely cross-sectional literature as to which regions of grey matter show change over time, with some investigations reporting whole brain and others reporting more focal regions of atrophy. More longitudinal analyses are needed to better understand the neurostructural and functional changes that occur gradually in older adulthood.
The aim of the current study was to investigate changes in cognitive performance and grey matter atrophy in a sample of healthy older adults over four years.
MRI and cognitive data were retrieved from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database for 35 participants in the cognitively normal cohort at two time points separated by four years (mean age at baseline = 75.02, = 6.51, 54% female). Grey matter structure was assessed via voxel-based morphometry and cognition was measured across four domains (memory, executive function, language and visuospatial skills).
Results indicated widespread grey matter atrophy, including frontal, temporal, and subcortical regions. Cognitive performance was largely stable, with the exception of executive function, which showed significant decline over time.
Findings indicate that cognitive abilities are largely preserved over a four year period, even when grey matter atrophy is present in the aging brain.
众所周知，正常衰老包括几个认知领域的衰退以及相应的灰质萎缩。然而，在很大程度上为横断面研究的文献中，关于哪些灰质区域随时间发生变化存在不一致之处，一些研究报告全脑萎缩，而另一些研究则报告更局限的萎缩区域。需要更多纵向分析来更好地理解在老年期逐渐发生的神经结构和功能变化。
本研究的目的是调查一组健康老年人在四年内认知表现和灰质萎缩的变化。
从阿尔茨海默病神经影像倡议数据库中检索了35名认知正常队列参与者在两个时间点（相隔四年）的MRI和认知数据（基线平均年龄 = 75.02，标准差 = 6.51，54%为女性）。通过基于体素的形态测量法评估灰质结构，并在四个领域（记忆、执行功能、语言和视觉空间技能）测量认知。
结果表明存在广泛的灰质萎缩，包括额叶、颞叶和皮质下区域。认知表现总体稳定，但执行功能除外，其随时间显示出显著下降。
研究结果表明，即使衰老大脑中存在灰质萎缩，认知能力在四年期间仍基本保持。
