scholarly journals Cerebellar gray and white matter volume and their relation with age and manual motor performance in healthy older adults

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 2352-2363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent Koppelmans ◽  
Sarah Hirsiger ◽  
Susan Mérillat ◽  
Lutz Jäncke ◽  
Rachael D. Seidler
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Motor Performance ◽  
White Matter Volume ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Matter Volume

scholarly journals Fractional Anisotropy in Selected, Motor-Related White Matter Tracts and Its Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Associations With Motor Function in Healthy Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Oschwald ◽  
Susan Mérillat ◽  
Lutz Jäncke ◽  
Rachael D. Seidler
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Motor Function ◽  
Motor Performance ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Motor Speed ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
White Matter Tracts ◽  
Healthy Older Adults ◽  
Level Change

BackgroundWhile it is well-known that deficits in motor performance and brain structural connectivity occur in the course of healthy aging, it is still unclear if and how these changes are related to each other. While some cross-sectional studies suggest that white matter (WM) microstructure is positively associated with motor function in healthy older adults, more evidence is needed. Moreover, longitudinal data is required to estimate whether similar associations can be found between trajectories of change in WM microstructure and motor function. The current study addresses this gap by investigating age-associations and longitudinal changes in WM microstructure and motor function, and the cross-sectional (level-level) and longitudinal (level-change, change-change) association between these two domains.MethodWe used multiple-occasion data (covering 4 years) from a large sample (N = 231) of healthy older adults from the Longitudinal Healthy Aging Brain (LHAB) database. To measure WM microstructure, we used diffusion-weighted imaging data to compute mean FA in three selected WM tracts [forceps minor (FMIN); superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF); corticospinal tract (CST)]. Motor function was measured via two motor speed tests (grooved pegboard, finger tapping) and one motor strength test (grip force test), separately for the left and the right hand. The statistical analysis was conducted with longitudinal growth curve models in the structural equation modeling framework.ResultsThe results revealed longitudinal decline and negative cross-sectional age-associations for mean WM FA in the FMIN and SLF, and for motor function in all tests, with a higher vulnerability for left than right hand motor performance. Regarding cross-domain associations, we found a significant positive level-level correlation among mean WM FA in the FMIN with motor speed. Mean FA in SLF and CST was not correlated with motor performance measures, and none of the level-change or change-change associations were significant. Overall, our results (a) provide important insights into aging-related changes of fine motor abilities and FA in selected white matter tracts associated with motor control, (b) support previous cross-sectional work showing that neural control of movement in older adults also involves brain structures outside the core motor system and (c) align with the idea that, in healthy aging, compensatory mechanisms may be in place and longer time delays may be needed to reveal level-change or change-change associations.

Lower White Matter Volume and Worse Executive Functioning Reflected in Higher Levels of Plasma GFAP among Older Adults with and Without Cognitive Impairment

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Breton M. Asken ◽  
Lawren VandeVrede ◽  
Julio C. Rojas ◽  
Corrina Fonseca ◽  
Adam M. Staffaroni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disease ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
White Matter Volume ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Matter Volume

Abstract Objective: There are minimal data directly comparing plasma neurofilament light (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in aging and neurodegenerative disease research. We evaluated associations of plasma NfL and plasma GFAP with brain volume and cognition in two independent cohorts of older adults diagnosed as clinically normal (CN), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or Alzheimer’s dementia. Methods: We studied 121 total participants (Cohort 1: n = 50, age 71.6 ± 6.9 years, 78% CN, 22% MCI; Cohort 2: n = 71, age 72.2 ± 9.2 years, 45% CN, 25% MCI, 30% dementia). Gray and white matter volumes were obtained for total brain and broad subregions of interest (ROIs). Neuropsychological testing evaluated memory, executive functioning, language, and visuospatial abilities. Plasma samples were analyzed in duplicate for NfL and GFAP using single molecule array assays (Quanterix Simoa). Linear regression models with structural MRI and cognitive outcomes included plasma NfL and GFAP simultaneously along with relevant covariates. Results: Higher plasma GFAP was associated with lower white matter volume in both cohorts for temporal (Cohort 1: β = −0.33, p = .002; Cohort 2: β = −0.36, p = .03) and parietal ROIs (Cohort 1: β = −0.31, p = .01; Cohort 2: β = −0.35, p = .04). No consistent findings emerged for gray matter volumes. Higher plasma GFAP was associated with lower executive function scores (Cohort 1: β = −0.38, p = .01; Cohort 2: β = −0.36, p = .007). Plasma NfL was not associated with gray or white matter volumes, or cognition after adjusting for plasma GFAP. Conclusions: Plasma GFAP may be more sensitive to white matter and cognitive changes than plasma NfL. Biomarkers reflecting astroglial pathophysiology may capture complex dynamics of aging and neurodegenerative disease.

scholarly journals Interactive effects of APOE and CHRNA4 on attention and white matter volume in healthy middle-aged and older adults

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. ESPESETH ◽  
P. M. GREENWOOD ◽  
I. REINVANG ◽  
A. M. FJELL ◽  
K. B. WALHOVD ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
White Matter Volume ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Matter Volume

scholarly journals Interaction of Age and Self-reported Physical Sports Activity on White Matter Hyperintensity Volume in Healthy Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Kathryn Franchetti ◽  
Pradyumna K. Bharadwaj ◽  
Lauren A. Nguyen ◽  
Emily J. Van Etten ◽  
Yann C. Klimentidis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
White Matter ◽  
White Matter Hyperintensity ◽  
Sports Activity ◽  
Healthy Older Adults

scholarly journals Preliminary Evidence for a Relationship between Elevated Plasma TNFα and Smaller Subcortical White Matter Volume in HCV Infection Irrespective of HIV or AUD Comorbidity

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4953
Author(s):  
Natalie M. Zahr ◽  
Kilian M. Pohl ◽  
Allison J. Kwong ◽  
Edith V. Sullivan ◽  
Adolf Pfefferbaum
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Proinflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Soluble Protein ◽  
Subcortical White Matter ◽  
Control Group ◽  
White Matter Volume ◽  
Brain Volumes ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Matter Volume ◽  
Patient Groups

Classical inflammation in response to bacterial, parasitic, or viral infections such as HIV includes local recruitment of neutrophils and macrophages and the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Proposed biomarkers of organ integrity in Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) include elevations in peripheral plasma levels of proinflammatory proteins. In testing this proposal, previous work included a group of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals as positive controls and identified elevations in the soluble proteins TNFα and IP10; these cytokines were only elevated in AUD individuals seropositive for hepatitis C infection (HCV). The current observational, cross-sectional study evaluated whether higher levels of these proinflammatory cytokines would be associated with compromised brain integrity. Soluble protein levels were quantified in 86 healthy controls, 132 individuals with AUD, 54 individuals seropositive for HIV, and 49 individuals with AUD and HIV. Among the patient groups, HCV was present in 24 of the individuals with AUD, 13 individuals with HIV, and 20 of the individuals in the comorbid AUD and HIV group. Soluble protein levels were correlated to regional brain volumes as quantified with structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In addition to higher levels of TNFα and IP10 in the 2 HIV groups and the HCV-seropositive AUD group, this study identified lower levels of IL1β in the 3 patient groups relative to the control group. Only TNFα, however, showed a relationship with brain integrity: in HCV or HIV infection, higher peripheral levels of TNFα correlated with smaller subcortical white matter volume. These preliminary results highlight the privileged status of TNFα on brain integrity in the context of infection.

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