scholarly journals Six-Month Lower-Leg Sensory Stimulation Augments Neural Network Connectivity Associated With Improved Gait

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 960-961
Author(s):  
Chun Liang Hsu ◽  
Ikechukwu Iloputaife ◽  
Lars Oddsson ◽  
Brad Manor ◽  
Lewis Lipsitz
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Lower Leg ◽  
Afferent Input ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Vibrotactile Stimulation ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Brain Network Connectivity

Abstract Foot sole somatosensory impairment associated with peripheral neuropathy (PN) is prevalent and a strong independent risk factor for gait disturbance and falls in older adults. A lower-limb sensory prosthesis providing afferent input related to foot sole pressure distributions via lower-leg vibrotactile stimulation has been demonstrated to improve gait in people with PN. The effects of this device on brain function related to motor control, however, remains equivocal. This study aimed to explore changes in brain network connectivity after six months of daily use of the prosthesis among individuals with diagnosed PN and balance problems. Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging were completed before and after the intervention. Preliminary analysis on participants who have completed the study to date (N=5; mean age 76 years) indicated altered connectivity of the sensorimotor network (SMN), frontoparietal network (FPN), and the default mode network (DMN) post-intervention (Z>3.11, unadjusted p<0.05). Participants displayed an average improvement of 5.5 point in the FGA (Minimal Clinically Important Differences>4 for community-dwelling older adults) that was correlated with connectivity changes (unadjusted p<0.05). Specifically, improved FGA was associated with: 1) increased connectivity between the SMN, cerebellum, and occipital cortex; 2) increased connectivity between the FPN, cerebellum, calcarine and intracalcarine; and 3) decreased connectivity between DMN and intracalcarine. These early findings suggest that long-term use of a lower-limb sensory prosthesis may induce neuroplastic changes in brain network connectivity reflecting enhanced bottom-up sensory-attentional processing and suppression of the DMN that are relevant to gait improvements among older adults with PN.

scholarly journals Music-Based Intervention Connects Auditory and Reward Systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milena Quinci ◽  
Alexander Belden ◽  
Valerie Goutama ◽  
Dayang Gong ◽  
Suzanne Hanser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Brain Aging ◽  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Neural Mechanism ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Music Listening ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Brain Network Connectivity ◽  
Parametric Effects ◽  
Listening Task

Listening to pleasurable music is known to engage the brain's reward system, but little is known about how this engagement develops over time. Here we show for the first time that brain network connectivity can change longitudinally as a result of a personalized receptive music-based intervention (MBI) in cognitively unimpaired older adults. Using a combination of whole-brain regression, seed-based connectivity analysis, and representational similarity analysis (RSA), we compared fMRI responses during a simple music listening task in older adults before and after an eight-week personalized music listening program. Participants rated self-selected and researcher-selected musical excerpts on liking and familiarity. Parametric effects of liking, familiarity, and selection showed significant activation of auditory, reward, default mode, and sensorimotor areas both pre- and post-intervention. Seed-based connectivity comparing pre- and post-intervention showed a significant increase in functional connectivity between auditory regions and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and this auditory-mPFC connectivity was modulated by participant liking and familiarity ratings. RSA showed significant representations of selection and novelty in auditory regions at both time-points, and an increase in striatal representation of musical stimuli following intervention. Taken together, results show a sensitivity of auditory, reward, default, and sensorimotor regions to individual differences in music familiarity and liking, as well as a shift in brain network dynamics following the personalized MBI. Results show how regular music listening can provide an auditory channel towards the mPFC, thus offering a potential neural mechanism supporting healthy brain aging.

scholarly journals Music-Based Intervention Connects Auditory and Reward Systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milena Aiello Quinci ◽  
Alexander Belden ◽  
Valerie Goutama ◽  
Dayang Gong ◽  
Suzanne Hanser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Neural Mechanism ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Music Listening ◽  
Reward Systems ◽  
Post Intervention

Abstract Listening to pleasurable music is known to engage the brain’s reward system. This has motivated many cognitive-behavioral interventions for healthy aging, but little is known about the effects of music-based intervention (MBI) on plasticity of the cognitive and reward systems. Here we show preliminary evidence that brain network connectivity can change after receptive MBI in cognitively unimpaired older adults. Using a combination of whole-brain regression, seed-based connectivity analysis, and representational similarity analysis (RSA), we examined fMRI responses during music listening in older adults before and after an eight-week personalized MBI. Participants rated self-selected and researcher-selected musical excerpts on liking and familiarity. Parametric effects of liking, familiarity, and selection showed simultaneous activation in auditory, reward, and default mode network (DMN) areas. Seed-based connectivity comparing pre- and post-intervention showed significant increase in functional connectivity between auditory regions and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC); this auditory-mPFC connectivity was modulated by participant liking and familiarity ratings. RSA showed significant representations of selection and novelty at both time-points, and an increase in striatal representation of musical stimuli following intervention. Taken together, results show how regular music listening can provide an auditory channel towards the mPFC, thus offering a potential neural mechanism for MBI supporting healthy aging.

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF FUNCTIONAL BRAIN NETWORKS AND WHITE MATTER DISEASE ON MOBILITY OF OLDER ADULTS IN AN EXERCISE INTERVENTION

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S851-S852
Author(s):  
Blake R Neyland ◽  
Robert Kraft ◽  
Mary Lyles ◽  
Stephen Kritchevsky ◽  
Paul J Laurienti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Exercise Intervention ◽  
Brain Networks ◽  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
White Matter Disease ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Functional Brain Networks ◽  
Brain Network Connectivity

Abstract Declining mobility is associated with increased accumulation of white matter hyperintensities (WMH). However, a high WMH burden is not always accompanied by impaired mobility. Our previous work demonstrates that some variance in mobility may be explained by brain network connectivity. Here, we extended this work by measuring WMHs and brain networks in older adults participating in a lifestyle intervention. The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were collected before and after a 5-month caloric restriction plus aerobic exercise intervention in 57 obese, sedentary adults aged 65-78. Participants were categorized based on median splits of baseline SPPB scores and WMH burden: Expected Healthy (EH: low WMH, SPPB≥11, n=16), Expected Impaired (EI: high WMH, SPPB≤10, n=17), Unexpected Healthy (UH: high WMH, SPPB≥11, n=12), and Unexpected Impaired (UI: low WMH, SPPB≤10, n=12). Graph theory-based methods were used to characterize brain networks and compare the four groups. At baseline, the somatomotor cortex community structure (SMC-CS) was less consistent in EI (p=0.05) and UI (p=0.23) compared to EH. The EI (mean=1.25, p=0.003) and UI (mean=1.57, p=0.001) significantly improved their SPPB scores following the intervention. Although both groups had equivalent SPPB scores, SMC-CS was less consistent in the UH than EH (p=0.16). However, UH displayed a significant (p=0.004) increase in second-order connections to the precuneus compared to EH. These data suggest that studying brain networks could improve the understanding of the development of mobility disability and the CNS contributions to mobility independent of white matter disease.

scholarly journals A Non-Controlled Study of a Multi-factorial Exercise and Nutritional Intervention to Improve Functional Performance and Prevent Frailty Progression in Community-Dwelling Pre-frail Older Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
W.L. Low ◽  
R. Sultana ◽  
A.B. Huda Mukhlis ◽  
J.C.Y. Ho ◽  
A. Latib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Physical Performance ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Nutritional Intervention ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Frail Older Adults ◽  
Lower Limb Strength

Background: Preventing frailty is important to avoid adverse health outcomes. Intervention studies have largely focused on frail elderly, although the intermediate pre-frail state may be more amenable to improvement. Objectives: This study aims to assess how physical performance may change among pre-frail elderly enrolled in a pragmatic non-controlled exercise and nutritional intervention programme. Methods: This is a non-controlled study involving a 4-month exercise and nutritional intervention for community dwelling pre-frail older adults. Pre-frailty was defined as the presence of 1 or 2 positive responses on the FRAIL questionnaire, or evidence of weak grip strength (<26kg for males; <18kg for females) or slow gait speed (<0.8m/s) amongst participants who were asymptomatic on FRAIL. Physical performance in flexibility, grip and lower limb strength, endurance, balance, and Short Physical Performance Battery were measured at 3 time-points: baseline, 3-month from recruitment (without intervention), and immediate post-intervention. Repeated measures mixed model analysis was performed to compare physical performance measures across the 3 time-points. Results: 94 pre-frail participants were eligible for intervention, of whom 59 (mean age = 70.9±7.2 years) were ready for the post-intervention review. 21 (35.6%) transitioned to robust phenotype while 32 (54.2%) remained as pre-frail. Significant improvement post-intervention was observed in lower limb strength and power, evident on reduction in time taken for 5 sit-to-stand repetitions (0.46±0.20s, p=0.03). There was no significant change to the other physical performance measures examined. Conclusion: We observed reversibility of pre-frailty, and the benefit of multi-component intervention in improving physical performance of pre-frail older adults. The findings in this non-controlled study will need to be corroborated with future controlled trials.

scholarly journals Miswiring the brain: Human prenatal Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol use associated with altered fetal hippocampal brain network connectivity

2021 ◽  
pp. 101000
Author(s):  
Moriah E. Thomason ◽  
Ava C. Palopoli ◽  
Nicki N. Jariwala ◽  
Denise M. Werchan ◽  
Alan Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Brain Network Connectivity ◽  
The Brain

scholarly journals Altered Brain Network Connectivity as a Potential Endophenotype of Schizophrenia

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Li ◽  
Teng-Teng Fan ◽  
Rong-Jiang Zhao ◽  
Ying Han ◽  
Le Shi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Brain Network Connectivity

scholarly journals Mobile App Use for Insomnia Self-Management in Urban Community-Dwelling Older Korean Adults: Retrospective Intervention Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyungmi Chung ◽  
Seoyoung Kim ◽  
Eun Lee ◽  
Jin Young Park
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Intervention Period ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
Subjective Sleep ◽  
Self Help

BACKGROUND As an evidence-based psychotherapy for treating insomnia, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), which helps people with sleep problems to change their unhelpful sleep-related beliefs and habits, has been well-established in older adults. Recently, the utilization of mobile CBT-I apps has been getting attention from mental health professionals and researchers; however, whether mobile CBT-I apps are usable among older users has yet to be determined. OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were to explore the relationships between subjective sleep quality and subjective memory complaints and depressive symptoms; to explore the relationship between perceived difficulty in mobile app use and usability of the mobile phone–based self-help CBT-I app, named MIND MORE, in urban community-dwelling Korean older adults; to compare changes in subjective sleep quality from pre-intervention to post-intervention, during which they used the mobile app over a 1-week intervention period; and evaluate adherence to the app. METHODS During the 2-hour training program delivered on 1 day titled “Overcoming insomnia without medication: How to use the ‘MIND MORE’ mobile app for systematic self-management of insomnia” (pre-intervention), 41 attendants were asked to gain hands-on experience with the app facilitated by therapists and volunteer workers. They were then asked to complete questionnaires on sociodemographic characteristics, subjective evaluation of mental health status (ie, depression, memory loss and impairment, and sleep problems), and app usability. For the 1-week home-based self-help CBT-I using the app (post-intervention), 9 of the 41 program attendants, who had already signed up for the pre-intervention, were guided to complete the given questionnaires on subjective evaluation of sleep quality after the 1-week intervention, specifically 8 days after the training program ended. RESULTS Due to missing data, 40 of 41 attendants were included in the data analysis. The main findings of this study were as follows. First, poor subjective sleep quality was associated with higher ratings of depressive symptoms (40/40; ρ=.60, <i>P</i>&lt;.001) and memory complaints (40/40; ρ=.46, <i>P</i>=.003) at baseline. Second, significant improvements in subjective sleep quality from pre-intervention to post-intervention were observed in the older adults who used the MIND MORE app only for the 1-week intervention period (9/9; <i>t</i><sub>8</sub>=3.74, <i>P</i>=.006). Third, apart from the program attendants who did not have a smartphone (2/40) or withdrew from their MIND MORE membership (3/40), those who attended the 1-day sleep education program adhered to the app from at least 2 weeks (13/35, 37%) to 8 weeks (2/35, 6%) without any further contact. CONCLUSIONS This study provides empirical evidence that the newly developed MIND MORE app not only is usable among older users but also could improve subjective sleep quality after a 1-week self-help intervention period.

scholarly journals Childhood Trauma Associated With Abnormal Resting-State Brain Network Connectivity in First-Episode Schizophrenia Patients

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangyun Long ◽  
Jiaxin Wu ◽  
Fei Liu ◽  
Ansi Qi ◽  
Nan Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Trauma ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Resting State Networks ◽  
Attention Network ◽  
Brain Network Connectivity ◽  
First Episode Schizophrenia

Abstract Childhood trauma is a central risk factor for schizophrenia. We explored the correlation between early traumatic experiences and the functional connectivity of resting-state networks. This fMRI study included 28 first-episode schizophrenia patients and 27 healthy controls. In first-episode schizophrenia patients, higher levels of childhood trauma associated with abnormal connections of resting-state networks, and these anomalies distributed among task-positive networks (i.e., ventral attention network, dorsal-ventral attention network and frontal-parietal network), and sensory networks (i.e., visual network and auditory network). These findings mentioned that childhood traumatic experiences may impact resting-state network connectivity in adulthood, mainly involving systems related to attention and execution control.

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