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Brain Structure and Function
Published in: Brain Structure and Function 1/2017

01-01-2017 | Original Article

Age- and function-related regional changes in cortical folding of the default mode network in older adults

Authors: Christiane Jockwitz, Svenja Caspers, Silke Lux, Kerstin Jütten, Axel Schleicher, Simon B. Eickhoff, Katrin Amunts, Karl Zilles

Published in: Brain Structure and Function | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Healthy aging is accompanied by changes in the functional architecture of the default mode network (DMN), e.g. a posterior to anterior shift (PASA) of activations. The putative structural correlate for this functional reorganization, however, is largely unknown. Changes in gyrification, i.e. decreases of cortical folding were found to be a marker of atrophy of the brain in later decades of life. Therefore, the present study assessed local gyrification indices of the DMN in relation to age and cognitive performance in 749 older adults aged 55–85 years. Age-related decreases in local gyrification indices were found in the anterior part of the DMN [particularly; medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)] of the right hemisphere, and the medial posterior parts of the DMN [particularly; posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)/precuneus] of both hemispheres. Positive correlations between cognitive performance and local gyrification indices were found for (1) selective attention and left PCC/precuneus, (2) visual/visual–spatial working memory and bilateral PCC/precuneus and right angular gyrus (AG), and (3) semantic verbal fluency and right AG and right mPFC. The more pronounced age-related decrease in local gyrification indices of the posterior parts of the DMN supports the functionally motivated PASA theory by correlated structural changes. Surprisingly, the prominent age-related decrease in local gyrification indices in right hemispheric ROIs provides evidence for a structural underpinning of the right hemi-aging hypothesis. Noticeably, the performance-related changes in local gyrification largely involved the same parts of the DMN that were subject to age-related local gyrification decreases. Thus, the present study lends support for a combined structural and functional theory of aging, in that the functional changes in the DMN during aging are accompanied by comparably localized structural alterations.
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Metadata
Title
Age- and function-related regional changes in cortical folding of the default mode network in older adults
Authors
Christiane Jockwitz
Svenja Caspers
Silke Lux
Kerstin Jütten
Axel Schleicher
Simon B. Eickhoff
Katrin Amunts
Karl Zilles
Publication date
01-01-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Brain Structure and Function / Issue 1/2017
Print ISSN: 1863-2653
Electronic ISSN: 1863-2661
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-016-1202-4

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