Abstract
Task-induced deactivations within the brain’s default mode network (DMN) are thought to reflect suppression of endogenous thought processes to support exogenous goal-directed task processes. Older adults are known to show reductions in deactivation of the DMN compared to younger adults. However, little is understood about the mechanisms contributing to functional dysregulation of the DMN in aging. Here, we explored the relationships between functional modulation of the DMN and age, task performance and white matter (WM) microstructure. Participants were 117 adults ranging from 25 to 83 years old who completed an fMRI task switching paradigm, including easy (single) and difficult (mixed) conditions, and underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The fMRI results revealed an age by condition interaction (β = −0.13, t = −3.16, p = 0.002) such that increasing age affected deactivation magnitude during the mixed condition (β = −0.29, t = −3.24 p = 0.002) but not the single condition (p = 0.58). Additionally, there was a WM by condition interaction (β = 0.10, t = 2.33, p = 0.02) such that decreasing WM microstructure affected deactivation magnitude during the mixed condition (β = 0.30, t = 3.42 p = 0.001) but not the single condition (p = 0.17). Critically, mediation analyses indicated that age-related reductions in WM microstructure accounted for the relationship between age and DMN deactivation in the more difficult mixed condition. These findings suggest that age-related declines in anatomical connectivity between DMN regions contribute to functional dysregulation within the DMN in older adults.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-9-2015
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2015.00194
Funding Information
This study was supported by a grant to BG from the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under award number R01AG033036. CB received fellowship support from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences under award number TL1TR000115.
Repository Citation
Brown, Christopher A.; Hakun, Jonathan G.; Zhu, Zude; Johnson, Nathan F.; and Gold, Brian T., "White Matter Microstructure Contributes to Age-Related Declines in Task-Induced Deactivation of the Default Mode Network" (2015). Neuroscience Faculty Publications. 39.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/neurobio_facpub/39
Notes/Citation Information
Published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, v. 7, article 194, p. 1-10.
© 2015 Brown, Hakun, Zhu, Johnson and Gold.
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