Cortical thickness is linked to executive functioning in adulthood and aging.
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Cortical thickness is linked to executive functioning in adulthood and aging. / Burzynska, Agnieszka Z; Nagel, Irene E; Preuschhof, Claudia; Gluth, Sebastian; Bäckman, Lars; Li, Shu-Chen; Lindenberger, Ulman; Heekeren, Hauke R.
in: HUM BRAIN MAPP, Jahrgang 33, Nr. 7, 7, 2012, S. 1607-1620.Publikationen: SCORING: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift/Zeitung › SCORING: Zeitschriftenaufsatz › Forschung › Begutachtung
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Cortical thickness is linked to executive functioning in adulthood and aging.
AU - Burzynska, Agnieszka Z
AU - Nagel, Irene E
AU - Preuschhof, Claudia
AU - Gluth, Sebastian
AU - Bäckman, Lars
AU - Li, Shu-Chen
AU - Lindenberger, Ulman
AU - Heekeren, Hauke R
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Executive functions that are dependent upon the frontal-parietal network decline considerably during the course of normal aging. To delineate neuroanatomical correlates of age-related executive impairment, we investigated the relation between cortical thickness and executive functioning in 73 younger (20-32 years) and 56 older (60-71 years) healthy adults. Executive functioning was assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Cortical thickness was measured at each location of the cortical mantle using surface-based segmentation procedures on high-resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance images. For regions involved in WCST performance, such as the lateral prefrontal and parietal cortices, we found that thicker cortex was related to higher accuracy. Follow-up ROI-based analyses revealed that these associations were stronger in older than in younger adults. Moreover, among older adults, high and low performers differed in cortical thickness within regions generally linked to WCST performance. Our results indicate that the structural cortical correlates of executive functioning largely overlap with previously identified functional patterns. We conclude that structural preservation of relevant brain regions is associated with higher levels of executive performance in old age, and underscore the need to consider the heterogeneity of brain aging in relation to cognitive functioning.
AB - Executive functions that are dependent upon the frontal-parietal network decline considerably during the course of normal aging. To delineate neuroanatomical correlates of age-related executive impairment, we investigated the relation between cortical thickness and executive functioning in 73 younger (20-32 years) and 56 older (60-71 years) healthy adults. Executive functioning was assessed using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Cortical thickness was measured at each location of the cortical mantle using surface-based segmentation procedures on high-resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance images. For regions involved in WCST performance, such as the lateral prefrontal and parietal cortices, we found that thicker cortex was related to higher accuracy. Follow-up ROI-based analyses revealed that these associations were stronger in older than in younger adults. Moreover, among older adults, high and low performers differed in cortical thickness within regions generally linked to WCST performance. Our results indicate that the structural cortical correlates of executive functioning largely overlap with previously identified functional patterns. We conclude that structural preservation of relevant brain regions is associated with higher levels of executive performance in old age, and underscore the need to consider the heterogeneity of brain aging in relation to cognitive functioning.
KW - Adult
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Aged
KW - Female
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Young Adult
KW - Follow-Up Studies
KW - Neuropsychological Tests
KW - Psychomotor Performance/physiology
KW - Aging/pathology/physiology
KW - Cerebral Cortex/pathology/physiology
KW - Executive Function/physiology
KW - Adult
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Aged
KW - Female
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Young Adult
KW - Follow-Up Studies
KW - Neuropsychological Tests
KW - Psychomotor Performance/physiology
KW - Aging/pathology/physiology
KW - Cerebral Cortex/pathology/physiology
KW - Executive Function/physiology
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
VL - 33
SP - 1607
EP - 1620
JO - HUM BRAIN MAPP
JF - HUM BRAIN MAPP
SN - 1065-9471
IS - 7
M1 - 7
ER -
