Exploring Cognitive Aging Using Reference Ability Neural Networks

使用参考能力神经网络探索认知老化

基本信息

批准号：
8324565
负责人：
YAAKOV STERN
金额：
$ 96.05万
依托单位：
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
财政年份：
2011
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2011-09-01 至 2016-08-31
项目状态：
已结题

项目摘要

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): It has been repeatedly demonstrated that performance across the age span on large batteries of diverse cognitive tests can be parsimoniously represented by a set of four reference abilities: episodic memory, perceptual speed, fluid ability, and vocabulary. Based on these findings, Salthouse et al. have argued that a productive and efficient approach to cognitive aging research is to try to understand how aging impacts performance of this small set of reference abilities than on specific tasks. In contrast, neuroimaging researchers typically evaluate age differences in neural activation associated with the performance of a single specific task that may or may not be fully representative of these reference abilities. We propose to identify the latent brain networks associated with each of Salthouse's 4 reference abilities across adulthood. While undergoing functional imaging, we will test 375 healthy adults (50 per decade from age 20 to 50, 75 per decade for 50 to 80) with a series of 12 cognitive tasks that represent four reference abilities (3 per construct). Using unique expertise in spatial covariance and other analyses of the fMRI imaging data, we will derive the latent spatial, brain-wide fMRI networks that are associated with the latent cognitive structure of the reference abilities across adulthood. Successful identification of these "reference ability neural networks" may lead to a paradigm shift in research on the neural bases of age differences in cognition by focusing on the broad and replicable aspects common to several tasks rather than the possibly idiosyncratic features of individual tasks. After identifying these reference ability neural networks, we will use multimodal imaging to evaluate potential mediators of age-related differences in the utilization of the networks. These potential mediators will include change in brain volume and cortical thickness; white matter hyperintensity burden; integrity of white matter tracts; resting CBF; and the default network. The proposed fMRI study will develop a completely new and more focused imaging approach to the study of cognitive aging. In combination with the multimodal imaging of age-related brain changes and pathology, this project has the potential to provide key insights into the nature and causes of the neural changes that underlie cognitive aging.

描述（由申请人提供）：已经反复证明，不同年龄段的不同认知测试的表现可以简单地用一组四种参考能力来表示：情景记忆、感知速度、流畅能力和词汇量。基于这些发现，Salthouse 等人。认为认知衰老研究的一种富有成效且高效的方法是尝试了解衰老如何影响这一小组参考能力的表现，而不是特定任务的表现。相比之下，神经影像研究人员通常评估与单个特定任务的执行相关的神经激活的年龄差异，该特定任务可能或可能不完全代表这些参考能力。我们建议识别与 Salthouse 的 4 种成年参考能力相关的潜在大脑网络。在进行功能成像时，我们将对 375 名健康成年人（20 至 50 岁每十年 50 人，50 至 80 岁每十年 75 人）进行一系列代表四种参考能力的 12 项认知任务（每个结构 3 项）进行测试。利用空间协方差方面的独特专业知识和对功能磁共振成像数据的其他分析，我们将推导出与成年期参考能力的潜在认知结构相关的潜在空间全脑功能磁共振网络。这些“参考能力神经网络”的成功识别可能会导致认知年龄差异神经基础研究的范式转变，通过关注多个任务共有的广泛且可复制的方面，而不是单个任务可能的特殊特征。在识别出这些参考能力神经网络后，我们将使用多模态成像来评估网络利用中与年龄相关的差异的潜在中介因素。这些潜在的调节因素包括大脑体积和皮质厚度的变化；白质高信号负担；白质束的完整性；静息CBF；和默认网络。拟议的功能磁共振成像研究将为认知衰老的研究开发一种全新的、更有针对性的成像方法。结合与年龄相关的大脑变化和病理学的多模态成像，该项目有可能为认知衰老背后的神经变化的性质和原因提供关键见解。