Cognitive resilience depends on white matter connectivity: The Maastricht Study

DeJong, Nathan R.; Jansen, Jacobus F.A.; Boxtel, M.P.J. van; Schram, Miranda T.; Stehouwer, Coen D.A.; Dagnelie, Pieter C.; Kallen, Carla J.H. van der; Wesselius, Anke; Koster, Annemarie; Backes, Walter H.; Köhler, Sebastian

doi:10.1002/alz.12758

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 49 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Other studies found increased Bacteroidetes in MCI without AD and, in line with our findings, depletion of Firmicutes in AD and amnestic MCI (7,44,49). Increased Bacteroides may relate to impaired cognition potentially through cerebral small vessel disease and resulting white matter hyperintensities and, in line with our findings, education may alter brain reserve to such damage via increased node degree (7,50).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Education as Risk Factor of Mild Cognitive Impairment: The Link to the Gut Microbiome

Klee,

Aho,

May

et al. 2024

J Prev Alz Dis

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background With differences apparent in the gut microbiome in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, and risk factors of dementia linked to alterations of the gut microbiome, the question remains if gut microbiome characteristics may mediate associations of education with MCI. Objectives We sought to examine potential mediation of the association of education and MCI by gut microbiome diversity or composition. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Luxembourg, the Greater Region (surrounding areas in Belgium, France, Germany). Participants Control participants of the Luxembourg Parkinson’s Study. Measurements Gut microbiome composition, ascertained with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Differential abundance, assessed across education groups (0–10, 11–16, 16+ years of education). Alpha diversity (Chao1, Shannon and inverse Simpson indices). Mediation analysis with effect decomposition was conducted with education as exposure, MCI as outcome and gut microbiome metrics as mediators. Results After exclusion of participants below 50, or with missing data, n=258 participants (n=58 MCI) were included (M [SD] Age=64.6 [8.3] years). Higher education (16+ years) was associated with MCI (Odds ratio natural direct effect=0.35 [95% CI 0.15–0.81]. Streptococcus and Lachnospiraceae -UCG-001 genera were more abundant in higher education. Conclusions Education is associated with gut microbiome composition and MCI risk without clear evidence for mediation. However, our results suggest signatures of the gut microbiome that have been identified previously in AD and MCI to be reflected in lower education and suggest education as important covariate in microbiome studies. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at 10.14283/jpad.2024.19 and is accessible for authorized users.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Education as Risk Factor of Mild Cognitive Impairment: The Link to the Gut Microbiome

Klee,

Aho,

May

et al. 2024

J Prev Alz Dis

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Increased functional network segregation was also found to predict lower impact of tau pathology on cognitive performance 10 . In parallel, a recent study showed that higher levels of white matter connectivity moderated the negative association between brain atrophy, white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), and cognitive function 15 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

“…10 In parallel, a recent study showed that higher levels of white matter connectivity moderated the negative association between brain atrophy, white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), and cognitive function. 15 Our goal was to examine the possible moderation and mediation effect of macro-structural and/or micro-structural white matter properties on the association between AD pathology (Aβ and tau assessed with PET) and longitudinal memory changes in cognitively unimpaired older adults at risk of AD dementia. We focus on two main AD-related networks: the limbic network and the DMN.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Structural white matter properties and cognitive resilience to tau pathology

Qiu,

Liu,

Rheault

et al. 2024

Alzheimer's & Dementia

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

INTRODUCTIONWe assessed whether macro‐ and/or micro‐structural white matter properties are associated with cognitive resilience to Alzheimer's disease pathology years prior to clinical onset.METHODSWe examined whether global efficiency, an indicator of communication efficiency in brain networks, and diffusion measurements within the limbic network and default mode network moderate the association between amyloid‐β/tau pathology and cognitive decline. We also investigated whether demographic and health/risk factors are associated with white matter properties.RESULTSHigher global efficiency of the limbic network, as well as free‐water corrected diffusion measures within the tracts of both networks, attenuated the impact of tau pathology on memory decline. Education, age, sex, white matter hyperintensities, and vascular risk factors were associated with white matter properties of both networks.DISCUSSIONWhite matter can influence cognitive resilience against tau pathology, and promoting education and vascular health may enhance optimal white matter properties.Highlights Aβ and tau were associated with longitudinal memory change over ∼7.5 years. White matter properties attenuated the impact of tau pathology on memory change. Health/risk factors were associated with white matter properties.

show abstract

“…17 This concept aims to explain why some individuals tolerate brain pathology better than others and, consequently, whether the development of cognitive symptoms is delayed or ruled out. 18,19 Cognitively stimulating activities are activities in which information processing is a central component, such as listening to the radio, reading and playing strategic games like cards or puzzles. 20 An individual's need to engage in cognitively stimulating activities, which can be captured by the construct ‘need for cognition’ (NFC), includes intrinsic motivation and enjoyment at being involved in cognitively stimulating activities.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Associations of an individual's need for cognition with structural brain damage and cognitive functioning/impairment: cross-sectional population-based study

Truin,

Köhler,

Heger

et al. 2023

Br J Psychiatry

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background High cognitive activity possibly reduces the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Aims To investigate associations between an individual's need to engage in cognitively stimulating activities (need for cognition, NFC) and structural brain damage and cognitive functioning in the Dutch general population with and without existing cognitive impairment. Method Cross-sectional data were used from the population-based cohort of the Maastricht Study. NFC was measured using the Need For Cognition Scale. Cognitive functioning was tested in three domains: verbal memory, information processing speed, and executive functioning and attention. Values 1.5 s.d. below the mean were defined as cognitive impairment. Standardised volumes of white matter hyperintensities (WMH), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and presence of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) were derived from 3T magnetic resonance imaging. Multiple linear and binary logistic regression analyses were used adjusted for demographic, somatic and lifestyle factors. Results Participants (n = 4209; mean age 59.06 years, s.d. = 8.58; 50.1% women) with higher NFC scores had higher overall cognition scores (B = 0.21, 95% CI 0.17–0.26, P < 0.001) and lower odds for CSVD (OR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.60–0.91, P = 0.005) and cognitive impairment (OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.48–0.76, P < 0.001) after adjustment for demographic, somatic and lifestyle factors. The association between NFC score and cognitive functioning was similar for individuals with and without prevalent cognitive impairment. We found no significant association between NFC and WMH or CSF volumes. Conclusions A high need to engage in cognitively stimulating activities is associated with better cognitive functioning and less presence of CSVD and cognitive impairment. This suggests that, in middle-aged individuals, motivation to engage in cognitively stimulating activities may be an opportunity to improve brain health.

show abstract

Cognitive resilience depends on white matter connectivity: The Maastricht Study

Cited by 12 publications

References 49 publications

Education as Risk Factor of Mild Cognitive Impairment: The Link to the Gut Microbiome

Education as Risk Factor of Mild Cognitive Impairment: The Link to the Gut Microbiome

Structural white matter properties and cognitive resilience to tau pathology

Associations of an individual's need for cognition with structural brain damage and cognitive functioning/impairment: cross-sectional population-based study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About