Temporal gradient during famous face naming is associated with lower cerebral blood flow and gray matter volume in aging

Abstract

Objective Evidence suggests that famous face naming may be a cognitive ability especially sensitive to the early pathological processes of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and that those at risk for AD may demonstrate a Ribot temporal gradient (RTG), characterized by better performance for naming remote famous faces than for naming recent famous faces. Reductions in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and gray matter volume (GMV) have been implicated in the neuropathological cascade of AD and show utility as biomarkers of AD risk. We examined whether a RTG during famous face naming was associated with lower CBF and/or GMV among a group of cognitively normal older adults. Methods Voxel-wise independent samples t-tests were employed to contrast resting CBF values between those who exhibited a RTG (RTG+) during a famous face naming task and those who did not (RTG−) among a sample of 52 cognitively normal older adults (25 RTG−, 27 RTG+; mean age=73). Groups were also compared on GMV using a voxel-wise general linear model. Results Significant group differences in CBF and GMV were found, whereby the RTG+ group demonstrated reduced CBF and GMV within medial temporal lobe regions (hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus), relative to the RTG− group. Conclusions This represents the first study to show that cognitively intact older adults who demonstrate a RTG during famous face naming exhibit vascular dysregulation and structural changes similar to that seen in AD risk. Findings suggest that famous face naming ability may be particularly sensitive to the very early brain changes associated with AD.

Cerebral blood flow predicts multiple demand network activity and fluid intelligence across the lifespan

“…Cattell BOLD activity Age-related decreases in baseline cerebral blood flow (CBF), assessed with a non-invasive MR-perfusion technique, related to behaviourally relevant BOLD activity evoked by demanding problem-solving. Our findings are consistent with previous studies relating baseline CBF to performance on tasks carried outside the scanner (Bangen et al, 2014;Hays et al, 2017). We extend these lines of work by showing that baseline CBF is linked to BOLD activity, with behavioural correlation across individuals.…”

“…Cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes early in experimental models of dementia, leading to neuronal dysfunction, and loss independently of amyloid-b-dependent contributions (Iadecola, 2004;Zlokovic, 2011;Kisler et al, 2017;Sweeney et al, 2018Sweeney et al, , 2019. In healthy ageing, previous reports have linked the effects of age on baseline CBF to behavioural performance measured outside of the scanner (Bangen et al, 2014;Hays et al, 2017;Leeuwis et al, 2018). However, brain perfusion measurements are highly dependent on other physiological factors such as autoregulation modulators (Lemkuil et al, 2013), medication, time of day, levels of wakefulness (Patricia et al, 2014), physical exercise, caffeine or smoking before the scan (Domino et al, 2004;Addicott et al, 2009;Merola et al, 2017).…”

The characteristics of arterial spin labeling cerebral blood flow in patients with subjective cognitive decline: The Chinese imaging, biomarkers, and lifestyle study

“…However, despite increasing studies of ASL on dementia, only a few on individuals with SCD are available, and the findings seem to be not in agreement. Hays et al (2018) have demonstrated significant negative correlations between verbal memory and CBF within the posterior cingulate cortex, middle temporal 10.3389/fnins.2022.961164 gyrus, hippocampus, fusiform gyrus, and inferior frontal gyrus in patients with SCD. Another observational study has revealed that compared with elderly controls, participants with SCD presented a significant decline in CBF values, mainly in the hippocampal and posterior cingulate cortex (Yang et al, 2021).…”

Age‐related changes in cortical and subcortical structures of healthy adult brains: A surface‐based morphometry study

“…Long et al found moderate atrophy in the thalamus, accumbens, pallidum, and putamen; the hippocampal volume slightly increased at 40 years and decreased after the age of 50 years. The hippocampus plays an important role in the human brain due to its structural and functional relevance to cognition and memory‐related diseases . However, currently, few studies have reported the changes in the hippocampal subfields with aging.…”

“…The hippocampus plays an important role in the human brain due to its structural and functional relevance to cognition and memory-related diseases. 17,18 However, currently, few studies have reported the changes in the hippocampal subfields with aging. A clear understanding of the relationship between the volume of deep nuclei and age is necessary to identify the difference between normal aging and psychotic and neuropathic disorders related to age.…”