title: The relationship between frontal gray matter volume and cognition varies across the healthy adult lifespan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Age-associated decline in gray matter brain volume and cognitive function in healthy adults has been reported in the literature. The goal of the current study is to examine the relationship between age-related changes in regional gray matter volumes and cognitive function in a large, cross-sectional sample of healthy adults across the lifespan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Magnetic resonance imaging and cognitive assessment were conducted on 148 adults aged 21-76 years. Multiple regression analyses examining the effect of age were performed on magnetic resonance image-derived gray matter brain volumes and standardized cognitive summary scores of attention and executive function. Regression was also performed to test the effect of age, gray matter volumes, and their interaction on the prediction of cognitive performance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age significantly predicted performance on tests of attention (F [1, 146]=50.97, p <0.01, R2=0.26) and executive function (F [1, 146]=126.19, p <0.01, R2=0.46) and gray matter volumes for frontal subregions (lateral, medial, orbital), hippocampus, amygdala, and putamen (F [2, 145]=45.34-23.96, p <0.01-0.02). Lateral frontal (beta=-1.53, t=-2.16, df=131, p <0.03) and orbital frontal (beta=1.24, t=2.08, df=131, p <0.04) regions significantly predicted performance on tests of attention. Lateral frontal (beta=-1.69, t=-2.83, df=131, p <0.01) and the interaction between age and lateral frontal volume (beta=3.76, t=2.49, df=131, p <0.02) significantly predicted executive function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings confirm age-associated decline in cognitive function and gray matter volumes, particularly in anterior cortical brain regions. Furthermore, the association between lateral frontal gray matter volume and the ability to successfully plan, organize, and execute strategies varies as a function of age across the healthy adult lifespan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. mzimmerm@aecom.yu.edu
authors.forename: Molly E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Adam M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brickman
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Stuart M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Grieve
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Tate
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gunstad
authors.forename: Ronald A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Aloia
authors.forename: Leanne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: C Richard
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Whitford
authors.forename: Evian
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000679:Amygdala / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006304:Health Status; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011699:Putamen / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires