title: Combination training in aging individuals modifies functional connectivity and cognition, and is potentially affected by dopamine-related genes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aging is a major co-risk factor in many neurodegenerative diseases. Cognitive enrichment positively affects the structural plasticity of the aging brain. In this study, we evaluated effects of a set of structured multimodal activities (Combination Training; CT) on cognitive performances, functional connectivity, and cortical thickness of a group of healthy elderly individuals. CT lasted six months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neuropsychological and occupational performances were evaluated before and at the end of the training period. fMRI was used to assess effects of training on resting state network (RSN) functional connectivity using Independent Component Analysis (ICA). Effects on cortical thickness were also studied. Finally, we evaluated whether specific dopamine-related genes can affect the response to training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results of the study indicate that CT improves cognitive/occupational performances and reorganizes functional connectivity. Intriguingly, individuals responding to CT showed specific dopamine-related genotypes. Indeed, analysis of dopamine-related genes revealed that carriers of DRD3 ser9gly and COMT Val158Met polymorphisms had the greatest benefits from exposure to CT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, our findings support the idea that exposure to a set of structured multimodal activities can be an effective strategy to counteract aging-related cognitive decline and also indicate that significant capability of functional and structural changes are maintained in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, University G d'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pieramico
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sensi
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cilli
authors.forename: Dante
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mantini
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Mattei
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Frazzini
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ciavardelli
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gatta
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.forename: Gian Luca
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Romani
authors.forename: Stefano L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Sensi
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C493593:DRD3 protein, human; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase