title: Reduced frontal cortex efficiency is associated with lower white matter integrity in aging.
abstract: Increased frontal cortex activation during cognitive task performance is common in aging but remains poorly understood. Here we explored patterns of age-related frontal brain activations under multiple task performance conditions and their relationship to white matter (WM) microstructure. Groups of younger (N = 28) and older (N = 33) participants completed a task-switching paradigm while functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed, and rested while diffusion tensor imaging was performed. Results from fMRI analyses indicated age-related increases in frontal brain activations under conditions of poorer performance in the older group (the nonswitch and switch conditions) and for a contrast in which behavioral performance was equated (older group nonswitch condition vs. younger group switch condition). Within the older adult group, higher frontal activation was associated with poorer behavioral performance under all task conditions. In 2 regions in right frontal cortex, blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) magnitudes were negatively correlated with WM integrity in tracts connecting these structures with other task-relevant frontoparietal and striatal regions. Our results link age-related declines in the efficiency of frontal cortex functioning with lower WM integrity in aging.
authors: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology.
authors: Zude
authors: Z
authors: Zhu
authors: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology.
authors: Nathan F
authors: NF
authors: Johnson
authors: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Department of Psychology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, South Korea.
authors: Chobok
authors: C
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Center Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA and.
authors: Brian T
authors: BT
authors: Gold
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D066127:White Matter / Q000166:cytology*
keywords: DTI; aging; over-recruitment; task switching; white matter
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