title: Relationship between Brain Age-Related Reduction in Gray Matter and Educational Attainment.
abstract: Inter-subject variability in age-related brain changes may relate to educational attainment, as suggested by cognitive reserve theories. This voxel-based morphometry study investigated the impact of very low educational level on the relationship between regional gray matter (rGM) volumes and age in healthy elders. Magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired in elders with low educational attainment (less than 4 years) (n = 122) and high educational level (n = 66), pulling together individuals examined using either of three MRI scanners/acquisition protocols. Voxelwise group comparisons showed no rGM differences (p<0.05, family-wise error corrected for multiple comparisons). When within-group voxelwise patterns of linear correlation were compared between high and low education groups, there was one cluster of greater rGM loss with aging in low versus high education elders in the left anterior cingulate cortex (p<0.05, FWE-corrected), as well as a trend in the left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (p<0.10). These results provide preliminary indication that education might exert subtle protective effects against age-related brain changes in healthy subjects. The anterior cingulate cortex, critical to inhibitory control processes, may be particularly sensitive to such effects, possibly given its involvement in cognitive stimulating activities at school or later throughout life.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rzezak
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Squarzoni
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabio L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Duran
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: de Toledo Ferraz Alves
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jaqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tamashiro-Duran
authors.affiliation: Old Age Research Group (PROTER), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cassio M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bottino
authors.affiliation: Old Age Research Group (PROTER), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Salma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ribeiz
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical and Epidemiologic Research, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lotufo
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Psychopharmacology and Clinical Psychophysiology (LIM-23), Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scazufca
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroimaging, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Geraldo F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Busatto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size