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Segregation of functional networks is associated with cognitive resilience in Alzheimer's disease

Ewers, M; Luan, Y; Frontzkowski, L; Neitzel, J; Rubinski, A; Dichgans, M; Hassenstab, J; ... Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative and the Dominantly I; + view all (2021) Segregation of functional networks is associated with cognitive resilience in Alzheimer's disease. Brain , 144 (7) pp. 2176-2185. 10.1093/brain/awab112. Green open access

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Abstract

Cognitive resilience is an important modulating factor of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease, but the functional brain mechanisms that support cognitive resilience remain elusive. Given previous findings in normal aging, we tested the hypothesis that higher segregation of the brain's connectome into distinct functional networks represents a functional mechanism underlying cognitive resilience in Alzheimer's disease. Using resting-state functional MRI, we assessed both resting-state-fMRI global system segregation, i.e. the balance of between-network to within-network connectivity, and the alternate index of modularity Q as predictors of cognitive resilience. We performed all analyses in two independent samples for validation: First, we included 108 individuals with autosomal dominantly inherited Alzheimer's disease and 71 non-carrier controls. Second, we included 156 amyloid-PET positive subjects across the spectrum of sporadic Alzheimer's disease as well as 184 amyloid-negative controls. In the autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease sample, disease severity was assessed by estimated years from symptom onset. In the sporadic Alzheimer's sample, disease stage was assessed by temporal-lobe tau-PET (i.e. composite across Braak stage I & III regions). In both samples, we tested whether the effect of disease severity on cognition was attenuated at higher levels of functional network segregation. For autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease, we found higher fMRI-assessed system segregation to be associated with an attenuated effect of estimated years from symptom onset on global cognition (p = 0.007). Similarly, for sporadic Alzheimer's disease patients, higher fMRI-assessed system segregation was associated with less decrement in global cognition (p = 0.001) and episodic memory (p = 0.004) per unit increase of temporal lobe tau-PET. Confirmatory analyses using the alternate index of modularity Q revealed consistent results. In conclusion, higher segregation of functional connections into distinct large-scale networks supports cognitive resilience in Alzheimer's disease.

Type: Article
Title: Segregation of functional networks is associated with cognitive resilience in Alzheimer's disease
Location: England
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab112
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/brain/awab112
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: modularity, reserve, resilience, system segregation, tau-PET
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology > Neurodegenerative Diseases
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10126289
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