The goal of this project is to elucidate the relation between structural differences in the brain and cognitive performance in younger and elderly participants. By utilizing the strength of high spatial resolution MRI we will compute measures of…
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Health condition
geen aandoening
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Outcome measures
Primary outcome
The main study parameters can be divided into parameters related to the MRI
scans and parameters related to the cognitive tests.
MRI scans:
T1- and T2-FLAIR weighted scans will be used to derive volumetric data,
measures of cortical thickness and percentage of white matter hyper intensities
(relative to the total volume).
Volume measures will be derived from the scans with regard to the following
areas: 1) prefrontal cortex (grey matter); 2) right thalamus; 3) hippocampus;
4) left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; 5) pre-SMA (grey matter) and 6) whole
brain (grey matter). Cortical thickness in the following regions of interest
will be calculated: 1) left superior frontal gyrus; 2) left anterior inferior
temporal cortex; 3) right superior and middle frontal gyri. The percentage of
white matter hyper intensities will be computed for the whole brain (percentage
in relation to total brain volume).
The DTI scans will be used to calculate the fractional anisotropy (FA) value of
the following regions of interest: 1) splenium; 2) anterior part of the
inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus; 3) occipital lobe white matter; 4)
parietal lobe white matter and 5) prefrontal cortex. Additionally the mean
diffusivity (MD) value of the anterior part of the brain will be computed.
Cognitive tests:
The primary analysis considers the outcome measures of the 15 word test, the
Simon task and the TMT. The TMT outcome measure consists of the time needed to
perform part B of the test divided by the time needed to finish part A. The
outcome measure of the Simon task is the mean reaction time on incongruent
trials minus the mean reaction time on the congruent trials (the so called
Simon effect).The 15 word test outcome measure of interest is the delayed
recall score (number of words remembered 15 minutes after imprinting) will be
used.
Secondary outcome
For the secondary analyses the following parameters are of interest:
MRI scans:
From the T1- and T2-FLAIR weighted scans we derive the following main
parameters for each participant: 1) volumetric data of grey matter, white
matter and cerebral spinal fluid; 2) (mean) cortical thickness and 3)
percentage of white matter hyperintensities in relation to the total brain
volume. All parameters will be calculated for the whole brain and for the
prefrontal cortex separately. The main parameters that will be derived from
the DWI images are mean DTI scalar values (FA, MD, AD and RD) for the
prefrontal cortex (division is made based on the FreeSurfer Brain Atlas) and
the following white matter tracts (localized by tractography): the Uncinated
Fasciculus, Splenium and Genu of the Corpus Callosum and the Cingulum.
Cognitive tests:
Main study parameters of cognitive performance consist of the default outcome
measures of each cognitive task for each participant. For computer tasks these
consist of: speed and accuracy. For the paper-pencil and verbal tests the main
parameters consist of: number of correct words and repetitions (fluency),
number of correctly pronounced words (crystallized intelligence) and number of
items correct (fluid intelligence and mental imagery). Regarding outcome
measures obtained in the driving simulator average speed, lateral road position
and deceleration of a following car are analysed. In addition, heart rate
(variability) as an indication of mental effort will be examined.
Background summary
In general ageing is related to changes in cognition, however, what is
fascinating, is that there seem to be large individual differences in this
process (Saliasi et al., 2015, Mungas et al., 2010). With this study we aim to
broaden our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the differences in
age-related effects on cognition.
Widespread structural changes have been observed in the ageing brain (Raz &
Kennedy, 2009). However, although structural integrity of the brain is crucial
for cognitive performance, studies that found direct links between age,
cognition and brain structure are limited and findings have been inconsistent
(Park & Reuter-Lorenz, 2009). The neuropsychological perspective as described
by van Petten (2004) and Westlye and colleagues (Westlye, Grydeland, Waldhovd &
Fjell, 2011) suggests that age related cortical atrophy drives the correlation
between brain and behavior.
One of the disadvantages of the research done so far, is that studies examining
the relationship between age, brain structure and cognition, mainly focused on
specific cognitive functions. Considering the large inter-individual difference
in age-related effects on cognition, we argue that it is of great importance to
consider a broader spectrum of cognitive abilities instead. The main aim of our
proposed study is therefore to explore the structure-function relationship in
young and elderly adults, using an extensive neuropsychological test battery
covering a broad spectrum of simple to complex cognitive abilities
During primary analysis we will explore the influence of age on the relation
between cognitive task performance and structural characteristics of the brain
focussing on three cognitive tasks that tax different cognitive functions and
are often used in this type of research. Therefore they lend themselves for
specific hypothesis testing. Performance on a verbal memory task (15 word
test), an inhibition task (Simon task) and a task of cognitive flexibility
(Trail Making Test) will be assessed in a young and elderly group and related
to structural brain predictors based on previous literature. Indicators of
brain structure and structural connectivity will be obtained through Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI). We will first assess whether previously found
relations between specific structural brain measures and cognitive performance
replicate and in addition, to what extent these measures distinctively
contribute to explaining the cognitive performance. By comparing two age groups
we will be able to examine the influence of aging on the relation between brain
structures and cognitive functioning. In secondary analysis we will use the
entire set of tasks and relate these to structural brain measures by means of
principal covariates regression.
Study objective
The goal of this project is to elucidate the relation between structural
differences in the brain and cognitive performance in younger and elderly
participants. By utilizing the strength of high spatial resolution MRI we will
compute measures of structural brain characteristics and map connections
between brain areas. By relating these outcome measures to performance on a
broad spectrum of cognitive tests, we seek to examine the influence of age on
the relation between brain structure and cognitive performance.
Primary Objective: Investigate the effect of age on the relation between
structural characteristics of the brain and cognitive performance.
Secondary Objective: Assess the relation between structural characteristics of
the brain and a broad spectrum of cognitive tasks by means of an exploratory
approach.
Study design
The study combines high spatial resolution MRI data and behavioural measures of
cognitive performance in young and elderly adults. Participants will be
screened for general cognitive functioning by means of the Montreal Cognitive
Assessment (MoCA), a screening tool for Mild Cognitive Impairment. Data is
collected at two separate days, on day 1 participants perform the cognitive
tasks and on day 2 the MRI scan is made. Additionally participants fill out a
set of questionnaires at home beforehand, providing information on possible
confounding variables.
During day 1, participants will perform different cognitive tasks covering a
broad spectrum from simple to complex cognitive abilities. These tasks are: 1)
reaction time task; 2) selective and divided attention task; 3) inhibition
task; 4) visual observational ability task; 5) working memory task; 6) semantic
and phonetic fluency tests; 7) 15 words test (verbal memory); 8) trail making
test (i.a. conceptual tracking ability); 9) Dutch reading test for adults
(crystalized intelligence); 10) WAIS matrices (fluid intelligence); 11) Clock
test (mental imagery manipulation) and 12) a driving simulator task.
During day 2 MRI data will be collected in a 3 Tesla Siemens MRI scanner. The
scanning procedure contains a T1- and T2-FLAIR weighted scans and a DWI scan.
During scanning the participant is asked to lie as still as possible and to
relax as no specific task has to be exerted during scanning.
Participants will be fully informed about the nature and parameters of the
study and paradigm before the experimental sessions and after the second
session they will be fully debriefed.
Study burden and risks
In the MRI-scanner participants will be exposed to a field-strength of 3 Tesla
and scanner noise. Thus far there is no evidence to suggest that exposing human
to a magnetic field of this strength has a negative influence on health. With
regard to the noise, ear protection will be provide. Participants will not
benefit directly from participating in the study, however the data collected
during this study will enhance our understanding of the relationship between
structural brain differences and cognitive performance in ageing.
Grote Kruisstraat 1/2
Groningen 9712TS
NL
Grote Kruisstraat 1/2
Groningen 9712TS
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
- aged 18-25 or 60-70 years old
- right-handed
- normal (or corrected to normal) vision
- having signed the informed consent
- having a drivers licence for cars
- older group: working in a paid job for at least 20 hours a week at the moment of participation in the study and in the 5 years preceding participation
- younger group: spending at least 20 hours a week on full-time education
- gender will be matched between the groups, so that the same proportion of each is present in both groups.
Exclusion criteria
- not matching the inclusion criteria
- MR incompatable (posibility of any incompatible metal objects inside the body)
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL56698.042.16 |