Association of basal forebrain volumes and cognition in normal aging.
The basal forebrain cholinergic system (BFCS) is known to undergo moderate neurodegenerative alterations during normal aging and severe atrophy in Alzheimer's disease (AD). It has been suggested that functional and structural alterations of the BFCS mediate cognitive performance in normal aging and AD. But, it is still unclear to what extend age-associated cognitive decline can be related to BFCS in normal aging. We analyzed the relationship between BFCS volume and cognition using MRI and a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery in a cohort of 43 healthy elderly subjects spanning the age range from 60 to 85 years. Most notably, we found significant associations between general intelligence and BFCS volumes, specifically within areas corresponding to posterior nuclei of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (Ch4p) and the nucleus subputaminalis (NSP). Associations between specific cognitive domains and BFCS volumes were less pronounced. Supplementary analyses demonstrated that especially the volume of NSP but also the volume of Ch4p was related to the volume of widespread temporal, frontal, and parietal gray and white matter regions. Volumes of these gray and white matter regions were also related to general intelligence. Higher volumes of Ch4p and NSP may enhance the effectiveness of acetylcholine supply in related gray and white matter regions underlying general intelligence and hence explain the observed association between the volume of Ch4p as well as NSP and general intelligence. Since general intelligence is known to attenuate the degree of age-associated cognitive decline and the risk of developing late-onset AD, the BFCS might, besides the specific contribution to the pathophysiology in AD, constitute a mechanism of brain resilience in normal aging.
['Wolf|D|D|', 'Grothe|M|M|', 'Fischer|F U|FU|', 'Heinsen|H|H|', 'Kilimann|I|I|', 'Teipel|S|S|', 'Fellgiebel|A|A|']
D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D000375:Aging D001288:Attention D003071:Cognition D015331:Cohort Studies D004522:Educational Status D056344:Executive Function D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007360:Intelligence D007361:Intelligence Tests D016014:Linear Models D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging D008297:Male D008568:Memory D008875:Middle Aged D009483:Neuropsychological Tests D009929:Organ Size D013687:Telencephalon
Cognition Normal aging Basal forebrain cholinergic system General intelligence Nucleus basalis of Meynert Brain resilience