Relationship Between Brain Age-Related Reduction in Gray Matter and Educational Attainment

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2015 Oct 17

PMID 26474472

Citations 17

Authors

Patricia Rzezak

Paula Squarzoni

Fabio L Duran

Tania de Toledo Ferraz Alves

Jaqueline Tamashiro-Duran

Cassio M Bottino

Salma Ribeiz

Paulo A Lotufo

Paulo R Menezes

Marcia Scazufca

Geraldo F Busatto

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

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.

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