A systematic review and meta-analysis of structural magnetic resonance imaging studies investigating cognitive and social activity levels in older adults. (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Anatürk, M.; Demnitz, N.; Ebmeier, K.P.; Sexton, C.E.
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 93(2018)
• Page Start: 71
• Page End: 84
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: Brain -- Social activity -- Cognitive activity -- Aging -- Magnetic resonance imaging -- Voxel-based morphometry -- Region-of-interest -- Gray matter -- White matter; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.06.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Highlights: Socio-intellectual activity correlates with global white matter volume and lesions. Volumetric measures of the hippocampus are linked with non-physical activities. Local gray matter volume in each cerebral lobe also relates to leisure activities. Abstract: Population aging has prompted considerable interest in identifying modifiable factors that may help protect the brain and its functions. Collectively, epidemiological studies show that leisure activities with high mental and social demands are linked with better cognition in old age. The extent to which socio-intellectual activities relate to the brain's structure is, however, not yet fully understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes magnetic resonance imaging studies that have investigated whether cognitive and social activities correlate with measures of gray and white matter volume, white matter microstructure and white matter lesions. Across eighteen included studies (total n = 8429), activity levels were associated with whole-brain white matter volume, white matter lesions and regional gray matter volume, although effect sizes were small. No associations were found for global gray matter volume and the evidence concerning white matter microstructure was inconclusive. While the causality of the reviewed associations needs to be established, our findings implicate socio-intellectual activity levels as promising targets for interventions aimed at promoting healthy brain aging.