TY - JOUR
T1 - Associations between modifiable risk factors and white matter of the aging brain: insights from diffusion tensor imaging studies
AU - Wassenaar, Thomas M.
AU - Yaffe, Kristine
AU - van der Werf, Ysbrand D.
AU - Sexton, Claire E.
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - There is increasing interest in factors that may modulate white matter (WM) breakdown and, consequentially, age-related cognitive and behavioral deficits. Recent diffusion tensor imaging studies have examined the relationship of such factors with WM microstructure. This review summarizes the evidence regarding the relationship between WM microstructure and recognized modifiable factors, including hearing loss, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking, depressive symptoms, physical (in) activity, and social isolation, as well as sleep disturbances, diet, cognitive training, and meditation. Current cross-sectional evidence suggests a clear link between loss of WM integrity (lower fractional anisotropy and higher mean diffusivity) and hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and smoking; a relationship that seems to hold for hearing loss, social isolation, depressive symptoms, and sleep disturbances. Physical activity, cognitive training, diet, and meditation, on the other hand, may protect WM with aging. Preliminary evidence from cross-sectional studies of treated risk factors suggests that modification of factors could slow down negative effects on WM microstructure. Careful intervention studies are needed for this literature to contribute to public health initiatives going forward.
AB - There is increasing interest in factors that may modulate white matter (WM) breakdown and, consequentially, age-related cognitive and behavioral deficits. Recent diffusion tensor imaging studies have examined the relationship of such factors with WM microstructure. This review summarizes the evidence regarding the relationship between WM microstructure and recognized modifiable factors, including hearing loss, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking, depressive symptoms, physical (in) activity, and social isolation, as well as sleep disturbances, diet, cognitive training, and meditation. Current cross-sectional evidence suggests a clear link between loss of WM integrity (lower fractional anisotropy and higher mean diffusivity) and hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and smoking; a relationship that seems to hold for hearing loss, social isolation, depressive symptoms, and sleep disturbances. Physical activity, cognitive training, diet, and meditation, on the other hand, may protect WM with aging. Preliminary evidence from cross-sectional studies of treated risk factors suggests that modification of factors could slow down negative effects on WM microstructure. Careful intervention studies are needed for this literature to contribute to public health initiatives going forward.
KW - Aging
KW - Diffusion tensor imaging
KW - Modifiable– risk factor
KW - White matter
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85065653577&origin=inward
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31103633
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.04.006
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.04.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 31103633
SN - 0197-4580
VL - 80
SP - 56
EP - 70
JO - Neurobiology of aging
JF - Neurobiology of aging
ER -