TY - JOUR
T1 - The Effects of Cognitive Training on Brain Network Activity and Connectivity in Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases
T2 - a Systematic Review
AU - van Balkom, Tim D.
AU - van den Heuvel, Odile A.
AU - Berendse, Henk W.
AU - van der Werf, Ysbrand D.
AU - Vriend, Chris
PY - 2020/6/1
Y1 - 2020/6/1
N2 - Cognitive training (CT) is an increasingly popular, non-pharmacological intervention for improving cognitive functioning in neurodegenerative diseases and healthy aging. Although meta-analyses support the efficacy of CT in improving cognitive functioning, the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of CT are still unclear. We performed a systematic review of literature in the PubMed, Embase and PsycINFO databases on controlled CT trials (N > 20) in aging and neurodegenerative diseases with pre- and post-training functional MRI outcomes up to November 23rd 2018 (PROSPERO registration number CRD42019103662). Twenty articles were eligible for our systematic review. We distinguished between multi-domain and single-domain CT. CT induced both increases and decreases in task-related functional activation, possibly indicative of an inverted U-shaped curve association between regional brain activity and task performance. Functional connectivity within ‘cognitive’ brain networks was consistently reported to increase after CT while a minority of studies additionally reported increased segregation of frontoparietal and default mode brain networks. Although we acknowledge the large heterogeneity in type of CT, imaging methodology, in-scanner task paradigm and analysis methods between studies, we propose a working model of the effects of CT on brain activity and connectivity in the context of current knowledge on compensatory mechanisms that are associated with aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
AB - Cognitive training (CT) is an increasingly popular, non-pharmacological intervention for improving cognitive functioning in neurodegenerative diseases and healthy aging. Although meta-analyses support the efficacy of CT in improving cognitive functioning, the neural mechanisms underlying the effects of CT are still unclear. We performed a systematic review of literature in the PubMed, Embase and PsycINFO databases on controlled CT trials (N > 20) in aging and neurodegenerative diseases with pre- and post-training functional MRI outcomes up to November 23rd 2018 (PROSPERO registration number CRD42019103662). Twenty articles were eligible for our systematic review. We distinguished between multi-domain and single-domain CT. CT induced both increases and decreases in task-related functional activation, possibly indicative of an inverted U-shaped curve association between regional brain activity and task performance. Functional connectivity within ‘cognitive’ brain networks was consistently reported to increase after CT while a minority of studies additionally reported increased segregation of frontoparietal and default mode brain networks. Although we acknowledge the large heterogeneity in type of CT, imaging methodology, in-scanner task paradigm and analysis methods between studies, we propose a working model of the effects of CT on brain activity and connectivity in the context of current knowledge on compensatory mechanisms that are associated with aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
KW - Aging
KW - Cognitive training
KW - Magnetic resonance imaging
KW - Network
KW - Neurodegenerative diseases
KW - Neuroimaging
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85086469381&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-020-09440-w
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-020-09440-w
M3 - Review article
C2 - 32529356
SN - 1040-7308
VL - 30
SP - 267
EP - 286
JO - Neuropsychology review
JF - Neuropsychology review
IS - 2
ER -