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Combining lifestyle risks to disentangle brain structure and functional connectivity differences in older adults

Author

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  • Nora Bittner

    (Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf
    Research Centre Juelich)

  • Christiane Jockwitz

    (Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf
    RWTH Aachen University
    Juelich-Aachen Research Alliance)

  • Thomas W. Mühleisen

    (Research Centre Juelich
    Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf
    University of Basel)

  • Felix Hoffstaedter

    (Research Centre Juelich
    Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf)

  • Simon B. Eickhoff

    (Research Centre Juelich
    Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf)

  • Susanne Moebus

    (University of Duisburg-Essen)

  • Ute J. Bayen

    (Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf)

  • Sven Cichon

    (Research Centre Juelich
    University of Basel
    University Hospital Basel)

  • Karl Zilles

    (Research Centre Juelich
    Juelich-Aachen Research Alliance)

  • Katrin Amunts

    (Research Centre Juelich
    Juelich-Aachen Research Alliance
    Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf)

  • Svenja Caspers

    (Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf
    Research Centre Juelich
    Juelich-Aachen Research Alliance)

Abstract

Lifestyle contributes to inter-individual variability in brain aging, but previous studies focused on the effects of single lifestyle variables. Here, we studied the combined and individual contributions of four lifestyle variables - alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity, and social integration - to brain structure and functional connectivity in a population-based cohort of 549 older adults. A combined lifestyle risk score was associated with decreased gyrification in left premotor and right prefrontal cortex, and higher functional connectivity to sensorimotor and prefrontal cortex. While structural differences were driven by alcohol consumption, physical activity, and social integration, higher functional connectivity was driven by smoking. Results suggest that combining differentially contributing lifestyle variables may be more than the sum of its parts. Associations generally were neither altered by adjustment for genetic risk, nor by depressive symptomatology or education, underlining the relevance of daily habits for brain health.

Suggested Citation

  • Nora Bittner & Christiane Jockwitz & Thomas W. Mühleisen & Felix Hoffstaedter & Simon B. Eickhoff & Susanne Moebus & Ute J. Bayen & Sven Cichon & Karl Zilles & Katrin Amunts & Svenja Caspers, 2019. "Combining lifestyle risks to disentangle brain structure and functional connectivity differences in older adults," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-08500-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08500-x
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