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Engagement in Enriching Early-Life Activities Is Associated With Larger Hippocampal and Amygdala Volumes in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Author

Listed:
  • Kyle D Moored
  • Thomas Chan
  • Vijay R Varma
  • Yi-Fang Chuang
  • Jeanine M Parisi
  • Michelle C Carlson
  • Angela Gutchess

Abstract

ObjectivesNumerous studies show benefits of mid- and late-life activity on neurocognitive health. Yet, few studies have examined how engagement in enriching activities during childhood, when the brain is most plastic, may confer long-term neurocognitive benefits that may be especially important to individuals raised in low-income settings. We examined associations between enriching early-life activities (EELAs) and hippocampal and amygdala volumes in a sample of predominantly African-American, community-dwelling older adults. We further assessed whether these associations were independent of current activity engagement.MethodsNinety participants from the baseline Brain Health Substudy of the Baltimore Experience Corps Trial (mean age: 67.4) completed retrospective activity inventories and an magnetic resonance imaging scan. Volumes were segmented using FreeSurfer.ResultsEach additional EELA was associated with a 2.3% (66.6 mm3) greater amygdala volume after adjusting for covariates. For men, each additional EELA was associated with a 4.1% (278.9 mm3) greater hippocampal volume. Associations were specific to these regions when compared with the thalamus, used as a control region.DiscussionEnriching lifestyle activities during an important window of childhood brain development may be a modifiable factor that impacts lifelong brain reserve, and results highlight the importance of providing access to such activities in historically underserved populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Kyle D Moored & Thomas Chan & Vijay R Varma & Yi-Fang Chuang & Jeanine M Parisi & Michelle C Carlson & Angela Gutchess, 2020. "Engagement in Enriching Early-Life Activities Is Associated With Larger Hippocampal and Amygdala Volumes in Community-Dwelling Older Adults," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 75(8), pages 1637-1647.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:75:y:2020:i:8:p:1637-1647.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gby150
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    Cited by:

    1. Deepika Raja & Sneha Ravichandran & Baskaran Chandrasekaran & Rajagopal Kadavigere & M. G. Ramesh Babu & Meshari Almeshari & Amjad R. Alyahyawi & Yasser Alzamil & Ahmad Abanomy & Suresh Sukumar, 2022. "Association between Physical Activity Levels and Brain Volumes in Adults Visiting Radio-Imaging Center of Tertiary Care Hospital," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Greenfield, Emily A. & Reynolds, Addam & Moorman, Sara M., 2022. "Life course linkages between enriching early-life activities and later life cognition: Evidence from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).

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