TY - JOUR
T1 - Poorer theory of mind in amnestic mild cognitive impairment is associated with decreased functional connectivity in the default mode network
AU - Michaelian, Johannes C.
AU - Duffy, Shantel L.
AU - Mowszowski, Loren
AU - Guastella, Adam J.
AU - McCade, Donna
AU - McKinnon, Andrew C.
AU - Naismith, Sharon L.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Background: Older adults living with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) not only demonstrate impairments in Theory of Mind (ToM), relative to adults with non-amnestic MCI (naMCI), but are also at a higher risk of developing dementia. Objective: Our primary objective was to ascertain whether default mode network (DMN) functional connectivity was differentially associated with ToM abilities between MCI subgroups. Methods: Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated alterations in resting-state functional connectivity within the brain's DMN in a sample of 43 older adults with aMCI (n"Š="Š19) and naMCI (n"Š="Š24), previously reported to demonstrate poorer ToM abilities. Results: Compared to naMCI, the aMCI subgroup revealed a significant association between poorer ToM performance and reduced functional connectivity between the bilateral temporal pole (TempP) and the left lateral temporal cortex (LTC) (LTC_L-TempP_L: b"Š="Š-0.06, t(33)"Š="Š-3.53, p"Š="Š0.02; LTC_L-TempP_R: b"Š="Š-0.07,t(33)"Š="Š-3.20, p"Š="Š0.03); between the right TempP and the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dMPFC) (b"Š="Š-0.04, t(33)"Š="Š-3.02, p"Š="Š0.03) and between the left and right TempP (b"Š="Š-0.05, t(33)"Š="Š-3.26, p"Š="Š0.03). In the naMCI subgroup, the opposite relationship was present between the bilateral TempP and the left LTC (Combined correlation: r"Š="Š-0.47, p"Š="Š0.02), however, not between the right TempP and the dMPFC (r"Š="Š-0.14, p"Š="Š0.51) or the left and right TempP (r"Š="Š-0.31, p"Š="Š0.14). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that alterations in functional connectivity within the DMN involving temporal and frontal lobe regions are associated with ToM deficits in aMCI.
AB - Background: Older adults living with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) not only demonstrate impairments in Theory of Mind (ToM), relative to adults with non-amnestic MCI (naMCI), but are also at a higher risk of developing dementia. Objective: Our primary objective was to ascertain whether default mode network (DMN) functional connectivity was differentially associated with ToM abilities between MCI subgroups. Methods: Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we investigated alterations in resting-state functional connectivity within the brain's DMN in a sample of 43 older adults with aMCI (n"Š="Š19) and naMCI (n"Š="Š24), previously reported to demonstrate poorer ToM abilities. Results: Compared to naMCI, the aMCI subgroup revealed a significant association between poorer ToM performance and reduced functional connectivity between the bilateral temporal pole (TempP) and the left lateral temporal cortex (LTC) (LTC_L-TempP_L: b"Š="Š-0.06, t(33)"Š="Š-3.53, p"Š="Š0.02; LTC_L-TempP_R: b"Š="Š-0.07,t(33)"Š="Š-3.20, p"Š="Š0.03); between the right TempP and the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dMPFC) (b"Š="Š-0.04, t(33)"Š="Š-3.02, p"Š="Š0.03) and between the left and right TempP (b"Š="Š-0.05, t(33)"Š="Š-3.26, p"Š="Š0.03). In the naMCI subgroup, the opposite relationship was present between the bilateral TempP and the left LTC (Combined correlation: r"Š="Š-0.47, p"Š="Š0.02), however, not between the right TempP and the dMPFC (r"Š="Š-0.14, p"Š="Š0.51) or the left and right TempP (r"Š="Š-0.31, p"Š="Š0.14). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that alterations in functional connectivity within the DMN involving temporal and frontal lobe regions are associated with ToM deficits in aMCI.
UR - https://hdl.handle.net/1959.7/uws:75108
U2 - 10.3233/JAD-201284
DO - 10.3233/JAD-201284
M3 - Article
SN - 1387-2877
VL - 81
SP - 1079
EP - 1091
JO - Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
JF - Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
IS - 3
ER -