Brain function during autobiographical memory recovery in elderly subjects: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study

• Grant number: 10/17083-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: January 01, 2011
• End date: February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Geraldo Busatto Filho
• Grantee: Luiz Roberto Kobuti Ferreira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Psiquiatria Doutor Antonio Carlos Pacheco e Silva (IPq). Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP (HCFMUSP). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 12/11898-5 - Partial least squares method in the analysis of resting-state functional magnetic resonance: study of the aging brain and autobiographical memory, BE.EP.DD

Abstract

The neurophysiological basis of the cognitive decline of the elderly is not adequately known. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) studies have provided important information on this subject because they allow the localization of regions where increased or decreased brain activity occurs during specific tasks. Moreover, they allow the study of functional connectivity between different brain regions. A number of studies of have found altered patterns of brain function in the elderly, both during the execution of tasks and during resting state. Notwithstanding, studies regarding the specific function of autobiographical memory retrieval in the elderly are needed. Besides, the relationship between task-related abnormalities in brain function and functional connectivity during resting state is unclear. Finally, since the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) has an effect on the results of fMRI studies, information about this gene may make the analysis of the data more reliable. Objectives: 1) to localize the brain regions where there are differences between young and old adults in brain activation and deactivation during tasks of autobiographical memory retrieval; 2) using the regions found in this analysis, we are going to determine the differences between old and young adults regarding the functional connectivity of these regions, using the data obtained from the resting state acquisition. Methods: healthy volunteers (20 elderly and 20 young adults) will undergo fMRI (BOLD effect) for image acquisition during resting state and then during two tasks: visual fixation and retrieval of autobiographical events. Images will be processed using the software SPM5 and the analysis will verify the contrasts between the two tasks. We will analyze the images of the samples of young and elderly, both independently and through comparison between groups. The result from the APOE genotyping will be included in the analysis as a confounding variable. For each region where there are differences in brain activation and deactivation between young and elderly, we will define a Region Of Interest (ROI). Then we will build maps of functional connectivity between each ROI and all other brain voxels using the resting state acquisition. Then, groups of young and old will be compared for differences in functional connectivity for each ROI. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FERREIRA, LUIZ KOBUTI; BROCANELLO REGINA, ANA CAROLINA; KOVACEVIC, NATASA; MORAIS MARTIN, MARIA DA GRACA; SANTOS, PEDRO PAIM; CARNEIRO, CAMILA DE GODOI; KERR, DANIEL SHIKANAI; AMARO, JR., EDSON; MCINTOSH, ANTHONY RANDAL; BUSATTO, GERALDO F.. Aging Effects on Whole-Brain Functional Connectivity in Adults Free of Cognitive and Psychiatric Disorders. CEREBRAL CORTEX, v. 26, n. 9, p. 3851-3865, SEP 2016. (10/17083-8, 12/50329-6, 11/00475-3, 12/11898-5)

FERREIRA, LUIZ KOBUTI; BUSATTO, GERALDO F.. Resting-state functional connectivity in normal brain aging. NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS, v. 37, n. 3, p. 384-400, MAR 2013. (10/17083-8, 11/00475-3)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

FERREIRA, Luiz Roberto Kobuti. Brain function at rest and recovery of autobiographical memory in the elderly: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study. 2015. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina (FM/SBD) São Paulo.