White Matter Microstructure and Language Functioning in Healthy Aging

White Matter Microstructure and Language Functioning in Healthy Aging

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Madhavan, Kiely M., M.A.
Language:English
Published: University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK 2013
Subjects:
Clinical Psychology
language
white matter
aging
fractional anisotropy
Online Access:http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1367942804
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spelling ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-ucin13679428042021-08-03T05:23:24Z White Matter Microstructure and Language Functioning in Healthy Aging Madhavan, Kiely M., M.A. Clinical Psychology language white matter aging fractional anisotropy The structural deterioration of brain tissue in older adults is thought to be responsible for the majority of age-related cognitive decline, and it has been suggested that disruption of widespread cortical networks due to a loss of axonal integrity may play an important role. However, the relationship between cortical network disruption and cognitive deterioration remains unclear. The research examining correlations between structural change and functional decline has focused heavily on working memory, processing speed, and executive processes while other aspects of cognition, such as language functioning, have received less attention. The current study aimed to determine whether age-related changes in the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), a connection between temporoparietal and frontal language regions, are responsible for the deterioration in language functioning associated with age. Subjects included 112 right-handed volunteers (ages 19-76). For each subject, the SLF of the left hemisphere was reconstructed from diffusion tensor images (DTI). Mean fractional anisotropy (FA) values were extracted from parietal (SLFp) and temporal (SLFt) bundles. Language functioning was measured using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), Boston Naming Test (BNT), Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), and Semantic Fluency Test (SFT). Regression analyses assessed the relationship between age, sex, and FA from SLFt and SLFp. Males and females showed a different pattern of decline in FA across adulthood. For all subjects, greater SLFt FA was significantly associated with better COWAT performance and age predicted BNT performance. For males, greater SLFt FA was significantly associated with increased COWAT performance, and there was a positive relationship between both age and SLFp FA with BNT scores. In females, greater SLFp FA was related to lower COWAT performance. Taken together, the results suggest that white matter integrity of the SLF follows a different pattern of decline in adulthood for males and females, and this decline differentially affects language functioning. 2013-10-18 English text University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1367942804 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1367942804 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.
collection NDLTD
language English
sources NDLTD
topic Clinical Psychology
language
white matter
aging
fractional anisotropy
spellingShingle Clinical Psychology
language
white matter
aging
fractional anisotropy
Madhavan, Kiely M., M.A.
White Matter Microstructure and Language Functioning in Healthy Aging
author Madhavan, Kiely M., M.A.
author_facet Madhavan, Kiely M., M.A.
author_sort Madhavan, Kiely M., M.A.
title White Matter Microstructure and Language Functioning in Healthy Aging
title_short White Matter Microstructure and Language Functioning in Healthy Aging
title_full White Matter Microstructure and Language Functioning in Healthy Aging
title_fullStr White Matter Microstructure and Language Functioning in Healthy Aging
title_full_unstemmed White Matter Microstructure and Language Functioning in Healthy Aging
title_sort white matter microstructure and language functioning in healthy aging
publisher University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK
publishDate 2013
url http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1367942804
work_keys_str_mv AT madhavankielymma whitemattermicrostructureandlanguagefunctioninginhealthyaging
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