Klimecki, O.M., Liebscher, M., Gaubert, M. et al. (37 more authors) (2023) Long-term environmental enrichment is associated with better fornix microstructure in older adults. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 15. 1170879. ISSN 1663-4365
Abstract
Background: Sustained environmental enrichment (EE) through a variety of leisure activities may decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This cross-sectional cohort study investigated the association between long-term EE in young adulthood through middle life and microstructure of fiber tracts associated with the memory system in older adults.
Methods: N = 201 cognitively unimpaired participants (≥ 60 years of age) from the DZNE-Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Study (DELCODE) baseline cohort were included. Two groups of participants with higher (n = 104) or lower (n = 97) long-term EE were identified, using the self-reported frequency of diverse physical, intellectual, and social leisure activities between the ages 13 to 65. White matter (WM) microstructure was measured by fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) in the fornix, uncinate fasciculus, and parahippocampal cingulum using diffusion tensor imaging. Long-term EE groups (lower/higher) were compared with adjustment for potential confounders, such as education, crystallized intelligence, and socio-economic status.
Results: Reported participation in higher long-term EE was associated with greater fornix microstructure, as indicated by higher FA (standardized β = 0.117, p = 0.033) and lower MD (β = −0.147, p = 0.015). Greater fornix microstructure was indirectly associated (FA: unstandardized B = 0.619, p = 0.038; MD: B = −0.035, p = 0.026) with better memory function through higher long-term EE. No significant effects were found for the other WM tracts.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that sustained participation in a greater variety of leisure activities relates to preserved WM microstructure in the memory system in older adults. This could be facilitated by the multimodal stimulation associated with the engagement in a physically, intellectually, and socially enriched lifestyle. Longitudinal studies will be needed to support this assumption.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2023 Klimecki, Liebscher, Gaubert, Hayek, Zarucha, Dyrba, Bartels, Buerger, Butryn, Dechent, Dobisch, Ewers, Fliessbach, Freiesleben, Glanz, Hetzer, Janowitz, Kilimann, Kleineidam, Laske, Maier, Munk, Perneczky, Peters, Priller, Rauchmann, Roy, Scheffler, Schneider, Spruth, Spottke, Teipel, Wiltfang, Wolfsgruber, Yakupov, Düzel, Jessen, Wagner, Roeske, Wirth and the DELCODE study group. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
Keywords: | Alzheimer’s disease; brain plasticity; brain reserve; memory; multimodal leisure activities; prevention |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > School of Medicine and Population Health |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 23 Nov 2023 10:17 |
Last Modified: | 23 Nov 2023 10:17 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2023.1170879 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Frontiers Media SA |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1170879 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:205680 |