Structural and functional sex differences in medial temporal lobe subregions at midlife.
Connectivity
Medial temporal lobe (MTL)
Midlife
Sex differences
Volumetry
Journal
BMC neuroscience
ISSN: 1471-2202
Titre abrégé: BMC Neurosci
Pays: England
ID NLM: 100966986
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
25 Oct 2024
25 Oct 2024
Historique:
received:
24
01
2024
accepted:
06
10
2024
medline:
26
10
2024
pubmed:
26
10
2024
entrez:
25
10
2024
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Research has increasingly recognized sex differences in aging and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) susceptibility. However, sex effects on the medial temporal lobe (MTL), a crucial region affected by aging and AD, remain poorly understood when it comes to the intricacies of morphology and functional connectivity. This study aimed to systematically analyze structural and functional connectivity among MTL subregions, which are known to exhibit documented morphological sex differences, during midlife, occurring before the putative pivotal age of cerebral decline. The study sought to explore the hypothesis that these differences in MTL subregion volumes would manifest in sex-related functional distinctions within the broader brain network. 201 cognitively unimpaired adults were included and stratified into four groups according to age and sex (i.e., Women and Men aged 40-50 and 50-60). These participants underwent comprehensive high-resolution structural MRI as well as resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI). Utilizing established automated segmentation, we delineated MTL subregions and assessed morphological differences through an ANOVA. Subsequently, the CONN toolbox was employed for conducting ROI-to-ROI and Fractional Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuations (fALFF) analyses to investigate functional connectivity within the specific MTL subregions among these distinct groups. Significant differences in volumetric measurements were found primarily between women aged 40-50 and men of all ages, in the posterior hippocampus (pHPC) and the parahippocampal (PHC) cortex (p < 0.001), and, to a lesser extent, between women aged 50-60 and men of all ages (p < 0.05). Other distinctions were observed, but no significant differences in connectivity patterns or fALFF scores were detected between these groups. Despite notable sex-related morphological differences in the posterior HPC and PHC regions, women and men appear to share a common pattern of brain connectivity at midlife. Longitudinal analyses are necessary to assess if midlife morphological sex differences in the MTL produce functional changes over time and thus, their potential role in cerebral decline. Not applicable.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Research has increasingly recognized sex differences in aging and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) susceptibility. However, sex effects on the medial temporal lobe (MTL), a crucial region affected by aging and AD, remain poorly understood when it comes to the intricacies of morphology and functional connectivity. This study aimed to systematically analyze structural and functional connectivity among MTL subregions, which are known to exhibit documented morphological sex differences, during midlife, occurring before the putative pivotal age of cerebral decline. The study sought to explore the hypothesis that these differences in MTL subregion volumes would manifest in sex-related functional distinctions within the broader brain network.
METHODS
METHODS
201 cognitively unimpaired adults were included and stratified into four groups according to age and sex (i.e., Women and Men aged 40-50 and 50-60). These participants underwent comprehensive high-resolution structural MRI as well as resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI). Utilizing established automated segmentation, we delineated MTL subregions and assessed morphological differences through an ANOVA. Subsequently, the CONN toolbox was employed for conducting ROI-to-ROI and Fractional Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuations (fALFF) analyses to investigate functional connectivity within the specific MTL subregions among these distinct groups.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Significant differences in volumetric measurements were found primarily between women aged 40-50 and men of all ages, in the posterior hippocampus (pHPC) and the parahippocampal (PHC) cortex (p < 0.001), and, to a lesser extent, between women aged 50-60 and men of all ages (p < 0.05). Other distinctions were observed, but no significant differences in connectivity patterns or fALFF scores were detected between these groups.
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSIONS
Despite notable sex-related morphological differences in the posterior HPC and PHC regions, women and men appear to share a common pattern of brain connectivity at midlife. Longitudinal analyses are necessary to assess if midlife morphological sex differences in the MTL produce functional changes over time and thus, their potential role in cerebral decline.
CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER
BACKGROUND
Not applicable.
Identifiants
pubmed: 39455948
doi: 10.1186/s12868-024-00905-9
pii: 10.1186/s12868-024-00905-9
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
55Subventions
Organisme : NIH HHS
ID : R01NS075565
Pays : United States
Informations de copyright
© 2024. The Author(s).
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