Resting state brain network segregation is associated with walking speed and working memory in older adults

Older adults exhibit larger individual differences in walking ability and cognitive function than young adults. Characterizing intrinsic brain connectivity differences in older adults across a wide walking performance spectrum may provide insight into the mechanisms of functional decline in some old...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sumire D. Sato, Valay A. Shah, Tyler Fettrow, Kristina G. Hall, Grant D. Tays, Erta Cenko, Arkaprava Roy, David J. Clark, Daniel P. Ferris, Chris J. Hass, Todd M. Manini, Rachael D. Seidler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:NeuroImage
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925001570
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850266393233063936
author Sumire D. Sato
Valay A. Shah
Tyler Fettrow
Kristina G. Hall
Grant D. Tays
Erta Cenko
Arkaprava Roy
David J. Clark
Daniel P. Ferris
Chris J. Hass
Todd M. Manini
Rachael D. Seidler
author_facet Sumire D. Sato
Valay A. Shah
Tyler Fettrow
Kristina G. Hall
Grant D. Tays
Erta Cenko
Arkaprava Roy
David J. Clark
Daniel P. Ferris
Chris J. Hass
Todd M. Manini
Rachael D. Seidler
author_sort Sumire D. Sato
collection DOAJ
description Older adults exhibit larger individual differences in walking ability and cognitive function than young adults. Characterizing intrinsic brain connectivity differences in older adults across a wide walking performance spectrum may provide insight into the mechanisms of functional decline in some older adults and resilience in others. Thus, the objectives of this study were to: (1) determine whether young adults and high- and low-functioning older adults show group differences in brain network segregation, and (2) determine whether network segregation is associated with working memory and walking function in these groups. The analysis included 21 young adults and 81 older adults. Older adults were further categorized according to their physical function using a standardized assessment; 54 older adults had low physical function while 27 were considered high functioning. Structural and functional resting state magnetic resonance images were collected using a Siemens Prisma 3T scanner. Working memory was assessed with the NIH Toolbox list sorting test. Walking speed was assessed with a 400 m walk test at participants’ self-selected speed. We found that network segregation in mobility-related networks (sensorimotor, vestibular) was higher in older adults with higher physical function compared to older adults with lower physical function. There were no group differences in laterality effects on network segregation. We found multivariate associations between working memory and walking speed with network segregation scores. The interaction of left sensorimotor network segregation and age groups was associated with higher working memory function. Higher left sensorimotor, left vestibular, right anterior cingulate cortex, and interaction of left anterior cingulate cortex network segregation and age groups were associated with faster walking speed. These results are unique and significant because they demonstrate higher network segregation is largely related to higher physical function and not age alone.
format Article
id doaj-art-e8da58eda3a94f95ba0975c6a43bf36a
institution OA Journals
issn 1095-9572
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series NeuroImage
spelling doaj-art-e8da58eda3a94f95ba0975c6a43bf36a2025-08-20T01:54:11ZengElsevierNeuroImage1095-95722025-04-0131012115510.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121155Resting state brain network segregation is associated with walking speed and working memory in older adultsSumire D. Sato0Valay A. Shah1Tyler Fettrow2Kristina G. Hall3Grant D. Tays4Erta Cenko5Arkaprava Roy6David J. Clark7Daniel P. Ferris8Chris J. Hass9Todd M. Manini10Rachael D. Seidler11Department of Applied Kinesiology and Physiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Corresponding author at: 1864 Stadium Rd PO Box 118205, Gainesville, FL, USA.Department of Applied Kinesiology and Physiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USADepartment of Applied Kinesiology and Physiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, USADepartment of Applied Kinesiology and Physiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USADepartment of Applied Kinesiology and Physiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USADepartment of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USADepartment of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USADepartment of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, USAJ. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USADepartment of Applied Kinesiology and Physiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USADepartment of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USADepartment of Applied Kinesiology and Physiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USAOlder adults exhibit larger individual differences in walking ability and cognitive function than young adults. Characterizing intrinsic brain connectivity differences in older adults across a wide walking performance spectrum may provide insight into the mechanisms of functional decline in some older adults and resilience in others. Thus, the objectives of this study were to: (1) determine whether young adults and high- and low-functioning older adults show group differences in brain network segregation, and (2) determine whether network segregation is associated with working memory and walking function in these groups. The analysis included 21 young adults and 81 older adults. Older adults were further categorized according to their physical function using a standardized assessment; 54 older adults had low physical function while 27 were considered high functioning. Structural and functional resting state magnetic resonance images were collected using a Siemens Prisma 3T scanner. Working memory was assessed with the NIH Toolbox list sorting test. Walking speed was assessed with a 400 m walk test at participants’ self-selected speed. We found that network segregation in mobility-related networks (sensorimotor, vestibular) was higher in older adults with higher physical function compared to older adults with lower physical function. There were no group differences in laterality effects on network segregation. We found multivariate associations between working memory and walking speed with network segregation scores. The interaction of left sensorimotor network segregation and age groups was associated with higher working memory function. Higher left sensorimotor, left vestibular, right anterior cingulate cortex, and interaction of left anterior cingulate cortex network segregation and age groups were associated with faster walking speed. These results are unique and significant because they demonstrate higher network segregation is largely related to higher physical function and not age alone.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925001570Functional connectivityResting stateAgingfMRIBehaviorSegregation
spellingShingle Sumire D. Sato
Valay A. Shah
Tyler Fettrow
Kristina G. Hall
Grant D. Tays
Erta Cenko
Arkaprava Roy
David J. Clark
Daniel P. Ferris
Chris J. Hass
Todd M. Manini
Rachael D. Seidler
Resting state brain network segregation is associated with walking speed and working memory in older adults
NeuroImage
Functional connectivity
Resting state
Aging
fMRI
Behavior
Segregation
title Resting state brain network segregation is associated with walking speed and working memory in older adults
title_full Resting state brain network segregation is associated with walking speed and working memory in older adults
title_fullStr Resting state brain network segregation is associated with walking speed and working memory in older adults
title_full_unstemmed Resting state brain network segregation is associated with walking speed and working memory in older adults
title_short Resting state brain network segregation is associated with walking speed and working memory in older adults
title_sort resting state brain network segregation is associated with walking speed and working memory in older adults
topic Functional connectivity
Resting state
Aging
fMRI
Behavior
Segregation
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811925001570
work_keys_str_mv AT sumiredsato restingstatebrainnetworksegregationisassociatedwithwalkingspeedandworkingmemoryinolderadults
AT valayashah restingstatebrainnetworksegregationisassociatedwithwalkingspeedandworkingmemoryinolderadults
AT tylerfettrow restingstatebrainnetworksegregationisassociatedwithwalkingspeedandworkingmemoryinolderadults
AT kristinaghall restingstatebrainnetworksegregationisassociatedwithwalkingspeedandworkingmemoryinolderadults
AT grantdtays restingstatebrainnetworksegregationisassociatedwithwalkingspeedandworkingmemoryinolderadults
AT ertacenko restingstatebrainnetworksegregationisassociatedwithwalkingspeedandworkingmemoryinolderadults
AT arkapravaroy restingstatebrainnetworksegregationisassociatedwithwalkingspeedandworkingmemoryinolderadults
AT davidjclark restingstatebrainnetworksegregationisassociatedwithwalkingspeedandworkingmemoryinolderadults
AT danielpferris restingstatebrainnetworksegregationisassociatedwithwalkingspeedandworkingmemoryinolderadults
AT chrisjhass restingstatebrainnetworksegregationisassociatedwithwalkingspeedandworkingmemoryinolderadults
AT toddmmanini restingstatebrainnetworksegregationisassociatedwithwalkingspeedandworkingmemoryinolderadults
AT rachaeldseidler restingstatebrainnetworksegregationisassociatedwithwalkingspeedandworkingmemoryinolderadults