Cortical iron disrupts functional connectivity networks supporting working memory performance in older adults

Valentinos Zachariou; Christopher E. Bauer; Elayna R. Seago; Flavius D. Raslau; David K. Powell; Brian T. Gold

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117309

Cortical iron disrupts functional connectivity networks supporting working memory performance in older adults

Valentinos Zachariou, Christopher E. Bauer, Elayna R. Seago, Flavius D. Raslau, David K. Powell, Brian T. Gold

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Excessive brain iron negatively affects working memory and related processes but the impact of cortical iron on task-relevant, cortical brain networks is unknown. We hypothesized that high cortical iron concentration may disrupt functional circuitry within cortical networks supporting working memory performance. Fifty-five healthy older adults completed an N-Back working memory paradigm while functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed. Participants also underwent quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) imaging for assessment of non-heme brain iron concentration. Additionally, pseudo continuous arterial spin labeling scans were obtained to control for potential contributions of cerebral blood volume and structural brain images were used to control for contributions of brain volume. Task performance was positively correlated with strength of task-based functional connectivity (tFC) between brain regions of the frontoparietal working memory network. However, higher cortical iron concentration was associated with lower tFC within this frontoparietal network and with poorer working memory performance after controlling for both cerebral blood flow and brain volume. Our results suggest that high cortical iron concentration disrupts communication within frontoparietal networks supporting working memory and is associated with reduced working memory performance in older adults.

Original language	English
Article number	117309
Journal	NeuroImage
Volume	223
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117309
State	Published - Dec 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grant numbers NIA R01AG055449 , NIA P30 AG028383 and NIGMS S10 OD023573 ). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of these granting agencies. The authors declare no competing financial interests. The authors thank Shoshana Bardach for help with participant recruitment and Beverly Meacham and Eric Foreman for assisting/conducting the MRI scans. We also thank Drs. Anders Anderson and Pascal Spincemaille and Yi Wang for helpful discussions.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020

Keywords

Aging
Brain
QSM
Working memory

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Neurology
Cognitive Neuroscience

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10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117309

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title = "Cortical iron disrupts functional connectivity networks supporting working memory performance in older adults",

abstract = "Excessive brain iron negatively affects working memory and related processes but the impact of cortical iron on task-relevant, cortical brain networks is unknown. We hypothesized that high cortical iron concentration may disrupt functional circuitry within cortical networks supporting working memory performance. Fifty-five healthy older adults completed an N-Back working memory paradigm while functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed. Participants also underwent quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) imaging for assessment of non-heme brain iron concentration. Additionally, pseudo continuous arterial spin labeling scans were obtained to control for potential contributions of cerebral blood volume and structural brain images were used to control for contributions of brain volume. Task performance was positively correlated with strength of task-based functional connectivity (tFC) between brain regions of the frontoparietal working memory network. However, higher cortical iron concentration was associated with lower tFC within this frontoparietal network and with poorer working memory performance after controlling for both cerebral blood flow and brain volume. Our results suggest that high cortical iron concentration disrupts communication within frontoparietal networks supporting working memory and is associated with reduced working memory performance in older adults.",

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note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grant numbers NIA R01AG055449 , NIA P30 AG028383 and NIGMS S10 OD023573 ). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of these granting agencies. The authors declare no competing financial interests. The authors thank Shoshana Bardach for help with participant recruitment and Beverly Meacham and Eric Foreman for assisting/conducting the MRI scans. We also thank Drs. Anders Anderson and Pascal Spincemaille and Yi Wang for helpful discussions. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020",

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AU - Zachariou, Valentinos

AU - Bauer, Christopher E.

AU - Seago, Elayna R.

AU - Raslau, Flavius D.

AU - Powell, David K.

AU - Gold, Brian T.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grant numbers NIA R01AG055449 , NIA P30 AG028383 and NIGMS S10 OD023573 ). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of these granting agencies. The authors declare no competing financial interests. The authors thank Shoshana Bardach for help with participant recruitment and Beverly Meacham and Eric Foreman for assisting/conducting the MRI scans. We also thank Drs. Anders Anderson and Pascal Spincemaille and Yi Wang for helpful discussions. Publisher Copyright: © 2020

PY - 2020/12

Y1 - 2020/12

N2 - Excessive brain iron negatively affects working memory and related processes but the impact of cortical iron on task-relevant, cortical brain networks is unknown. We hypothesized that high cortical iron concentration may disrupt functional circuitry within cortical networks supporting working memory performance. Fifty-five healthy older adults completed an N-Back working memory paradigm while functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed. Participants also underwent quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) imaging for assessment of non-heme brain iron concentration. Additionally, pseudo continuous arterial spin labeling scans were obtained to control for potential contributions of cerebral blood volume and structural brain images were used to control for contributions of brain volume. Task performance was positively correlated with strength of task-based functional connectivity (tFC) between brain regions of the frontoparietal working memory network. However, higher cortical iron concentration was associated with lower tFC within this frontoparietal network and with poorer working memory performance after controlling for both cerebral blood flow and brain volume. Our results suggest that high cortical iron concentration disrupts communication within frontoparietal networks supporting working memory and is associated with reduced working memory performance in older adults.

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Cortical iron disrupts functional connectivity networks supporting working memory performance in older adults

Abstract

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Keywords

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