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Engagement in Enriching Early-Life Activities Is Associated With Larger Hippocampal and Amygdala Volumes in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Authors :
Moored, Kyle D
Chan, Thomas
Varma, Vijay R
Chuang, Yi-Fang
Parisi, Jeanine M
Carlson, Michelle C
Source :
Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences & Social Sciences; Oct2020, Vol. 75 Issue 8, p1637-1647, 11p
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

Objectives Numerous studies show benefits of mid- and late-life activity on neurocognitive health. Yet, few studies have examined how engagement in enriching activities during childhood, when the brain is most plastic, may confer long-term neurocognitive benefits that may be especially important to individuals raised in low-income settings. We examined associations between enriching early-life activities (EELAs) and hippocampal and amygdala volumes in a sample of predominantly African-American, community-dwelling older adults. We further assessed whether these associations were independent of current activity engagement. Methods Ninety participants from the baseline Brain Health Substudy of the Baltimore Experience Corps Trial (mean age: 67.4) completed retrospective activity inventories and an magnetic resonance imaging scan. Volumes were segmented using FreeSurfer. Results Each additional EELA was associated with a 2.3% (66.6 mm<superscript>3</superscript>) greater amygdala volume after adjusting for covariates. For men, each additional EELA was associated with a 4.1% (278.9 mm<superscript>3</superscript>) greater hippocampal volume. Associations were specific to these regions when compared with the thalamus, used as a control region. Discussion Enriching lifestyle activities during an important window of childhood brain development may be a modifiable factor that impacts lifelong brain reserve, and results highlight the importance of providing access to such activities in historically underserved populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
10795014
Volume :
75
Issue :
8
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences & Social Sciences
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
146086717
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gby150