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Cerebral white matter integrity and cognitive aging: contributions from diffusion tensor imaging.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Madden, DJ; Bennett, IJ; Song, AW
Published in: Neuropsychol Rev
December 2009

The integrity of cerebral white matter is critical for efficient cognitive functioning, but little is known regarding the role of white matter integrity in age-related differences in cognition. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures the directional displacement of molecular water and as a result can characterize the properties of white matter that combine to restrict diffusivity in a spatially coherent manner. This review considers DTI studies of aging and their implications for understanding adult age differences in cognitive performance. Decline in white matter integrity contributes to a disconnection among distributed neural systems, with a consistent effect on perceptual speed and executive functioning. The relation between white matter integrity and cognition varies across brain regions, with some evidence suggesting that age-related effects exhibit an anterior-posterior gradient. With continued improvements in spatial resolution and integration with functional brain imaging, DTI holds considerable promise, both for theories of cognitive aging and for translational application.

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Published In

Neuropsychol Rev

DOI

EISSN

1573-6660

Publication Date

December 2009

Volume

19

Issue

4

Start / End Page

415 / 435

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Neural Pathways
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated
  • Humans
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging
  • Cognition Disorders
  • Cognition
  • Brain
  • Animals
  • Aging
 

Citation

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Madden, D. J., Bennett, I. J., & Song, A. W. (2009). Cerebral white matter integrity and cognitive aging: contributions from diffusion tensor imaging. Neuropsychol Rev, 19(4), 415–435. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-009-9113-2
Madden, David J., Ilana J. Bennett, and Allen W. Song. “Cerebral white matter integrity and cognitive aging: contributions from diffusion tensor imaging.Neuropsychol Rev 19, no. 4 (December 2009): 415–35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-009-9113-2.
Madden DJ, Bennett IJ, Song AW. Cerebral white matter integrity and cognitive aging: contributions from diffusion tensor imaging. Neuropsychol Rev. 2009 Dec;19(4):415–35.
Madden, David J., et al. “Cerebral white matter integrity and cognitive aging: contributions from diffusion tensor imaging.Neuropsychol Rev, vol. 19, no. 4, Dec. 2009, pp. 415–35. Pubmed, doi:10.1007/s11065-009-9113-2.
Madden DJ, Bennett IJ, Song AW. Cerebral white matter integrity and cognitive aging: contributions from diffusion tensor imaging. Neuropsychol Rev. 2009 Dec;19(4):415–435.
Journal cover image

Published In

Neuropsychol Rev

DOI

EISSN

1573-6660

Publication Date

December 2009

Volume

19

Issue

4

Start / End Page

415 / 435

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Neural Pathways
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated
  • Humans
  • Experimental Psychology
  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging
  • Cognition Disorders
  • Cognition
  • Brain
  • Animals
  • Aging