Cited by 583Functional Brain Connectivity StudiesDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchAdvanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications

Functional brain connectivity using fMRI in aging and Alzheimer’s disease

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Dennis, Emily L., Thompson, Paul M.·2014·Neuropsychology Review

Abstract

Normal aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD) cause profound changes in the brain's structure and function. AD in particular is accompanied by widespread cortical neuronal loss, and loss of connections between brain systems. This degeneration of neural pathways disrupts the functional coherence of brain activation. Recent innovations in brain imaging have detected characteristic disruptions in functional networks. Here we review studies examining changes in functional connectivity, measured through fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), starting with healthy aging and then Alzheimer's disease. We cover studies that employ the three primary methods to analyze functional connectivity--seed-based, ICA (independent components analysis), and graph theory. At the end we include a brief discussion of other methodologies, such as EEG (electroencephalography), MEG (magnetoencephalography), and PET (positron emission tomography). We also describe multi-modal studies that combine rsfMRI (resting state fMRI) with PET imaging, as well as studies examining the effects of medications. Overall, connectivity and network integrity appear to decrease in healthy aging, but this decrease is accelerated in AD, with specific systems hit hardest, such as the default mode network (DMN). Functional connectivity is a relatively new topic of research, but it holds great promise in revealing how brain network dynamics change across the lifespan and in disease.

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Authors
Dennis, E. L., & Thompson, P. M.
Affiliations
University of Southern California (US)
Corresponding author
Thompson, Paul M.
Venue
Neuropsychology Review
Published
2014-02-23
Volume
24
Issue
1
Pages
49-62
ISSN
  • 1040-7308 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-6660
OpenAlex
W1978408307
Cited by
583
References
15
Citations by year
2026: 35 · 2025: 61 · 2024: 59 · 2023: 59 · 2022: 64 · 2021: 58 · 2020: 52 · 2019: 46 · 2018: 48 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 1
FWCI
3.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuropsychology Review (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH073526)
  • National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (R01EB008432, R01EB008281, R01EB007813, EB008281, EB 007813, EB008432, P41EB015922)
  • National Center for Research Resources (P41RR013642)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
Keywords
brain functional connectivity, Alzheimer's disease, healthy aging, resting-state fMRI, seed-based correlation, independent component analysis, graph theory, default mode network, multimodal neuroimaging
MeSH terms
Aging, Alzheimer Disease, Amyloid, Brain, Brain Mapping, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Neural Pathways, Apolipoprotein E4, Cognitive Dysfunction

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