Relationship between Brain Age-Related Reduction in Gray Matter and Educational Attainment

PLoS One. 2015 Oct 16;10(10):e0140945. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140945. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Inter-subject variability in age-related brain changes may relate to educational attainment, as suggested by cognitive reserve theories. This voxel-based morphometry study investigated the impact of very low educational level on the relationship between regional gray matter (rGM) volumes and age in healthy elders. Magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired in elders with low educational attainment (less than 4 years) (n = 122) and high educational level (n = 66), pulling together individuals examined using either of three MRI scanners/acquisition protocols. Voxelwise group comparisons showed no rGM differences (p<0.05, family-wise error corrected for multiple comparisons). When within-group voxelwise patterns of linear correlation were compared between high and low education groups, there was one cluster of greater rGM loss with aging in low versus high education elders in the left anterior cingulate cortex (p<0.05, FWE-corrected), as well as a trend in the left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (p<0.10). These results provide preliminary indication that education might exert subtle protective effects against age-related brain changes in healthy subjects. The anterior cingulate cortex, critical to inhibitory control processes, may be particularly sensitive to such effects, possibly given its involvement in cognitive stimulating activities at school or later throughout life.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aging / physiology*
  • Cognition
  • Educational Status*
  • Female
  • Gray Matter / anatomy & histology*
  • Gray Matter / physiology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Organ Size

Grants and funding

This work was supported by FAPESP - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (Project Grant number 2012/50329-6, 2004/09586-9, and scholarship to Patricia Rzezak, number 2012/13065-0; Paula Squarzoni, number 2013/03231-3) and CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (Tania CTF Alves, Paulo A Lotufo, Geraldo Busatto Filho, Paulo R Menezes, Cassio MC Bottino, and Marcia Scazufca).