Sexual Dimorphism of Resting-State Network Connectivity in Healthy Ageing

J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2019 Sep 15;74(7):1121-1131. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gby004.

Abstract

Objectives: The onset of many illnesses is confounded with age and sex. Increasing age is a risk factor for the development of many illnesses, and sexual dimorphism influences brain anatomy, function, and cognition. Here, we examine frequency-specific connectivity in resting-state networks in a large sample (n = 406) of healthy aged adults.

Method: We quantify frequency-specific connectivity in three resting-state networks known to be implicated in age-related decline: the default mode, dorsal attention, and salience networks, using multiband functional magnetic resonance imaging. Frequency-specific connectivity was quantified in four bands: low (0.015-0.027 Hz), moderately low (0.027-0.073 Hz), moderately high (0.073-0.198 Hz), and high (0.198-0.5 Hz) frequency bands, using mean intensity and spatial extent. Differences in connectivity between the sexes in each of the three networks were examined.

Results: Each network showed the largest intensity and spatial extent at low frequencies and smallest extent at high frequencies. Males showed greater connectivity than females in the salience network. Females showed greater connectivity than males in the default mode network.

Discussion: Results in this healthy aged cohort are compatible with those obtained in young samples, suggesting that frequency-specific connectivity, and differences between the sexes, are maintained into older age. Our results indicate that sex should be considered as an influencing factor in studies of resting-state connectivity.

Keywords: Functional connectivity; Multiband fMRI; Resting-state; Sex; fMRI.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging / physiology*
  • Cerebellum / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebellum / physiology
  • Cerebral Cortex / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Connectome*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Multicenter Studies as Topic
  • Nerve Net / diagnostic imaging
  • Nerve Net / physiology*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Thalamus / diagnostic imaging
  • Thalamus / physiology*