Compensatory Reorganization of Brain Networks in Older Adults
Evidence from neuroimaging studies shows that increased recruitment of prefrontal cortex and greater functional connectivity between prefrontal and other brain regions, including the medial temporal lobes, are often associated with better memory performance in older adults. These alterations in memory-related brain activity may be compensatory, but may also indicate less efficient use of these regions. A major unresolved issue is the relation between these functional age differences and structural brain changes with age, particularly in the white matter tracts that support communication between brain areas. The use of network approaches for image analysis has considerable potential to inform us about how brain areas work together to mediate memory function and how these networks change as we get older.
Keywords: aging, prefrontal cortex, functional connectivity, compensation, white matter, memory, network
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