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. 2020 Jun 2;75(6):1219-1229.
doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbz023.

Gray Matter Volume Covariance Networks, Social Support, and Cognition in Older Adults

Kelly Cotton  1 , Joe Verghese  1   2 , Helena M Blumen  1   2
Affiliations

Gray Matter Volume Covariance Networks, Social Support, and Cognition in Older Adults

Kelly Cotton et al. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. .

Abstract

Objective: We examined the neural substrates of social support in older adults. Social support is associated with better outcomes in many facets of aging-including cognitive and functional health-but the underlying neural substrates remain largely unexplored.

Methods: Voxel-based morphometry and multivariate statistics were used to identify gray matter volume covariance networks associated with social support in 112 older adults without dementia (M age = 74.6 years, 50% female), using the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey.

Results: A gray matter network associated with overall social support was identified and included prefrontal, hippocampal, amygdala, cingulate, and thalamic regions. A gray matter network specifically associated with tangible social support (e.g., someone to help you if you were confined to bed) was also identified, included prefrontal, hippocampal, cingulate, insular, and thalamic regions, and correlated with memory and executive function.

Discussion: Gray matter networks associated with overall and tangible social support in this study were composed of regions previously associated with memory, executive function, aging, and dementia. Longitudinal research of the interrelationships between social support, brain structure, and cognition is needed, but strengthening social support may represent a new path toward improving cognition in aging that should be explored.

Keywords: Executive function; Memory; Multivariate statistics; Neuroimaging; Social support.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Gray matter covariance pattern associated with social support (MOS-SSS Overall Score) in 112 older adults without dementia.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Gray matter covariance pattern associated with tangible support (MOS-SSS Tangible Score) in 112 older adults without dementia.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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