Social and leisure activity are associated with attenuated cortical loss in behavioral variant frontotemporal degeneration

• DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102629
• Publication Date: 2021-03-14T06:48:32Z
• Authors: Nikolas G. Kinney; Jessica Bove; Jeffrey S. Phillips; Katheryn A.Q Cousins; Christopher A. Olm; Daniel G. Wakeman; Corey T. McMillan; Lauren Massimo
• Keywords: Cerebral Cortex; Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics; 05 social sciences; R858-859.7; Cognitive reserve; Regular Article; Neuropsychological Tests; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Cortical thickness; Behavioral variant frontotemporal degeneration; Social/leisure activity; Leisure Activities; Frontotemporal Dementia; Humans; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system; Lifetime of experiences questionnaire; Atrophy; RC346-429; 10. No inequality

Behavioral variant frontotemporal degeneration (bvFTD) is clinically characterized by progressive decline in social and executive domains. Previous work suggests that early lifestyle factors such as education occupational attainment may relate to structural integrity moderate the rate of cognitive bvFTD, but role other cognitively stimulating activities understudied. We sought investigate effect on cortical thickness (CT) bvFTD. bvFTD patients (n = 31) completed a baseline MRI scan, informants for Lifetime Experiences Questionnaire (LEQ), which measures specific considered be undertaken primarily within one particular life phase, (young-life), occupation (mid-life), social/leisure activity (late-life). At baseline, linear models assessed LEQ scores from each phase regional CT. A subset 19) longitudinal MRI, evaluate association with rates CT decline, we derived individualized slopes using mixed effects these were related phase. higher late-life score was associated less atrophy left superior inferior anterior temporal regions well right middle gyrus. Longitudinally, observed an attenuated loss insular cortex. Late-life positively both relatively preserved slower important functioning. These findings suggest leisure contribute form resilience against pathologic disease.