The physiological basis underlying functional connectivity differences in older adults: A multi-modal analysis of resting-state fMRI

The purpose of this study was to determine if differences in functional connectivity strength (FCS) with age were confounded by vascular parameters including resting cerebral blood flow (CBF0), cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), and BOLD-CBF coupling. Neuroimaging data were collected from 13 younger adults (24 +/- 2 years) and 14 older adults (71 +/- 4 years). A dual-echo resting state pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling sequence was performed, as well as a BOLD breath-hold protocol. A group independent component analysis was used to identify networks, which were amalgamated into a region of interest (ROI). Within the ROI, FC strength (FCS) was computed for all voxels and compared across the groups. CBF0, CVR and BOLD-CBF coupling were examined within voxels where FCS was different between young and older adults. FCS was greater in old compared to young (P = 0.001). When the effect of CBF0, CVR and BOLD-CBF coupling on FCS was examined, BOLD-CBF coupling had a significant effect (P = 0.003) and group differences in FCS were not present once all vascular parameters were considered in the statistical model (P = 0.07). These findings indicate that future studies of FCS should consider vascular physiological markers in order to improve our understanding of aging processes on brain connectivity.