Mind the gaps: functional networks disrupted by white matter hyperintensities are associated with greater falls risk

Rachel A. Crockett, Chun Liang Hsu, Elizabeth Dao, Roger Tam, Walid Alkeridy, Janice J. Eng, Todd C. Handy, Teresa Liu-Ambrose

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are associated with greater falls risk and slow gait speed. Whether these deficits are caused by the disruption of large-scale functional networks remains inconclusive. Further, physical activity moderates the association between WMHs and falls, but whether this extends to the disruption of functional networks remains unknown. One hundred and sixty-four adults (>55 years old) were included in this study. Using lesion network mapping, we identified significant correlations between the percentage of WMH-related disruption of the dorsal attention network and Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA) score (r = 0.24, p < 0.01); and between disruption of both the sensorimotor (r = 0.23, p < 0.01) and ventral attention networks (r = 0.21, p = 0.01) with foam sway. There were no significant associations with floor sway or gait speed. Physical activity moderated the association between the dorsal attention network and PPA score (p = 0.045). Thus, future research should investigate whether physical activity should be recommended in the clinical management of older adults with cerebral small vessel disease.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)166-175
Number of pages10
JournalNeurobiology of Aging
Volume109
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cerebral small vessel disease
  • Falls risk
  • Functional connectivity
  • Physical activity
  • Postural sway
  • White matter hyperintensities

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Ageing
  • Developmental Biology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology

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