Resting-State Functional MRI of Healthy Adults: Temporal Dynamic Brain Coactivation Patterns

Background: The aging brain is typically associated with aberrant interactions of large-scale intrinsic networks. However, the dynamic variation of these networks’ coactivation or deactivation across the adult lifespan remains unclear. Purpose: To promote the interpretation of dynamic brain network variations underlying the complex aging process by quantifying activation levels and obtaining a clear definition of coactivation patterns (CAPs) with resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI). Materials and Methods: In a retrospective study (October 2010 to September 2013), rsfMRI data from healthy participants in the Cambridge Centre for Ageing and Neuroscience (Cam-CAN) data repository were used to generate CAPs by applying single-volume temporal clustering analysis. Spatial clustering analysis was then performed to capture dynamic coactivation and deactivation within or between primary sensory networks and high-order cognitive networks (including the default mode network [DMN], attentional network [AN], and frontoparietal network [FPN]). Linear relationships between dynamic metrics and age were revealed with Spearman partial correlations. Results: A total of 614 participants (mean age, 54 years ± 18 [SD]; 311 women) ranging in age from 18 to 88 years were evaluated. There was a negative correlation of the CAPs (Spearman correlations: r = -0.98, P , .001) with loss of coactivation (partial correlations: r = -0.17, P , .001) and deactivation (partial correlations: r = 0.216, P , .001) with aging. The CAPs, characterized by negative correlation patterns between the DMN and AN, occurred (partial correlations: r = 0.14, P = .003) and dwelled (partial correlations: r = 0.10, P = .04) more with aging. Moreover, the AN and DMN CAP transitioned more to the AN and FPN CAP with aging (partial correlations: r = 0.17, P , .001). Conclusion: The dynamics of the healthy aging brain are characterized mainly by more flexibility of the high-order cognitive networks while maintaining primary sensory functions (networks).