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New evidence for age differences, within-person declines and plasticity in the aging white matter: new MRI techniques and analytical approaches

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dc.contributor.authorMendez Colmenares, Andrea, author
dc.contributor.authorThomas, Michael L., advisor
dc.contributor.authorBurzynska, Agnieszka Z., advisor
dc.contributor.authorDavalos, Deana, committee member
dc.contributor.authorFisher, Gwen, committee member
dc.contributor.authorHamilton, Karyn, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2023-06-01T23:56:11Z
dc.date.available2024-05-26T23:56:11Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.description.abstractWhite matter deterioration leads to cognitive impairments in healthy aging, Alzheimer's disease, and related dementias. Therefore, it is critical to identify interventions that can slow the white matter deterioration. Animal studies have suggested that the white matter plays an active role in brain plasticity and learning. However, evidence for experience-induced plasticity in adult human white matter remains scarce and inconsistent, especially in older age. To accurately predict the effects of interventions on the white matter, we first need to understand the direction and magnitude of naturally occurring within-person changes across adulthood. To date, white matter in aging, Alzheimer's disease, and related dementias have been studied almost solely using diffusion MRI, which provides limited information about the white matter microstructure. Because there is little evidence of white matter plasticity in adult humans, white matter has rarely been considered as a target for interventions against dementia. This dissertation comprises three scientific articles investigating the mechanisms of white matter decline and plasticity. The first article presents a study using a novel technique (T1w/T2w imaging) to examine the effects of aerobic exercise on aging white matter in a randomized controlled trial. The second article is a meta-analysis and systematic review of within-person changes in white matter. The third article shows the first application of a multimodal fusion analysis to study healthy aging white matter. Through these innovative approaches, this dissertation provides new insights into the mechanisms of white matter decline and plasticity, paving the way for the development of effective interventions to promote healthy brain aging.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediumdoctoral dissertations
dc.identifierMendezColmenares_colostate_0053A_17753.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/236705
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2020-
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectMRI
dc.subjectwhite matter
dc.subjectaging
dc.subjectwithin-person decline
dc.subjectplasticity
dc.titleNew evidence for age differences, within-person declines and plasticity in the aging white matter: new MRI techniques and analytical approaches
dc.typeText
dcterms.embargo.expires2024-05-26
dcterms.embargo.terms2024-05-26
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplinePsychology
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

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