P2‐341: Combination training increases cognitive performances and modifies the brain resting state activity of healthy aging individuals

Background: Aging is a major co-risk factor in many neurodegenerative diseases. Cognitive enrichment can positively affect the structural plasticity of the aging brain. In this study, we evaluated the cognitive, occupational, and brain plasticity effects of the exposure to 6 months of a set of structured activities (Combination Training in a group of healthy elderly subjects. Methods: Healthy elderly (65-75 years old) subjects were evaluated before and after the Combination Training by employing neuropsychological and occupational tests as well as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). With fMRI we studied the plastic reorganization of the Default Mode Network (DMN) and Dorsal Attention Network (DAN). Cortical thickness and functional connectivity (fcMRI) were also studied. Dopamine receptor (DRD1-5) genotyping examined whether specific dopamine receptor subtypes can differently affect the response to the training. Results: The trained group showed a statistical significant improvement in prose memory test scores, short-term memory and long-term memory performance, as well as in OT-Evaluation Process Skill scores. Both groups showed a decreased integration in the Precuneus/Retrosplenial Cingulate, Right Angular Gyrus e Posterior Cingulate Cortex of the DMN; however, this reduction was significantly lower in the trained group. Interestingly, DAN analysis showed an increased activation of the Left Frontal Eye Field in the trained group. DRD1-5 analysis indicated that specific genotypes were associated with increased responses to the combination training. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the combination training can effectively counteract the age-related neural and cognitive decline and that significant levels of cerebral plasticity are maintained even in aging individuals.