How brain connectivity differs in healthy aging and semantic dementia
A new study published in the journal Cortex sheds light on how brain network organization differs in healthy aging and semantic dementia. Researchers found that older adults experience changes in the balance between structural and functional brain connectivity, which are linked to cognitive performance. These changes appear more widespread and diffuse in healthy aging, while semantic dementia is associated with more localized alterations, particularly in the temporal and parietal regions. The study suggests that the brain undergoes a dynamic process of adaptation in response to aging and disease, with some changes helping to preserve cognitive function and others contributing to decline. Semantic dementia is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects the ability to understand and recall meanings of words, objects, and concepts. It is classified as a subtype of frontotemporal lobar degeneration and is distinct from other forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease, because it mainly targets the anterior temporal lobes rather than causing widespread memory loss. Patients with semantic dementia often struggle with word-finding difficulties and may eventually lose the ability to …