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Brain Sciences
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Functional Brain Imaging of Locomotion in Aging and Age-Related Diseases
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Functional Brain Imaging of Locomotion in Aging and Age-Related Diseases

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Neurotechnology and Neuroimaging".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 January 2021) | Viewed by 16710

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Meltem Izzetoglu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, 19085, USA.
Interests: biomedical optics; neuroimaging; functional near infrared spectroscopy; biomedical signal acquisition and processing; data conditioning; information processing
Dr. Roee Holtzer

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Yeshiva University, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology; The Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
Interests: neuropsychology; cognition; aging; dementia; neurodegenerative diseases; mobility; falls; rehabilitation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Structural and functional changes in normal aging and in age-related disease conditions are associated with cognition and performance on everyday tasks, such as locomotion. The ability to walk is a robust predictor of health outcomes, and gait limitations predict mortality in older adults. Recently, an emerging optical brain imaging modality, namely, functional Near-Infrared-Spectroscopy (fNIRS), has been utilized as a viable and reliable neuroimaging modality to probe brain activation patterns in real-life conditions, revealing that the prefrontal cortex plays a critical role in walking, notably under attention-demanding conditions, in healthy individuals; older adults; and patients with, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. The aims and scope of this Special Issue are to enhance knowledge concerning the functional brain systems of locomotion (e.g., walking, climbing stairs, standing, and balance) as measured by fNIRS and other functional neuroimaging methods, both in healthy aging and age-related disease populations. This effort can further guide the development of assessment and intervention procedures for individuals at risk of mobility decline and disability. Hence, we are soliciting cutting edge research studies utilizing fNIRS and other neuroimaging methods to investigate functional brain substrates of locomotion in the aging brain in normal and disease populations.

Dr. Meltem Izzetoglu
Dr. Roee Holtzer
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Functional brain imaging
  • Functional near infrared spectroscopy
  • Healthy aging
  • Age related diseases
  • Cognition
  • Mobility

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1464 KiB  
Article
Effects of a Motor Imagery Task on Functional Brain Network Community Structure in Older Adults: Data from the Brain Networks and Mobility Function (B-NET) Study
by Blake R. Neyland, Christina E. Hugenschmidt, Robert G. Lyday, Jonathan H. Burdette, Laura D. Baker, W. Jack Rejeski, Michael E. Miller, Stephen B. Kritchevsky and Paul J. Laurienti
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(1), 118; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11010118 - 17 Jan 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2584
Abstract
Elucidating the neural correlates of mobility is critical given the increasing population of older adults and age-associated mobility disability. In the current study, we applied graph theory to cross-sectional data to characterize functional brain networks generated from functional magnetic resonance imaging data both [...] Read more.
Elucidating the neural correlates of mobility is critical given the increasing population of older adults and age-associated mobility disability. In the current study, we applied graph theory to cross-sectional data to characterize functional brain networks generated from functional magnetic resonance imaging data both at rest and during a motor imagery (MI) task. Our MI task is derived from the Mobility Assessment Tool–short form (MAT-sf), which predicts performance on a 400 m walk, and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Participants (n = 157) were from the Brain Networks and Mobility (B-NET) Study (mean age = 76.1 ± 4.3; % female = 55.4; % African American = 8.3; mean years of education = 15.7 ± 2.5). We used community structure analyses to partition functional brain networks into communities, or subnetworks, of highly interconnected regions. Global brain network community structure decreased during the MI task when compared to the resting state. We also examined the community structure of the default mode network (DMN), sensorimotor network (SMN), and the dorsal attention network (DAN) across the study population. The DMN and SMN exhibited a task-driven decline in consistency across the group when comparing the MI task to the resting state. The DAN, however, displayed an increase in consistency during the MI task. To our knowledge, this is the first study to use graph theory and network community structure to characterize the effects of a MI task, such as the MAT-sf, on overall brain network organization in older adults. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Brain Imaging of Locomotion in Aging and Age-Related Diseases)
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14 pages, 1836 KiB  
Article
Prefrontal Cortex Involvement during Dual-Task Stair Climbing in Healthy Older Adults: An fNIRS Study
by Talia Salzman, Ahmed Aboualmagd, Hawazin Badawi, Diana Tobón-Vallejo, Hyejun Kim, Lama Dahroug, Fedwa Laamarti, Abdulmotaleb El Saddik and Sarah Fraser
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(1), 71; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11010071 - 07 Jan 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3483
Abstract
Executive function and motor control deficits adversely affect gait performance with age, but the neural correlates underlying this interaction during stair climbing remains unclear. Twenty older adults (72.7 ± 6.9 years) completed single tasks: standing and responding to a response time task (SC), [...] Read more.
Executive function and motor control deficits adversely affect gait performance with age, but the neural correlates underlying this interaction during stair climbing remains unclear. Twenty older adults (72.7 ± 6.9 years) completed single tasks: standing and responding to a response time task (SC), ascending or descending stairs (SMup, SMdown); and a dual-task: responding while ascending or descending stairs (DTup, DTdown). Prefrontal hemodynamic response changes (∆HbO2, ∆HbR) were examined using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), gait speed was measured using in-shoe smart insoles, and vocal response time and accuracy were recorded. Findings revealed increased ∆HbO2 (p = 0.020) and slower response times (p < 0.001) during dual- versus single tasks. ∆HbR (p = 0.549), accuracy (p = 0.135) and gait speed (p = 0.475) were not significantly different between tasks or stair climbing conditions. ∆HbO2 and response time findings suggest that executive processes are less efficient during dual-tasks. These findings, in addition to gait speed and accuracy maintenance, may provide insights into the neural changes that precede performance declines. To capture the subtle differences between stair ascent and descent and extend our understanding of the neural correlates of stair climbing in older adults, future studies should examine more difficult cognitive tasks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Brain Imaging of Locomotion in Aging and Age-Related Diseases)
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14 pages, 2209 KiB  
Article
Functional MRI Reveals Locomotion-Control Neural Circuits in Human Brainstem
by Pengxu Wei, Tong Zou, Zeping Lv and Yubo Fan
Brain Sci. 2020, 10(10), 757; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci10100757 - 20 Oct 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2747
Abstract
The cuneiform nucleus (CN) and the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) in the midbrain control coordinated locomotion in vertebrates, but whether similar mechanisms exist in humans remain to be elucidated. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we found that simulated gait evoked activations in the CN, [...] Read more.
The cuneiform nucleus (CN) and the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) in the midbrain control coordinated locomotion in vertebrates, but whether similar mechanisms exist in humans remain to be elucidated. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we found that simulated gait evoked activations in the CN, PPN, and other brainstem regions in humans. Brain networks were constructed for each condition using functional connectivity. Bilateral CN–PPN and the four pons–medulla regions constituted two separate modules under all motor conditions, presenting two brainstem functional units for locomotion control. Outside- and inside-brainstem nodes were connected more densely although the links between the two groups were sparse. Functional connectivity and network analysis revealed the role of brainstem circuits in dual-task walking and walking automaticity. Together, our findings indicate that the CN, PPN, and other brainstem regions participate in locomotion control in humans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Brain Imaging of Locomotion in Aging and Age-Related Diseases)
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16 pages, 1442 KiB  
Article
Mild Cognitive Impairments Attenuate Prefrontal Cortex Activations during Walking in Older Adults
by Roee Holtzer and Meltem Izzetoglu
Brain Sci. 2020, 10(7), 415; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci10070415 - 01 Jul 2020
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2941
Abstract
The presence of Mild Cognitive Impairments (MCI) is associated with worse gait performance. However, the effect of MCI on cortical control of gait, as assessed during active walking, is unknown. We hypothesized that MCI would be associated with attenuated activations and limited improvement [...] Read more.
The presence of Mild Cognitive Impairments (MCI) is associated with worse gait performance. However, the effect of MCI on cortical control of gait, as assessed during active walking, is unknown. We hypothesized that MCI would be associated with attenuated activations and limited improvement in efficiency in the Prefrontal cortex (PFC) under cognitively-demanding walking conditions. Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to assess Oxygenated Hemoglobin (HbO2) in the PFC during Single-Task-Walk (STW), cognitive interference (Alpha) and Dual-Task-Walk (DTW) conditions. Three repeated trials in each experimental condition were administered. Healthy control (n = 71; mean age = 76.82 ± 6.21 years; %female = 50.7) and MCI (n = 11; mean age = 78.27 ± 4.31 years; %female = 45.5) participants were included. The increase in HbO2 from STW to DTW was attenuated among MCI participants compared to controls (estimate = 0.505; p = 0.001). Whereas, among controls, HbO2 increased from Alpha to DTW, the opposite was observed among MCI participants (estimate = 0.903; p < 0.001). In DTW, the decline in HbO2 from trial 1 to 2 was attenuated in MCI participants compared to controls (estimate = 0.397; p = 0.008). Moreover, whereas HbO2 declined from trial 1 to 3 among controls, MCI participants showed the opposite trend (estimate = 0.946; p < 0.001). MCI was associated with attenuated brain activation patterns and compromised ability to improve PFC efficiency during dual-task walking. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Brain Imaging of Locomotion in Aging and Age-Related Diseases)
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Review

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22 pages, 1948 KiB  
Review
Brain Activation Changes While Walking in Adults with and without Neurological Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Studies
by Alka Bishnoi, Roee Holtzer and Manuel E. Hernandez
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(3), 291; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/brainsci11030291 - 26 Feb 2021
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 4125
Abstract
(1) Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) provides a useful tool for monitoring brain activation changes while walking in adults with neurological disorders. When combined with dual task walking paradigms, fNIRS allows for changes in brain activation to be monitored when individuals concurrently attend to [...] Read more.
(1) Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) provides a useful tool for monitoring brain activation changes while walking in adults with neurological disorders. When combined with dual task walking paradigms, fNIRS allows for changes in brain activation to be monitored when individuals concurrently attend to multiple tasks. However, differences in dual task paradigms, baseline, and coverage of cortical areas, presents uncertainty in the interpretation of the overarching findings. (2) Methods: By conducting a systematic review of 35 studies and meta-analysis of 75 effect sizes from 17 studies on adults with or without neurological disorders, we show that the performance of obstacle walking, serial subtraction and letter generation tasks while walking result in significant increases in brain activation in the prefrontal cortex relative to standing or walking baselines. (3) Results: Overall, we find that letter generation tasks have the largest brain activation effect sizes relative to walking, and that significant differences between dual task and single task gait are seen in persons with multiple sclerosis and stroke. (4) Conclusions: Older adults with neurological disease generally showed increased brain activation suggesting use of more attentional resources during dual task walking, which could lead to increased fall risk and mobility impairments. PROSPERO ID: 235228. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Brain Imaging of Locomotion in Aging and Age-Related Diseases)
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