Atypical Hierarchical Connectivity Revealed by Stepwise Functional Connectivity in Aging.

Hechun Li, Hongru Shi, Sisi Jiang, Changyue Hou, Hanxi Wu, Gang Yao, Dezhong Yao, Cheng Luo

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland), 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

1citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

Fully Hyperbolic Neural Networks: A Novel Approach to Studying Aging Trajectories.IEEE journal of biomedical and health informatics · 2025
Article

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Hechun LiThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, Center for Information in Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.ORCID 0000-0001-5253-5611

Hongru ShiThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, Center for Information in Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.

Sisi JiangThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, Center for Information in Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.

Changyue HouThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, Center for Information in Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.

Hanxi WuThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, Center for Information in Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.

Gang YaoThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, Center for Information in Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.

Dezhong YaoThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, Center for Information in Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.

Cheng LuoThe Clinical Hospital of Chengdu Brain Science Institute, MOE Key Lab for Neuroinformation, Center for Information in Medicine, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.ORCID 0000-0003-0524-5886

Funding

China Postdoctoral Science Foundation 2021TQ0061National Nature Science Foundation of China 61933003, U2033217, 62201133, 81960249 and 62003076

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Hierarchical functional structure plays a crucial role in brain function. We aimed to investigate how aging affects hierarchical functional structure and to evaluate the relationship between such effects and molecular, microvascular, and cognitive features. We used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from 95 older adults (66.94 ± 7.23 years) and 44 younger adults (21.8 ± 2.53 years) and employed an innovative graph-theory-based analysis (stepwise functional connectivity (SFC)) to reveal the effects of aging on hierarchical functional structure in the brain. In the older group, an SFC pattern converged on the primary sensory-motor network (PSN) rather than the default mode network (DMN). Moreover, SFC decreased in the DMN and increased in the PSN at longer link-steps in aging, indicating a reconfiguration of brain hub systems during aging. Subsequent correlation analyses were performed between SFC values and molecular, microvascular features, and behavioral performance. Altered SFC patterns were associated with dopamine and serotonin, suggesting that altered hierarchical functional structure in aging is linked to the molecular fundament with dopamine and serotonin. Furthermore, increased SFC in the PSN, decreased SFC in the DMN, and accelerated convergence rate were all linked to poorer microvascular features and lower executive function. Finally, a mediation analysis among SFC features, microvascular features, and behavioral performance indicated that the microvascular state may influence executive function through SFC features, highlighting the interactive effects of SFC features and microvascular state on cognition.

Indexed as

agingfMRIhierarchical functional structurestepwise functional connectivity

Identifiers

PMID37892896

DOI10.3390/bioengineering10101166

PMCPMC10604600

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.