Cognitive reserve lessens the burden of white matter lesions on executive functions in bipolar disorder

• Background. The concept of cognitive reserve (CR) hypothesizes that intellectually stimulating activities provide resilience against brain pathology/disease. Whereas brain abnormalities and cognitive impairment are frequently reported in bipolar disorder (BD), it is unknown whether the impact of brain alterations can be lessened by higher CR in BD. Method. We tested if higher CR would reduce the influence of total volumes of deep white matter hypointensities (WMH), ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and prefrontal cortex on memory, executive, and attention/speed functions in patients with BD (n = 75). Linear regression models with interaction terms for CR and brain volumes were applied to directly test if CR reduces the influence of brain pathology on cognitive domains. Results. CR reduced the influence of total volumes of deep WMH (beta=-0.38, Q = 0.003) and ventricular CSF (beta = -41, Q = 006) on executive functions. Conclusions. The interactions between CR and total volumes of deep WMH/ventricular CSF appear to account for executive functioning in BD. The results suggest that the concept of CR is applicable in BD. Higher reserve capacity in BD alters the relationship between brain pathology and clinical presentation.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Neurologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Neurology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Bipolar disorder

cognition

cognitive reserve

magnetic resonance imaging

human cerebral-cortex

magnetic-resonance images

surface-based

analysis

alzheimers-disease

brain reserve

cortical thickness

prefrontal cortex

follow-up

step-bd

education

Psychology

Psychiatry

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)