Resting State Brain Network Function in Elderly: The Formation of Social Ties

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to determine the relevance of the relationship between brain network and the social ties management. METHODS: Participants are based on 52 Korean seniors aged 65 and older who live in Ganghwa-gun, Incheon. We used a closed-triad index (CTI), which is the most basic unit of analysis in the study of group phenomena. This index is a social networking variable that has been shown to have a different implication depending on the subject’s condition and role. After two questionnaire surveys were conducted at three years intervals, participants were classified into an increased group and a decreased group according to the change of CTI. Resting-state fMRI analysis were followed to investigate the difference of brain networks between groups. RESULTS: According to the analysis of the study, the whole participants who had increased in number of CTI has higher local efficiency than the group of the participants who had no effect or decreased in CTI. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that social relationship, which is substantially related to brain network, is a major factor in successful aging. Lastly, since there is a restriction that the study cannot explain the causal aspect of the brain network and the triad-relationship, there is a need for further investigation.