Structural and functional connectivity of the brain as a modulator of the healthy cognitive aging process

Within the scope of this longitudinal study cognitively healthy elderly subjects aged 60 to 87 years as well as young control subjects aged 20 to 40 were assessed with regard to their cognitive performance as well as their structural brain properties. The aim was to identify risk and resilience factors for the normal and pathological aging process. We employed a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery, cognitive training as well as cranial MRI. Furthermore, the hippocampal surface and volume as well as the structural and functional brain network were investigated using diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) as well as a combination of DWI and resting state functional MRI.