Psychological Resilience Enhances the Orbitofrontal Network in the Elderly With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> It has been suggested that maintaining the efficient organization of the brain's functional connectivity (FC) supports neuroflexibility under neurogenerative stress. This study examined psychological resilience-related FC in 112 older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). <b>Methods:</b> Using a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) approach, we investigated reorganization of the orbitofrontal gyrus (OFG)/amygdala (AMG)/hippocampus (HP)/parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) FC according to the different levels of resilience scale. <b>Results:</b> Compared with the low resilient group, the high resilient group had greater connectivity strengths between the left inferior OFG and right superior OFG (<i>P</i> < 0.05, Bonferroni corrected), between the right inferior OFG and left PHG (<i>P</i> < 0.05, Bonferroni corrected), and between the right middle OFG and left PHG (false discovery rate < 0.05). <b>Conclusion:</b> Psychological resilience may be associated with enhancement of the orbitofrontal network in the elderly with MCI.