Cognitive rehabilitation (CR) enhances the autonomy of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Their daily activities are likely dependent on attention networks.
Method
This pilot resting-state fMRI study investigated the cerebral correlates of CR in participants with mild Alzheimer disease (n = 22), compared to a control intervention in patients (n = 21) and in healthy participants (n = 27). Connectivity changes between dorsal and ventral attention networks were expected after 3 months of rehabilitation.
Results
A mixed ANOVA comparing pre- and post-intervention data across groups revealed increased connectivity between the dorsal and the ventral attention network following CR (FDR-corrected P = .0072). A post hoc correlation analysis of post-intervention data in the CR group showed that greater autonomy in daily activities was associated with stronger functional relationship between the two attention networks (FDR-corrected P = .0001).
Conclusion
Enhanced connectivity between attention networks may be a characteristic of CR benefits in individuals with mild Alzheimer disease.
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