Researchers from the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina, led by Dr. Ida Rangus and Dr. Alex Teghipco under the mentorship of Dr. Leo Bonilha, introduce a novel open-source software tool designed to uncover how brain-based factors mediate relationships between behavioral and cognitive outcomes. This tool streamlines whole-brain mediation analyses, offering scientists an accessible way to explore complex brain-behavior interactions.

Drawing on data from 131 neurologically healthy participants from the Aging Brain Cohort Study, the researchers demonstrated that specific patterns of brain atrophy mediate the impact of aging on overall cognitive performance. Their findings further illustrate how age-related changes in distinct brain regions influence particular cognitive functions, including executive functioning, attention, and visuospatial abilities.

This study emphasizes the value of brain-based mediation analyses in advancing our understanding of cognitive aging by identifying the brain’s role in age-related cognitive changes. The software is publicly available, inviting the scientific community to leverage it in diverse research settings to deepen knowledge of brain-mediated effects across various health and behavioral outcomes.

The Influence of Structural Brain Changes on Cognition in the Context of Healthy Aging: Exploring Mediation Effects Through gBAT-The Graphical Brain Association Tool. Rangus I, Teghipco A, Newman-Norlund S, Newman-Norlund R, Rorden C, Riccardi N, Wilson S, Busby N, Wilmskoetter J, Nemati S, Bakos L, Fridriksson J, Bonilha L. Hum Brain Mapp. 2024 Oct;45(14):e70038