Brain connectivity correlates of the impact of a digital intervention for individuals with subjective cognitive decline on depression and IL-18
Abstract Late-life depression represents a significant health concern, linked to disruptions in brain connectivity and immune functioning, mood regulation, and cognitive function. This pilot study explores a digital intervention targeting mental health, brain health, and immune functioning in indivi...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91457-3 |
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| author | Merav Catalogna Ya’ira Somerville Nira Saporta Bar Nathansohn-Levi Shahar Shelly Liat Edry Orna Zagoory-Sharon Ruth Feldman Amir Amedi |
| author_facet | Merav Catalogna Ya’ira Somerville Nira Saporta Bar Nathansohn-Levi Shahar Shelly Liat Edry Orna Zagoory-Sharon Ruth Feldman Amir Amedi |
| author_sort | Merav Catalogna |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Late-life depression represents a significant health concern, linked to disruptions in brain connectivity and immune functioning, mood regulation, and cognitive function. This pilot study explores a digital intervention targeting mental health, brain health, and immune functioning in individuals aged 55–60 with subjective cognitive decline, elevated stress and depressive symptoms. Seventeen participants engaged in a two-week intervention comprising spatial cognition, psychological techniques based on mindfulness, attention-training exercises, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Pre-and post-intervention changes in resting-state functional connectivity, inflammation, and psychological health were evaluated. Key findings include: (1) Reduced self-reported depression with a large effect size, (2) Decreased connectivity within the default mode network (DMN), (3) Enhanced anticorrelation between the DMN-Salience networks that was associated with improved depression scores (4) Reduced salivary IL-18 concentration with a medium effect size, correlated with decreased DMN-amygdala connectivity. There was a trend towards reduced anxiety, with no significant changes in quality of life. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effect of digital intervention on immune markers, clinical behavioral outcomes, and brain function, demonstrating positive synergistic potential across all three levels. These preliminary findings, which need replication in larger, controlled studies, have important implications for basic science and scalable digital interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9ef8665ec07b4ee784dba4104ca77a8b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| spelling | doaj-art-9ef8665ec07b4ee784dba4104ca77a8b2025-08-20T03:04:01ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-0115111610.1038/s41598-025-91457-3Brain connectivity correlates of the impact of a digital intervention for individuals with subjective cognitive decline on depression and IL-18Merav Catalogna0Ya’ira Somerville1Nira Saporta2Bar Nathansohn-Levi3Shahar Shelly4Liat Edry5Orna Zagoory-Sharon6Ruth Feldman7Amir Amedi8The Baruch Ivcher Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Technology, Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman UniversityThe Baruch Ivcher Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Technology, Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman UniversityRemepy Health LtdRemepy Health LtdDepartment of Neurology, Rambam Medical CenterThe Baruch Ivcher Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Technology, Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman UniversityCenter for Developmental Social Neuroscience, Reichman UniversityCenter for Developmental Social Neuroscience, Reichman UniversityThe Baruch Ivcher Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Technology, Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman UniversityAbstract Late-life depression represents a significant health concern, linked to disruptions in brain connectivity and immune functioning, mood regulation, and cognitive function. This pilot study explores a digital intervention targeting mental health, brain health, and immune functioning in individuals aged 55–60 with subjective cognitive decline, elevated stress and depressive symptoms. Seventeen participants engaged in a two-week intervention comprising spatial cognition, psychological techniques based on mindfulness, attention-training exercises, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Pre-and post-intervention changes in resting-state functional connectivity, inflammation, and psychological health were evaluated. Key findings include: (1) Reduced self-reported depression with a large effect size, (2) Decreased connectivity within the default mode network (DMN), (3) Enhanced anticorrelation between the DMN-Salience networks that was associated with improved depression scores (4) Reduced salivary IL-18 concentration with a medium effect size, correlated with decreased DMN-amygdala connectivity. There was a trend towards reduced anxiety, with no significant changes in quality of life. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effect of digital intervention on immune markers, clinical behavioral outcomes, and brain function, demonstrating positive synergistic potential across all three levels. These preliminary findings, which need replication in larger, controlled studies, have important implications for basic science and scalable digital interventions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91457-3Late-life depressionDigital trainingResting state fMRIIL-18Subjective cognitive decline |
| spellingShingle | Merav Catalogna Ya’ira Somerville Nira Saporta Bar Nathansohn-Levi Shahar Shelly Liat Edry Orna Zagoory-Sharon Ruth Feldman Amir Amedi Brain connectivity correlates of the impact of a digital intervention for individuals with subjective cognitive decline on depression and IL-18 Scientific Reports Late-life depression Digital training Resting state fMRI IL-18 Subjective cognitive decline |
| title | Brain connectivity correlates of the impact of a digital intervention for individuals with subjective cognitive decline on depression and IL-18 |
| title_full | Brain connectivity correlates of the impact of a digital intervention for individuals with subjective cognitive decline on depression and IL-18 |
| title_fullStr | Brain connectivity correlates of the impact of a digital intervention for individuals with subjective cognitive decline on depression and IL-18 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Brain connectivity correlates of the impact of a digital intervention for individuals with subjective cognitive decline on depression and IL-18 |
| title_short | Brain connectivity correlates of the impact of a digital intervention for individuals with subjective cognitive decline on depression and IL-18 |
| title_sort | brain connectivity correlates of the impact of a digital intervention for individuals with subjective cognitive decline on depression and il 18 |
| topic | Late-life depression Digital training Resting state fMRI IL-18 Subjective cognitive decline |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91457-3 |
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