Brain connectivity correlates of the impact of a digital intervention for individuals with subjective cognitive decline on depression and IL-18.
Merav Catalogna, Ya'Ira Somerville, Nira Saporta, Bar Nathansohn-Levi, Shahar Shelly, Liat Edry, Orna Zagoory-Sharon, Ruth Feldman, Amir Amedi
Scientific Reports February 26, 2025 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-91457-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 17 |
| Population | Individuals aged 55-60 with subjective cognitive decline, elevated stress and depressive symptoms |
| Interventions | mindfulness attention-training exercises cognitive behavioral therapy |
| Duration | Two-week intervention |
| Topics | Depression |
| Keywords | Digital training Il-18 Late-life depression Resting State FMRI Subjective cognitive decline |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key points | A two-week digital intervention reduced depression with a large effect size, decreased default mode network connectivity, enhanced default mode-salience network anticorrelation linked to improved depression, and reduced salivary IL-18 with a medium effect size. |
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.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on depression, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 5
- Mapping the self in the brain's default mode network Neuroimage February 15, 2016
- Antidepressants Normalize the Default Mode Network in Patients With Dysthymia JAMA Psychiatry February 6, 2013
- Mindfulness-Enhanced Computerized Cognitive Training for Depression: An Integrative Review and Proposed Model Targeting the Cognitive Control and Default-Mode Networks Brain Science May 1, 2022
- The effect of mindfulness-based interventions on immunity-related biomarkers: a comprehensive meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Clinical Psychology Review March 2022
- Parcellation‐based anatomic modeling of the default mode network Brain and Behavior December 18, 2020