Metabolic syndrome components moderate the association between executive function and functional connectivity in the default mode network

Middle aged individuals with Metabolic Syndrome are at high risk for cognitive decline. Dyssynchrony in the resting state Default Mode Network is one early indicator of brain vulnerability. We set out to explore the relationship between default mode resting state functional connectivity and cognitive performance in both memory and executive domains at midlife in the presence of Metabolic Syndrome components. Seed-based Correlation Analyses were performed between the seed voxel in the posterior cingulate cortex and the medial prefrontal cortex on 200 participants (ages 40–61). Executive domain scores were significantly predicted by the interaction between number of Metabolic Syndrome components and resting state connectivity in the Default Mode Network (p = .004) such that connectivity was negatively related to executive function at higher numbers of Metabolic Syndrome components. Results were not significant for memory. Our findings indicate that clusters of cardiovascular disease risk factors alter functional relationships in the brain and highlights the need to continue exploring how compensatory techniques might operate to support cognitive performance at midlife.