Luciane da Rosa Piccolo|Emily C. Merz|Xiaofu He|Elizabeth R. Sowell|Kimberly G. Noble
Age-Related Differences in Cortical Thickness Vary by Socioeconomic Status
Columbia University|Columbia University Irving Medical Center|New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute|Columbia University|Children's Hospital of Los Angeles|Columbia University
recent findings indicate robust associations socioeconomic status ses brain structure children raising questions ways ses may modify structural brain development general cortical thickness surface area develop nonlinear patterns across childhood adolescence developmental patterns varying degree cortical region examined whether agerelated nonlinear changes cortical thickness surface area varied ses indexed family income parental education hypothesized ses disparities agerelated change may particularly evident language literacysupporting cortical regions participants 1148 typicallydeveloping individuals 3 20 years age results indicated ses factors moderate patterns ageassociated change cortical thickness surface area specifically lower levels ses associations age cortical thickness curvilinear relatively steep agerelated decreases cortical thickness earlier childhood subsequent leveling adolescence contrast high levels ses associations age cortical thickness linear consistent reductions across age range studied notably interaction prominent left fusiform gyrus region critical reading development similar pattern ses factors significantly moderated linear agerelated change left superior temporal gyrus higher ses linked steeper agerelated decreases cortical thickness region findings suggest ses may moderate patterns agerelated cortical thinning especially language literacysupporting cortical regions