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Editorial
. 2023 Feb;31(2):152-161.
doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2022.10.007. Epub 2022 Nov 5.

A Multi-Dimensional Model of Fatigue in Old Age: Implications for Brain Aging

Feng V Lin  1
Affiliations
Editorial

A Multi-Dimensional Model of Fatigue in Old Age: Implications for Brain Aging

Feng V Lin. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2023 Feb.

Abstract

As the most reported symptom in old age, fatigue is understudied in terms of both mechanisms and measures. Population heterogeneity and methodological inconsistency makes understanding the relationship between fatigue and brain aging challenging. The present article comprehensively reviews existing conceptual and operational frameworks of fatigue, as well as mechanistic heterogeneities of fatigue that exist in the aging literature. Then, I propose a Multi-Dimensional Model of fatigue to provide theoretical cohesion to the study of fatigue in old age, along with a "fatigue circuit" addressing brain profiles across dimensions of fatigue. The potential relationships between fatigue dimensions, the fatigue circuit, and brain aging are discussed to inform the direction of future research.

Keywords: Fatigue; brain aging; brain circuit; dimensions of fatigue.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Multi-dimensional Model of Fatigue. (A) Dimensions and attributes of fatigue; (B) “Fatigue circuit” underpinning the dimensions of fatigue (Note: a=anterior; d = dorsal; p = posterior; AMG=amygdala; dACC=dorsal anterior cingulate cortex; dlPFC=dorsolateral prefrontal cortex; ENT=entorhinal cortex; PCC=posterior cingulate cortex; THAL=thalamus; TP=temporal pole; vmPFC=ventromedial prefrontal cortex; VS=ventral striatum); (C) Proposed relationships between fatigue, the Multi-Dimensional Model, and brain aging (NOTE: green lines: protective factors; black lines: risk factors).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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