White Matter Integrity in Subcortical Vascular Cognitive Impairment: A Multimodal Structural MRI Study

Title:White Matter Integrity in Subcortical Vascular Cognitive Impairment: A Multimodal Structural MRI Study

Volume: 14 Issue: 9

Author(s): Yao Wang, Wenwei Cao, Yawen Sun, Xue Chen, Weina Ding, Qun Xu*, Yan Zhou*, Jianrong Xu and Shiteng Suo

Affiliation:

• Department of Neurology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127,China

• Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 20012,China

Keywords: Subcortical vascular cognitive impairment, white matter, diffusion tensor imaging, structure network, white matter hyperintensities, lacunar infarcts.

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the disruption of white matter (WM) integrity in patients with subcortical vascular cognitive impairment (SVCI) with multimodal structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to explore the relationships between WM damage, structural network disruptions, and general cognitive function decline.

Methods: Twenty-eight patients with SVCI and twenty control subjects underwent structural MRI scans and neuropsychological assessment. WM volume (WMV), WM hyperintensities (WMH), lacunar infarcts (LI), diffusion tensor imaging parameters and structural network characteristics were compared between two groups. Correlations between these parameters and general cognitive function were calculated.

Results: WMV, WMH load, LI number, mean fractional anisotropy (FA), peak height and peak location of mean diffusivity (MD) of normal-appearing WM (NAWM) and structural network characteristics were significantly different between the two groups. Disruption of WM microstructure and network characteristics was widespread. WMV, WMH load, mean FA and peak location of MD of NAWM explained about 70% of the variance in structural network characteristics. Shortest path length with LI number explained 47.5% of the variance in z-scores.

Conclusion: SVCI was associated with widespread disruptions of WM integrity in the brain. Network characteristics may be a comprehensive reflection of WM integrity and a superior predictor of general cognitive function, while LI was an independent predictor of cognitive impairment.

Cite this article as:

Wang Yao , Cao Wenwei, Sun Yawen , Chen Xue , Ding Weina, Xu Qun *, Zhou Yan *, Xu Jianrong and Suo Shiteng, White Matter Integrity in Subcortical Vascular Cognitive Impairment: A Multimodal Structural MRI Study, Current Alzheimer Research 2017; 14 (9) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1567205014666170329113707

DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1567205014666170329113707	Print ISSN 1567-2050
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher	Online ISSN 1875-5828