BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) shows promise in the early detection of microstructural pathophysiological changes in the brain. OBJECTIVES: To measure microstructural differences in the brains of participants with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) compared with an age-matched control group using an optimised DTI technique with fully automated image analysis tools and to investigate the correlation between diffusivity measurements and neuropsychological performance scores across groups. METHODS: 34 participants (17 participants with MCI, 17 healthy elderly adults) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based DTI. To control for the effects of anatomical variation, diffusion images of all participants were registered to standard anatomical space. Significant statistical differences in diffusivity measurements between the two groups were determined on a pixel-by-pixel basis using gaussian random field theory. RESULTS: Significantly raised mean diffusivity measurements (p<0.001) were observed in the left and right entorhinal cortices (BA28), posterior occipital-parietal cortex (BA18 and BA19), right parietal supramarginal gyrus (BA40) and right frontal precentral gyri (BA4 and BA6) in participants with MCI. With respect to fractional anisotropy, participants with MCI had significantly reduced measurements (p<0.001) in the limbic parahippocampal subgyral white matter, right thalamus and left posterior cingulate. Pearson's correlation coefficients calculated across all participants showed significant correlations between neuropsychological assessment scores and regional measurements of mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy. CONCLUSIONS: DTI-based diffusivity measures may offer a sensitive method of detecting subtle microstructural brain changes associated with preclinical Alzheimer's disease.
BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) shows promise in the early detection of microstructural pathophysiological changes in the brain. OBJECTIVES: To measure microstructural differences in the brains of participants with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) compared with an age-matched control group using an optimised DTI technique with fully automated image analysis tools and to investigate the correlation between diffusivity measurements and neuropsychological performance scores across groups. METHODS: 34 participants (17 participants with MCI, 17 healthy elderly adults) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based DTI. To control for the effects of anatomical variation, diffusion images of all participants were registered to standard anatomical space. Significant statistical differences in diffusivity measurements between the two groups were determined on a pixel-by-pixel basis using gaussian random field theory. RESULTS: Significantly raised mean diffusivity measurements (p<0.001) were observed in the left and right entorhinal cortices (BA28), posterior occipital-parietal cortex (BA18 and BA19), right parietal supramarginal gyrus (BA40) and right frontal precentral gyri (BA4 and BA6) in participants with MCI. With respect to fractional anisotropy, participants with MCI had significantly reduced measurements (p<0.001) in the limbic parahippocampal subgyral white matter, right thalamus and left posterior cingulate. Pearson's correlation coefficients calculated across all participants showed significant correlations between neuropsychological assessment scores and regional measurements of mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy. CONCLUSIONS: DTI-based diffusivity measures may offer a sensitive method of detecting subtle microstructural brain changes associated with preclinical Alzheimer's disease.
Authors: J A Lucas; R J Ivnik; G E Smith; D L Bohac; E G Tangalos; N R Graff-Radford; R C Petersen Journal: J Clin Exp Neuropsychol Date: 1998-04 Impact factor: 2.475
Authors: John G Csernansky; Julia Hamstra; Lei Wang; Daniel McKeel; Joseph L Price; Mokhtar Gado; John C Morris Journal: Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord Date: 2004 Oct-Dec Impact factor: 2.703
Authors: A Kluger; J G Gianutsos; J Golomb; S H Ferris; A E George; E Franssen; B Reisberg Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 1997-01 Impact factor: 4.077
Authors: L O Wahlund; F Barkhof; F Fazekas; L Bronge; M Augustin; M Sjögren; A Wallin; H Ader; D Leys; L Pantoni; F Pasquier; T Erkinjuntti; P Scheltens Journal: Stroke Date: 2001-06 Impact factor: 7.914
Authors: M Bozzali; A Falini; M Franceschi; M Cercignani; M Zuffi; G Scotti; G Comi; M Filippi Journal: J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry Date: 2002-06 Impact factor: 10.154
Authors: G B Karas; P Scheltens; S A R B Rombouts; P J Visser; R A van Schijndel; N C Fox; F Barkhof Journal: Neuroimage Date: 2004-10 Impact factor: 6.556
Authors: Elisa Canu; Donald G McLaren; Michele E Fitzgerald; Barbara B Bendlin; Giada Zoccatelli; Franco Alessandrini; Francesca B Pizzini; Giuseppe K Ricciardi; Alberto Beltramello; Sterling C Johnson; Giovanni B Frisoni Journal: J Alzheimers Dis Date: 2011 Impact factor: 4.472
Authors: Barbara B Bendlin; Michele E Fitzgerald; Michele L Ries; Guofan Xu; Erik K Kastman; Brent W Thiel; Howard A Rowley; Mariana Lazar; Andrew L Alexander; Sterling C Johnson Journal: Dev Neuropsychol Date: 2010 Impact factor: 2.253
Authors: Heidi I L Jacobs; Elizabeth C Leritz; Victoria J Williams; Martin P J Van Boxtel; Wim van der Elst; Jelle Jolles; Frans R J Verhey; Regina E McGlinchey; William P Milberg; David H Salat Journal: Hum Brain Mapp Date: 2011-09-23 Impact factor: 5.038
Authors: Amy J Jak; Katherine J Bangen; Christina E Wierenga; Lisa Delano-Wood; Jody Corey-Bloom; Mark W Bondi Journal: Int Rev Neurobiol Date: 2009 Impact factor: 3.230
Authors: D H Salat; D S Tuch; A J W van der Kouwe; D N Greve; V Pappu; S Y Lee; N D Hevelone; A K Zaleta; J H Growdon; S Corkin; B Fischl; H D Rosas Journal: Neurobiol Aging Date: 2010-02 Impact factor: 4.673
Authors: Valerie A Cardenas; Duygu Tosun; Linda L Chao; P Thomas Fletcher; Sarang Joshi; Michael W Weiner; Norbert Schuff Journal: J Neuroimaging Date: 2013-02-19 Impact factor: 2.486
Authors: Stefan J Teipel; Thomas Meindl; Lea Grinberg; Helmut Heinsen; Harald Hampel Journal: Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging Date: 2008-03 Impact factor: 9.236