PURPOSE: To investigate microstructural changes in cortical and white matter pathways in patients with Alzheimer's disease using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Measures of mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were compared in the brains of 13 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and a group of 13 aged-matched control participants employing an optimized DTI technique involving a fully automated, voxel-based morphometric (VBM) analysis. RESULTS: After rigorous control for anatomical variation and confounding partial volume effects, we found significantly elevated MD measures within the hippocampus, amygdala, and medial temporal, parietal, and frontal lobe gray matter regions in the AD participants. The largest number of pixels with increased MD was localized bilaterally, within the posterior cingulate gyrus. The FA was significantly reduced within the thalamus, parietal white matter, and posterior limbs of the internal capsule, indicating significant involvement of corticothalamic and thalamocortical radiations. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that rigorous VBM analysis of DTI data can be used to investigate microstructural changes in cortical, subcortical, and white matter regions in AD.
PURPOSE: To investigate microstructural changes in cortical and white matter pathways in patients with Alzheimer's disease using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Measures of mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were compared in the brains of 13 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and a group of 13 aged-matched control participants employing an optimized DTI technique involving a fully automated, voxel-based morphometric (VBM) analysis. RESULTS: After rigorous control for anatomical variation and confounding partial volume effects, we found significantly elevated MD measures within the hippocampus, amygdala, and medial temporal, parietal, and frontal lobe gray matter regions in the ADparticipants. The largest number of pixels with increased MD was localized bilaterally, within the posterior cingulate gyrus. The FA was significantly reduced within the thalamus, parietal white matter, and posterior limbs of the internal capsule, indicating significant involvement of corticothalamic and thalamocortical radiations. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that rigorous VBM analysis of DTI data can be used to investigate microstructural changes in cortical, subcortical, and white matter regions in AD.
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: Charles D Smith; Himachandra Chebrolu; Anders H Andersen; David A Powell; Mark A Lovell; Shuling Xiong; Brian T Gold Journal: Neurobiol Aging Date: 2008-09-17 Impact factor: 4.673
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: 2010 Impact factor: 4.472
Authors: Prasanta K Dash; Santhi Gorantla; Howard E Gendelman; Jaclyn Knibbe; George P Casale; Edward Makarov; Adrian A Epstein; Harris A Gelbard; Michael D Boska; Larisa Y Poluektova Journal: J Neurosci Date: 2011-03-02 Impact factor: 6.167
Authors: Wim Van Hecke; Alexander Leemans; Steve De Backer; Ben Jeurissen; Paul M Parizel; Jan Sijbers Journal: Hum Brain Mapp Date: 2010-01 Impact factor: 5.038