scholarly journals Fractional anisotropy in white matter hyperintensities is linked to associative memory performance

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (S5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyyed Mohammad Hassan Haddad ◽  
Christopher J.M. Scott ◽  
Miracle Ozzoude ◽  
Melissa F. Holmes ◽  
Stephen R. Arnott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Fractional Anisotropy ◽  
Associative Memory ◽  
White Matter Hyperintensities ◽  
Memory Performance

scholarly journals Nicotine Effects on White Matter Microstructure in Young Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan M Kangiser ◽  
Alicia M Thomas ◽  
Christine M Kaiver ◽  
Krista M Lisdahl
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Fractional Anisotropy ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Mean Diffusivity ◽  
White Matter Microstructure

Abstract Objective Nicotine use is widely prevalent among youth, and is associated with white matter microstructural changes as measured by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). In adults, nicotine use is generally associated with lower fractional anisotropy (FA), but in adolescents/young adults (≤30 years), microstructure appears healthier, indicated by higher FA. This cross-sectional study examined associations between nicotine use and white matter microstructure using fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) in young adults. Methods Fifty-three participants (18 nicotine users [10 female]/35 controls [17 female]) ages 18–25 underwent MRI scan, neuropsychological battery, toxicology screening, and drug use interview. Nicotine group associations with FA and MD were examined in various white matter tracts. In significant tracts, AD and RD were measured. Exploratory correlations were conducted between significant tracts and verbal memory and sustained attention/working memory performance. Results Nicotine users exhibited significantly lower FA than controls in the left anterior thalamic radiation, left inferior longitudinal fasciculus, left superior longitudinal fasciculus—temporal, and left uncinate fasciculus. In these tracts, AD and RD did not differ, nor did MD differ in any tract. White matter quality was positively correlated with sustained attention/working memory performance. Conclusions Cigarette smoking may disrupt white matter microstructure. These results are consistent with adult studies, but inconsistent with adolescent/young adult studies, likely due to methodological and sample age differences. Further studies should examine longitudinal effects of nicotine use on white matter microstructure in a larger sample.

scholarly journals Cognitive Function and 3-Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging Tractography of White Matter Hyperintensities in Elderly Persons

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Reginold ◽  
Angela C. Luedke ◽  
Angela Tam ◽  
Justine Itorralba ◽  
Juan Fernandez-Ruiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Fractional Anisotropy ◽  
White Matter Hyperintensities ◽  
Mean Diffusivity ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Wechsler Memory Scale

Background/Aims: This study used 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tractography to determine if there was an association between tracts crossing white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and cognitive function in elderly persons. Methods: Brain T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) and diffusion tensor MRI scans were acquired in participants above the age of 60 years. Twenty-six persons had WMH identified on T2 FLAIR scans. They completed a battery of neuropsychological tests and were classified as normal controls (n = 15) or with Alzheimer's dementia (n = 11). Tractography was generated by the Fiber Assignment by Continuous Tracking method. All tracts that crossed WMH were segmented. The average fractional anisotropy and average mean diffusivity of these tracts were quantified. We studied the association between cognitive test scores with the average mean diffusivity and average fractional anisotropy of tracts while controlling for age, total WMH volume and diagnosis. Results: An increased mean diffusivity of tracts crossing WMH was associated with worse performance on the Wechsler Memory Scale-III Longest Span Forward (p = 0.02). There was no association between the fractional anisotropy of tracts and performance on cognitive testing. Conclusion: The mean diffusivity of tracts crossing WMH measured by tractography is a novel correlate of performance on the Wechsler Memory Scale-III Longest Span Forward in elderly persons.

Increased fractional anisotropy in cerebellum in obsessive–compulsive disorder

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 141-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tue Hartmann ◽  
Sanne Vandborg ◽  
Raben Rosenberg ◽  
Leif Sørensen ◽  
Poul Videbech
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Fractional Anisotropy ◽  
White Matter Hyperintensities ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
And Diffusion ◽  
Fractional Anisotrophy

BackgroundPrevious morphology and diffusion-imaging studies have suggested that structural changes in white matter is an important part of the pathophysiology of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). However, different methodological approaches and the heterogeneity of patient samples question the validity of the findings.Materials and methodsIn total, 30 patients were matched for age and sex with 30 healthy controls. All participants underwent T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion tensor imaging and T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery. Voxel-based morphometry and tract-based spatial statistics were used to compare white matter volumes and diffusion tensor imaging between groups. These data were analysed correcting for the effects of multiple comparisons, age, sex, severity and duration of illness as nuisance covariates. White matter hyperintensities were manually identified.ResultsIncrease in fractional anisotropy in cerebellum was the most prominent result. A decrease in fractional anisotrophy in patients comparable with previous studies was located in forceps minor. There were no differences in the white matter morphology or in the white matter hyperintensities between patients and healthy controls.ConclusionDecrease in fractional anisotrophy in forceps minor and increase in cerebellum were found, and they were not due to neither white matter hyperintensities nor morphology of the white matter. Cerebellar hyperconnectivity could be an important part of OCD pathophysiology.

scholarly journals Binswanger's disease and quantitative fractional anisotropy

2009 ◽  
Vol 67 (2a) ◽  
pp. 179-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliasz Engelhardt ◽  
Denise Madeira Moreira ◽  
Gilberto Sousa Alves ◽  
Maria Elisa Oliveira Lanna ◽  
Carlos Eduardo de Oliveira Alves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Characteristic Feature ◽  
Fractional Anisotropy ◽  
White Matter Hyperintensities ◽  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Fiber Tracts ◽  
Comparison Results ◽  
Binswanger’S Disease ◽  
Binswanger's Disease

OBJECTIVE: To study the integrity of the white matter in Binswanger's disease (BD) patients with quantitative fractional anisotropy (DTI-FA). METHOD: Controls (12) and patients with BD (12) were included. Scans performed with MR (GE Signa Horizon/1.5T). Fazekas's score=6 with white matter hyperintensities extension >75% assessed on FLAIR scans. Standard parameters for DTI-FA were used. ROIs placed in symmetrical regions on two axial planes, data pooled in anterior (frontal) and posterior (temporo-parieto-occipital) regions. Analysis with Functool. Statistics for anterior and posterior regions comparison. RESULTS: DTI-FA showed reduction of anisotropy, reflecting axonal damage and demyelination of fibers, more prominent in anterior in relation to posterior region, in BD patients in comparison to controls. CONCLUSION: Loss of integrity of fiber tracts reflects interruption of neural networks that subserve cognitive, behavioral, and motor integration. The more severely affected frontal region is related to executive dysfunction, a characteristic feature of Binswanger's disease.

Diffusion Tensor Imaging Abnormalities in Focal Cortical Dysplasia

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 477-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald W Gross ◽  
Alexandre Bastos ◽  
Christian Beaulieu
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Fractional Anisotropy ◽  
White Matter Hyperintensities ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Focal Cortical Dysplasia ◽  
Intractable Epilepsy ◽  
Subcortical White Matter ◽  
Cortical Dysplasia ◽  
Relative Increase

ABSTRACT:Purpose:Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is one of the most common underlying pathologic substrates in patients with medically intractable epilepsy. While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of FCD is an important predictor of good surgical outcome, conventional MRI is not sensitive enough to detect all lesions. Previous reports of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) abnormalities in FCD suggest the potential of DTI in the detection of FCD. The purpose of this study was to study subcortical white matter underlying small lesions of FCD using DTI.Methods:Five patients with medically intractable epilepsy and FCD were investigated. Diffusion tensor imaging images were acquired (20 contiguous 3mm thick axial slices) with maps of fractional anisotropy (FA), trace apparent diffusion coefficient (trace/3 ADC), and principal eigenvalues (ADC parallel and ADC perpendicular to white matter tracts) being calculated for each slice. Region of interest analysis was used to compare subcortical white matter ipsilateral and contralateral to the lesion.Results:Three subjects with FCD associated with underlying white matter hyperintensities on T2 weighted MRI were observed to have increased trace/3 ADC, reduced fractional anisotropy and increased perpendicular water diffusivity which was greater than the relative increase in the parallel diffusivity. No DTI abnormalities were identified in two patients with FCD without white matter hyperintensities on conventional T2-weighted MRI.Conclusions:While DTI abnormalities in FCD with obvious white matter involvement are consistent with micro-structural degradation of the underlying subcortical white matter, DTI changes were not identified in FCD lesions with normal appearing white matter.

scholarly journals Combination of white matter hyperintensities and Aβ burden is related to cognitive composites domain scores in subjective cognitive decline: the FACEHBI cohort

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Ortega ◽  
A. Espinosa ◽  
M. Alegret ◽  
GC. Monté-Rubio ◽  
O. Sotolongo-Grau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Associative Memory ◽  
White Matter Hyperintensities ◽  
Domain Score ◽  
Subjective Cognitive Decline ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Domain Scores

Abstract Background To explore whether the combination of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition is associated with worse cognitive performance on cognitive composites (CCs) domain scores in individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Methods Two hundred participants from the FACEHBI cohort underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 18F-florbetaben positron emission tomography (FBB-PET), and neuropsychological assessment. WMHs were addressed through the Fazekas scale, the Age-Related White Matter Changes (ARWMC) scale, and the FreeSurfer pipeline. Eight CCs domain scores were created using the principal component analysis (PCA). Age, sex, education, and apolipoprotein E (APOE) were used as adjusting variables. Results Adjusted multiple linear regression models showed that FreeSurfer (B − .245; 95% CI − .1.676, − .393, p = .016) and β burden (SUVR) (B − .180; 95% CI − 2.140, − .292; p = .070) were associated with face–name associative memory CCs domain score, although the latest one was not statistically significant after correction for multiple testing (p = .070). There was non-significant interaction of these two factors on this same CCs domain score (p = .54). However, its cumulative effects on face–name associative performance indicated that those individuals with either higher WMH load or higher Aβ burden showed the worst performance on the face–name associative memory CCs domain score. Conclusions Our results suggest that increased WMH load and increased Aβ are independently associated with poorer episodic memory performance in SCD individuals, indicating a cumulative effect of the combination of these two pathological conditions in promoting lower cognitive performance, an aspect that could help in terms of treatment and prevention.

scholarly journals White matter integrity correlates with cognition and disease severity in Fabry disease

Brain ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 143 (11) ◽  
pp. 3331-3342
Author(s):  
Leonardo Ulivi ◽  
Baris Kanber ◽  
Ferran Prados ◽  
Indran Davagnanam ◽  
Aine Merwick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Fabry Disease ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Fractional Anisotropy ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
White Matter Hyperintensities ◽  
Mean Diffusivity ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Cerebral white matter pathology is a common CNS manifestation of Fabry disease, visualized as white matter hyperintensities on MRI in 42–81% of patients. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) MRI is a sensitive technique to quantify microstructural damage within the white matter with potential value as a disease biomarker. We evaluated the pattern of DTI abnormalities in Fabry disease, and their correlations with cognitive impairment, mood, anxiety, disease severity and plasma lyso-Gb3 levels in 31 patients with genetically proven Fabry disease and 19 age-matched healthy control subjects. We obtained average values of fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity within the white matter and performed voxelwise analysis with tract-based spatial statistics. Using a standardized neuropsychological test battery, we assessed processing speed, executive function, anxiety, depression and disease severity. The mean age (% male) was 44.1 (45%) for patients with Fabry disease and 37.4 (53%) for the healthy control group. In patients with Fabry disease, compared to healthy controls the mean average white matter fractional anisotropy was lower in [0.423 (standard deviation, SD 0.023) versus 0.446 (SD 0.016), P = 0.002] while mean average white matter mean diffusivity was higher (749 × 10−6 mm2/s (SD 32 × 10−6) versus 720 × 10−6 mm2/s (SD 21 × 10−6), P = 0.004]. Voxelwise statistics showed that the diffusion abnormalities for both fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity were anatomically widespread. A lesion probability map showed that white matter hyperintensities also had a wide anatomical distribution with a predilection for the posterior centrum semiovale. However, diffusion abnormalities in Fabry disease were not restricted to lesional tissue; compared to healthy controls, the normal appearing white matter in patients with Fabry disease had reduced fractional anisotropy [0.422 (SD 0.022) versus 0.443 (SD 0.017) P = 0.003] and increased mean diffusivity [747 × 10−6 mm2/s (SD 26 × 10−6) versus 723 × 10−6 mm2/s (SD 22 × 10−6), P = 0.008]. Within patients, average white matter fractional anisotropy and white matter lesion volume showed statistically significant correlations with Digit Symbol Coding Test score (r = 0.558, P = 0.001; and r = −0.633, P ≤ 0.001, respectively). Average white matter fractional anisotropy correlated with the overall Mainz Severity Score Index (r = −0.661, P ≤ 0.001), while average white matter mean diffusivity showed a strong correlation with plasma lyso-Gb3 levels (r = 0.559, P = 0.001). Our findings using DTI confirm widespread areas of microstructural white matter disruption in Fabry disease, extending beyond white matter hyperintensities seen on conventional MRI. Moreover, diffusion measures show strong correlations with cognition (processing speed), clinical disease severity and a putative plasma biomarker of disease activity, making them promising quantitative biomarkers for monitoring Fabry disease severity and progression.

scholarly journals Decreased myelin content of the fornix predicts poorer memory performance beyond vascular risk, hippocampal volume, and fractional anisotropy in nondemented older adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine J. Bangen ◽  
Lisa Delano-Wood ◽  
Sean C. L. Deoni ◽  
Alexandra L. Clark ◽  
Nicole D. Evangelista ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Fractional Anisotropy ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Memory Performance ◽  
Hippocampal Volume ◽  
Cerebral White Matter ◽  
Vascular Risk ◽  
Early Marker ◽  
Memory Functioning

AbstractAlterations to cerebral white matter tracts have been associated with cognitive decline in aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In particular, the fornix has been implicated as especially vulnerable given that it represents the primary outflow tract of the hippocampus. Despite this, little work has focused on the fornix using a potential early marker of white matter degeneration—myelin water fraction (MWF; an in vivo marker of myelin content). Therefore, we sought to (1) clarify associations between MWF in the fornix and memory functioning, and (2) examine whether fornix MWF relates to memory performance above and beyond hippocampal volume and conventional imaging measures of white matter that may not be as specific to alterations in myelin content. Forty nondemented older adults (mean age = 72.9 years) underwent an MRI exam and neuropsychological assessment. Multicomponent driven equilibrium single pulse observation of T1 and T2 (mcDESPOT) was used to quantify fornix MWF and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to measure fornix fractional anisotropy (FA). Adjusting for age, sex, education, and vascular risk factors, linear regression models revealed that, lower fornix MWF was significantly associated with poorer memory functioning (β = 0.405, p = .007) across our sample of older adults. Notably, fornix MWF remained a significant predictor of memory functioning (β = 0.380, p = .015) even after adjusting for fornix DTI FA and hippocampal volume (in addition to the above covariates). Given the observed associations between myelin and memory in older adults without dementia, MWF may be a useful early marker of dementia risk.

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