scholarly journals Interthalamic adhesion size in aging dogs with presumptive spontaneous brain microhemorrhages: a comparative retrospective MRI study of dogs with and without evidence of canine cognitive dysfunction

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9012
Author(s):  
Curtis W. Dewey ◽  
Mark Rishniw ◽  
Philippa J. Johnson ◽  
Emma S. Davies ◽  
Joseph J. Sackman ◽  
...  

Objective Spontaneous brain microhemorrhages in elderly people are present to some degree in Alzheimer’s disease patients but have been linked to brain atrophy in the absence of obvious cognitive decline. Brain microhemorrhages have recently been described in older dogs, but it is unclear whether these are associated with brain atrophy. Diminution of interthalamic adhesion size-as measured on MRI or CT-has been shown to be a reliable indicator of brain atrophy in dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) in comparison with successfully aging dogs. We hypothesized that aging dogs with brain microhemorrhages presenting for neurologic dysfunction but without obvious features of cognitive decline would have small interthalamic adhesion measurements, like dogs with CCD, compared with control dogs. The objective of this study was to compare interthalamic adhesion size between three groups of aging (>9 years) dogs: (1) neurologically impaired dogs with presumptive spontaneous brain microhemorrhages and no clinical evidence of cognitive dysfunction (2) dogs with CCD (3) dogs without clinical evidence of encephalopathy on neurologic examination (control dogs). MR images from 52 aging dogs were reviewed and measurements were obtained of interthalamic adhesion height (thickness) and mid-sagittal interthalamic adhesion area for all dogs, in addition to total brain volume. Interthalamic adhesion measurements, either absolute or normalized to total brain volume were compared between groups. Signalment (age, breed, sex), body weight, presence and number of SBMs, as well as other abnormal MRI findings were recorded for all dogs. Results All interthalamic adhesion measurement parameters were significantly (P < 0.05) different between control dogs and affected dogs. Both dogs with cognitive dysfunction (12/15; 80%) and dogs with isolated brain microhemorrhages had more microhemorrhages than control dogs (3/25; 12%). Affected dogs without cognitive dysfunction had significantly more microhemorrhages than dogs with cognitive dysfunction. In addition to signs of cognitive impairment for the CCD group, main clinical complaints for SBM and CCD dogs were referable to central vestibular dysfunction, recent-onset seizure activity, or both. Geriatric dogs with spontaneous brain microhemorrhages without cognitive dysfunction have similar MRI abnormalities as dogs with cognitive dysfunction but may represent a distinct disease category.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Curtis W Dewey ◽  
Mark Rishniw ◽  
Philippa J Johnson ◽  
Emma S Davies ◽  
Joseph J Sackman ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to compare specific brain MRI anatomic measurements between three groups of geriatric ( > 8yrs) dogs: 1) neurologically impaired dogs with presumptive spontaneous brain microhemorrhages and no clinical evidence of canine cognitive dysfunction 2) dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction 3) dogs without clinical evidence of cognitive impairment or abnormalities on neurologic examination (control dogs). MR images from 46 geriatric dogs were reviewed and measurements were obtained of interthalamic adhesion height (thickness) and mid-sagittal interthalamic adhesion area for all dogs, in addition to total brain volume. Interthalamic adhesion measurements, either absolute or normalized to total brain volume were compared between groups. Signalment (age, breed, sex), body weight, presence and number of SBMs, as well as other abnormal MRI findings were recorded for all dogs. All interthalamic adhesion measurement parameters were significantly (p<0.05) different between control dogs and affected dogs. Both dogs with cognitive dysfunction (12/13; 92 %) and dogs with isolated brain microhemorrhages had more microhemorrhages than control dogs (3/19; 16%). Affected dogs without cognitive dysfunction had more microhemorrhages than dogs with cognitive dysfunction. In addition to signs of cognitive impairment for the CCD group, main clinical complaints for SBM and CCD dogs were referable to central vestibular dysfunction, recent-onset seizure activity, or both. Geriatric dogs with spontaneous brain microhemorrhages without cognitive dysfunction have similar MRI abnormalities as dogs with cognitive dysfunction but may represent a distinct diseasecategory.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Curtis W Dewey ◽  
Mark Rishniw ◽  
Philippa J Johnson ◽  
Emma S Davies ◽  
Joseph J Sackman ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to compare specific brain MRI anatomic measurements between three groups of geriatric ( > 8yrs) dogs: 1) neurologically impaired dogs with presumptive spontaneous brain microhemorrhages and no clinical evidence of canine cognitive dysfunction 2) dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction 3) dogs without clinical evidence of cognitive impairment or abnormalities on neurologic examination (control dogs). MR images from 46 geriatric dogs were reviewed and measurements were obtained of interthalamic adhesion height (thickness) and mid-sagittal interthalamic adhesion area for all dogs, in addition to total brain volume. Interthalamic adhesion measurements, either absolute or normalized to total brain volume were compared between groups. Signalment (age, breed, sex), body weight, presence and number of SBMs, as well as other abnormal MRI findings were recorded for all dogs. All interthalamic adhesion measurement parameters were significantly (p<0.05) different between control dogs and affected dogs. Both dogs with cognitive dysfunction (12/13; 92 %) and dogs with isolated brain microhemorrhages had more microhemorrhages than control dogs (3/19; 16%). Affected dogs without cognitive dysfunction had more microhemorrhages than dogs with cognitive dysfunction. In addition to signs of cognitive impairment for the CCD group, main clinical complaints for SBM and CCD dogs were referable to central vestibular dysfunction, recent-onset seizure activity, or both. Geriatric dogs with spontaneous brain microhemorrhages without cognitive dysfunction have similar MRI abnormalities as dogs with cognitive dysfunction but may represent a distinct diseasecategory.


2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (11) ◽  
pp. 1882-1887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hazel I Zonneveld ◽  
Elizabeth A Loehrer ◽  
Albert Hofman ◽  
Wiro J Niessen ◽  
Aad van der Lugt ◽  
...  

The question remains whether reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) leads to brain atrophy or vice versa. We studied the longitudinal relation between CBF and brain volume in a community-dwelling population. In the Rotterdam Study, 3011 participants (mean age 59.6 years (s.d. 8.0)) underwent repeat brain magnetic resonance imaging to quantify brain volume and CBF at two time points. Adjusted linear regression models were used to investigate the bidirectional relation between CBF and brain volume. We found that smaller brain volume at baseline was associated with a steeper decrease in CBF in the whole population (standardized change per s.d. increase of total brain volume (TBV) = 0.296 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.200; 0.393)). Only in persons aged ≥ 65 years, a lower CBF at baseline was associated with steeper decline of TBV (standardized change per s.d. increase of CBF = 0.003 (95% CI −0.004; 0.010) in the whole population and 0.020 (95% CI 0.004; 0.036) in those aged ≥65 years of age). Our results indicate that brain atrophy causes CBF to decrease over time, rather than vice versa. Only in persons aged >65 years of age did we find lower CBF to also relate to brain atrophy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 438-442
Author(s):  
Curtis Wells Dewey ◽  
Mark Rishniw ◽  
Philippa J. Johnson ◽  
Simon Platt ◽  
Kelsey Robinson ◽  
...  

Background: Hippocampal atrophy is a key pathologic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) feature of human Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Hippocampal atrophy has not been documented via MRI in canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), which is considered as the dog model of human AD.Aim: The purpose of this retrospective comparative volumetric MRI study was to compare total hippocampal volumes between successfully aging (control) dogs and dogs diagnosed with CCD.Methods: Mimics® software was used to derive total hippocampal volumes and total brain volumes from the MRI studies of 42 aging dogs (≥ 9 years): 16 dogs diagnosed with CCD and 26 successfully aging controls. Hippocampal volumes were normalized to total brain volume and these values were compared between groups using Mann–Whitney U tests.Results: Total hippocampal volume normalized to total brain volume was significantly less for CCD patients compared with control dogs (p = 0.04).Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that – similar to human AD – hippocampal atrophy is a pathological feature of CCD. This finding has potential importance for both investigating disease mechanisms related to dementia as well as future hippocampal-targeted therapies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (7S_Part_10) ◽  
pp. P521-P521
Author(s):  
Weili Xu ◽  
Anna Marseglia ◽  
Gregoria Kalpouzos ◽  
Lars Bäckman ◽  
Laura Fratiglioni

2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiran Chen ◽  
Hosung Kim ◽  
Robert Bok ◽  
Subramaniam Sukumar ◽  
Xin Mu ◽  
...  

Hyperpolarized 13C magnetic resonance imaging has recently been used to dynamically image metabolism in vivo. This technique provides the capability to investigate metabolic changes in mouse brain development over multiple time points. In this study, we used 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging and hyperpolarized 13C-1-labeled pyruvate to analyze its conversion into lactate. We also applied T2-weighted anatomical imaging to examine brain volume changes starting from postnatal day 18 (P18). We combined these results with body weight measurements for a comprehensive interpretation of mouse brain maturation. Both the produced lactate level and pyruvate to lactate conversion rate decreased with increasing age in a linear manner. Total brain volume remained the same after P18, even though body weight continued to grow exponentially. Our results have shown that the rate of metabolism of 13C-1 pyruvate to lactate in brain is high in the young mouse and decreases with age. The brain at P18 is still relatively immature and continues to develop even as the total brain volume remains the same.


2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (7) ◽  
pp. 1389-1399 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. C. Saavedra Pérez ◽  
M. A. Ikram ◽  
N. Direk ◽  
H. G. Prigerson ◽  
R. Freak-Poli ◽  
...  

BackgroundSeveral psychosocial risk factors for complicated grief have been described. However, the association of complicated grief with cognitive and biological risk factors is unclear. The present study examined whether complicated grief and normal grief are related to cognitive performance or structural brain volumes in a large population-based study.MethodThe present research comprised cross-sectional analyses embedded in the Rotterdam Study. The study included 5501 non-demented persons. Participants were classified as experiencing no grief (n = 4731), normal grief (n = 615) or complicated grief (n = 155) as assessed with the Inventory of Complicated Grief. All persons underwent cognitive testing (Mini-Mental State Examination, Letter–Digit Substitution Test, Stroop Test, Word Fluency Task, word learning test – immediate and delayed recall), and magnetic resonance imaging to measure general brain parameters (white matter, gray matter), and white matter lesions. Total brain volume was defined as the sum of gray matter plus normal white matter and white matter lesion volume. Persons with depressive disorders were excluded and analyses were adjusted for depressive symptoms.ResultsCompared with no-grief participants, participants with complicated grief had lower scores for the Letter–Digit Substitution Test [Z-score −0.16 v. 0.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.36 to −0.04, p = 0.01] and Word Fluency Task (Z-score −0.15 v. 0.03, 95% CI −0.35 to −0.02, p = 0.02) and smaller total volumes of brain matter (933.53 ml v. 952.42 ml, 95% CI −37.6 to −0.10, p = 0.04).ConclusionsParticipants with complicated grief performed poorly in cognitive tests and had a smaller total brain volume. Although the effect sizes were small, these findings suggest that there may be a neurological correlate of complicated grief, but not of normal grief, in the general population.


Stroke ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 783-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy P. Berman ◽  
Faye L. Norby ◽  
Thomas Mosley ◽  
Elsayed Z. Soliman ◽  
Rebecca F. Gottesman ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose— Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with dementia independent of clinical stroke. The mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. In a community-based cohort, the ARIC study (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities), we evaluated (1) the longitudinal association of incident AF and (2) the cross-sectional association of prevalent AF with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities. Methods— The longitudinal analysis included 963 participants (mean age, 73±4.4 years; 62% women; 51% black) without prevalent stroke or AF who underwent a brain MRI in 1993 to 1995 and a second MRI in 2004 to 2006 (mean, 10.6±0.8 years). Outcomes included subclinical cerebral infarctions, sulcal size, ventricular size, and, for the cross-sectional analysis, white matter hyperintensity volume and total brain volume. Results— In the longitudinal analysis, 29 (3.0%) participants developed AF after the first brain MRI. Those who developed AF had higher odds of increase in subclinical cerebral infarctions (odds ratio [OR], 3.08; 95% CI, 1.39–6.83), worsening sulcal grade (OR, 3.56; 95% CI, 1.04–12.2), and worsening ventricular grade (OR, 9.34; 95% CI, 1.24–70.2). In cross-sectional analysis, of 969 participants, 35 (3.6%) had prevalent AF at the time of the 2004 to 2006 MRI scan. Those with AF had greater odds of higher sulcal (OR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.7–9.1) and ventricular grade (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.0–5.7) after multivariable adjustment and no difference in white matter hyperintensity or total brain volume. Conclusions— AF is independently associated with increase in subclinical cerebral infarction and worsening sulcal and ventricular grade—morphological changes associated with aging and dementia. More research is needed to define the mechanisms underlying AF-related neurodegeneration.


2020 ◽  
pp. 0271678X2094861
Author(s):  
Rashid Ghaznawi ◽  
Maarten HT Zwartbol ◽  
Nicolaas PA Zuithoff ◽  
Jeroen de Bresser ◽  
Jeroen Hendrikse ◽  
...  

Global cerebral hypoperfusion may be involved in the aetiology of brain atrophy; however, long-term longitudinal studies on this relationship are lacking. We examined whether reduced cerebral blood flow was associated with greater progression of brain atrophy. Data of 1165 patients (61 ± 10 years) from the SMART-MR study, a prospective cohort study of patients with arterial disease, were used of whom 689 participated after 4 years and 297 again after 12 years. Attrition was substantial. Total brain volume and total cerebral blood flow were obtained from magnetic resonance imaging scans and expressed as brain parenchymal fraction (BPF) and parenchymal cerebral blood flow (pCBF). Mean decrease in BPF per year was 0.22% total intracranial volume (95% CI: –0.23 to –0.21). Mean decrease in pCBF per year was 0.24 ml/min per 100 ml brain volume (95% CI: –0.29 to –0.20). Using linear mixed models, lower pCBF at baseline was associated with a greater decrease in BPF over time ( p =  0.01). Lower baseline BPF, however, was not associated with a greater decrease in pCBF ( p =  0.43). These findings indicate that reduced cerebral blood flow is associated with greater progression of brain atrophy and provide further support for a role of cerebral blood flow in the process of neurodegeneration.


2020 ◽  
Vol 267 (11) ◽  
pp. 3282-3286
Author(s):  
Michael J. Firbank ◽  
John T. O’Brien ◽  
Karen Ritchie ◽  
Katie Wells ◽  
Guy Williams ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and aims Consensus is lacking on whether light to moderate consumption of alcohol compared to abstinence is neuroprotective. In this study, we investigated the relationship between self-reported alcohol use and brain volume change over 2 years in middle-aged subjects. Methods A sample of 162 subjects (aged 40–59 at baseline) from the PREVENT-Dementia programme underwent MRI scans on two separate occasions (mean interval 734 days; SD 42 days). We measured longitudinal rates of brain atrophy using the FSL Siena toolbox, and change in hippocampal volume from segmentation in SPM. Results Controlling for age and sex, there were no significant associations of either total brain, ventricular, or hippocampal volume change with alcohol consumption. Adjusting for lifestyle, demographic and vascular risk factors did not alter this. Conclusions We did not find any evidence of influence of alcohol consumption on changes in brain volume over a 2-year period in 40–60-year-olds.


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