The Cerebellum Is Related to Cognitive Dysfunction in White Matter Hyperintensities

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience

Qiang Wei¹  Yuting Mo¹  Yuanyuan Liu¹  Shanshan Cao¹  Yajuan Hu¹  Jiajia Nie¹  Chen Chen¹  Xiaojing Wang¹  Baogen Du¹  Jun Zhang³  Kai Wang⁴  Yanghua Tian⁴ 

[1] Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Cognition and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Hefei, China;Collaborative Innovation Center of Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Mental Health, Hefei, China;Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China;Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, China;The School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China;

关键词: cerebellum;    white matter hyperintensities;    resting-state functional connectivity;    voxel-based morphometry;    magnetic resonance imaging;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fnagi.2021.670463

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

ObjectiveWhite matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is frequently presumed to be secondary to cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) and associated with cognitive decline. The cerebellum plays a key role in cognition and has dense connections with other brain regions. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate if cerebellar abnormalities could occur in CSVD patients with WMHs and the possible association with cognitive performances.MethodsA total of 104 right-handed patients with WMHs were divided into the mild WMHs group (n = 39), moderate WMHs group (n = 37), and severe WMHs group (n = 28) according to the Fazekas scale, and 36 healthy controls were matched for sex ratio, age, education years, and acquired resting-state functional MRI. Analysis of voxel-based morphometry of gray matter volume (GMV) and seed-to-whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) was performed from the perspective of the cerebellum, and their correlations with neuropsychological variables were explored.ResultsThe analysis revealed a lower GMV in the bilateral cerebellum lobule VI and decreased FC between the left- and right-sided cerebellar lobule VI with the left anterior cingulate gyri in CSVD patients with WMHs. Both changes in structure and function were correlated with cognitive impairment in patients with WMHs.ConclusionOur study revealed damaged GMV and FC in the cerebellum associated with cognitive impairment. This indicates that the cerebellum may play a key role in the modulation of cognitive function in CSVD patients with WMHs.

【 授权许可】

Unknown