Altered tract-specific white matter microstructure is related to poorer cognitive performance: The Rotterdam Study

NEUROBIOLOGY OF AGING

卷:39

Article

Cremers, Lotte G. M.^1,2  de Groot, Marius^1,2,3  Hofman, Albert²  Krestin, Gabriel P.¹  van der Lugt, Aad¹  Niessen, Wiro J.^1,3,5  Vernooij, Meike W.^1,2  Ikram, M. Arfan^1,2,4 

[1] Erasmus MC, Univ Med Ctr, Dept Radiol, Rotterdam, Netherlands

[2] Erasmus MC, Univ Med Ctr, Dept Epidemiol, POB 2040, NL-3000 CA Rotterdam, Netherlands

[3] Erasmus MC, Univ Med Ctr, Dept Med Informat, Rotterdam, Netherlands

[4] Erasmus MC, Univ Med Ctr, Dept Neurol, Rotterdam, Netherlands

[5] Delft Univ Technol, Fac Sci Appl, Dept Imaging Sci & Technol, Delft, Netherlands

关键词: Diffusion MRI;    Tractography;    White matter;    Neurodegeneration;    Cognition;    Epidemiology;    Population based;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.11.021

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

White matter microstructural integrity has been related to cognition. Yet, the potential role of specific white matter tracts on top of a global white matter effect remains unclear, especially when considering specific cognitive domains. Therefore, we determined the tract-specific effect of white matter microstructure on global cognition and specific cognitive domains. In 4400 nondemented and stroke-free participants (mean age 63.7 years, 55.5% women), we obtained diffusion magnetic resonance imaging parameters (fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity) in 14 white matter tracts using probabilistic tractography and assessed cognitive performance with a cognitive test battery. Tract-specific white matter microstructure in all supratentorial tracts was associated with poorer global cognition. Lower fractional anisotropy in association tracts, primarily the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and higher mean diffusivity in projection tracts, in particular the posterior thalamic radiation, most strongly related to poorer cognition. Altered white matter microstructure related to poorer information processing speed, executive functioning, and motor speed, but not to memory. Tract-specific microstructural changes may aid in better understanding the mechanism of cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free