Longitudinal, Region-specific Course of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Measures in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease

Overview

Journal Alzheimers Dement

Specialties Neurology
Psychiatry

Date 2012 Dec 19

PMID 23245561

Citations 58

Authors

Milap A Nowrangi

Constantine G Lyketsos

Jeannie-Marie S Leoutsakos

Kenichi Oishi

Marilyn Albert

Susumu Mori

Michelle M Mielke

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a promising method for identifying significant cross-sectional differences of white-matter tracts in normal controls (NC) and those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD). There have not been many studies establishing its longitudinal utility.

Methods: Seventy-five participants (25 NC, 25 amnestic MCI, and 25 AD) had 3-Tesla MRI scans and clinical evaluations at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were analyzed at each time-point and longitudinally in eight a priori-selected areas taken from four regions of interest (ROIs).

Results: Cross-sectionally, MD values were higher, and FA values lower in the fornix and splenium of the AD group compared with either MCI or NC (P < .01). Within-group change was more evident in MD than in FA over 12 months: MD increased in the inferior, anterior cingulum, and fornix in both the MCI and AD groups (P < .01).

Conclusions: There were stable, cross-sectional, region-specific differences between the NC and AD groups in both FA and MD at each time-point over 12 months. Longitudinally, MD was a better indicator of change than FA. Significant increases of fornix MD in the MCI group suggest this is an early indicator of progression.

Citing Articles

Multi-omics analyses identify gut microbiota-fecal metabolites-brain-cognition pathways in the Alzheimer's disease continuum.

Zhao H, Zhou X, Song Y, Zhao W, Sun Z, Zhu J Alzheimers Res Ther. 2025; 17(1):36.

PMID: 39893498 PMC: 11786436. DOI: 10.1186/s13195-025-01683-0.

Exercise intervention on the brain structure and function of patients with mild cognitive impairment: systematic review based on magnetic resonance imaging studies.

Xu J, Yu J, Li G, Wang Y Front Psychiatry. 2024; 15:1464159.

PMID: 39691788 PMC: 11650209. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1464159.

Subject classification and cross-time prediction based on functional connectivity and white matter microstructure features in a rat model of Alzheimer's using machine learning.

Diao Y, Lanz B, Jelescu I Alzheimers Res Ther. 2023; 15(1):193.

PMID: 37936236 PMC: 10629161. DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01328-0.

Posttraumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury: Cognition, Behavior, and Neuroimaging Markers in Vietnam Veterans.

Marcolini S, Rojczyk P, Seitz-Holland J, Koerte I, Alosco M, Bouix S J Alzheimers Dis. 2023; 95(4):1427-1448.

PMID: 37694363 PMC: 10578246. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-221304.

Association between polygenic risk for Alzheimer's disease and brain structure in children and adults.

He X, Wu B, Kuo K, Zhang W, Ma Q, Xiang S Alzheimers Res Ther. 2023; 15(1):109.

PMID: 37312172 PMC: 10262429. DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01256-z.

References

Ding B, Chen K, Ling H, Zhang H, Chai W, Li X . Diffusion tensor imaging correlates with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in posterior cingulate region of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2008; 25(3):218-25. DOI: 10.1159/000113948. View

Woods R, Grafton S, Holmes C, Cherry S, Mazziotta J . Automated image registration: I. General methods and intrasubject, intramodality validation. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1998; 22(1):139-52. DOI: 10.1097/00004728-199801000-00027. View

Brun A, Englund E . A white matter disorder in dementia of the Alzheimer type: a pathoanatomical study. Ann Neurol. 1986; 19(3):253-62. DOI: 10.1002/ana.410190306. View

Bozzali M, Falini A, Franceschi M, Cercignani M, Zuffi M, Scotti G . White matter damage in Alzheimer's disease assessed in vivo using diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2002; 72(6):742-6. PMC: 1737921. DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.72.6.742. View

Delatour B, Blanchard V, Pradier L, Duyckaerts C . Alzheimer pathology disorganizes cortico-cortical circuitry: direct evidence from a transgenic animal model. Neurobiol Dis. 2004; 16(1):41-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2004.01.008. View

Sperling R, Aisen P, Beckett L, Bennett D, Craft S, Fagan A . Toward defining the preclinical stages of Alzheimer's disease: recommendations from the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement. 2011; 7(3):280-92. PMC: 3220946. DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2011.03.003. View

Mori S, Oishi K, Jiang H, Jiang L, Li X, Akhter K . Stereotaxic white matter atlas based on diffusion tensor imaging in an ICBM template. Neuroimage. 2008; 40(2):570-582. PMC: 2478641. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.12.035. View

Cho H, Yang D, Shon Y, Kim B, Kim Y, Choi Y . Abnormal integrity of corticocortical tracts in mild cognitive impairment: a diffusion tensor imaging study. J Korean Med Sci. 2008; 23(3):477-83. PMC: 2526517. DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2008.23.3.477. View

Duan J, Wang H, Xu J, Lin X, Chen S, Kang Z . White matter damage of patients with Alzheimer's disease correlated with the decreased cognitive function. Surg Radiol Anat. 2006; 28(2):150-6. DOI: 10.1007/s00276-006-0111-2. View

10.

Zhang Y, Chang C, Wei X, Fu J, Li W . Comparison of diffusion tensor image study in association fiber tracts among normal, amnestic mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's patients. Neurol India. 2011; 59(2):168-73. DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.79129. View

11.

Rose S, Janke A, Chalk J . Gray and white matter changes in Alzheimer's disease: a diffusion tensor imaging study. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2007; 27(1):20-6. DOI: 10.1002/jmri.21231. View

12.

Petersen R . Mild cognitive impairment as a diagnostic entity. J Intern Med. 2004; 256(3):183-94. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2004.01388.x. View

13.

Oishi K, Faria A, Jiang H, Li X, Akhter K, Zhang J . Atlas-based whole brain white matter analysis using large deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping: application to normal elderly and Alzheimer's disease participants. Neuroimage. 2009; 46(2):486-99. PMC: 2885858. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.01.002. View

14.

. Research consent for cognitively impaired adults: recommendations for institutional review boards and investigators. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2004; 18(3):171-5. DOI: 10.1097/01.wad.0000137520.23370.56. View

15.

Sydykova D, Stahl R, Dietrich O, Ewers M, Reiser M, Schoenberg S . Fiber connections between the cerebral cortex and the corpus callosum in Alzheimer's disease: a diffusion tensor imaging and voxel-based morphometry study. Cereb Cortex. 2006; 17(10):2276-82. DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhl136. View

16.

Albert M, DeKosky S, Dickson D, Dubois B, Feldman H, Fox N . The diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease: recommendations from the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement. 2011; 7(3):270-9. PMC: 3312027. DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2011.03.008. View

17.

Song S, Sun S, Ju W, Lin S, Cross A, Neufeld A . Diffusion tensor imaging detects and differentiates axon and myelin degeneration in mouse optic nerve after retinal ischemia. Neuroimage. 2003; 20(3):1714-22. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2003.07.005. View

18.

Teipel S, Meindl T, Wagner M, Stieltjes B, Reuter S, Hauenstein K . Longitudinal changes in fiber tract integrity in healthy aging and mild cognitive impairment: a DTI follow-up study. J Alzheimers Dis. 2010; 22(2):507-22. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2010-100234. View

19.

Petersen R, Smith G, Waring S, Ivnik R, Tangalos E, Kokmen E . Mild cognitive impairment: clinical characterization and outcome. Arch Neurol. 1999; 56(3):303-8. DOI: 10.1001/archneur.56.3.303. View

20.

Jack Jr C, Albert M, Knopman D, McKhann G, Sperling R, Carrillo M . Introduction to the recommendations from the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement. 2011; 7(3):257-62. PMC: 3096735. DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2011.03.004. View