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High white matter lesion load is associated with hippocampal atrophy in mild cognitive impairment

C Eckerström1, E Olsson, N Klasson

  • 1Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. carl.eckrtston@neuro.gu.se

Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders
|February 5, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

White matter lesions (WML) are linked to hippocampal atrophy in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients. Significant atrophy occurred only when WML volume reached a critical threshold, suggesting a potential diagnostic marker.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroimaging
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a complex condition potentially preceding Alzheimer's disease (AD) and subcortical vascular dementia (SVD).
  • Emerging evidence links white matter lesions (WML) to hippocampal atrophy, a key feature in dementia.
  • Understanding this relationship is crucial for early diagnosis and intervention in MCI.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify hippocampal and WML volumes in individuals with MCI.
  • To investigate the association between WML and hippocampal atrophy in the MCI population.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Gothenburg MCI study, a longitudinal cohort with 166 participants (92 stable MCI, 30 converting MCI, 44 controls).
  • Measured WML volumes manually using MRIcron.
  • Performed automated segmentation of hippocampal and total white matter volumes via FreeSurfer.

Main Results:

  • Patients converting from MCI to dementia exhibited reduced hippocampal volume.
  • Converting MCI patients showed significantly higher WML volumes compared to controls.
  • Hippocampal volume correlated with WML volume (ρ = 0.57; p < 0.01) specifically within the quartile of patients with the highest WML burden.

Conclusions:

  • Hippocampal atrophy is a common finding in both AD and SVD.
  • The association between hippocampal volume and WML volume appears to be dependent on a WML volume threshold.
  • These findings suggest that WML accumulation may need to exceed a certain level before causing noticeable hippocampal atrophy in MCI.

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