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Longitudinal changes of cortical morphology in CADASIL
Eric Jouvent1, Jean-François Mangin, Edouard Duchesnay
1Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR740 INSERM, Paris, France.
Neurobiology of Aging
|October 18, 2011
Summary
In Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leucoencephalopathy (CADASIL) patients, worsening clinical status correlated with changes in cortical morphology. Lacunar lesions significantly impacted these alterations, suggesting a role in subcortical ischemic vascular dementia progression.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimaging
- Genetics
Background:
- Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leucoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a genetic condition modeling subcortical ischemic vascular dementia (SIVD). Previous research linked clinical status to cortex morphology.
- Understanding the progression of SIVD in CADASIL patients is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate alterations in cortex morphology and their association with clinical worsening in CADASIL patients.
- To determine the relationship between cortical morphological changes and the progression of white matter hyperintensities and lacunar lesions.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 190 CADASIL patients over 24.4 months.
- Utilized linear models to assess correlations between clinical worsening and changes in cortical sulcal depth and thickness.
- Examined the impact of white matter hyperintensity volume and lacunar lesion volume on cortical morphology.
Main Results:
- Reduced sulcal depth correlated with slower performance on Trail Making Tests A and B.
- Decreased cortical thickness was associated with increased disability (modified Rankin's scale).
- Brain atrophy linked to global cognitive decline (Mattis Dementia Rating Scale); lacunar lesions had a greater impact on cortical alterations than white matter hyperintensities.
Conclusions:
- Cortical alterations in CADASIL patients evolve in parallel with clinical worsening.
- Lacunar lesions play a significant role in driving cortical changes.
- These findings reinforce the importance of cortical alterations in the pathophysiology of subcortical ischemic vascular dementia.
