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White matter hyperintensities and prepulse inhibition in a mixed elderly population
Lise C Salem1, Anne-Mette Hejl1, Ellen Garde2
1Memory Disorders Research Group, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark.
White matter hyperintensities (WMH) in elderly subjects may impact startle response latency but do not significantly alter prepulse inhibition (PPI), a sensorimotor gating measure. This suggests WMH affects timing, not necessarily cognitive processing, in aging brains.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Radiology
Background:
- Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle response shows high variability in elderly individuals.
- White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are common in older adults and associated with cognitive decline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between WMH and PPI variability in elderly subjects.
- To determine if WMH contribute to altered sensorimotor gating in aging.
Main Methods:
- A passive acoustic prepulse inhibition (PPI) paradigm was used in 92 subjects (60-85 years).
- Participants included healthy controls and those with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment.
- White matter hyperintensities (WMH) were assessed using the Fazekas scale on MRI FLAIR images.
Main Results:
- WMH were present in 70% of subjects.
- Increased WMH load correlated significantly with increased startle response latency.
- No significant relationship was found between WMH severity and PPI levels or cognitive performance.
Conclusions:
- WMH in the fronto-striatal brain circuit may influence the latency of the startle response in the elderly.
- WMH presence does not appear to significantly affect sensorimotor gating (PPI) or information processing in this population.
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