A voxel-based morphometry study of anosmic patients

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Olfactory dysfunction, such as anosmia, can impact brain structure.
• Understanding the pattern of brain atrophy in anosmia is crucial for neurological research.
• Previous research has not extensively detailed the simultaneous grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) atrophy patterns in anosmia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volume changes in anosmic individuals versus healthy controls.
• To identify patterns of atrophy within and between GM and WM in anosmia.
• To determine the sensitivity of specific brain areas to olfactory injury.

Main Methods:

• Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was employed using the VBM8 toolbox and SPM8 in MATLAB.
• Magnetic Resonance (MR) images were acquired on a 3-Tesla scanner.
• The study included 19 patients with anosmia and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

Main Results:

• Anosmic patients exhibited significant GM volume reduction in numerous brain regions, including the anterior cingulate cortex, temporal gyri, fusiform gyrus, and cerebellum.
• WM atrophy was observed in areas adjacent to GM regions with volume loss.
• The extent of atrophy in both GM and WM increased with longer disease duration.

Conclusions:

• Simultaneous atrophy occurs in both grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) in anosmia.
• The degree of brain atrophy is more pronounced with longer disease duration.
• Different GM and WM areas demonstrate varying sensitivities to olfactory-induced injury.