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Hippocampal diffusion tensor imaging microstructural changes in vascular dementia
Jelena Ostojic1, Dusko Kozic2, Aleksandra Pavlovic3
1Center of Radiology, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, School of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 1-7 Hajduk Veljkova Street, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia. jelenamarkovicostojic@gmail.com.
Abstract:
To explore microstructural integrity of hippocampus in vascular dementia (VD) using DTI. Twenty-five individuals with VD, without magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of gray matter pathology, and 25 matched healthy control (HC) individuals underwent a 3T MRI protocol including T2, FLAIR, and PD in the axial plane, 3D whole-brain T1-weighted with an isotropic resolution of 1 mm, and DTI acquired using 64 diffusion sensitizing directions, b value of 1,500 s/mm(2), 65 axial slices, isotropic resolution of 1.8 mm. Images were processed to obtain indices of microstructural variations of bilateral hippocampi. Mean diffusivity (MD) in the hippocampus of patients with VD was significantly increased (p < 0.05) bilaterally with respect to that of the group of HC examinees. In VD group left hippocampal MD (10(-6 )× mm(2)/s) was 833.4 ± 92.8; in HC group left MD was 699.8 ± 56. In VD group, right hippocampal MD was 859.1 ± 69.8; in HC group right MD was 730.4 ± 40.2. No group differences were found in hippocampal FA. DTI shows microstructural hippocampal damage in VD in patients with normal appearing gray matter structures on conventional MRI, indicating the need for further research on the link between VD and AD.
Insights
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) reveals increased mean diffusivity in the hippocampus of vascular dementia (VD) patients, indicating microstructural damage not visible on conventional MRI. This suggests potential links between VD and Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Vascular dementia (VD) is a common cause of cognitive decline.
- Conventional MRI may not detect early microstructural changes in the hippocampus associated with VD.
- Hippocampal integrity is crucial for memory function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate hippocampal microstructural integrity in VD using Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI).
- To compare DTI-derived metrics between individuals with VD and healthy controls (HC).
- To determine if DTI can detect sub-visual hippocampal damage in VD.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-five VD patients and 25 matched HC underwent 3T MRI, including T2, FLAIR, T1-weighted, and DTI sequences.
- DTI data were acquired with 64 directions and a b-value of 1,500 s/mm(2).
- Diffusion metrics, including Mean Diffusivity (MD) and Fractional Anisotropy (FA), were calculated for bilateral hippocampi.
Main Results:
- Significantly increased bilateral hippocampal Mean Diffusivity (MD) was observed in VD patients compared to HC (p < 0.05).
- Specific MD values: Left hippocampus VD 833.4 ± 92.8 vs HC 699.8 ± 56; Right hippocampus VD 859.1 ± 69.8 vs HC 730.4 ± 40.2.
- No significant differences in hippocampal Fractional Anisotropy (FA) were found between the groups.
Conclusions:
- DTI can detect microstructural hippocampal damage in VD, even when gray matter structures appear normal on conventional MRI.
- Elevated MD in the hippocampus suggests compromised tissue integrity in VD.
- Further research is warranted to explore the relationship between VD and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology.
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