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Microstructural White Matter Alterations in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease : Study Based on
Xiuwei Fu1, Susan Shrestha1, Man Sun2
1Department of Radiology, First Central Clinical College, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
Purpose:
To investigate microstructural alterations in white matter in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) using neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) and to assess the potential diagnostic performance of NODDI-derived parameters.
Methods:
In this study 14 MCI patients, 14 AD patients, and 14 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. The diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)-derived fractional anisotropy (FA) and NODDI-derived neurite density index (NDI), orientation dispersion index (ODI), and volume fraction of isotropic water molecules (Viso) were calculated from the diffusion data. The tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) method was used for statistical analysis with one-way ANOVA. The correlations between the parameter values and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) scores were examined. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was conducted to assess the diagnostic performance of different parameters.
Results:
Compared with the HC group, the NDI and ODI values decreased significantly and the Viso values were significantly increased in the MCI and AD groups (p < 0.01, threshold-free cluster enhancement (TFCE)-corrected); however, there were no significant differences in FA values in the MCI group. The NDI, ODI, and Viso values of multiple fibers were significantly correlated with MMSE and MoCA scores. For the diagnosis of AD, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the NDI value of the splenium of corpus callosum was larger than the FA value (AUC = 0.885, 0.714, p = 0.042). The AUC of the Viso value of the right cerebral peduncle was larger than FA value (AUC = 0.934, 0.531, p = 0.004).
Conclusion:
The NDI is more sensitive to white matter microstructural changes than FA and NODDI could be superior to DTI in the diagnosis of AD.
Insights
Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) reveals significant white matter changes in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease, outperforming diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in diagnostic accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- White Matter Microstructure
- Cognitive Impairment
Background:
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are associated with white matter degeneration.
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is commonly used to assess white matter integrity, but its sensitivity may be limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate white matter microstructural alterations in MCI and AD using neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI).
- To evaluate the diagnostic performance of NODDI-derived parameters compared to DTI-derived fractional anisotropy (FA).
Main Methods:
- 14 MCI patients, 14 AD patients, and 14 healthy controls (HC) underwent diffusion imaging.
- Calculated DTI-derived FA and NODDI-derived neurite density index (NDI), orientation dispersion index (ODI), and volume fraction of isotropic water molecules (Viso).
- Statistical analysis included tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS), ANOVA, correlation with cognitive scores (MMSE, MoCA), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.
Main Results:
- MCI and AD groups showed significantly decreased NDI and ODI, and increased Viso compared to HC (p < 0.01).
- No significant differences in FA were found in the MCI group.
- NODDI parameters (NDI, ODI, Viso) correlated significantly with MMSE and MoCA scores.
- Area under the ROC curve (AUC) for NDI and Viso in diagnosing AD was superior to FA (e.g., NDI AUC = 0.885, Viso AUC = 0.934).
Conclusions:
- NODDI parameters, particularly NDI, are more sensitive to white matter microstructural changes in MCI and AD than FA.
- NODDI demonstrates potential superiority over DTI for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.