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[White matter integrity in patients with mild cognitive impairment complicated with lacunar infarctions by diffusion
Tingting Yu1, Zhenyu Yin2, Bing Zhang3
1Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008; Department of Geriatrics, Affliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China.
Objective:
To evaluate the white-matter integrity and its correlation with cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) complicated with lacunar infarctions (LI) by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of magnetic resonance (MR). Methods: Twenty-six patients with MCI were selected including 14 patients with combined LI and 12 patients without combined LI, and 16 healthy volunteers were recruited as normal control. All subjects completed cognitive function assessment and DTI sequence of MR. Factional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values among the MCI with LI group (MCI-LI), the MCI without LI group (MCI-non LI), and the normal control group (NC) were compared, and the correlation between DTI parameters and cognition was determined by multiple linear stepwise regression. Results: Compared with the MCI-non LI group, the FA values were significantly decreased (P<0.05) and MD values were significantly increased (P<0.05) in the white matter fiber bundles (such as the left hippocampus of the cingulate tract, the frontal fascicle of the corpus callosum, the right inferior frontal occipital fascicle, and the right superior longitudinal fascicle) in the MCI-LI group. In the MCI-LI group, the FA value of right cingulate gyrus was significantly correlated with Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL) score (B=-50.2, 95% CI -77.7 to -22.7, P=0.003); the FA value of left anterior thalamic radiation (B=443.8, 95% CI 222.9 to 664.8, P=0.001) and MD value of left inferior longitudinal tract (B=-318.5, 95% CI -534.7 to -102.3, P=0.009) were significantly correlated with Wechsler digit symbol substitution (WDSS) score; the FA value of left superior temporal lobe longitudinal tract was significantly correlated with Backward Digit Span (BDSP) score (B=12.5, 95% CI 1.5 to 23.4, P=0.030). Conclusion: The integrity of white matter is significantly destroyed in MCI patients with LI than that in MCI patients without LI, and there is a correlation between cognitive function and DTI parameters in some white matter tracts in MCI patients with LI.
Insights
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients with lacunar infarctions show reduced white-matter integrity. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) revealed correlations between white matter damage and cognitive deficits in these patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia.
- Lacunar infarctions (LI) are small strokes that can affect cognitive function.
- White matter integrity is crucial for cognitive processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate white matter integrity in MCI patients with and without lacunar infarctions (LI) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
- To explore the correlation between white matter integrity and cognitive function in MCI patients with LI.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was performed on 26 MCI patients (14 with LI, 12 without LI) and 16 healthy controls.
- Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values were analyzed in white matter tracts.
- Cognitive function was assessed using standardized tests, and correlations with DTI parameters were determined via multiple linear regression.
Main Results:
- MCI patients with LI exhibited significantly decreased FA and increased MD values in multiple white matter tracts compared to MCI patients without LI.
- Specific white matter tracts showed significant correlations between FA/MD values and cognitive scores (ADL, WDSS, BDSP).
Conclusions:
- White matter integrity is significantly compromised in MCI patients with LI.
- DTI parameters are correlated with cognitive function in specific white matter tracts of MCI patients with LI, suggesting a link between microstructural changes and cognitive decline.
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