Cerebral amyloid burden is associated with white matter hyperintensity location in specific posterior white matter...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neuroimaging
• Cerebrovascular Diseases

Background:

• White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are common in cerebral small vessel disease and Alzheimer's disease, often with posterior predominance.
• The relationship between amyloid and tau pathologies and WMH occurrence remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between cerebral amyloid and tau burden and the location of WMHs.
• To explore the link between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and WMH distribution in memory clinic patients.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of CSF amyloid-beta 1-42 (Aβ-42) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) in 517 memory clinic patients.
• Utilized voxel-based analyses and region of interest-based linear regression for lesion mapping.
• Controlled for markers of vascular disease in regression analyses.

Main Results:

• Lower CSF Aβ-42 levels were associated with WMHs in parieto-occipital periventricular regions.
• Lower Aβ-42 correlated with increased WMH volumes in the splenium of the corpus callosum and posterior thalamic radiation.
• No consistent relationship was found between p-tau and WMH occurrence.

Conclusions:

• Cerebral amyloid burden is specifically associated with WMHs in posterior white matter regions.
• Findings suggest potential region-specific effects of amyloid pathology on white matter integrity.
• Amyloid, not tau, appears linked to WMH location in this cohort.