Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 11, 2025
Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
Disrupted White Matter Integrity and Cognitive Functions in Amyloid-β Positive Alzheimer's Disease with Concomitant
Yanan Qiao1, Yu Sun1, Jing Guo1
1Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
Background:
Lobar cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), which can impair white matter (WM), are often concomitant with definite Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Objective:
To explore the features of cognitive impairments and WM disruptions due to lobar CMBs in patients with AD.
Methods:
There were 310 participants who underwent Florbetapir F18 (AV45) amyloid PET and susceptibility-weighted imaging. Participants with cognitive impairment and amyloid-β positive (ADCI) were included into three groups: ADCI without CMBs, with strictly lobar CMBs (SL-CMBs), and with mixed CMBs (M-CMBs). Tract-based spatial statistics were performed to detect the group differences in WM integrity.
Results:
There were 82 patients and 29 healthy controls finally included. A decreasing tendency in memory and executive performance can be found among HCs > no CMBs (n = 16) >SL-CMBs (n = 41) >M-CMBs (n = 25) group. Compared to no CMBs, M-CMBs group had significantly decreased fractional anisotropy in left anterior thalamic radiation (ATR), forceps major, forceps minor and inferior longitudinal fasciculus, bilateral inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), and superior longitudinal fasciculus. M-CMBs group also had lower fractional anisotropy in left ATR, IFOF, uncinate fasciculus, and forceps minor compared with SL-CMBs. Furthermore, analysis of Pearson correlation indicated damages in discrepant WMs were positively associated with impairment of memory, executive function, and attention.
Conclusion:
This study showed lobar CMBs had intensively aggravated cognitive impairments associated with extensive WM damages in definite AD. These findings highlight that lobar CMBs play an important role in AD progression and need to be taken into consideration for the early detection of AD.
Insights
Lobar cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) significantly worsen cognitive decline and white matter (WM) damage in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Identifying CMBs is crucial for early AD detection and understanding disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Radiology
Background:
- Lobar cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are frequently observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- CMBs can lead to white matter (WM) integrity disruptions.
- Understanding the impact of CMBs on cognition in AD is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of lobar CMBs on cognitive function.
- To analyze associated white matter (WM) disruptions in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.
- To differentiate cognitive and WM changes based on CMB distribution.
Main Methods:
- Amyloid PET (Florbetapir F18) and susceptibility-weighted imaging were used.
- Participants with cognitive impairment and amyloid-β positivity were categorized into groups: no CMBs, strictly lobar CMBs (SL-CMBs), and mixed CMBs (M-CMBs).
- Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) analyzed WM integrity differences.
Main Results:
- Cognitive performance decreased in the order: healthy controls > no CMBs > SL-CMBs > M-CMBs.
- The M-CMBs group showed significant reductions in fractional anisotropy (FA) in multiple WM tracts compared to the no CMBs group.
- The M-CMBs group exhibited greater WM damage than the SL-CMBs group, with FA reductions in key tracts.
Conclusions:
- Lobar CMBs exacerbate cognitive impairment and WM damage in AD.
- CMBs play a significant role in AD progression.
- Considering lobar CMBs is vital for early AD detection and management.
More Related Videos
08:27Establishment of a Valuable Mimic of Alzheimer's Disease in Rat Animal Model by Intracerebroventricular Injection of Composited Amyloid Beta Protein
Published on: July 29, 2018
12:50Lesion Explorer: A Video-guided, Standardized Protocol for Accurate and Reliable MRI-derived Volumetrics in Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Elderly
Published on: April 14, 2014
