Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 3, 2025

Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
09:33

Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Published on: July 28, 2013

28.5K

Influence of mild cognitive impairment and body mass index on white matter integrity assessed by diffusion tensor

Emma M Tinney1,2, Psyche Loui1,2, Lauren B Raine2,3,4

  • 1Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Psychophysiology
|April 11, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is linked to white matter (WM) damage in specific brain regions. Body mass index (BMI) and relational memory may influence WM integrity, suggesting lifestyle factors impact brain health.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Radiology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease, characterized by cognitive decline and associated with brain degeneration.
  • White matter (WM) integrity is crucial for cognitive function, and its compromise may serve as an early indicator of neurodegenerative processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate white matter (WM) integrity differences between healthy older adults (OA) and those with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
  • To explore the relationship between cognitive status, body mass index (BMI), and WM integrity.
  • To examine the association between relational memory, BMI, and WM integrity in older adults.

Main Methods:

  • Diffusion-weighted imaging was acquired from 60 healthy OA and 20 OA with amnestic MCI.
  • Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) was employed for whole-brain WM integrity analysis.
  • Probabilistic tractography was used to assess connectivity differences and analyze the impact of BMI on diffusivity.

Main Results:

  • Individuals with MCI exhibited significantly higher axial diffusivity in key WM regions, including the corpus callosum (splenium and body), superior corona radiata, and internal capsule.
  • Connectivity analyses revealed significant differences between the splenium of the corpus callosum and forceps major/minor in MCI patients.
  • Linear regression demonstrated significant interactions between cognitive status and BMI affecting diffusivity, and WM integrity was positively associated with relational memory performance.

Conclusions:

  • Specific white matter regions are sensitive to early neurodegenerative changes associated with MCI.
  • Modifiable lifestyle factors, such as body mass index (BMI), may influence white matter integrity in older adults.
  • Preserving white matter integrity through lifestyle modifications could be a potential strategy for mitigating cognitive decline.
Keywords:
agingbody mass indexdiffusion tensor imagingmild cognitive impairmentrelational memorywhite matter integrity

More Related Videos

Advanced Diffusion Imaging in The Hippocampus of Rats with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury10:33

Advanced Diffusion Imaging in The Hippocampus of Rats with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Published on: August 14, 2019

8.6K
Development of an Uncomplicated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Model Modified by Weight-Drop Method and Evidenced by Magnetic Resonance Imaging08:36

Development of an Uncomplicated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Model Modified by Weight-Drop Method and Evidenced by Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Published on: April 11, 2025

404

Related Concept Videos

Biological Influences on Intelligence01:30

Biological Influences on Intelligence

Intelligence is often thought to be linked to brain size, but the relationship is more complex than that. While brain size does correlate modestly with some abilities, like verbal skills, the connection is weaker for others, such as spatial reasoning. Other factors, like brain structure, also play crucial roles. For instance, despite Einstein's smaller-than-average brain, his parietal cortex, which is involved in spatial reasoning, was 15% wider, suggesting that neural density might matter...
161