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Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
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Disconnectome associated with progressive white matter hyperintensities in aging: a virtual lesion study
Meng Li1,2, Mohamad Habes3, Hans Grabe4
1College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China.
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
|September 18, 2023
Summary
Age-related white matter hyperintensities (WMH) cause brain disconnections, impacting cognitive function. This study used a virtual lesion approach to map these changes in the aging brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
Background:
- White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are common in older adults and linked to cognitive decline.
- Understanding WMH's impact on brain connectivity is crucial for aging research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate structural connectome changes caused by age-related WMH.
- To utilize a virtual lesion approach for mapping these connectivity alterations.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion-weighted imaging data from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) were analyzed.
- Virtual lesion masks based on WMH frequency maps were applied to fiber tracking.
- Connectivity differences were assessed using paired tests with False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction.
Main Results:
- Disconnections initiated from the striatum to the middle frontal gyrus (MFG) in the 50s.
- By the 60s and 70s, disconnections extended from the thalamus to MFG and superior frontal gyrus.
- Widespread cortical and hippocampal node disconnections were observed in the 80s.
Conclusions:
- The virtual lesion approach effectively estimates structural disconnectome changes due to age-related WMH.
- These age-related disconnections may underlie cognitive and sensorimotor deficits in aging individuals.
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