The relationship between nutritional status and white matter integrity in older adults: A diffusion tensor imaging...

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Geriatric Medicine
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Nutritional status significantly impacts overall health, particularly in older adults.
• White matter integrity is crucial for cognitive function and can be affected by various health conditions.
• Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) offers a non-invasive method to assess white matter microstructure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between nutritional status and white matter integrity in elderly individuals.
• To utilize Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) to detect microstructural brain changes associated with malnutrition.

Main Methods:

• 224 older patients were assessed using the Mini-Nutritional Assessment Scale and categorized into well-nourished, malnutrition risk, or malnourished groups.
• Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and DTI were performed on all participants.
• Region of Interest (ROI)-based analysis calculated mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) in white matter tracts.

Main Results:

• Patients at risk of malnutrition (Group 2) showed decreased FA in the genu of corpus callosum and forceps minor, and increased MD in the middle cerebellar peduncle and superior frontooccipital fasciculus compared to well-nourished individuals (Group 1).
• Malnourished patients (Group 3) exhibited significantly higher MD and RD values in the cingulum and lower AD values in the superior cerebellar peduncle, even after adjusting for age and folate levels.
• These findings indicate significant white matter microstructural alterations associated with malnutrition and malnutrition risk.

Conclusions:

• Malnutrition is associated with compromised white matter integrity, particularly affecting the cingulum and superior cerebellar peduncle.
• Assessing nutritional status in older individuals is critical for preventing negative neurological consequences.
• DTI is a valuable non-invasive tool for the early diagnosis of malnutrition-related white matter damage, aiding in prevention and intervention strategies.