Associations between diffusion tensor imaging patterns and cerebrospinal fluid markers in mild cognitive impairment

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Biomarkers
• Cognitive Neurology

Background:

• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents an early stage of cognitive decline.
• Identifying reliable early biomarkers for MCI is crucial for timely intervention.
• Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers are promising tools for detecting neurodegeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the utility of DTI and CSF biomarkers in identifying early brain changes in MCI.
• To compare DTI and CSF marker differences between MCI patients and healthy controls.
• To explore associations between DTI and CSF markers in individuals with MCI.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 159 participants (92 MCI, 67 controls) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI).
• Collected and analyzed demographic data, CSF biomarkers (tau, amyloid-β), and DTI metrics from 57 white matter tracts.
• Employed general linear models, adjusting for age, sex, and handedness, to compare groups and explore marker associations.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in CSF biomarker levels were observed between MCI patients and controls.
• Distinct alterations in diffusion properties were found in the left Cingulum and left Uncinate fasciculus in the MCI group.
• Statistically significant associations were identified between specific DTI metrics and CSF biomarkers within white matter tracts in the MCI cohort.

Conclusions:

• DTI and CSF biomarkers effectively differentiate individuals with MCI from healthy controls.
• Alterations in specific white matter tracts, detectable by DTI, are associated with underlying molecular pathology in MCI.
• The combined use of imaging and molecular markers provides a comprehensive approach to understanding MCI pathogenesis.