TY - JOUR
T1 - Thalamic diffusion differences related to cognitive function in white matter lesions
AU - Fernández-Andújar, Marina
AU - Soriano-Raya, Juan José
AU - Miralbell, Júlia
AU - López-Cancio, Elena
AU - Cáceres, Cynthia
AU - Bargalló, Núria
AU - Barrios, Maite
AU - Arenillas, Juan Francisco
AU - Toran, Pere
AU - Alzamora, Maite
AU - Clemente, Imma
AU - Dávalos, Antoni
AU - Mataró, Maria
PY - 2014/5/1
Y1 - 2014/5/1
N2 - Cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs) are related to cognitive deficits, probably due to a disruption of frontal-subcortical circuits. We explored thalamic diffusion differences related to white matter lesions (WMLs) and their association with cognitive function in middle-aged individuals. Ninety-six participants from the Barcelona-AsIA Neuropsychology Study were included. Participants were classified into groups based on low grade and high grade of periventricular hyperintensities (PVHs) and deep white matter hyperintensities (DWMHs). Tract-Based Spatial Statistics was used to study thalamic diffusion differences between groups. Mean fractional anisotropy (FA) values in significant areas were calculated for each subject and correlated with cognitive performance. Participants with high-grade PVHs and DWMHs showed lower FA thalamic values compared to those with low-grade PVHs and DWMHs, respectively. Decreased FA thalamic values in high-grade DWMHs, but not high-grade PVH, were related to lower levels of performance in psychomotor speed, verbal fluency, and visuospatial skills. Thalamic diffusion differences are related to lower cognitive function only in participants with high-grade DWMHs. These results support the hypothesis that fronto-subcortical disruption is associated with cognitive function only in DWMHs. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.
AB - Cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs) are related to cognitive deficits, probably due to a disruption of frontal-subcortical circuits. We explored thalamic diffusion differences related to white matter lesions (WMLs) and their association with cognitive function in middle-aged individuals. Ninety-six participants from the Barcelona-AsIA Neuropsychology Study were included. Participants were classified into groups based on low grade and high grade of periventricular hyperintensities (PVHs) and deep white matter hyperintensities (DWMHs). Tract-Based Spatial Statistics was used to study thalamic diffusion differences between groups. Mean fractional anisotropy (FA) values in significant areas were calculated for each subject and correlated with cognitive performance. Participants with high-grade PVHs and DWMHs showed lower FA thalamic values compared to those with low-grade PVHs and DWMHs, respectively. Decreased FA thalamic values in high-grade DWMHs, but not high-grade PVH, were related to lower levels of performance in psychomotor speed, verbal fluency, and visuospatial skills. Thalamic diffusion differences are related to lower cognitive function only in participants with high-grade DWMHs. These results support the hypothesis that fronto-subcortical disruption is associated with cognitive function only in DWMHs. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.
KW - Neuropsychology
KW - Psychomotor speed
KW - Thalamus diffusivity
KW - Verbal fluency
KW - Visuospatial skills
KW - White matter lesions
U2 - 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2013.10.087
DO - 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2013.10.087
M3 - Article
SN - 0197-4580
VL - 35
SP - 1103
EP - 1110
JO - Neurobiology of Aging
JF - Neurobiology of Aging
IS - 5
ER -