Open AccessCerebral small vessel disease affects white matter microstructure in mild cognitive impairment
Author(s) -
Papma Janne M.,
de Groot Marius,
de Koning Inge,
MattaceRaso Francesco U.,
van der Lugt Aad,
Vernooij Meike W.,
Niessen Wiro J.,
van Swieten John C.,
Koudstaal Peter J.,
Prins Niels D.,
Smits Marion
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.22370
Subject(s) - white matter , cingulum (brain) , diffusion mri , corpus callosum , hyperintensity , external capsule , fractional anisotropy , default mode network , psychology , internal capsule , grey matter , hippocampal sclerosis , neuroscience , magnetic resonance imaging , medicine , cardiology , pathology , temporal lobe , radiology , cognition , epilepsy
Microstructural white matter deterioration is a frequent finding in mild cognitive impairment (MCI), potentially underlying default mode network (DMN) dysfunctioning. Thus far, microstructural damage in MCI has been attributed to Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology. A cerebrovascular role, in particular the role of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), received less interest. Here, we used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to examine the role of CSVD in microstructural deterioration within the normal appearing white matter (NAWM) in MCI. MCI patients were subdivided into those with ( n = 20) and without ( n = 31) macrostructural CSVD evidence on MRI. Using TBSS we performed microstructural integrity comparisons within the whole brain NAWM. Secondly, we segmented white matter tracts interconnecting DMN brain regions by means of automated tractography segmentation. We used NAWM DTI measures from these tracts as dependent variables in a stepwise‐linear regression analysis, with structural and demographical predictors. Our results indicated microstructural deterioration within the anterior corpus callosum, internal and external capsule and periventricular white matter in MCI patients with CSVD, while in MCI patients without CSVD, deterioration was restricted to the right perforant path, a tract along the hippocampus. Within the full cohort of MCI patients, microstructure within the NAWM of the DMN fiber tracts was affected by the presence of CSVD. Within the cingulum along the hippocampal cortex we found a relationship between microstructural integrity and ipsilateral hippocampal volume and the extent of white matter hyperintensity. In conclusion, we found evidence of CSVD‐related microstructural damage in fiber tracts subserving the DMN in MCI. Hum Brain Mapp 35:2836–2851, 2014 . © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc .