Open AccessGenetic effect of MTHFR C677T polymorphism on the structural covariance network and white‐matter integrity in Alzheimer's disease
Author(s) -
Chang YuTzu,
Hsu ShihWei,
Tsai ShihJen,
Chang YaTing,
Huang ChiWei,
Liu MuEn,
Chen NaiChing,
Chang WenNeng,
Hsu JungLung,
Lee ChenChang,
Chang ChiungChih
Publication year - 2017
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.23572
Subject(s) - white matter , diffusion mri , psychology , neuroscience , posterior cingulate , cingulate cortex , covariance , anterior cingulate cortex , medicine , cortex (anatomy) , magnetic resonance imaging , cognition , central nervous system , mathematics , statistics , radiology
The 677 C to T transition in the MTHFR gene is a genetic determinant for hyperhomocysteinemia. We investigated whether this polymorphism modulates gray matter (GM) structural covariance networks independently of white‐matter integrity in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). GM structural covariance networks were constructed by 3D T1‐magnetic resonance imaging and seed‐based analysis. The patients were divided into two genotype groups: C homozygotes ( n = 73) and T carriers ( n = 62). Using diffusion tensor imaging and white‐matter parcellation, 11 fiber bundle integrities were compared between the two genotype groups. Cognitive test scores were the major outcome factors. The T carriers had higher homocysteine levels, lower posterior cingulate cortex GM volume, and more clusters in the dorsal medial lobe subsystem showing stronger covariance strength. Both posterior cingulate cortex seed and interconnected peak cluster volumes predicted cognitive test scores, especially in the T carriers. There were no between‐group differences in fiber tract diffusion parameters. The MTHFR 677T polymorphism modulates posterior cingulate cortex‐anchored structural covariance strength independently of white matter integrities. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3039–3051, 2017 . © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.