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Pattern of structural and functional brain abnormalities in asymptomatic granulin mutation carriers
Author(s) -
Pievani Michela,
Paternicò Donata,
Benussi Luisa,
Binetti Giuliano,
Orlandini Alberto,
Cobelli Milena,
Magnaldi Silvia,
Ghidoni Roberta,
Frisoni Giovanni B.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2013.09.009
Subject(s) - white matter , diffusion mri , atrophy , corticospinal tract , neuroscience , cingulum (brain) , asymptomatic , medicine , resting state fmri , asymptomatic carrier , pathology , magnetic resonance imaging , psychology , radiology , fractional anisotropy
Abstract Background To investigate the patterns of brain atrophy, white matter (WM) tract changes, and functional connectivity (FC) abnormalities in asymptomatic granulin ( GRN ) mutation carriers. Methods Ten cognitively normal subjects (five mutation carriers, GRN +; years to estimated disease onset: 12 ± 7; five mutation noncarriers, GRN −) underwent a clinical and imaging (structural, diffusion tensor, and resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging) assessment. Brain atrophy was measured with cortical thickness analysis, WM abnormalities with tract‐based spatial statistics, and FC with independent component analysis. Results GRN + showed smaller cortical thickness than GRN − in the right orbitofrontal and precentral gyrus and left rostral middle frontal gyrus. WM tracts abnormalities were limited to increased axial diffusivity in the right cingulum, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and corticospinal tract. There were no differences in FC of resting‐state networks. Conclusion Brain atrophy and WM tract abnormalities in frontal‐parietal circuits can be detected at least a decade before the estimated symptom onset in asymptomatic mutation carriers.