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Five‐Year Lower Extremity Function is Associated with White Matter Abnormality in Older Adults
Author(s) -
He Lingxiao,
Souto Barreto Philipe,
Giudici Kelly Virecoulon,
Gabelle Audrey,
Perus Lisa,
Mangin JeanFrançois,
Rolland Yves,
Vellas Bruno
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/jgs.16989
Subject(s) - medicine , white matter , cingulum (brain) , diffusion mri , corpus callosum , uncinate fasciculus , magnetic resonance imaging , internal capsule , fasciculus , cerebral peduncle , gait , physical medicine and rehabilitation , nuclear medicine , fractional anisotropy , radiology , pathology
Objective To explore associations between changes of lower extremity function (LEF) parameters over a 5‐year period and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters of white matter tracts among community‐dwelling older adults. Design A secondary analysis on image and physical function data collected from the Multidomain Alzheimer's Preventive Trial (MAPT). Participants 208 older adults (aged 75 ± 4 years, with spontaneous memory complaint or limited instrumental daily living activity or slow gait speed, 60% female) of the MAPT‐magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ancillary study. The time interval between a participant's enrolment and MRI scan was on average 110 ± 97 days. Measurements Forty‐eight white matter tracts (WMTs) were measured. LEF parameters (measured after the MRI scan) were assessed as the short physical performance battery (SPPB) score, gait speed, and chair stands time over a 5‐year period. Mixed‐effects models were performed to explore the associations between baseline DTI values and the progression of LEF parameters. Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparison correction. Results The progression of LEF was associated with 35 baseline DTI parameters from 24 WMTs. Higher baseline DTI parameter values were related to more decreases in SPPB score and gait speed, and greater increases in chair stands time. Bilateral uncinate fasciculus was associated with all LEF parameters. Other WMTs in cingulum, cerebral and cerebellar peduncle, internal capsule, and corpus callosum also showed close connections with LEF changes. Conclusions Our findings show that DTI parameters of some WMTs are associated with the 5‐year decline in LEF, suggesting that alterations in WMT integrity (evaluated by DTI parameters) might be used to explore potential causes of impaired mobility in older adults when no clear explanations can be found.