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Torres-Simon L, Del Cerro-León A, Yus M, Bruña R, Gil-Martinez L, Dolado AM, Maestú F, Arrazola-Garcia J, Cuesta P. Decoding the best automated segmentation tools for vascular white matter hyperintensities in the aging brain: a clinician's guide to precision and purpose. GeroScience 2024:10.1007/s11357-024-01238-5. [PMID: 38869712 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01238-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
White matter hyperintensities of vascular origin (WMH) are commonly found in individuals over 60 and increase in prevalence with age. The significance of WMH is well-documented, with strong associations with cognitive impairment, risk of stroke, mental health, and brain structure deterioration. Consequently, careful monitoring is crucial for the early identification and management of individuals at risk. Luckily, WMH are detectable and quantifiable on standard MRI through visual assessment scales, but it is time-consuming and has high rater variability. Addressing this issue, the main aim of our study is to decipher the utility of quantitative measures of WMH, assessed with automatic tools, in establishing risk profiles for cerebrovascular deterioration. For this purpose, first, we work to determine the most precise WMH segmentation open access tool compared to clinician manual segmentations (LST-LPA, LST-LGA, SAMSEG, and BIANCA), offering insights into methodology and usability to balance clinical precision with practical application. The results indicated that supervised algorithms (LST-LPA and BIANCA) were superior, particularly in detecting small WMH, and can improve their consistency when used in parallel with unsupervised tools (LST-LGA and SAMSEG). Additionally, to investigate the behavior and real clinical utility of these tools, we tested them in a real-world scenario (N = 300; age > 50 y.o. and MMSE > 26), proposing an imaging biomarker for moderate vascular damage. The results confirmed its capacity to effectively identify individuals at risk comparing the cognitive and brain structural profiles of cognitively healthy adults above and below the resulted threshold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Torres-Simon
- Center of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Processes and Speech Therapy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Del Cerro-León
- Center of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Processes and Speech Therapy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain.
- Facultad de Psicología, Campus de Somosaguas, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain.
| | - Miguel Yus
- Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Bruña
- Center of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Radiology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lidia Gil-Martinez
- Foundation for Biomedical Research at Hospital Clínico San Carlos (FIBHCSC), Hospital Clínico San Carlos, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Marcos Dolado
- Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Maestú
- Center of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Processes and Speech Therapy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Arrazola-Garcia
- Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Radiation Therapy, School of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Cuesta
- Center of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
- Health Research Institute of the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), 28040, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Radiology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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Bachmann D, von Rickenbach B, Buchmann A, Hüllner M, Zuber I, Studer S, Saake A, Rauen K, Gruber E, Nitsch RM, Hock C, Treyer V, Gietl A. White matter hyperintensity patterns: associations with comorbidities, amyloid, and cognition. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:67. [PMID: 38561806 PMCID: PMC10983708 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01435-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are often measured globally, but spatial patterns of WMHs could underlie different risk factors and neuropathological and clinical correlates. We investigated the spatial heterogeneity of WMHs and their association with comorbidities, Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk factors, and cognition. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, we studied 171 cognitively unimpaired (CU; median age: 65 years, range: 50 to 89) and 51 mildly cognitively impaired (MCI; median age: 72, range: 53 to 89) individuals with available amyloid (18F-flutementamol) PET and FLAIR-weighted images. Comorbidities were assessed using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS). Each participant's white matter was segmented into 38 parcels, and WMH volume was calculated in each parcel. Correlated principal component analysis was applied to the parceled WMH data to determine patterns of WMH covariation. Adjusted and unadjusted linear regression models were used to investigate associations of component scores with comorbidities and AD-related factors. Using multiple linear regression, we tested whether WMH component scores predicted cognitive performance. RESULTS Principal component analysis identified four WMH components that broadly describe FLAIR signal hyperintensities in posterior, periventricular, and deep white matter regions, as well as basal ganglia and thalamic structures. In CU individuals, hypertension was associated with all patterns except the periventricular component. MCI individuals showed more diverse associations. The posterior and deep components were associated with renal disorders, the periventricular component was associated with increased amyloid, and the subcortical gray matter structures was associated with sleep disorders, endocrine/metabolic disorders, and increased amyloid. In the combined sample (CU + MCI), the main effects of WMH components were not associated with cognition but predicted poorer episodic memory performance in the presence of increased amyloid. No interaction between hypertension and the number of comorbidities on component scores was observed. CONCLUSION Our study underscores the significance of understanding the regional distribution patterns of WMHs and the valuable insights that risk factors can offer regarding their underlying causes. Moreover, patterns of hyperintensities in periventricular regions and deep gray matter structures may have more pronounced cognitive implications, especially when amyloid pathology is also present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Bachmann
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Campus Schlieren, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland.
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | | | - Andreas Buchmann
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Campus Schlieren, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Martin Hüllner
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Zuber
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Campus Schlieren, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Sandro Studer
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Campus Schlieren, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Antje Saake
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Campus Schlieren, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Katrin Rauen
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Campus Schlieren, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Psychiatric Hospital Zurich, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Esmeralda Gruber
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Campus Schlieren, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Roger M Nitsch
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Campus Schlieren, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Neurimmune AG, 8952, Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Hock
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Campus Schlieren, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Neurimmune AG, 8952, Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Valerie Treyer
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Campus Schlieren, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anton Gietl
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Campus Schlieren, Wagistrasse 12, 8952, Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Psychiatric Hospital Zurich, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland
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Wang X, Chen Q, Liu Y, Sun J, Li J, Zhao P, Cai L, Liu W, Yang Z, Wang Z, Lv H. Causal relationship between multiparameter brain MRI phenotypes and age: evidence from Mendelian randomization. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae077. [PMID: 38529357 PMCID: PMC10963122 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
To explore the causal relationship between age and brain health (cortical atrophy, white matter integrity, white matter hyperintensities and cerebral microbleeds in various brain regions) related multiparameter imaging features using two-sample Mendelian randomization. Age was determined as chronological age of the subject. Cortical volume, white matter micro-integrity, white matter hyperintensity volume and cerebral microbleeds of each brain region were included as phenotypes for brain health. Age and imaging of brain health related genetic data were analysed to determine the causal relationship using inverse-variance weighted model, validated by heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy variables. Age is causally related to increased volumes of white matter hyperintensities (β = 0.151). For white matter micro-integrity, fibres of the inferior cerebellar peduncle (axial diffusivity β = -0.128, orientation dispersion index β = 0.173), cerebral peduncle (axial diffusivity β = -0.136), superior fronto-occipital fasciculus (isotropic volume fraction β = 0.163) and fibres within the limbic system were causally deteriorated. We also detected decreased cortical thickness of multiple frontal and temporal regions (P < 0.05). Microbleeds were not related with aging (P > 0.05). Aging is a threat of brain health, leading to cortical atrophy mainly in the frontal lobes, as well as the white matter degeneration especially abnormal hyperintensity and deteriorated white matter integrity around the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinghao Wang
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yawen Liu
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Jing Sun
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Jia Li
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Pengfei Zhao
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Linkun Cai
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Wenjuan Liu
- Department of Radiology, Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing 100089, China
- Peking University Aerospace School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing 100089, China
| | - Zhenghan Yang
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Zhenchang Wang
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Han Lv
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
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Iandolo R, Avci E, Bommarito G, Sandvig I, Rohweder G, Sandvig A. Characterizing upper extremity fine motor function in the presence of white matter hyperintensities: A 7 T MRI cross-sectional study in older adults. Neuroimage Clin 2024; 41:103569. [PMID: 38281363 PMCID: PMC10839532 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2024.103569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are a prevalent radiographic finding in the aging brain studies. Research on WMH association with motor impairment is mostly focused on the lower-extremity function and further investigation on the upper-extremity is needed. How different degrees of WMH burden impact the network of activation recruited during upper limb motor performance could provide further insight on the complex mechanisms of WMH pathophysiology and its interaction with aging and neurological disease processes. METHODS 40 healthy elderly subjects without a neurological/psychiatric diagnosis were included in the study (16F, mean age 69.3 years). All subjects underwent ultra-high field 7 T MRI including structural and finger tapping task-fMRI. First, we quantified the WMH lesion load and its spatial distribution. Secondly, we performed a data-driven stratification of the subjects according to their periventricular and deep WMH burdens. Thirdly, we investigated the distribution of neural recruitment and the corresponding activity assessed through BOLD signal changes among different brain regions for groups of subjects. We clustered the degree of WMH based on location, numbers, and volume into three categories; ranging from mild, moderate, and severe. Finally, we explored how the spatial distribution of WMH, and activity elicited during task-fMRI relate to motor function, measured with the 9-Hole Peg Test. RESULTS Within our population, we found three subgroups of subjects, partitioned according to their periventricular and deep WMH lesion load. We found decreased activity in several frontal and cingulate cortex areas in subjects with a severe WMH burden. No statistically significant associations were found when performing the brain-behavior statistical analysis for structural or functional data. CONCLUSION WMH burden has an effect on brain activity during fine motor control and the activity changes are associated with varying degrees of the total burden and distributions of WMH lesions. Collectively, our results shed new light on the potential impact of WMH on motor function in the context of aging and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Iandolo
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Esin Avci
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Giulia Bommarito
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ioanna Sandvig
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Gitta Rohweder
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway; Stroke Unit, Department of Medicine, St Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Axel Sandvig
- Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway; Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, St. Olav's University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Division of Neuro, Head and Neck, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden; Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umeå University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden.
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Adelnia F, Davis LT, Acosta LM, Puckett A, Wang F, Zu Z, Harkins KD, Gore JC. R 1ρ dispersion in white matter correlates with quantitative metrics of cognitive impairment. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 37:103366. [PMID: 36889101 PMCID: PMC10009712 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2023.103366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Much previous neuroimaging research in Alzheimer's disease has focused on the roles of amyloid and tau proteins, but recent studies have implicated microvascular changes in white matter as early indicators of damage related to later dementia. We used MRI to derive novel, non-invasive measurements of R1ρ dispersion using different locking fields to characterize variations of microvascular structure and integrity in brain tissues. We developed a non-invasive 3D R1ρ dispersion imaging technique using different locking fields at 3T. We acquired MR images and cognitive assessments of participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and compared them to age-matched healthy controls in a cross-sectional study. After providing informed consent, 40 adults aged 62 to 82 years (n = 17 MCI) were included in this study. White matter ΔR1ρ-fraction measured by R1ρ dispersion imaging showed a strong correlation with the cognitive status of older adults (βstd = -0.4, p-value < 0.01) independent of age, in contrast to other conventional MRI markers such as T2, R1ρ, and white matter hyperintense lesion volume (WMHs) measured with T2-FLAIR. The correlation of WMHs with cognitive status was no longer significant after adjusting for age and sex in linear regression analysis, and the size of the regression coefficient was substantially decreased (53% lower). This work establishes a new non-invasive method that potentially characterizes impairment of the microvascular structure of white matter in MCI patients compared to healthy controls. The application of this method in longitudinal studies would improve our fundamental understanding of the pathophysiologic changes that accompany abnormal cognitive decline with aging and help identify potential targets for treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Adelnia
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Larry T Davis
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Lealani Mae Acosta
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Amanda Puckett
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Feng Wang
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Zhongliang Zu
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kevin D Harkins
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - John C Gore
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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Epigenetic Clock Explains White Matter Hyperintensity Burden Irrespective of Chronological Age. BIOLOGY 2022; 12:biology12010033. [PMID: 36671726 PMCID: PMC9855342 DOI: 10.3390/biology12010033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
In this manuscript we studied the relationship between WMH and biological age (B-age) in patients with acute stroke. We included in this study 247 patients with acute stroke recruited at Hospital del Mar having both epigenetic (DNA methylation) and magnetic resonance imaging data. WMH were measured using a semi-automated method. B-age was calculated using two widely used methods: the Hannum and Horvath formulas. We used multiple linear regression models to interrogate the role of B-age on WMH volume after adjusting for chronological age (C-age) and other covariables. Average C-age of the sample was 68.4 (±11.8) and we observed a relatively high median WMH volume (median = 8.8 cm3, Q1-Q3 = 4.05-18.8). After adjusting for potential confounders, we observed a significant effect of B-ageHannum on WMH volume (βHannum = 0.023, p-value = 0.029) independently of C-age, which remained significant (βC-age = 0.021, p-value = 0.036). Finally, we performed a mediation analysis, which allowed us to discover that 42.7% of the effect of C-age on WMH is mediated by B-ageHannum. On the other hand, B-ageHoarvath showed no significant associations with WMH after being adjusted for C-age. In conclusion, we show for the first time that biological age, measured through DNA methylation, contributes substantially to explain WMH volumetric burden irrespective of chronological age.
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Schlemm E, Frey BM, Mayer C, Petersen M, Fiehler J, Hanning U, Kühn S, Twerenbold R, Gallinat J, Gerloff C, Thomalla G, Cheng B. Equalization of Brain State Occupancy Accompanies Cognitive Impairment in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 92:592-602. [PMID: 35691727 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive impairment is a hallmark of cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD). Functional magnetic resonance imaging has highlighted connections between patterns of brain activity and variability in behavior. We aimed to characterize the associations between imaging markers of cSVD, dynamic connectivity, and cognitive impairment. METHODS We obtained magnetic resonance imaging and clinical data from the population-based Hamburg City Health Study. cSVD was quantified by white matter hyperintensities and peak-width of skeletonized mean diffusivity (PSMD). Resting-state blood oxygen level-dependent signals were clustered into discrete brain states, for which fractional occupancies (%) and dwell times (seconds) were computed. Cognition in multiple domains was assessed using validated tests. Regression analysis was used to quantify associations between white matter damage, spatial coactivation patterns, and cognitive function. RESULTS Data were available for 979 participants (ages 45-74 years, median white matter hyperintensity volume 0.96 mL). Clustering identified five brain states with the most time spent in states characterized by activation (+) or suppression (-) of the default mode network (DMN) (fractional occupancy: DMN+ = 25.1 ± 7.2%, DMN- = 25.5 ± 7.2%). Every 4.7-fold increase in white matter hyperintensity volume was associated with a 0.95-times reduction of the odds of occupying DMN+ or DMN-. Time spent in DMN-related brain states was associated with executive function. CONCLUSIONS Associations between white matter damage, whole-brain spatial coactivation patterns, and cognition suggest equalization of time spent in different brain states as a marker for cSVD-associated cognitive decline. Reduced gradients between brain states in association with brain damage and cognitive impairment reflect the dedifferentiation hypothesis of neurocognitive aging in a network-theoretical context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eckhard Schlemm
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Benedikt M Frey
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Carola Mayer
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marvin Petersen
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jens Fiehler
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Uta Hanning
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Simone Kühn
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Raphael Twerenbold
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Gallinat
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Gerloff
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Götz Thomalla
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bastian Cheng
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Adamo D, Canfora F, Calabria E, Coppola N, Leuci S, Pecoraro G, Cuocolo R, Ugga L, D’Aniello L, Aria M, Mignogna MD. White matter hyperintensities in Burning Mouth Syndrome assessed according to the Age-Related White Matter Changes scale. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:923720. [PMID: 36118686 PMCID: PMC9475000 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.923720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) of the brain are observed in normal aging, in various subtypes of dementia and in chronic pain, playing a crucial role in pain processing. The aim of the study has been to assess the WMHs in Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) patients by means of the Age-Related White Matter Changes scale (ARWMCs) and to analyze their predictors. Methods One hundred BMS patients were prospectively recruited and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Their ARWMCs scores were compared with those of an equal number of healthy subjects matched for age and sex. Intensity and quality of pain, psychological profile, and blood biomarkers of BMS patients were further investigated to find potential predictors of WMHs. Specifically, the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ), Hamilton rating scale for Depression and Anxiety (HAM-D and HAM-A), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were administered. Results The BMS patients presented statistically significant higher scores on the ARWMCs compared to the controls, especially in the right frontal, left frontal, right parietal-occipital, left parietal-occipital, right temporal and left temporal lobes (p-values: <0.001, <0.001, 0.005, 0.002, 0.009, 0.002, and <0.001, respectively). Age, a lower educational level, unemployment, essential hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia were correlated to a higher total score on the ARWMCs (p-values: <0.001, 0.016, 0.014, 0.001, and 0.039, respectively). No correlation was found with the blood biomarkers, NRS, SF-MPQ, HAM-A, HAM-D, PSQI, and ESS. Conclusion Patients with BMS showed a higher frequency of WMHs of the brain as suggested by the higher ARWCs scores compared with the normal aging of the healthy subjects. These findings could have a role in the pathophysiology of the disease and potentially affect and enhance pain perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Adamo
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Federica Canfora
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Elena Calabria
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
- *Correspondence: Elena Calabria,
| | - Noemi Coppola
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Stefania Leuci
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pecoraro
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Renato Cuocolo
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Ugga
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Luca D’Aniello
- Department of Social Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Massimo Aria
- Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Michele D. Mignogna
- Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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