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White Matter Connectivity in Incident Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Diffusion Spectrum Imaging Study of World Trade Center Responders at Midlife.
- Source :
-
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease . 2021, Vol. 80 Issue 3, p1209-1219. 11p. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>Individuals who participated in response efforts at the World Trade Center (WTC) following 9/11/2001 are experiencing elevated incidence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) at midlife.<bold>Objective: </bold>We hypothesized that white matter connectivity measured using diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) would be restructured in WTC responders with MCI versus cognitively unimpaired responders.<bold>Methods: </bold>Twenty responders (mean age 56; 10 MCI/10 unimpaired) recruited from an epidemiological study were characterized using NIA-AA criteria alongside controls matched on demographics (age/sex/occupation/race/education). Axial DSI was acquired on a 3T Siemen's Biograph mMR scanner (12-channel head coil) using a multi-band diffusion sequence. Connectometry examined whole-brain tract-level differences in white matter integrity. Fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and quantified anisotropy were extracted for region of interest (ROI) analyses using the Desikan-Killiany atlas.<bold>Results: </bold>Connectometry identified both increased and decreased connectivity within regions of the brains of responders with MCI identified in the corticothalamic pathway and cortico-striatal pathway that survived adjustment for multiple comparisons. MCI was also associated with higher FA values in five ROIs including in the rostral anterior cingulate; lower MD values in four ROIs including the left rostral anterior cingulate; and higher MD values in the right inferior circular insula. Analyses by cognitive domain revealed nominal associations in domains of response speed, verbal learning, verbal retention, and visuospatial learning.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>WTC responders with MCI at midlife showed early signs of neurodegeneration characterized by both increased and decreased white matter diffusivity in regions commonly affected by early-onset Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *MILD cognitive impairment
*WHITE matter (Nerve tissue)
*MIDDLE age
*VERBAL learning
*DIAGNOSTIC imaging
*BRAIN
*RESEARCH
*TERRORISM
*RESEARCH methodology
*MAGNETIC resonance imaging
*DISEASE incidence
*MEDICAL cooperation
*EVALUATION research
*MEDICAL emergencies
*COMPARATIVE studies
*RESEARCH funding
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 13872877
- Volume :
- 80
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 151820966
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-201237