Abstract
This study adopted diffusion tensor imaging to detect alterations in the diffusion parameters of the white matter fiber in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and used quantitative susceptibility mapping to detect changes in magnetic susceptibility. However, whether the changes of susceptibility values due to excessive iron in the basal ganglia have correlations with the alterations of the diffusion properties of the white matter in patients with AD are still unknown. We aim to investigate the correlations among magnetic susceptibility values of the basal ganglia, diffusion indexes of the white matter, and cognitive function in patients with AD. Thirty patients with AD and nineteen healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Diffusion indexes of the whole brain were detected using tract-based spatial statistics. The caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus were selected as regions of interest, and their magnetic susceptibility values were measured. Compared with HCs, patients with AD showed that there were significantly increased axial diffusivity (AxD) in the internal capsule, superior corona radiata (SCR), and right anterior corona radiata (ACR); increased radial diffusivity (RD) in the right anterior limb of the internal capsule, ACR, and genu of the corpus callosum (GCC); and decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in the right ACR and GCC. The alterations of RD values, FA values, and susceptibility values of the right caudate nucleus in patients with AD were correlated with cognitive scores. Besides, AxD values in the right internal capsule, ACR, and SCR were positively correlated with the magnetic susceptibility values of the right caudate nucleus in patients with AD. Our findings revealed that the magnetic susceptibility of the caudate nucleus may be an MRI-based biomarker of the cognitive dysfunction of AD and abnormal excessive iron distribution in the basal ganglia had adverse effects on the diffusion properties of the white matter.
Highlights
MATERIALS AND METHODSAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is recognized as a degenerative disease characterized by cognitive dysfunction and memory disorder, and the number of patients with AD is in the first place in senile dementia (Zhong et al, 2004; Arfanakis et al, 2007; Chen et al, 2007)
This study mainly found increased Axial diffusivity (AxD) values and radial diffusivity (RD) values and decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) values of patients with AD compared with healthy controls (HCs)
RD values and FA values were significantly correlated with cognitive scores, and the susceptibility values of the right caudate nucleus had a significant negative correlation with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is recognized as a degenerative disease characterized by cognitive dysfunction and memory disorder, and the number of patients with AD is in the first place in senile dementia (Zhong et al, 2004; Arfanakis et al, 2007; Chen et al, 2007). Some studies have shown that amyloid-β (Aβ) plaque, phosphorylated tau protein, and pathological iron deposition in the brain cause damage to the neurons and axons (Hardy, 2006; Pena et al, 2006; Takahashi et al, 2017). Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has recently emerged as a non-invasive and effective neuroimaging method that provides valuable imaging clues to detect changes in the diffusion function of the fiber fasciculus in terms of neuropsychiatric diseases. Previous DTI studies have explored that white matter fiber alterations are widespread in AD. The alterations of the white matter in AD exist in the corpus callosum, cingulum bundle, internal capsule, fornix, as well as prefrontal lobe, posterior parietal, and medial frontal regions of the white matter (Sun et al, 2004; Naggara et al, 2006; Mielke et al, 2009; Teipel et al, 2012; Madhavan et al, 2016; Araque Caballero et al, 2018)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
