Progression of White Matter Disease and Cortical Thinning Are Not Related in Older Community-Dwelling Subjects.

David Alexander Dickie,Joanna M Wardlaw,Maria Valdés Hernández,Stuart J Ritchie,Janie Corley,John M Starr,Natalie A Royle,Alison Pattie,Ian J Deary,Susana Muñoz Maniega,Simon R Cox,Benjamin S Aribisala,Eleni Sakka,Sherif Karama,Mark E Bastin,Alan C Evans

doi:10.1161/strokeaha.115.011229

David Alexander Dickie, Joanna M Wardlaw + Show 14 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1161/strokeaha.115.011229

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Journal: Stroke	Publication Date: Jan 25, 2016
Citations: 36	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Alzheimer Scotland, University of Edinburgh

Abstract

Background and Purpose—We assessed cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between whole brain white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume and regional cortical thickness.Methods—We measured WMH volume and regional cortical thickness on magnetic resonance imaging at ≈73 and ≈76 years in 351 community-dwelling subjects from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936. We used multiple linear regression to calculate cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between regional cortical thickness and WMH volume controlling for age, sex, Mini Mental State Examination, education, intelligence quotient at age 11, and vascular risk factors.Results—We found cross-sectional associations between WMH volume and cortical thickness within and surrounding the Sylvian fissure at 73 and 76 years (rho=−0.276, Q=0.004). However, we found no significant longitudinal associations between (1) baseline WMH volume and change in cortical thickness; (2) baseline cortical thickness and change in WMH volume; or (3) change in WMH volume and change in cortical thickness.Conclusions—Our results show that WMH volume and cortical thinning both worsen with age and are associated cross-sectionally within and surrounding the Sylvian fissure. However, changes in WMH volume and cortical thinning from 73 to 76 years are not associated longitudinally in these relatively healthy older subjects. The underlying cause(s) of WMH growth and cortical thinning have yet to be fully determined.

Highlights

Background and PurposeWe assessed cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between whole brain white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume and regional cortical thickness
Our results show that WMH volume and cortical thinning both worsen with age and are associated crosssectionally within and surrounding the Sylvian fissure
Brain white matter hyperintensity (WMH) growth and cortical thinning are commonly seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in community-dwelling older people.[1,2,3,4,5]

Summary

Methods

We measured WMH volume and regional cortical thickness on magnetic resonance imaging at ≈73 and ≈76 years in 351 community-dwelling subjects from the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936. We assessed 351 (N =202) community-dwellmale ing subjects from the LBC1936 study[14,15] that had full brain MRI measures, clinical and cognitive assessments at imaging baseline (mean age 72.71±0.72 years), and follow-up (mean age 76.40±0.64 years). These subjects were not deliberately selected, rather they were those who agreed to participate in brain scanning and had complete data sets at baseline and follow-up (Figure 1). We have previously shown that historical variables, for example, history of hypertension, have greater associations with WMH than measured variables, for example, systolic blood pressure.[4]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion