White Matter Abnormalities in Two Different Subtypes of Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Jianghong Liu,Kuncheng Li,Zhilian Zhao,Linlin Yin,Peipeng Liang,Ying Han,Tengda Zhao,Fangyu Li,Ni Shu,Yi Xing,Yong Liu

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170185

Jianghong Liu, Kuncheng Li + Show 9 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0170185

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Journal: PloS one	Publication Date: Jan 20, 2017
Citations: 20	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Capital Medical University

Abstract

White matter (WM) degeneration has been found during the course of cognitive decline in both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), however, it is unclear whether there are different WM microstructural abnormalities between two subtypes of aMCI, including single domain aMCI (aMCI-s) and multiple domain aMCI (aMCI-m). Thirty-two patients of aMCI single-domain (aMCI-s), twenty-three patients of aMCI multiple-domain (aMCI-m) and twenty-three healthy normal controls (NC) participated in this study. Neuropsychological measures and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data were acquired from each subject and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was implemented. It was found that both aMCI groups showed significantly reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) in the right superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) than NC. It was also identified that, as compared to aMCI-m, aMCI-s showed significantly decreased FA in the left SLF, left uncinate fasciculus (UF) and left inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF), while significantly increased FA in the left anterior thalamic radiation (ATR). The correlation analysis showed that FA values in the regions with group difference were significantly correlated with cognitive functions as measured by Boston naming test and trail making test. These results suggested that the variations of aMCI may be differentiated by FA indexes and DTI may help to understand why specific signs and symptoms occur in patients.

Highlights

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common dementia in elderly populations, and amnestic mild cognitive impairment often represents a transitional stage between normal aging and early dementia [1,2]
There were significant differences of AVLT, mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) among the three groups, these differences were mainly driven by the normal controls (NC) group while there were no significant difference between amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI)-s and aMCI single-domain (aMCI-s)m
The AVLT, MMSE, MoCA, clock drawing test (CDT) and Boston naming test (BNT) are based on number correct, Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) based on comprehensive rating scale, and trail making test (TMT) based on seconds. * The p value was obtained using a Pearson x2 two-tailed test, with continuity correction for n < 5. # The p value was obtained using one-way ANOVA. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0170185.t001

Summary

Objectives

The main goal of this study is to investigate the difference of diffusion indices between aMCI-s and aMCI-m by using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS), which could improve the sensitivity, objectivity and interpretability of diffusion imaging results at group level [19]

Methods

Results

Conclusion