White matter integrity and types of memory complaints in mild cognitive impairment

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundMemory complaints are a frequent phenomenon in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, clinical significance for different types of memory complaints in MCI remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine whether white matter (WM) integrity would be affected due to different aspects of memory complaints (i.e., prospective memory (PM) versus retrospective memory (RM) complaints) in individuals with MCI.MethodThe study included a total of 73 participants (mean age: 69.37 ± 7.40 years) with MCI. Memory complaints were assessed using the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) consisting of 16 items that describe everyday memory failure of both PM and RM. WM integrity was evaluated by anatomically defined regions of interest analysis using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The discrepancies regarding more PM or more RM complaints were assessed by the PM‐RM discrepancy scores (median = 1, range: −9–12) based on the PM and RM subscores of the PRMQ, and participants with more PM complaints (PRMQ‐PM score > PRMQ‐RM score) were compared to those with more RM complaints with regard to DTI‐derived WM fractional anisotropy (FA). The subjects with PM‐RM discrepancy scores of 0 or 1 were excluded from the group analyses.ResultMore PM complaints group (n = 34) had higher FA in the body of corpus callosum (p = 0.03), and a tendency to higher FA in the genu of corpus callosum (p = 0.08) and right entorhinal WM (p = 0.092) than more RM complaints group (n = 20).ConclusionRM complaints among subjective memory complaints might be associated with more alterations in WM integrity. This cross‐sectional study suggests that different types of memory complaints could affect WM microstructural alterations in individuals with MCI. To clarify our results, further investigations in larger samples are required.