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Full diffusion characterization implicates regionally disparate neuropathology in Mild Cognitive Impairment

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Abstract

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is used to detect tissue pathology. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research, DTI has been used to elucidate differences in disease stages and to track progression over time and clinical severity. Many of these studies have identified the fornix as particularly vulnerable in the early stages of pathology associated with memory decline in prodromal AD. Emerging research suggests principal tensor components, axial (DA) and radial (DR) diffusivity, are more sensitive to underlying tissue pathology than are mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA). Given the established regionally specific tissue decline in MCI, we examined components of the full diffusion tensor (MD, FA, DR, and DA) for sensitivity to regional pathology associated with specific memory deficits in 18 individuals with MCI. We investigated multiple regions of interest, including fornix, temporal stem, and control regions for association with severity of impairment on multiple memory measures, including a type of neuropsychological task shown to be particularly sensitive to early memory decline in MCI. Better paired associate learning was selectively associated with lower DA (β = −0.663, p = 0.003), but not with DR, MD, or FA of the temporal stems. Conversely, better paired associate learning was associated with lower DR (β = −0.523, p = 0.026), higher FA (β = 0.498, p = 0.036), and lower MD (β = −0.513, p = 0.030), but not DA in the fornix. No association was found for control regions, or for control cognitive measures. These findings suggest disparate pathology of temporal stems and fornix white matter in association with early memory impairment in MCI. Further, they highlight the methodological importance of evaluating the full tensor, rather than only summative metrics in research using DTI.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this project was provided by National Institute on Aging/Indiana Alzheimer’s Center, Robert Atkins Foundation, and Welch Foods, Inc. Thanks to the following individuals for assistance with technical aspects of this project: Jane Allendorfer, Martine Lamy, Elizabeth Macaluso, Amanda Stein, Amanda Stover and Jon Dudley

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The authors report no actual or potential conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, PO Box 670559, Cincinnati, OH, 45267-0559, USA

    Erin L. Boespflug, Judd Storrs, Sara Sadat-Hossieny, James Eliassen, Marcelle Shidler, Matthew Norris & Robert Krikorian

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  1. Erin L. Boespflug
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  2. Judd Storrs
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Correspondence to Erin L. Boespflug.

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Boespflug, E.L., Storrs, J., Sadat-Hossieny, S. et al. Full diffusion characterization implicates regionally disparate neuropathology in Mild Cognitive Impairment. Brain Struct Funct 219, 367–379 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-013-0506-x

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