Evaluating and reducing the impact of white matter lesions on brain volume measurements

This study examined associations between polymorphisms in three genes, apolipoprotein E (APOE), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), and vitamin D receptor (VDR), and longitudinal change in brain volumes and white matter lesions (WML) as well as effect modification by cardiovascular factors and tibia lead concentrations. Two MRIs, an average of 5 years apart, were obtained for 317 former organolead workers and 45 population-based controls. Both regions-of-interest and voxel-wise analyses were conducted.APOEε3/ε4andε4/ε4genotypes were associated with less decline in white matter volumes. There was some evidence of interaction between genetic polymorphisms and cardiovascular risk factors (ACEand high-density lipoprotein;VDRand diabetes) on brain volume decline. TheVDR FokIff genotype was associated with an increase in WML (no association forAPOEorACE). This study expands our understanding of how genetic precursors of dementia and cardiovascular diseases are related to changes in brain structure.

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Head size may modify the impact of white matter lesions on dementia

Neurobiology of Aging ◽

10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.01.011 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 33 (7) ◽

pp. 1186-1193 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Ingmar Skoog ◽

Pernille J. Olesen ◽

Kaj Blennow ◽

Bo Palmertz ◽

Sterling C. Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

White Matter Lesions ◽

Head Size ◽

The Impact

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The impact of periventricular white matter lesions in patients with bipolar disorder type I

CNS Spectrums ◽

10.1017/s1092852913000825 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 23-34 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Gianluca Serafini ◽

Maurizio Pompili ◽

Marco Innamorati ◽

Nicoletta Girardi ◽

Leonardo Strusi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bipolar Disorder ◽

White Matter ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

White Matter Lesions ◽

Periventricular White Matter ◽

Type I ◽

Young Mania ◽

Affective Symptoms ◽

The Impact

IntroductionWhite matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are one the most common neuroimaging findings in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). It has been suggested that WMHs are associated with impaired insight in schizophrenia and schizoaffective patients; however, the relationship between insight and WMHs in BD type I has not been directly investigated.MethodsPatients with BD-I (148) were recruited and underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Affective symptoms were assessed using Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS17); the presence of impaired insight was based on the corresponding items of YMRS and HDRS17.ResultsMultiple punctate periventricular WMHs (PWMHs) and deep WMHs (DWMHs) were observed in 49.3% and 39.9% of the cases, respectively. Subjects with lower insight for mania had significantly more PWMHs (54.6% vs 22.2%; p < 0.05) when compared to BD-I patients with higher insight for mania. The presence of PWMHs was independently associated with lower insight for mania: patients who denied illness according to the YMRS were 4 times more likely to have PWMHs (95% CI: 1.21/13.42) than other patients.ConclusionsImpaired insight in BD-I is associated with periventricular WMHs. The early identification of BD-I subjects with PWMHs and impaired insight may be crucial for clinicians.

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The Impact of the in utero and Early Postnatal Environments on Grey and White Matter Volume: A Study with Adolescent Monozygotic Twins

Developmental Neuroscience ◽

10.1159/000430982 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 37 (6) ◽

pp. 489-496 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Melissa L. Levesque ◽

Cherine Fahim ◽

Elmira Ismaylova ◽

Marie-Pier Verner ◽

Kevin F. Casey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Brain Development ◽

Brain Volume ◽

Twin Pair ◽

Statistical Parametric Mapping ◽

In Utero ◽

Postnatal Environment ◽

The Impact ◽

Parenting Behaviours ◽

Maternal Hostility

Prenatal and early postnatal adversities have been shown to be associated with brain development. However, we do not know how much of this association is confounded by genetics, nor whether the postnatal environment can moderate the impact of in utero adversity. This study used a monozygotic (MZ) twin design to assess (1) the association between birth weight (BW) and brain volume in adolescence, (2) the association between within-twin-pair BW discordance and brain volume discordance in adolescence, and (3) whether the association between BW and brain volume in adolescence is mediated or moderated by early negative maternal parenting behaviours. These associations were assessed in a sample of 108 MZ twins followed longitudinally since birth and scanned at age 15. The total grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes were obtained using the Diffeomorphic Anatomical Registration Through Exponentiated Lie Algebra (DARTEL) toolbox in the Statistical Parametric Mapping version 8 (SPM8). We found that the BW was significantly associated with the total GM and WM volumes, particularly in the superior frontal gyrus and thalamus. Within-twin-pair discordance in BW was also significantly associated with within-pair discordance in both the GM and the WM volumes, supporting the hypothesis that the specific in utero environment is associated with brain development independently of genetics. Early maternal hostile parenting behaviours and depressive symptoms were associated with total GM volume but not WM volume. Finally, greater early maternal hostility may moderate the association between the BW and GM volume in adolescence, since the positive association between the BW and total GM volume appeared stronger at higher levels of maternal hostility (trend). Together, these findings support the importance of the in utero and early environments for brain development.

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P2-476: RESERVE AS FUNCTIONAL CONNECTIVITY (IN COGNITIVE CONTROL NETWORKS) MODERATES THE IMPACT OF WHITE MATTER LESIONS IN AGING

Alzheimer s & Dementia ◽

10.1016/j.jalz.2018.06.1169 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 14 (7S_Part_16) ◽

pp. P907-P907

Author(s):

Gloria Benson ◽

Andrea Hildebrandt ◽

Catharina Lange ◽

Theresa Köbe ◽

Claudia Schwarz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

White Matter ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Cognitive Control ◽

White Matter Lesions ◽

Control Networks ◽

The Impact

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Cardiovascular risk and white matter lesions after endocrine control of Cushing's syndrome

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/eje-15-0600 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 173 (6) ◽

pp. 765-775 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Alicia Santos ◽

Eugenia Resmini ◽

Beatriz Gómez-Ansón ◽

Iris Crespo ◽

Esther Granell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

White Matter ◽

Cushing’S Syndrome ◽

Grey Matter ◽

Brain Volume ◽

White Matter Lesions ◽

Cushing's Syndrome ◽

Vascular Age ◽

Patient Groups ◽

Active Patients

ObjectiveCushing's syndrome (CS) is associated with high cardiovascular risk. White matter lesions (WML) are common on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with increased cardiovascular risk.AimTo investigate the relationship between cardiovascular risk, WML, neuropsychological performance and brain volume in CS.Design/methodsThirty-eight patients with CS (23 in remission, 15 active) and 38 controls sex-, age- and education-level matched underwent a neuropsychological and clinical evaluation, blood and urine tests and 3Tesla brain MRI. WML were analysed with the Scheltens scale. Ten-year cardiovascular risk (10CVR) and vascular age (VA) were calculated according to an algorithm based on the Framingham heart study.ResultsPatients in remission had a higher degree of WML than controls and active patients (P<0.001 andP=0.008 respectively), which did not correlate with cognitive performance in any group. WML severity positively correlated with diastolic blood pressure (r=0.659,P=0.001) and duration of hypertension (r=0.478,P=0.021) in patients in remission. Both patient groups (active and in remission) had higher 10CVR (P=0.030,P=0.041) and VA than controls (P=0.013,P=0.039). Neither the 10CVR nor the VA correlated with WML, although both negatively correlated with cognitive function and brain volume in patients in remission (P<0.05). Total brain volume and grey matter volume in both CS patient groups were reduced compared to controls (total volume: activeP=0.006, in remissionP=0.012; grey matter: activeP=0.001, in remissionP=0.003), with no differences in white matter volume between groups.ConclusionsPatients in remission of Cushing's syndrome (but not active patients) have more severe white matter lesions than controls, positively correlated with diastolic pressure and duration of hypertension. Ten-year cardiovascular risk and vascular age appear to be negatively correlated with the cognitive function and brain volume in patients in remission of Cushing's syndrome.

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