Brain white matter structure and information processing speed in healthy older age

AbstractWhite matter matures with age and is important for the efficient transmission of neuronal signals. Consequently, white matter growth may underlie the development of cognitive processes important for learning, including the speed of information processing. To dissect the relationship between white matter structure and information processing speed, we administered a reaction time task (finger abduction in response to visual cue) to 27 typically developing, right-handed children aged 4 to 13. Magnetoencephalography and Diffusion Tensor Imaging were used to delineate white matter connections implicated in visual-motor information processing. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity (RD) of the optic radiation in the left hemisphere, and FA and mean diffusivity (MD) of the optic radiation in the right hemisphere changed significantly with age. MD and RD decreased with age in the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and bilaterally in the cortico-spinal tracts. No age-related changes were evident in the inferior longitudinal fasciculus. FA of the cortico-spinal tract in the left hemisphere and MD of the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus of the right hemisphere contributed uniquely beyond the effect of age in accounting for reaction time performance of the right hand. Our findings support the role of white matter maturation in the development of information processing speed. (JINS, 2013, 19, 1–14)

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Associations of the Lifestyle for Brain Health Index With Structural Brain Changes and Cognition: Results From the Maastricht Study

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0000000000012572 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000012572

Author(s):

Irene S Heger ◽

Kay Deckers ◽

Miranda T Schram ◽

Coen DA Stehouwer ◽

Pieter C Dagnelie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Information Processing ◽

Executive Function ◽

White Matter ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Grey Matter ◽

White Matter Hyperintensities ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

Brain Health ◽

Dementia Risk

Background and Objectives:Observational research has shown that a substantial proportion of all dementia cases worldwide is attributable to modifiable risk factors. Dementia risk scores might be useful to identify high-risk individuals and monitor treatment adherence. The objective of this study was to investigate whether a dementia risk score, the LIfestyle for BRAin health (LIBRA) index, is associated with MRI markers and cognitive functioning/impairment in the general population.Methods:Cross-sectional data was used from the observational population-based cohort of The Maastricht Study.. The weighted compound score of LIBRA (including twelve dementia risk and protective factors, e.g. hypertension, physical inactivity) was calculated, with higher scores indicating higher dementia risk. Standardized volumes of white matter, grey matter, CSF (as proxy for general brain atrophy), white matter hyperintensities, and presence of cerebral small vessel disease were derived from 3T MRI. Cognitive functioning was tested in three domains: memory, information processing speed, and executive function and attention. Values ≤1.5 SD below the average were defined as cognitive impairment. Multiple regression analyses and structural equation modelling were used, adjusted for age, sex, education, intracranial volume and type-2 diabetes.Results:Participants (n=4,164; mean age 59y; 49.7% men) with higher LIBRA scores (mean=1.19, range=-2.7 to +9.2), denoting higher dementia risk, had higher volumes of white matter hyperintensities (β=0.051, p=.002), and lower scores on information processing speed (β=-0.067, p=.001) and executive function and attention (β=-0.065, p=.004). Only in men, associations between LIBRA and volumes of grey matter (β=-0.093, p<.001), CSF (β=0.104, p<.001) and memory (β=-0.054, p=.026) were found. White matter hyperintensities and CSF volume partly mediated the association between LIBRA and cognition.Discussion:Higher health- and lifestyle-based dementia risk is associated with markers of general brain atrophy, cerebrovascular pathology and worse cognition, suggesting that LIBRA meaningfully summarizes individual lifestyle-related brain health. Improving LIBRA factors on an individual level might improve population brain health. Sex differences in lifestyle-related pathology and cognition need to be further explored.Classification of Evidence:This study provides Class II evidence that higher LIBRA scores are significantly associated with lower scores on some cognitive domains and a higher risk of cognitive impairment.

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Brain-wide white matter tract integrity is associated with information processing speed and general intelligence

Molecular Psychiatry ◽

10.1038/mp.2012.127 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 17 (10) ◽

pp. 955-955 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

L Penke ◽

S M Maniega ◽

M E Bastin ◽

M C V Hernández ◽

C Murray ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Information Processing ◽

White Matter ◽

Processing Speed ◽

General Intelligence ◽

White Matter Tract ◽

Information Processing Speed

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Information processing speed deficits may be better correlated with the extent of white matter sclerotic lesions in multiple sclerosis than previously suspected

Brain and Cognition ◽

10.1016/s0278-2626(01)80084-1 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 46 (1-2) ◽

pp. 279-284 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Peter J. Snyder ◽

Joseph C. CappelJeri

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Information Processing ◽

White Matter ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

Sclerotic Lesions

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Information processing speed mediates the relationship between white matter and general intelligence in schizophrenia

Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging ◽

10.1016/j.pscychresns.2016.05.008 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 254 ◽

pp. 26-33 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Clara Alloza ◽

Simon R. Cox ◽

Barbara Duff ◽

Scott I. Semple ◽

Mark E. Bastin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Information Processing ◽

White Matter ◽

Processing Speed ◽

General Intelligence ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

The Relationship

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Normal appearing white matter permeability: a marker of inflammation and information processing speed deficit among relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients

Neuroradiology ◽

10.1007/s00234-017-1862-7 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 59 (8) ◽

pp. 771-780 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Eldar Eftekhari ◽

Seyed-Parsa Hojjat ◽

Rita Vitorino ◽

Timothy J. Carroll ◽

Charles Grady Cantrell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Information Processing ◽

White Matter ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

Normal Appearing White Matter ◽

Relapsing Remitting ◽

Remitting Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Multiple Sclerosis Patients ◽

Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

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Functional connectivity changes and their relationship with clinical disability and white matter integrity in patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458514568826 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 21 (13) ◽

pp. 1681-1692 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Emilia Sbardella ◽

F Tona ◽

N Petsas ◽

N Upadhyay ◽

MC Piattella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Information Processing ◽

White Matter ◽

Functional Connectivity ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Information Processing Speed ◽

Motor Abilities ◽

Microstructural Damage ◽

Hand Dexterity

Background and objective: To define the pathological substrate underlying disability in multiple sclerosis by evaluating the relationship of resting-state functional connectivity with microstructural brain damage, as assessed by diffusion tensor imaging, and clinical impairments. Methods: Thirty relapsing–remitting patients and 24 controls underwent 3T-MRI; motor abilities were evaluated by using measures of walking speed, hand dexterity and balance capability, while information processing speed was evaluated by a paced auditory serial addiction task. Independent component analysis and tract-based spatial statistics were applied to RS-fMRI and diffusion tensor imaging data using FSL software. Group differences, after dual regression, and clinical correlations were modelled with General-Linear-Model and corrected for multiple comparisons. Results: Patients showed decreased functional connectivity in 5 of 11 resting-state-networks (cerebellar, executive-control, medial-visual, basal ganglia and sensorimotor), changes in inter-network correlations and widespread white matter microstructural damage. In multiple sclerosis, corpus callosum microstructural damage positively correlated with functional connectivity in cerebellar and auditory networks. Moreover, functional connectivity within the medial-visual network inversely correlated with information processing speed. White matter widespread microstructural damage inversely correlated with both the paced auditory serial addiction task and hand dexterity. Conclusions: Despite the within-network functional connectivity decrease and the widespread microstructural damage, the inter-network functional connectivity changes suggest a global brain functional rearrangement in multiple sclerosis. The correlation between functional connectivity alterations and callosal damage uncovers a link between functional and structural connectivity. Finally, functional connectivity abnormalities affect information processing speed rather than motor abilities.

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