scholarly journals Neuroimaging in the Oldest-Old: A Review of the Literature

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Davis C. Woodworth ◽  
Kiana A. Scambray ◽  
María M. Corrada ◽  
Claudia H. Kawas ◽  
S. Ahmad Sajjadi
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Medial Temporal Lobe ◽  
Oldest Old ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
White Matter Lesions ◽  
Distinct Group ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Cognitive Measures ◽  
Brain Volumes

The oldest-old, those 85 years and older, are the fastest growing segment of the population and present with the highest prevalence of dementia. Given the importance of neuroimaging measures to understand aging and dementia, the objective of this study was to review neuroimaging studies performed in oldest-old participants. We used PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science search engines to identify in vivo CT, MRI, and PET neuroimaging studies either performed in the oldest-old or that addressed the oldest-old as a distinct group in analyses. We identified 60 studies and summarized the main group characteristics and findings. Generally, oldest-old participants presented with greater atrophy compared to younger old participants, with most studies reporting a relatively stable constant decline in brain volumes over time. Oldest-old participants with greater global atrophy and atrophy in key brain structures such as the medial temporal lobe were more likely to have dementia or cognitive impairment. The oldest-old presented with a high burden of white matter lesions, which were associated with various lifestyle factors and some cognitive measures. Amyloid burden as assessed by PET, while high in the oldest-old compared to younger age groups, was still predictive of transition from normal to impaired cognition, especially when other adverse neuroimaging measures (atrophy and white matter lesions) were also present. While this review highlights past neuroimaging research in the oldest-old, it also highlights the dearth of studies in this important population. It is imperative to perform more neuroimaging studies in the oldest-old to better understand aging and dementia.

Abstract P191: Association Between Blood Pressure And Brain Volumes Vary By Sex And Age.

Hypertension ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 78 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khawlah Alateeq ◽  
Erin Walsh ◽  
Walter Abhayaratna ◽  
Nicolas Cherbuin
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Antihypertensive Medication ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
White Matter Lesions ◽  
Hippocampal Volume ◽  
Brain Volumes

Objective: To quantify the association between blood pressure (BP) across its full range and brain volumes and white matter lesions (WMLs) while investigating the effects of age, sex, body mass index (BMI), antihypertensive medication, and other risk factors. Methods: UK Biobank participants ( N =36,260) aged 40 to 70 years were included and stratified by sex and age into four groups (age ≤ 45, 46-55, 56-65 and > 65 years old). Multi-level regression analyses were used to assess the association between mean arterial (MAP), systolic (SBP), and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, and brain volumes segmented using the FreeSufer software (gray matter [GMV], white matter [WMV], left [L] and right hippocampal volume [RHCV]) and WMLs. We also investigated the interaction effects between body mass index (BMI) and antihypertensive medication and BP in predicting brain volumes and WMLs. Results: Every 10-mmHg higher DBP was associated with lower brain volumes (GMV: -1300– -2800) [SE=34–90]; WMV: -903.44– -1171.7[SE=34.66–53.03]; LHCV: -7.7– -14.26 [SE=0.44–0.57]; RHCV: -6.25– -22.64[SE=0.32–0.95]) across all age groups. A similar pattern was detected in both sexes, although it was weaker, in men. Also, every 10-mmHg higher MAP was associated with larger WMLs across all age groups but peaked > 65 years (0.1 [SE=0.002]). Both lower BMI and anti-hypertensive medication appeared to afford a protective effect. Conclusion: Higher BP is associated with worse cerebral health across the full BP range from middle adulthood and across the life course. Therefore, it is important that prevention efforts be directed at younger adults with focus on achieving optimal BP to decrease future risk of developing dementia.

scholarly journals Whole-brain 3D MR fingerprinting brain imaging: clinical validation and feasibility to patients with meningioma

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomaz R. Mostardeiro ◽  
Ananya Panda ◽  
Robert J. Witte ◽  
Norbert G. Campeau ◽  
Kiaran P. McGee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Relaxation Times ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Centrum Semiovale ◽  
In Vivo Evaluation ◽  
Whole Brain ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Caudate Head

Abstract Purpose MR fingerprinting (MRF) is a MR technique that allows assessment of tissue relaxation times. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical application of this technique in patients with meningioma. Materials and methods A whole-brain 3D isotropic 1mm3 acquisition under a 3.0T field strength was used to obtain MRF T1 and T2-based relaxometry values in 4:38 s. The accuracy of values was quantified by scanning a quantitative MR relaxometry phantom. In vivo evaluation was performed by applying the sequence to 20 subjects with 25 meningiomas. Regions of interest included the meningioma, caudate head, centrum semiovale, contralateral white matter and thalamus. For both phantom and subjects, mean values of both T1 and T2 estimates were obtained. Statistical significance of differences in mean values between the meningioma and other brain structures was tested using a Friedman’s ANOVA test. Results MR fingerprinting phantom data demonstrated a linear relationship between measured and reference relaxometry estimates for both T1 (r2 = 0.99) and T2 (r2 = 0.97). MRF T1 relaxation times were longer in meningioma (mean ± SD 1429 ± 202 ms) compared to thalamus (mean ± SD 1054 ± 58 ms; p = 0.004), centrum semiovale (mean ± SD 825 ± 42 ms; p < 0.001) and contralateral white matter (mean ± SD 799 ± 40 ms; p < 0.001). MRF T2 relaxation times were longer for meningioma (mean ± SD 69 ± 27 ms) as compared to thalamus (mean ± SD 27 ± 3 ms; p < 0.001), caudate head (mean ± SD 39 ± 5 ms; p < 0.001) and contralateral white matter (mean ± SD 35 ± 4 ms; p < 0.001) Conclusions Phantom measurements indicate that the proposed 3D-MRF sequence relaxometry estimations are valid and reproducible. For in vivo, entire brain coverage was obtained in clinically feasible time and allows quantitative assessment of meningioma in clinical practice.

scholarly journals White Matter Lesions as Possible Predictors of Audiological Performance in Adults after Cochlear Implantation

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 600
Author(s):  
Steffen Knopke ◽  
Hans-Christian Bauknecht ◽  
Stefan Gräbel ◽  
Sophia Marie Häußler ◽  
Agnieszka J. Szczepek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Speech Perception ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Cochlear Implantation ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
White Matter Lesions ◽  
Periventricular White Matter ◽  
Rehabilitation Outcomes ◽  
Hearing Ability ◽  
Structural Brain Damage ◽  
Oldenburg Sentence Test

The presented prospective study investigated whether structural brain damage, measured with the Fazekas score, could predict hearing rehabilitation outcomes with cochlear implantation (CI). With a follow-up period of 24 months, this study included 49 bilaterally, postlingually hearing impaired CI candidates for unilateral CI (67.3 ± 8.7 years; 20 men, 29 women) older than 50 at the time of implantation. The differences in the predictive value between two age groups, 50–70 year-olds (mid-age; n = 26) and over 70-year-olds (elderly; n = 23), were analyzed. The patients were evaluated using speech perception (SP) measured in quiet (Freiburg monosyllabic test; FMT) and noise (Oldenburg sentence test; OLSA). The subjective hearing ability was assessed using Oldenburg inventory (OI). The Fazekas PVWM score predicted postoperative speech perception two years after CI in the mid-age population. The periventricular white matter lesions (PVWM) could explain 27.4% of the speech perception (FMT) variance. Our findings support the hypothesis about the influence of pre-existing WMLs on CI outcome. We recommend the evaluation of Fazekas score as a predictive factor for post-implantation hearing ability.

Association between blood pressure, white matter lesions, and atrophy of the medial temporal lobe

Neurology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. den Heijer ◽  
L. J. Launer ◽  
N. D. Prins ◽  
E. J. van Dijk ◽  
S. E. Vermeer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Temporal Lobe ◽  
Medial Temporal Lobe ◽  
White Matter Lesions

In vivo gradients of thalamic damage in paediatric multiple sclerosis: a window into pathology

Brain ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ermelinda De Meo ◽  
Loredana Storelli ◽  
Lucia Moiola ◽  
Angelo Ghezzi ◽  
Pierangelo Veggiotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Fractional Anisotropy ◽  
Mean Diffusivity ◽  
White Matter Lesions ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Paediatric Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Abstract The thalamus represents one of the first structures affected by neurodegenerative processes in multiple sclerosis. A greater thalamic volume reduction over time, on its CSF side, has been described in paediatric multiple sclerosis patients. However, its determinants and the underlying pathological changes, likely occurring before this phenomenon becomes measurable, have never been explored. Using a multiparametric magnetic resonance approach, we quantified, in vivo, the different processes that can involve the thalamus in terms of focal lesions, microstructural damage and atrophy in paediatric multiple sclerosis patients and their distribution according to the distance from CSF/thalamus interface and thalamus/white matter interface. In 70 paediatric multiple sclerosis patients and 26 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, we tested for differences in thalamic volume and quantitative MRI metrics—including fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity and T1/T2-weighted ratio—in the whole thalamus and in thalamic white matter, globally and within concentric bands originating from CSF/thalamus interface. In paediatric multiple sclerosis patients, the relationship of thalamic abnormalities with cortical thickness and white matter lesions was also investigated. Compared to healthy controls, patients had significantly increased fractional anisotropy in whole thalamus (f2 = 0.145; P = 0.03), reduced fractional anisotropy (f2 = 0.219; P = 0.006) and increased mean diffusivity (f2 = 0.178; P = 0.009) in thalamic white matter and a trend towards a reduced thalamic volume (f2 = 0.027; P = 0.058). By segmenting the whole thalamus and thalamic white matter into concentric bands, in paediatric multiple sclerosis we detected significant fractional anisotropy abnormalities in bands nearest to CSF (f2 = 0.208; P = 0.002) and in those closest to white matter (f2 range = 0.183–0.369; P range = 0.010–0.046), while we found significant mean diffusivity (f2 range = 0.101–0.369; P range = 0.018–0.042) and T1/T2-weighted ratio (f2 = 0.773; P = 0.001) abnormalities in thalamic bands closest to CSF. The increase in fractional anisotropy and decrease in mean diffusivity detected at the CSF/thalamus interface correlated with cortical thickness reduction (r range = −0.27–0.34; P range = 0.004–0.028), whereas the increase in fractional anisotropy detected at the thalamus/white matter interface correlated with white matter lesion volumes (r range = 0.24–0.27; P range = 0.006–0.050). Globally, our results support the hypothesis of heterogeneous pathological processes, including retrograde degeneration from white matter lesions and CSF-mediated damage, leading to thalamic microstructural abnormalities, likely preceding macroscopic tissue loss. Assessing thalamic microstructural changes using a multiparametric magnetic resonance approach may represent a target to monitor the efficacy of neuroprotective strategies early in the disease course.

scholarly journals In vivo detection of connectivity between cortical and white matter lesions in early MS

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 973-981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan-Mendelt Tillema ◽  
Stephen D Weigand ◽  
Jay Mandrekar ◽  
Yunhong Shu ◽  
Claudia F Lucchinetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
White Matter Lesions ◽  
Cortical Lesion ◽  
In Vivo Detection ◽  
Relapsing Remitting ◽  
Mri Scans ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri

Background: The relationship between cortical lesions (CLs) and white matter lesions (WMLs) in multiple sclerosis (MS) is poorly understood. Pathological studies support a topographical association between CLs and underlying subcortical WMLs and suggest CLs may play a role in both disease initiation and progression. We hypothesized that cortical MS lesions are physically connected to white matter MS lesions via axonal connections. Objective: To assess the presence of CL-WML connectivity utilizing novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methodology. Methods: In all, 28 relapsing-remitting MS patients and 25 controls received 3 T MRI scans, including double inversion recovery (DIR) for CL detection coupled with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). CL and WML maps were created, and DTI was used to calculate inter-lesional connectivity and volumetric connectivity indices. Results: All patients showed inter-lesional WML connectivity (median 76% of WMLs connected to another WML; interquartile range (IQR), 58%–88%). On average, 52% of detected CLs per patient were connected to at least one WML (IQR, 42%–71%). Volumetric connectivity analysis showed significantly elevated cortical lesion ratios in MS patients (median, 2.3; IQR, 1.6–3.3) compared to null MS and healthy control datasets ( p < 0.001). Conclusion: These findings provide strong evidence of inter-lesional connectivity between CLs and WMLs, supporting our hypothesis of intrinsic CL-WML connectivity.

scholarly journals Genetic Risk Factors for Longitudinal Changes in Structural MRI in Former Organolead Workers

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan D. James ◽  
Brian Caffo ◽  
Walter F. Stewart ◽  
David Yousem ◽  
Christos Davatzikos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Brain Volume ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
White Matter Lesions ◽  
Structural Mri ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Effect Modification ◽  
Longitudinal Change ◽  
Brain Volumes

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.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document