Dataset Information

Fiber bundle length and cognition: a length-based tractography MRI study.

ABSTRACT: Executive function (EF) and cognitive processing speed (CPS) are two cognitive performance domains that decline with advanced age. Reduced EF and CPS are known to correlate with age-related frontal-lobe volume loss. However, it remains unclear whether white matter microstructure in these regions is associated with age-related decline in EF and/or CPS. We utilized quantitative tractography metrics derived from diffusion-tensor MRI to investigate the relationship between the mean fiber bundle lengths (FBLs) projecting to different lobes, and EF/CPS performance in 73 healthy aging adults. We measured aspects of EF and CPS with the Trail Making Test (TMT), Color-Word Interference Test, Letter-Number Sequencing (L-N Seq), and Symbol Coding. Results revealed that parietal and occipital FBLs explained a significant portion of variance in EF. Frontal, temporal, and occipital FBLs explained a significant portion of variance in CPS. Shorter occipital FBLs were associated with poorer performance on the EF tests TMT-B and CWIT 3. Shorter frontal, parietal, and occipital FBLs were associated with poorer performance on L-N Seq and Symbol Coding. Shorter frontal and temporal FBLs were associated with lower performance on CPS tests TMT-A and CWIT 1. Shorter FBLs were also associated with increased age. Results suggest an age-related FBL shortening in specific brain regions related to poorer EF and CPS performance among older adults. Overall, results support both the frontal aging hypothesis and processing speed theory, suggesting that each mechanism is contributing to age-related cognitive decline.

SUBMITTER: Behrman-Lay AM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4424188 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Fiber bundle length and cognition: a length-based tractography MRI study.

Behrman-Lay Ashley M AM Usher Christina C Conturo Thomas E TE Correia Stephen S Laidlaw David H DH Lane Elizabeth M EM Bolzenius Jacob J Heaps Jodi M JM Salminen Lauren E LE Baker Laurie M LM Cabeen Ryan R Akbudak Erbil E Luo Xi X Yan Peisi P Paul Robert H RH

Brain imaging and behavior 20151201 4

Executive function (EF) and cognitive processing speed (CPS) are two cognitive performance domains that decline with advanced age. Reduced EF and CPS are known to correlate with age-related frontal-lobe volume loss. However, it remains unclear whether white matter microstructure in these regions is associated with age-related decline in EF and/or CPS. We utilized quantitative tractography metrics derived from diffusion-tensor MRI to investigate the relationship between the mean fiber bundle leng ...[more]

PMID: 25376332

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Project description:BackgroundDiffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been applied in the lumbar and sacral nerves in vivo, but information about the reproducibility of this method is needed before DTI can be used reliably in clinical practice across centers.PurposeIn this multicenter study the reproducibility of DTI of the lumbosacral nerves in healthy volunteers was investigated.Study typeProspective control series.SubjectsTwenty healthy subjects.Field strength/sequence3T MRI. 3D turbo spin echo, and 3.0 mm isotropic DTI scan.AssessmentThe DTI scan was performed three times (twice in the same session, intrascan reproducibility, and once after an hour, interscan reproducibility). At site 2, 1 week later, the protocol was repeated (interweek reproducibility). Fiber tractography (FT) of the lumbar and sacral nerves (L3-S2) was performed to obtain values for fractional anisotropy, mean, axial, and radial diffusivity.Statistical testsReproducibility was determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and power calculations were performed.ResultsFT was successful and reproducible in all datasets. ICCs for all diffusion parameters were high for intrascan (ranging from 0.70-0.85), intermediate for interscan (ranging from 0.61-0.73), and interweek reliability (ranging from 0.58-0.62). There were small but significant differences between the interweek diffusivity values (P < 0.0005). Depending on the effect size, nerve location, and parameter of interest, power calculations showed that sample sizes between 10 and 232 subjects are needed for cross-sectional studies.Data conclusionWe found that DTI and FT of the lumbosacral nerves have intermediate to high reproducibility within and between scans. Based on these results, 10-58 subjects are needed to find a 10% change in parameters in cross-sectional studies of the lumbar and sacral nerves. The small significant differences of the interweek comparison suggest that results from longitudinal studies need to be interpreted carefully, since small differences may also be caused by factors other than disease progression or therapeutic effects.Level of evidence1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;48:951-963.

Dataset Information

Fiber bundle length and cognition: a length-based tractography MRI study.

Publications

Fiber bundle length and cognition: a length-based tractography MRI study.

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