Dataset Information

Age-Related Measurements of the Myelin Water Fraction derived from 3D multi-echo GRASE reflect Myelin Content of the Cerebral White Matter.

ABSTRACT: Myelin Water Fraction (MWF) measurements derived from quantitative Myelin Water Imaging (MWI) may detect demyelinating changes of the cerebral white matter (WM) microstructure. Here, we investigated age-related alterations of the MWF in normal aging brains of healthy volunteers utilizing two fast and clinically feasible 3D gradient and spin echo (GRASE) MWI sequences with 3?mm and 5?mm isotropic voxel size. In 45 healthy subjects (age range: 18-79 years), distinct regions of interest (ROI) were defined in the cerebral WM including corticospinal tracts. For the 3?mm sequence, significant correlations of the mean MWF with age were found for most ROIs (r??0.05). Mean MWF values obtained from the 3?mm and 5?mm sequences were strongly comparable. The applied 3D GRASE MWI sequences were found to be sensitive for age-dependent myelin changes of the cerebral WM microstructure. The reported MWF values might be of substantial use as reference for further investigations in patient studies.

SUBMITTER: Faizy TD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6177453 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Age-Related Measurements of the Myelin Water Fraction derived from 3D multi-echo GRASE reflect Myelin Content of the Cerebral White Matter.

Faizy Tobias D TD Kumar Dushyant D Broocks Gabriel G Thaler Christian C Flottmann Fabian F Leischner Hannes H Kutzner Daniel D Hewera Simon S Dotzauer Dominik D Stellmann Jan-Patrick JP Reddy Ravinder R Fiehler Jens J Sedlacik Jan J Gellißen Susanne S

Scientific reports 20181009 1

Myelin Water Fraction (MWF) measurements derived from quantitative Myelin Water Imaging (MWI) may detect demyelinating changes of the cerebral white matter (WM) microstructure. Here, we investigated age-related alterations of the MWF in normal aging brains of healthy volunteers utilizing two fast and clinically feasible 3D gradient and spin echo (GRASE) MWI sequences with 3 mm and 5 mm isotropic voxel size. In 45 healthy subjects (age range: 18-79 years), distinct regions of interest (ROI) were ...[more]

PMID: 30301904

Similar Datasets

Project description:White matter hyperintensities negatively impact white matter structure and relate to cognitive decline in aging. Diffusion tensor imaging detects changes to white matter microstructure, both within the white matter hyperintensity and extending into surrounding (perilesional) normal-appearing white matter. However, diffusion tensor imaging markers are not specific to tissue components, complicating the interpretation of previous microstructural findings. Myelin water imaging is a novel imaging technique that provides specific markers of myelin content (myelin water fraction) and interstitial fluid (geometric mean T2). Here we combined diffusion tensor imaging and myelin water imaging to examine tissue characteristics in white matter hyperintensities and perilesional white matter in 80 individuals (47 older adults and 33 individuals with chronic stroke). To measure perilesional normal-appearing white matter, white matter hyperintensity masks were dilated in 2 mm segments up to 10 mm in distance from the white matter hyperintensity. Fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, myelin water fraction, and geometric mean T2 were extracted from white matter hyperintensities and perilesional white matter. We observed a spatial gradient of higher mean diffusivity and geometric mean T2, and lower fractional anisotropy, in the white matter hyperintensity and perilesional white matter. In the chronic stroke group, myelin water fraction was reduced in the white matter hyperintensity but did not show a spatial gradient in perilesional white matter. Across the entire sample, white matter metrics within the white matter hyperintensity related to whole-brain white matter hyperintensity volume; with increasing white matter hyperintensity volume there was increased mean diffusivity and geometric mean T2, and decreased myelin water fraction in the white matter hyperintensity. Normal-appearing white matter adjacent to white matter hyperintensities exhibits characteristics of a transitional stage between healthy white matter and white matter hyperintensities. This effect was observed in markers sensitive to interstitial fluid, but not in myelin water fraction, the specific marker of myelin concentration. Within the white matter hyperintensity, interstitial fluid was higher and myelin concentration was lower in individuals with more severe cerebrovascular disease. Our data suggests white matter hyperintensities have penumbra-like effects in perilesional white matter that specifically reflect increased interstitial fluid, with no changes to myelin concentration. In contrast, within the white matter hyperintensity there are varying levels of demyelination, which vary based on the severity of cerebrovascular disease. Diffusion tensor imaging and myelin imaging may be useful clinical markers to predict white matter hyperintensity formation, and to stage neuronal damage within white matter hyperintensities.

Dataset Information

Age-Related Measurements of the Myelin Water Fraction derived from 3D multi-echo GRASE reflect Myelin Content of the Cerebral White Matter.

Publications

Age-Related Measurements of the Myelin Water Fraction derived from 3D multi-echo GRASE reflect Myelin Content of the Cerebral White Matter.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets