A diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging for studying white matter changes in patients with mild cognitive impairment
Guan, J.-Q.; Wang, L.-N.; Zhang, X.; Jiang, T.-Z.; An, N.-Y.; Wang, Q.-F.; Zhang, J.
Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi 49(2): 107-110
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 0578-1426 PMID: 20356504 Document Number: 643715
To measure the microstructural differences in the brains of participants with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and compare with a control group using a magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) technique with fully automated image analysis tools. A standardized clinical and neuropsychological evaluation was conducted on each subject. 31 participants (15 participants with aMCI, 16 healthy elderly adults) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based DTI. To control the effects of anatomical variation, the diffusion images of all participants were registered to standard anatomical space. Voxel-by-voxel comparisons showed significant regional reductions in white matter regions of fractional anisotropy (FA) in the participants with aMCI as compared with the controls. Significantly decreased FA value measurements (P < 0.001) were observed in the right frontal white matter in participants with aMCI. Moreover, there was a statistically significant difference between the patients with aMCI and controls in considering the small regions of bilateral superior frontal gyrus white matter (P < 0.001). White matter damage of frontal lobe may play an important role in histopathologic changes associated with amnestic mild cognitive impairment.