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Lancione M, Cencini M, Scaffei E, Cipriano E, Buonincontri G, Schulte RF, Pirkl CM, Buchignani B, Pasquariello R, Canapicchi R, Battini R, Biagi L, Tosetti M. Magnetic resonance fingerprinting-based myelin water fraction mapping for the assessment of white matter maturation and integrity in typical development and leukodystrophies. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2024; 37:e5114. [PMID: 38390667 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.5114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
A quantitative biomarker for myelination, such as myelin water fraction (MWF), would boost the understanding of normative and pathological neurodevelopment, improving patients' diagnosis and follow-up. We quantified the fraction of a rapidly relaxing pool identified as MW using multicomponent three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) to evaluate white matter (WM) maturation in typically developing (TD) children and alterations in leukodystrophies (LDs). We acquired DTI and 3D MRF-based R1, R2 and MWF data of 15 TD children and 17 LD patients (9 months-12.5 years old) at 1.5 T. We computed normative maturation curves in corpus callosum and corona radiata and performed WM tract profile analysis, comparing MWF with R1, R2 and fractional anisotropy (FA). Normative maturation curves demonstrated a steep increase for all tissue parameters in the first 3 years of age, followed by slower growth for MWF while R1, R2R2 and FA reached a plateau. Unlike FA, MWF values were similar for regions of interest (ROIs) with different degrees of axonal packing, suggesting independence from fiber bundle macro-organization and higher myelin specificity. Tract profile analysis indicated a specific spatial pattern of myelination in the major fiber bundles, consistent across subjects. LD were better distinguished from TD by MWF rather than FA, showing reduced MWF with respect to age-matched controls in both ROI-based and tract analysis. In conclusion, MRF-based MWF provides myelin-specific WM maturation curves and is sensitive to alteration due to LDs, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for WM disorders. As MRF allows fast simultaneous acquisition of relaxometry and MWF, it can represent a valuable diagnostic tool to study and follow up developmental WM disorders in children.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matteo Cencini
- Pisa Division, National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Emilio Cipriano
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Physics, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Roberta Battini
- IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Mendez Colmenares A, Thomas ML, Anderson C, Arciniegas DB, Calhoun V, Choi IY, Kramer AF, Li K, Lee J, Lee P, Burzynska AZ. Testing the structural disconnection hypothesis: Myelin content correlates with memory in healthy aging. Neurobiol Aging 2024; 141:21-33. [PMID: 38810596 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2024.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The "structural disconnection" hypothesis of cognitive aging suggests that deterioration of white matter (WM), especially myelin, results in cognitive decline, yet in vivo evidence is inconclusive. METHODS We examined age differences in WM microstructure using Myelin Water Imaging and Diffusion Tensor Imaging in 141 healthy participants (age 20-79). We used the Virginia Cognitive Aging Project and the NIH Toolbox® to generate composites for memory, processing speed, and executive function. RESULTS Voxel-wise analyses showed that lower myelin water fraction (MWF), predominantly in prefrontal WM, genu of the corpus callosum, and posterior limb of the internal capsule was associated with reduced memory performance after controlling for age, sex, and education. In structural equation modeling, MWF in the prefrontal white matter and genu of the corpus callosum significantly mediated the effect of age on memory, whereas fractional anisotropy (FA) did not. DISCUSSION Our findings support the disconnection hypothesis, showing that myelin decline contributes to age-related memory loss and opens avenues for interventions targeting myelin health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Mendez Colmenares
- The BRAiN lab, Department of Human Development and Family Studies/Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Colorado State University, Behavioral Sciences Building, 303, 410 W Pitkin St, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Michael L Thomas
- Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Behavioral Sciences Building, 303, 410 W Pitkin, St, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Charles Anderson
- Department of Computer Science, Colorado State University, 456 University Ave #444, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - David B Arciniegas
- Marcus Institute for Brain Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12348 E Montview Blvd, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Vince Calhoun
- Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Emory, 55 Park Pl NE, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - In-Young Choi
- Department of Neurology, Department of Radiology, Hoglund Biomedical Imaging Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3805 Eaton St, Kansas City, KS 66103, USA
| | - Arthur F Kramer
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois, 405 N Mathews Ave, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Center for Cognitive & Brain Health, Northeastern University, Address: 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kaigang Li
- Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, 951 W Plum St, Fort Collins, CO 80521, USA
| | - Jongho Lee
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University, 232 Gongneung-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01811, South Korea
| | - Phil Lee
- Department of Radiology, Hoglund Biomedical Imaging Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3805 Eaton St, Kansas City, KS 66103, USA
| | - Agnieszka Z Burzynska
- The BRAiN lab, Department of Human Development and Family Studies/Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neurosciences, Colorado State University, Behavioral Sciences Building, 303, 410 W Pitkin St, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
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Motegi H, Kufukihara K, Kitagawa S, Sekiguchi K, Hata J, Fujiwara H, Jinzaki M, Okano H, Nakamura M, Iguchi Y, Nakahara J. Non-lesional white matter changes depicted by q-space diffusional MRI correlate with clinical disabilities in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Sci 2024; 456:122851. [PMID: 38181653 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2023.122851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We previously developed an optimized q-space diffusional MRI technique (normalized leptokurtic diffusion [NLD] map) to delineate the demyelinated lesions of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Herein, we evaluated the utility of NLD maps to discern the white matter abnormalities in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and the abnormalities' possible associations with physical and cognitive disabilities in MS. METHODS We conducted a retrospective observational study of MS patients treated at our hospital (Jan. 2012 to Dec. 2022). Clinical and MRI data were collected; Processing Speed Test (PST) data were obtained when possible. For a quantitative analysis of the NLD maps, we calculated the NLD index as GVROI/GVREF, where GV is a mean grayscale value in the regions of interest (ROIs) and the reference area (REF; cerebrospinal fluid). RESULTS One hundred-one individuals with MS were included. The lower corpus callosum and non-lesional WM NLD index were associated with worse Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and PST scores. The NLD indexes in the corpus callosum (p < 0.0001) and non-lesional white matter (p < 0.0001) were significantly reduced in progressive MS compared to relapsing-remitting MS. We categorized MS severity as moderate/severe (EDSS score ≥ 4 points) and mild (EDSS score < 4 points). The NLD indexes in the corpus callosum (p < 0.0001) and non-lesional white matter (p < 0.0001) were significantly lower in the moderate/severe MS group compared to the mild MS group. CONCLUSION The NLD map revealed abnormalities in the non-lesional white matter, providing valuable insights for evaluating manifestations in MS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruhiko Motegi
- Department of Neurology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Neurology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Kenji Kufukihara
- Department of Neurology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Satoshi Kitagawa
- Department of Neurology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Koji Sekiguchi
- Department of Neurology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Junichi Hata
- Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Laboratory for Marmoset Neural Architecture, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Japan.
| | - Hirokazu Fujiwara
- Center of Preventive Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Masahiro Jinzaki
- Department of Radiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Laboratory for Marmoset Neural Architecture, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Japan.
| | - Masaya Nakamura
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Yasuyuki Iguchi
- Department of Neurology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Jin Nakahara
- Department of Neurology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
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Corbin N, Oliveira R, Raynaud Q, Di Domenicantonio G, Draganski B, Kherif F, Callaghan MF, Lutti A. Statistical analyses of motion-corrupted MRI relaxometry data computed from multiple scans. J Neurosci Methods 2023; 398:109950. [PMID: 37598941 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.109950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Consistent noise variance across data points (i.e. homoscedasticity) is required to ensure the validity of statistical analyses of MRI data conducted using linear regression methods. However, head motion leads to degradation of image quality, introducing noise heteroscedasticity into ordinary-least square analyses. NEW METHOD The recently introduced QUIQI method restores noise homoscedasticity by means of weighted least square analyses in which the weights, specific for each dataset of an analysis, are computed from an index of motion-induced image quality degradation. QUIQI was first demonstrated in the context of brain maps of the MRI parameter R2 * , which were computed from a single set of images with variable echo time. Here, we extend this framework to quantitative maps of the MRI parameters R1, R2 * , and MTsat, computed from multiple sets of images. RESULTS QUIQI restores homoscedasticity in analyses of quantitative MRI data computed from multiple scans. QUIQI allows for optimization of the noise model by using metrics quantifying heteroscedasticity and free energy. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS QUIQI restores homoscedasticity more effectively than insertion of an image quality index in the analysis design and yields higher sensitivity than simply removing the datasets most corrupted by head motion from the analysis. CONCLUSION QUIQI provides an optimal approach to group-wise analyses of a range of quantitative MRI parameter maps that is robust to inherent homoscedasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadège Corbin
- Centre de Résonance Magnétique des Systèmes Biologiques, UMR5536, CNRS/University Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France; Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rita Oliveira
- Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Quentin Raynaud
- Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Giulia Di Domenicantonio
- Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bogdan Draganski
- Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Neurology Department, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ferath Kherif
- Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Martina F Callaghan
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Antoine Lutti
- Laboratory for Research in Neuroimaging, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Zhou L, Li Y, Sweeney EM, Wang XH, Kuceyeski A, Chiang GC, Ivanidze J, Wang Y, Gauthier SA, de Leon MJ, Nguyen TD. Association of brain tissue cerebrospinal fluid fraction with age in healthy cognitively normal adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1162001. [PMID: 37396667 PMCID: PMC10312090 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1162001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and purpose Our objective was to apply multi-compartment T2 relaxometry in cognitively normal individuals aged 20-80 years to study the effect of aging on the parenchymal CSF fraction (CSFF), a potential measure of the subvoxel CSF space. Materials and methods A total of 60 volunteers (age range, 22-80 years) were enrolled. Voxel-wise maps of short-T2 myelin water fraction (MWF), intermediate-T2 intra/extra-cellular water fraction (IEWF), and long-T2 CSFF were obtained using fast acquisition with spiral trajectory and adiabatic T2prep (FAST-T2) sequence and three-pool non-linear least squares fitting. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to study the association between age and regional MWF, IEWF, and CSFF measurements, adjusting for sex and region of interest (ROI) volume. ROIs include the cerebral white matter (WM), cerebral cortex, and subcortical deep gray matter (GM). In each model, a quadratic term for age was tested using an ANOVA test. A Spearman's correlation between the normalized lateral ventricle volume, a measure of organ-level CSF space, and the regional CSFF, a measure of tissue-level CSF space, was computed. Results Regression analyses showed that there was a statistically significant quadratic relationship with age for CSFF in the cortex (p = 0.018), MWF in the cerebral WM (p = 0.033), deep GM (p = 0.017) and cortex (p = 0.029); and IEWF in the deep GM (p = 0.033). There was a statistically highly significant positive linear relationship between age and regional CSFF in the cerebral WM (p < 0.001) and deep GM (p < 0.001). In addition, there was a statistically significant negative linear association between IEWF and age in the cerebral WM (p = 0.017) and cortex (p < 0.001). In the univariate correlation analysis, the normalized lateral ventricle volume correlated with the regional CSFF measurement in the cerebral WM (ρ = 0.64, p < 0.001), cortex (ρ = 0.62, p < 0.001), and deep GM (ρ = 0.66, p < 0.001). Conclusion Our cross-sectional data demonstrate that brain tissue water in different compartments shows complex age-dependent patterns. Parenchymal CSFF, a measure of subvoxel CSF-like water in the brain tissue, is quadratically associated with age in the cerebral cortex and linearly associated with age in the cerebral deep GM and WM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangdong Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Elizabeth M. Sweeney
- Penn Statistics in Imaging and Visualization Endeavor (PennSIVE), Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Xiuyuan H. Wang
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Amy Kuceyeski
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Gloria C. Chiang
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jana Ivanidze
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Susan A. Gauthier
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mony J. de Leon
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Thanh D. Nguyen
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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Rubinski A, Franzmeier N, Dewenter A, Luan Y, Smith R, Strandberg O, Ossenkoppele R, Dichgans M, Hansson O, Ewers M. Higher levels of myelin are associated with higher resistance against tau pathology in Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimers Res Ther 2022; 14:139. [PMID: 36153607 PMCID: PMC9508747 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-022-01074-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Background In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), fibrillar tau initially occurs locally and progresses preferentially between closely connected regions. However, the underlying sources of regional vulnerability to tau pathology remain unclear. Previous brain-autopsy findings suggest that the myelin levels—which differ substantially between white matter tracts in the brain—are a key modulating factor of region-specific susceptibility to tau deposition. Here, we investigated whether myelination differences between fiber tracts of the human connectome are predictive of the interregional spreading of tau pathology in AD. Methods We included two independently recruited samples consisting of amyloid-PET-positive asymptomatic and symptomatic elderly individuals, in whom tau-PET was obtained at baseline (ADNI: n = 275; BioFINDER-1: n = 102) and longitudinally in a subset (ADNI: n = 123, mean FU = 1.53 [0.69–3.95] years; BioFINDER-1: n = 39, mean FU = 1.87 [1.21–2.78] years). We constructed MRI templates of the myelin water fraction (MWF) in 200 gray matter ROIs and connecting fiber tracts obtained from adult cognitively normal participants. Using the same 200 ROI brain-parcellation atlas, we obtained tau-PET ROI values from each individual in ADNI and BioFINDER-1. In a spatial regression analysis, we first tested the association between cortical myelin and group-average tau-PET signal in the amyloid-positive and control groups. Secondly, employing a previously established approach of modeling tau-PET spreading based on functional connectivity between ROIs, we estimated in a linear regression analysis, whether the level of fiber-tract myelin modulates the association between functional connectivity and longitudinal tau-PET spreading (i.e., covariance) between ROIs. Results We found that higher myelinated cortical regions show lower tau-PET uptake (ADNI: rho = − 0.267, p < 0.001; BioFINDER-1: rho = − 0.175, p = 0.013). Fiber-tract myelin levels modulated the association between functional connectivity and tau-PET spreading, such that at higher levels of fiber-tract myelin, the association between stronger connectivity and higher covariance of tau-PET between the connected ROIs was attenuated (interaction fiber-tract myelin × functional connectivity: ADNI: β = − 0.185, p < 0.001; BioFINDER-1: β = − 0.166, p < 0.001). Conclusion Higher levels of myelin are associated with lower susceptibility of the connected regions to accumulate fibrillar tau. These results enhance our understanding of brain substrates that explain regional variation in tau accumulation and encourage future studies to investigate potential underlying mechanisms. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13195-022-01074-9.
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Dobri S, Chen JJ, Ross B. Insights from auditory cortex for GABA+ magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies of aging. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 56:4425-4444. [PMID: 35781900 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Changes in levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) may underlie aging-related changes in brain function. GABA and co-edited macromolecules (GABA+) can be measured with MEGA-PRESS magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The current study investigated how changes in the aging brain impact the interpretation of GABA+ measures in bilateral auditory cortices of healthy young and older adults. Structural changes during aging appeared as decreasing proportion of grey matter in the MRS volume of interest and corresponding increase in cerebrospinal fluid. GABA+ referenced to H2 O without tissue correction declined in aging. This decline persisted after correcting for tissue differences in MR-visible H2 O and relaxation times but vanished after considering the different abundance of GABA+ in grey and white matter. However, GABA+ referenced to creatine and N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), which showed no dependence on tissue composition, decreased in aging. All GABA+ measures showed hemispheric asymmetry in young but not older adults. The study also considered aging-related effects on tissue segmentation and the impact of co-edited macromolecules. Tissue segmentation differed significantly between commonly used algorithms, but aging-related effects on tissue-corrected GABA+ were consistent across methods. Auditory cortex macromolecule concentration did not change with age, indicating that a decline in GABA caused the decrease in the compound GABA+ measure. Most likely, the macromolecule contribution to GABA+ leads to underestimating an aging-related decrease in GABA. Overall, considering multiple GABA+ measures using different reference signals strengthened the support for an aging-related decline in auditory cortex GABA levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Dobri
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - J Jean Chen
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bernhard Ross
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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8
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MacDonald ME, Pike GB. MRI of healthy brain aging: A review. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2021; 34:e4564. [PMID: 34096114 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We present a review of the characterization of healthy brain aging using MRI with an emphasis on morphology, lesions, and quantitative MR parameters. A scope review found 6612 articles encompassing the keywords "Brain Aging" and "Magnetic Resonance"; papers involving functional MRI or not involving imaging of healthy human brain aging were discarded, leaving 2246 articles. We first consider some of the biogerontological mechanisms of aging, and the consequences of aging in terms of cognition and onset of disease. Morphological changes with aging are reviewed for the whole brain, cerebral cortex, white matter, subcortical gray matter, and other individual structures. In general, volume and cortical thickness decline with age, beginning in mid-life. Prevalent silent lesions such as white matter hyperintensities, microbleeds, and lacunar infarcts are also observed with increasing frequency. The literature regarding quantitative MR parameter changes includes T1 , T2 , T2 *, magnetic susceptibility, spectroscopy, magnetization transfer, diffusion, and blood flow. We summarize the findings on how each of these parameters varies with aging. Finally, we examine how the aforementioned techniques have been used for age prediction. While relatively large in scope, we present a comprehensive review that should provide the reader with sound understanding of what MRI has been able to tell us about how the healthy brain ages.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ethan MacDonald
- Department of Electrical and Software Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Departments of Radiology and Clinical Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Healthy Brain Aging Laboratory, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - G Bruce Pike
- Departments of Radiology and Clinical Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Healthy Brain Aging Laboratory, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Panou Τ, Kavroulakis E, Mastorodemos V, Pouli S, Kalaitzakis G, Spyridaki E, Maris TG, Simos P, Papadaki E. Myelin content changes in Clinically Isolated Syndrome and Relapsing- Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: Associations with lesion type and severity of visuomotor impairment. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2021; 54:103108. [PMID: 34198031 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2021.103108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive disturbances occur in patients with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RR-MS) and Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS). The Multi-Echo-Spin-Echo (MESE) T2-weighted sequence quantifies demyelination, the pathological hallmark of MS, but has not been used for the documentation of the potential relationship between anatomically specific demyelinating changes and cognitive impairment in MS. PURPOSE To identify markers of regional demyelination in patients with RR-MS and CIS in relation to clinical variables and severity of cognitive impairment. METHODS AND MATERIALS 37 RR-MS patients, 39 CIS patients and 52 healthy controls (HC) were examined using the MESE sequence. Long T2 and myelin water fraction (MWF) values were measured, serving as indices of intra/extracellular water content and myelin content, respectively, in focal white matter lesions and 12 normal appearing white matter (NAWM) areas of the patients and HC. A comprehensive neuropsychological assessment was administered to all patients. RESULTS RR-MS patients showed widespread long T2 increases and MWF reductions in NAWM, compared to the respective values of HC (p < 0.001), which correlated with total lesion volume. Among RR-MS patients illness duration correlated negatively with MWF in right hemisphere frontal and periventricular NAWM areas (and positively with corresponding long T2 values). MWF values were lower in the CIS, as compared to the HC group, in the temporal, frontal and periventricular NAWM areas. Focal demyelinating lesions displayed variable higher T2 and lower MWF values, compared to NAWM, closely corresponding to their intensity on T1 sequences. Reduced MWF values and increased long T2 values in right periventricular NAWM were significantly associated with poor visuomotor performance. CONCLUSION The MESE sequence affords accurate estimation of myelin and water content in NAWM and focal lesions in RR-MS and CIS patients, by means of the MWF and long T2 values, respectively, providing a sensitive index of demyelination associated with visuomotor deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Τheodora Panou
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Eleftherios Kavroulakis
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Vasileios Mastorodemos
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Styliani Pouli
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Georgios Kalaitzakis
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Eirini Spyridaki
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Thomas G Maris
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Institute of Computer Science, Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas, Voutes, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Simos
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Institute of Computer Science, Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas, Voutes, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Efrosini Papadaki
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece; Institute of Computer Science, Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas, Voutes, Heraklion, Greece.
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10
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Khattar N, Triebswetter C, Kiely M, Ferrucci L, Resnick SM, Spencer RG, Bouhrara M. Investigation of the association between cerebral iron content and myelin content in normative aging using quantitative magnetic resonance neuroimaging. Neuroimage 2021; 239:118267. [PMID: 34139358 PMCID: PMC8370037 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Myelin loss and iron accumulation are cardinal features of aging and various neurodegenerative diseases. Oligodendrocytes incorporate iron as a metabolic substrate for myelin synthesis and maintenance. An emerging hypothesis in Alzheimer’s disease research suggests that myelin breakdown releases substantial stores of iron that may accumulate, leading to further myelin breakdown and neurodegeneration. We assessed associations between iron content and myelin content in critical brain regions using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on a cohort of cognitively unimpaired adults ranging in age from 21 to 94 years. We measured whole-brain myelin water fraction (MWF), a surrogate of myelin content, using multicomponent relaxometry, and whole-brain iron content using susceptibility weighted imaging in all individuals. MWF was negatively associated with iron content in most brain regions evaluated indicating that lower myelin content corresponds to higher iron content. Moreover, iron content was significantly higher with advanced age in most structures, with men exhibiting a trend towards higher iron content as compared to women. Finally, relationship between MWF and age, in all brain regions investigated, suggests that brain myelination continues until middle age, followed by degeneration at older ages. This work establishes a foundation for further investigations of the etiology and sequelae of myelin breakdown and iron accumulation in neurodegeneration and may lead to new imaging markers for disease progression and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikkita Khattar
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, 21224 MD, United States
| | - Curtis Triebswetter
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, 21224 MD, United States
| | - Matthew Kiely
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, 21224 MD, United States
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, 21224 MD, United States
| | - Susan M Resnick
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, 21224 MD, United States
| | - Richard G Spencer
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, 21224 MD, United States
| | - Mustapha Bouhrara
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, 21224 MD, United States.
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11
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Age- and gender-related differences in brain tissue microstructure revealed by multi-component T 2 relaxometry. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 106:68-79. [PMID: 34252873 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In spite of extensive work, inconsistent findings and lack of specificity in most neuroimaging techniques used to examine age- and gender-related patterns in brain tissue microstructure indicate the need for additional research. Here, we performed the largest Multi-component T2 relaxometry cross-sectional study to date in healthy adults (N = 145, 18-60 years). Five quantitative microstructure parameters derived from various segments of the estimated T2 spectra were evaluated, allowing a more specific interpretation of results in terms of tissue microstructure. We found similar age-related myelin water fraction (MWF) patterns in men and women but we also observed differential male related results including increased MWF content in a few white matter tracts, a faster decline with age of the intra- and extra-cellular water fraction and its T2 relaxation time (i.e. steeper age related negative slopes) and a faster increase in the free and quasi-free water fraction, spanning the whole grey matter. Such results point to a sexual dimorphism in brain tissue microstructure and suggest a lesser vulnerability to age-related changes in women.
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12
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Papadaki E, Mastorodemos V, Panou T, Pouli S, Spyridaki E, Kavroulakis E, Kalaitzakis G, Maris TG, Simos P. T2 Relaxometry Evidence of Microstructural Changes in Diffusely Abnormal White Matter in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis and Clinically Isolated Syndrome: Impact on Visuomotor Performance. J Magn Reson Imaging 2021; 54:1077-1087. [PMID: 33960066 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.27661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although diffusely abnormal white matter (DAWM) is commonly seen in multiple sclerosis (MS), it is rarely considered in clinical/imaging studies. PURPOSE To evaluate quantitative markers of microstructural changes in DAWM of patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and relapsing-remitting MS (RR-MS) in relation to MS lesions and degree of neurocognitive impairment, by using a multi-echo spin echo (MESE) Proton Density PD-to-T2 sequence. STUDY TYPE Prospective, cross-sectional. POPULATION Thirty-seven RR-MS patients, 33 CIS patients, and 52 healthy controls. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE 1.5 T/T1-, T2-weighted, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, and MESE sequences. ASSESSMENT Long T2, short T2, and myelin water fraction (MWF) values were estimated as indices of intra/extracellular water content and myelin content, respectively, in DAWM, posterior periventricular normal appearing white matter (NAWM), and focal MS lesions, classified according to their signal intensity on T1 sequences. Patients were, also, administered a battery of neuropsychological tests. STATISTICAL TESTS Comparisons of T2 and MWF values in DAWM, NAWM, and MS lesions were examined, using two-way mixed analyses of variance. Associations of Grooved Pegboard performance with T2 and MWF values in DAWM and NAWM were assessed using Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS T2 and MWF values of DAWM were intermediate between the respective values of NAWM and T1 hypointense focal lesions, while there was no difference between the respective values of DAWM and T1-isointense lesions. T2 values in DAWM were strongly associated with visuomotor performance in CIS patients. DATA CONCLUSION Intra/extracellular water and myelin water content of DAWM are similar to those of T1-isointense lesions and predict visuomotor performance in CIS patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efrosini Papadaki
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Institute of Computer Science, Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Vasileios Mastorodemos
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Theodora Panou
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Styliani Pouli
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Eirini Spyridaki
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Eleftherios Kavroulakis
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Georgios Kalaitzakis
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Thomas G Maris
- Institute of Computer Science, Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Simos
- Institute of Computer Science, Foundation of Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece
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13
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Kavroulakis E, Simos NJ, Maris TG, Zaganas I, Panagiotakis S, Papadaki E. Evidence of Age-Related Hemodynamic and Functional Connectivity Impairment: A Resting State fMRI Study. Front Neurol 2021; 12:633500. [PMID: 33833727 PMCID: PMC8021915 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.633500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: To assess age-related changes in intrinsic functional brain connectivity and hemodynamics during adulthood in the context of the retrogenesis hypothesis, which states that the rate of age-related changes is higher in late-myelinating (prefrontal, lateral-posterior temporal) cerebrocortical areas as compared to early myelinating (parietal, occipital) regions. In addition, to examine the dependence of age-related changes upon concurrent subclinical depression symptoms which are common even in healthy aging. Methods: Sixty-four healthy adults (28 men) aged 23-79 years (mean 45.0, SD = 18.8 years) were examined. Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) time series were used to compute voxel-wise intrinsic connectivity contrast (ICC) maps reflecting the strength of functional connectivity between each voxel and the rest of the brain. We further used Time Shift Analysis (TSA) to estimate voxel-wise hemodynamic lead or lag for each of 22 ROIs from the automated anatomical atlas (AAL). Results: Adjusted for depression symptoms, gender and education level, reduced ICC with age was found primarily in frontal, temporal regions, and putamen, whereas the opposite trend was noted in inferior occipital cortices (p < 0.002). With the same covariates, increased hemodynamic lead with advancing age was found in superior frontal cortex and thalamus, with the opposite trend in inferior occipital cortex (p < 0.002). There was also evidence of reduced coupling between voxel-wise intrinsic connectivity and hemodynamics in the inferior parietal cortex. Conclusion: Age-related intrinsic connectivity reductions and hemodynamic changes were demonstrated in several regions-most of them part of DMN and salience networks-while impaired neurovascular coupling was, also, found in parietal regions. Age-related reductions in intrinsic connectivity were greater in anterior as compared to posterior cortices, in line with implications derived from the retrogenesis hypothesis. These effects were affected by self-reported depression symptoms, which also increased with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleftherios Kavroulakis
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Nicholas J Simos
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece.,Computational Bio-Medicine Laboratory, Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Thomas G Maris
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Ioannis Zaganas
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Simeon Panagiotakis
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Efrosini Papadaki
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece.,Computational Bio-Medicine Laboratory, Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas, Heraklion, Greece
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14
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Dao E, Tam R, Hsiung GYR, Ten Brinke L, Crockett R, Barha CK, Yoo Y, Al Keridy W, Doherty SH, Laule C, MacKay AL, Liu-Ambrose T. Exploring the Contribution of Myelin Content in Normal Appearing White Matter to Cognitive Outcomes in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 80:91-101. [PMID: 33523006 DOI: 10.3233/jad-201134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myelin damage is a salient feature in cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD). Of note, myelin damage extends into the normal appearing white matter (NAWM). Currently, the specific role of myelin content in cognition is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE The objective of this exploratory study was to investigate the association between NAWM myelin and cognitive function in older adults with cSVD. METHODS This exploratory study included 55 participants with cSVD. NAWM myelin was measured using myelin water imaging and was quantified as myelin water fraction (MWF). Assessment of cognitive function included processing speed (Trail Making Test Part A), set shifting (Trail Making Test Part B minus A), working memory (Verbal Digit Span Backwards Test), and inhibition (Stroop Test). Multiple linear regression analyses assessed the contribution of NAWM MWF on cognitive outcomes controlling for age, education, and total white matter hyperintensity volume. The overall alpha was set at ≤0.05. RESULTS After accounting for age, education, and total white matter hyperintensity volume, lower NAWM MWF was significantly associated with slower processing speed (β = -0.29, p = 0.037) and poorer working memory (β= 0.30, p = 0.048). NAWM MWF was not significantly associated with set shifting or inhibitory control (p > 0.132). CONCLUSION Myelin loss in NAWM may play a role in the evolution of impaired processing speed and working memory in people with cSVD. Future studies, with a longitudinal design and larger sample sizes, are needed to fully elucidate the role of myelin as a potential biomarker for cognitive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Dao
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada.,Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, UBC, Vancouver, Canada.,Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Roger Tam
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, UBC, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Radiology, UBC, Vancouver, Canada.,School of Biomedical Engineering, UBC, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Ging-Yuek R Hsiung
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, UBC, Vancouver, Canada.,Division of Neurology, UBC Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Lisanne Ten Brinke
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada.,Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, UBC, Vancouver, Canada.,Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Rachel Crockett
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada.,Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, UBC, Vancouver, Canada.,Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Cindy K Barha
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada.,Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, UBC, Vancouver, Canada.,Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | - Walid Al Keridy
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, UBC, Vancouver, Canada.,Division of Neurology, UBC Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Medicine, King Saud University, College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Stephanie H Doherty
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada.,Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, UBC, Vancouver, Canada.,Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Cornelia Laule
- Department of Radiology, UBC, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UBC, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, UBC, Vancouver, Canada.,International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Alex L MacKay
- Department of Radiology, UBC, Vancouver, Canada.,UBC MRI Research Centre, UBC, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Teresa Liu-Ambrose
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada.,Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, UBC, Vancouver, Canada.,Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
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15
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Dvorak AV, Swift-LaPointe T, Vavasour IM, Lee LE, Abel S, Russell-Schulz B, Graf C, Wurl A, Liu H, Laule C, Li DKB, Traboulsee A, Tam R, Boyd LA, MacKay AL, Kolind SH. An atlas for human brain myelin content throughout the adult life span. Sci Rep 2021; 11:269. [PMID: 33431990 PMCID: PMC7801525 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79540-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Myelin water imaging is a quantitative neuroimaging technique that provides the myelin water fraction (MWF), a metric highly specific to myelin content, and the intra-/extra-cellular T2 (IET2), which is related to water and iron content. We coupled high-resolution data from 100 adults with gold-standard methodology to create an optimized anatomical brain template and accompanying MWF and IET2 atlases. We then used the MWF atlas to characterize how myelin content relates to demographic factors. In most brain regions, myelin content followed a quadratic pattern of increase during the third decade of life, plateau at a maximum around the fifth decade, then decrease during later decades. The ranking of mean myelin content between brain regions remained consistent across age groups. These openly available normative atlases can facilitate evaluation of myelin imaging results on an individual basis and elucidate the distribution of myelin content between brain regions and in the context of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam V Dvorak
- Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. .,International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | | | - Irene M Vavasour
- Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lisa Eunyoung Lee
- Medicine (Neurology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shawna Abel
- Medicine (Neurology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Carina Graf
- Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Anika Wurl
- Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Hanwen Liu
- Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cornelia Laule
- Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - David K B Li
- Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Medicine (Neurology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Anthony Traboulsee
- Medicine (Neurology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Roger Tam
- Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lara A Boyd
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alex L MacKay
- Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shannon H Kolind
- Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Medicine (Neurology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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16
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Edde M, Theaud G, Rheault F, Dilharreguy B, Helmer C, Dartigues JF, Amieva H, Allard M, Descoteaux M, Catheline G. Free water: A marker of age-related modifications of the cingulum white matter and its association with cognitive decline. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0242696. [PMID: 33216815 PMCID: PMC7678997 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffusion MRI is extensively used to investigate changes in white matter microstructure. However, diffusion measures within white matter tissue can be affected by partial volume effects due to cerebrospinal fluid and white matter hyperintensities, especially in the aging brain. In previous aging studies, the cingulum bundle that plays a central role in the architecture of the brain networks supporting cognitive functions has been associated with cognitive deficits. However, most of these studies did not consider the partial volume effects on diffusion measures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of free water elimination on diffusion measures of the cingulum in a group of 68 healthy elderly individuals. We first determined the effect of free water elimination on conventional DTI measures and then examined the effect of free water elimination on verbal fluency performance over 12 years. The cingulum bundle was reconstructed with a tractography pipeline including a white matter hyperintensities mask to limit the negative impact of hyperintensities on fiber tracking algorithms. We observed that free water elimination increased the ability of conventional DTI measures to detect associations between tissue diffusion measures of the cingulum and changes in verbal fluency in older individuals. Moreover, free water content and mean diffusivity measured along the cingulum were independently associated with changes in verbal fluency. This suggests that both tissue modifications and an increase in interstitial isotropic water would contribute to cognitive decline. These observations reinforce the importance of using free water elimination when studying brain aging and indicate that free water itself could be a relevant marker for age-related cingulum white matter modifications and cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Edde
- EPHE, PSL, Bordeaux, France
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
| | - Guillaume Theaud
- Sherbrooke Connectivity Imaging Lab, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - François Rheault
- Sherbrooke Connectivity Imaging Lab, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | | | - Catherine Helmer
- Université de Bordeaux, Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jean-François Dartigues
- Université de Bordeaux, Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, Bordeaux, France
- CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Hélène Amieva
- Université de Bordeaux, Inserm, Bordeaux Population Health Research Center, UMR 1219, Bordeaux, France
| | - Michèle Allard
- EPHE, PSL, Bordeaux, France
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
- CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Maxime Descoteaux
- Sherbrooke Connectivity Imaging Lab, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Gwénaëlle Catheline
- EPHE, PSL, Bordeaux, France
- CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
- Université de Bordeaux, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
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17
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Fatemi Y, Danyali H, Helfroush MS, Amiri H. Fast T 2 mapping using multi-echo spin-echo MRI: A linear order approach. Magn Reson Med 2020; 84:2815-2830. [PMID: 32430979 PMCID: PMC7402028 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Multi-echo spin-echo sequence is commonly used for T2 mapping. The estimated values using conventional exponential fit, however, are hampered by stimulated and indirect echoes leading to overestimation of T2 . Here, we present fast analysis of multi-echo spin-echo (FAMESE) as a novel approach to decrease the complexity of the search space, which leads to accelerated measurement of T2 . METHODS We developed FAMESE based on mathematical analysis of the Bloch equations in which the search space dimension decreased to only one. Then, we tested it in both phantom and human brain. Bland-Altman plot was used to assess the agreement between the estimated T2 values from FAMESE and the ones estimated from single-echo spin-echo sequence. The reliability of FAMESE was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients. In addition, we investigated the noise stability of the method in synthetic and experimental data. RESULTS In both phantom and healthy participants, FAMESE provided accelerated and SNR-resistant T2 maps. The FAMESE had a very good agreement with the single-echo spin echo for the whole range of T2 values. The intraclass correlation coefficient values for FAMESE were excellent (ie, 0.9998 and 0.9860 < intraclass correlation coefficient < 0.9942 for the phantom and humans, respectively). CONCLUSION Our developed method FAMESE could be considered as a candidate for rapid T2 mapping with a clinically feasible scan time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaghoub Fatemi
- Department of Electrical and Electronics EngineeringShiraz University of TechnologyShirazIran
| | - Habibollah Danyali
- Department of Electrical and Electronics EngineeringShiraz University of TechnologyShirazIran
| | | | - Houshang Amiri
- Neuroscience Research CenterInstitute of NeuropharmacologyKerman University of Medical SciencesKermanIran
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear MedicineVU University Medical CenterAmsterdamthe Netherlands
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18
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Kirov II, Sollberger M, Davitz MS, Glodzik L, Soher BJ, Babb JS, Monsch AU, Gass A, Gonen O. Global brain volume and N-acetyl-aspartate decline over seven decades of normal aging. Neurobiol Aging 2020; 98:42-51. [PMID: 33232854 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
We characterize the whole-brain N-acetyl-aspartate (WBNAA) and brain tissue fractions across the adult lifespan and test the hypothesis that, despite age-related atrophy, neuronal integrity (reflected by WBNAA) is preserved in normal aging. Two-hundred-and-seven participants: 133 cognitively intact older adults (73.6 ± 7.4 mean ± standard deviation, range: 60-90 year old) and 84 young (37.9 ± 11, range: 21-59 year old) were scanned with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and T1-weighted MRI. Their WBNAA, fractional brain parenchyma, and gray and white matter volumes (fBPV, fGM, and fWM) were compared and modeled as functions of age and sex. Compared with young, older-adults' WBNAA was lower by ~35%, and fBPV, fGM and fWM were lower by ~10%. Linear regressions found 0.5%/year WBNAA and 0.2%/year fBPV and fGM declines, whereas fWM rose to age ~40 years, and declined thereafter. fBPV and fGM were 1.8% and 4% higher in women, with no sex decline rates difference. We conclude that contrary to our hypothesis, atrophy was accompanied by WBNAA decline. Across the entire age range, women's brains showed less atrophy than men's. Formulas to estimate WBNAA and brain tissue fractions in healthy adults are provided to help differentiate normal from abnormal aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan I Kirov
- Department of Radiology, Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI(2)R), Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marc Sollberger
- University Department of Geriatric Medicine FELIX PLATTER, Memory Clinic, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Matthew S Davitz
- Department of Radiology, Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI(2)R), Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lidia Glodzik
- Department of Radiology, Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI(2)R), Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brian J Soher
- Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - James S Babb
- Department of Radiology, Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI(2)R), Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andreas U Monsch
- University Department of Geriatric Medicine FELIX PLATTER, Memory Clinic, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Achim Gass
- Department of Neurology/Neuroimaging, University Hospital Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Oded Gonen
- Department of Radiology, Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAI(2)R), Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Yahya N, Manan HA. Diffusion tensor imaging indices to predict cognitive changes following adult radiotherapy. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2020; 30:e13329. [PMID: 32909654 DOI: 10.1111/ecc.13329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can detect changes to white matter tracts following assaults including high dose radiation. This study aimed to systematically evaluate DTI indices to predict cognitive changes following adult radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS We searched PubMed and Scopus electronic databases to identify eligible studies according to PRISMA guidelines. Studies were extracted for information on demographics, DTI changes and associations to cognitive outcomes. RESULTS Six studies were selected for inclusion with 110 patients (median study size: 20). 5/6 studies found significant cognitive decline and analysed relationships to DTI changes. Decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) was consistently associated with cognitive decline. Associations clustered at specific regions of cingulum and corpus callosum. Only one study conducted multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION Fractional anisotropy is a clinically meaningful biomarker for radiotherapy-related cognitive decline. Studies accruing larger patient cohorts are needed to guide therapeutic changes that can abate the decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noorazrul Yahya
- Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hanani A Manan
- Functional Image Processing Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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