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Han Y, Jing Y, Li X, Zhou H, Deng F. Clinical characteristics of post-stroke basal ganglia aphasia and the study of language-related white matter tracts based on diffusion spectrum imaging. Neuroimage 2024; 295:120664. [PMID: 38825217 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120664] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stroke often damages the basal ganglia, leading to atypical and transient aphasia, indicating that post-stroke basal ganglia aphasia (PSBGA) may be related to different anatomical structural damage and functional remodeling rehabilitation mechanisms. The basal ganglia contain dense white matter tracts (WMTs). Hence, damage to the functional tract may be an essential anatomical structural basis for the development of PSBGA. METHODS We first analyzed the clinical characteristics of PSBGA in 28 patients and 15 healthy controls (HCs) using the Western Aphasia Battery and neuropsychological test batteries. Moreover, we investigated white matter injury during the acute stage using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging scans for differential tractography. Finally, we used multiple regression models in correlation tractography to analyze the relationship between various language functions and quantitative anisotropy (QA) of WMTs. RESULTS Compared with HCs, patients with PSBGA showed lower scores for fluency, comprehension (auditory word recognition and sequential commands), naming (object naming and word fluency), reading comprehension of sentences, Mini-Mental State Examination, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment, along with increased scores in Hamilton Anxiety Scale-17 and Hamilton Depression Scale-17 within 7 days after stroke onset (P < 0.05). Differential tractography revealed that patients with PSBGA had damaged fibers, including in the body fibers of the corpus callosum, left cingulum bundles, left parietal aslant tracts, bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus II, bilateral thalamic radiation tracts, left fornix, corpus callosum tapetum, and forceps major, compared with HCs (FDR < 0.02). Correlation tractography highlighted that better comprehension was correlated with a higher QA of the left inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), corpus callosum forceps minor, and left extreme capsule (FDR < 0.0083). Naming was positively associated with the QA of the left IFOF, forceps minor, left arcuate fasciculus, and uncinate fasciculus (UF) (FDR < 0.0083). Word fluency of naming was also positively associated with the QA of the forceps minor, left IFOF, and thalamic radiation tracts (FDR < 0.0083). Furthermore, reading was positively correlated with the QA of the forceps minor, left IFOF, and UF (FDR < 0.0083). CONCLUSION PSBGA is primarily characterized by significantly impaired word fluency of naming and preserved repetition abilities, as well as emotional and cognitive dysfunction. Damaged limbic pathways, dorsally located tracts in the left hemisphere, and left basal ganglia pathways are involved in PSBGA pathogenesis. The results of connectometry analysis further refine the current functional localization model of higher-order neural networks associated with language functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Han
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, PR China
| | - Yuanyuan Jing
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, PR China
| | - Xuewei Li
- Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, PR China
| | - Hongwei Zhou
- Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, PR China.
| | - Fang Deng
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, PR China.
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Zhu W, Deng S, Jiang H, Zhang J, Li B, Liu W, Jia Q, Liu W, Meng Z. Application of diffusion tensor imaging in the diagnosis of post-stroke aphasia: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1140588. [PMID: 37790217 PMCID: PMC10544987 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1140588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) indicators of different white matter (WM) fibers and brain region lesions for post-stroke aphasia (PSA) are inconsistent in existing studies. Our study examines the consistency and differences between PSA tests performed with DTI. In addition, obtaining consistent and independent conclusions between studies was made possible by utilizing DTI in PSA assessment. Methods In order to gather relevant studies using DTI for diagnosing PSA, we searched the Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and CNKI databases. Based on the screening and evaluation of the included studies, the meta-analysis was used to conduct a quantitative analysis. Narrative descriptions were provided for studies that met the inclusion criteria but lacked data. Results First, we reported on the left hemisphere. The meta-analysis showed that fractional anisotropy (FA) of the arcuate fasciculus (AF) and superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), inferior frontal-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF), and uncinate fasciculus (UF) were decreased in the PSA group in comparison with the healthy controls (p < 0.00001). However, in the comparison of axial diffusivity (AD), there was no statistically significant difference in white matter fiber tracts in the dual-stream language model of the PSA group. Elevated radial diffusivity (RD) was seen only in the IFOF and ILF (PIFOF = 0.01; PILF = 0.05). In the classic Broca's area, the FA of the PSA group was decreased (p < 0.00001) while the apparent diffusion coefficient was elevated (p = 0.03). Secondly, we evaluated the white matter fiber tracts in the dual-stream language model of the right hemisphere. The FA of the PSA group was decreased only in the IFOF (p = 0.001). AD was elevated in the AF and UF (PAF < 0.00001; PUF = 0.009). RD was elevated in the AF and UF (PAF = 0.01; PUF = 0.003). The other fiber tracts did not undergo similar alterations. Conclusion In conclusion, DTI is vital for diagnosing PSA because it detects WM changes effectively, but it still has some limitations. Due to a lack of relevant language scales and clinical manifestations, diagnosing and differentiating PSA independently remain challenging. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=365897.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiming Zhu
- Clinical Department of Acupuncture, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Shizhe Deng
- Clinical Department of Acupuncture, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Hailun Jiang
- Clinical Department of Acupuncture, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Jieying Zhang
- Clinical Department of Acupuncture, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Boxuan Li
- Clinical Department of Acupuncture, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Clinical Department of Acupuncture, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Qingqing Jia
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Scientific Research, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Zhihong Meng
- Clinical Department of Acupuncture, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
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Keser Z, Meier EL, Stockbridge MD, Breining BL, Hillis AE, Sebastian R. Corticocerebellar White Matter Integrity Is Related to Naming Outcome in Post-Stroke Aphasia. NEUROBIOLOGY OF LANGUAGE (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2023; 4:404-419. [PMID: 37588128 PMCID: PMC10426388 DOI: 10.1162/nol_a_00107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Studies have shown that the integrity of white matter tracts connecting different regions in the left cerebral hemisphere is important for aphasia recovery after stroke. However, the impact of the underlying structural connection between the cortex and the cerebellum in post-stroke aphasia is poorly understood. We studied the microstructural integrity of the cerebellum and the corticocerebellar connections and their role in picture naming. Fifty-six patients with left cerebral infarcts (sparing the cerebellum) underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and Boston Naming Test. We compared the fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values of the right and the left cerebellum (lobular gray and white matter structures) and cerebellocortical connections. Recursive feature elimination and Spearman correlation analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between naming performance and the corticocerebellar connections. We found that the right, relative to left, cerebellar structures and their connections with the left cerebrum showed lower FA and higher MD values, both reflecting lower microstructural integrity. This trend was not observed in the healthy controls. Higher MD values of the right major cerebellar outflow tract were associated with poorer picture naming performance. Our study provides the first DTI data demonstrating the critical importance of ascending and descending corticocerebellar connections for naming outcomes after stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zafer Keser
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Erin L. Meier
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Melissa D. Stockbridge
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bonnie L. Breining
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Argye E. Hillis
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Cognitive Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rajani Sebastian
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Schevenels K, Gerrits R, Lemmens R, De Smedt B, Zink I, Vandermosten M. Early white matter connectivity and plasticity in post stroke aphasia recovery. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 36:103271. [PMID: 36510409 PMCID: PMC9723316 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A disruption of white matter connectivity is negatively associated with language (recovery) in patients with aphasia after stroke, and behavioral gains have been shown to coincide with white matter neuroplasticity. However, most brain-behavior studies have been carried out in the chronic phase after stroke, with limited generalizability to earlier phases. Furthermore, few studies have investigated neuroplasticity patterns during spontaneous recovery (i.e., not related to a specific treatment) in the first months after stroke, hindering the investigation of potential early compensatory mechanisms. Finally, the majority of previous research has focused on damaged left hemisphere pathways, while neglecting the potential protective value of their right hemisphere counterparts for language recovery. To address these outstanding issues, we present a longitudinal study of thirty-two patients with aphasia (21 males and 11 females, M = 69.47 years, SD = 10.60 years) who were followed up for a period of 1 year with test moments in the acute (1-2 weeks), subacute (3-6 months) and chronic phase (9-12 months) after stroke. Constrained Spherical Deconvolution-based tractography was performed in the acute and subacute phase to measure Fiber Bundle Capacity (FBC), a quantitative connectivity measure that is valid in crossing fiber regions, in the bilateral dorsal arcuate fasciculus (AF) and the bilateral ventral inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF). First, concurrent analyses revealed positive associations between the left AF and phonology, and between the bilateral IFOF and semantics in the acute - but not subacute - phase, supporting the dual-stream language model. Second, neuroplasticity analyses revealed a decrease in connection density of the bilateral AF - but not the IFOF - from the acute to the subacute phase, possibly reflecting post stroke white matter degeneration in areas adjacent to the lesion. Third, predictive analyses revealed no contribution of acute FBC measures to the prediction of later language outcomes over and above the initial language scores, suggesting no added value ofthe diffusion measures for languageprediction. Our study provides new insights on (changes in) connectivity of damaged and undamaged language pathways in patients with aphasia in the first months after stroke, as well as if/how such measures are related to language outcomes at different stages of recovery. Individual results are discussed in the light of current frameworks of language processing and aphasia recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara Schevenels
- Research Group Experimental Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Onderwijs en Navorsing 2 (O&N2), Herestraat 49 box 721, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Onderwijs en Navorsing 5 (O&N 5), Herestraat 49 box 1020, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Robin Gerrits
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Robin Lemmens
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Research Group Experimental Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 box 7003, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, Onderwijs en Navorsing 5 (O&N 5), Herestraat 49 box 602, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Onderwijs en Navorsing 5 (O&N 5), Herestraat 49 box 1020, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bert De Smedt
- Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 32 box 3765, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Onderwijs en Navorsing 5 (O&N 5), Herestraat 49 box 1020, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Inge Zink
- Research Group Experimental Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Onderwijs en Navorsing 2 (O&N2), Herestraat 49 box 721, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Onderwijs en Navorsing 5 (O&N 5), Herestraat 49 box 1020, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maaike Vandermosten
- Research Group Experimental Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Onderwijs en Navorsing 2 (O&N2), Herestraat 49 box 721, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Onderwijs en Navorsing 5 (O&N 5), Herestraat 49 box 1020, 3000 Leuven, Belgium,Corresponding author at: Research Group Experimental Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Onderwijs en Navorsing 2 (O&N2), Herestraat 49 box 721, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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Diffusion Tensor Tractography Studies on Recovery Mechanisms of Aphasia in Stroke Patients: A Narrative Mini-Review. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10101927. [PMID: 36292374 PMCID: PMC9601675 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10101927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Aphasia is a common and serious clinical feature of stroke. Various neural tracts are known to be involved in language processing. Diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) appears to be an appropriate imaging technique for the elucidation of the recovery mechanisms of aphasia in the language-related neural tracts in stroke patients. In this article, twelve previous DTT-based studies on the recovery mechanisms of aphasia in stroke were reviewed. We classified the twelve studies into the following three categories according to the recovery mechanisms: recovery via the neural tracts in the dominant hemisphere (eight studies), via transcallosal fibers (two studies), and via the neural tracts in the non-dominant hemisphere (two studies). Although there are various neural tracts for language processing, eight of the ten studies focused only on the role of the arcuate fasciculus (AF) in the recovery process. Consequently, it appears from the studies that only one recovery mechanism of aphasia via the restoration of the integrity of the injured AF in the dominant hemisphere was clearly demonstrated. However, because various neural tracts are involved in language processing, there could be other mechanisms that have not yet been elucidated. Therefore, further original studies involving a larger number of patients with aphasia in stroke should be encouraged forthwith. Further studies involving various lesion locations and severity levels of injuries to the language-related neural tracts are also necessary because the recovery mechanisms of aphasia in stroke could be dependent on these factors.
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