Atlas-Based Diffusion Tensor Imaging Correlates of Executive Function

Nowrangi, Milap A.; Okonkwo, Ozioma C.; Oishi, Kenichi; Mori, Susumu; Albert, Marilyn; Mielke, Michelle M.

doi:10.3233/jad-141937

Cited by 18 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 53 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Decreased FA in a number of tracts has been shown to be a marker of AD dementia, relating changes in diffusive properties of white matter to impairment in AD dementia [20]. FA has been shown to be less sensitive to the early changes of mild cognitive impairment [21]; however, the significant differences that we found in FA between those with high and executive abilities suggests that FA changes in MCI may be related to executive deficits [22]. Our study confirms that the white matter changes found previously in AD may manifest earlier as a function of diminished executive abilities in MCI, and that these diminished abilities are likely to accompany early white matter changes in specific white matter tracts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retained executive abilities in mild cognitive impairment are associated with increased white matter network connectivity

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose To describe structural network differences in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with high versus low executive abilities, as reflected by measures of white matter connectivity using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Materials and methods This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study. Of the 128 participants from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database who had both a DTI scan as well as a diagnosis of MCI, we used an executive function score to classify the top 15 scoring patients as high executive ability, and the bottom-scoring 16 patients as low executive ability. Using a regions-of-interest-based analysis, we constructed networks and calculated graph theory measures on the constructed networks. We used automated tractography in order to compare differences in major white matter tracts. Results The high executive ability group yielded greater network size, density and clustering coefficient. The high executive ability group reflected greater fractional anisotropy bilaterally in the inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculi. Conclusions The network measures of the high executive ability group demonstrated greater white matter integrity. This suggests that white matter reserve may confer greater protection of executive abilities. Loss of this reserve may lead to greater impairment in the progression to Alzheimer’s disease dementia.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Retained executive abilities in mild cognitive impairment are associated with increased white matter network connectivity

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The unique aspect of this approach is an implementation DTI atlas with fine delineation of DTI-visible white matter structures. If it is hypothesized the white matter pathology of AD is tract-specific, tract-based voxel grouping, such as Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS), can be applied (Nowrangi et al, 2015; Smith et al, 2006). …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease: What might be associated brain circuits?

Rosenberg

Nowrangi

Lyketsos

2015

Molecular Aspects of Medicine

Self Cite

259

178

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are very common in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), particularly agitation, apathy, depression, and delusions. Brain networks or circuits underlying these symptoms are just starting to be understood, and there is a growing imaging and neurochemical evidence base for understanding potential mechanisms for NPS. We offer a synthetic review of the recent literature and offer hypotheses for potential networks/circuits underlying these NPS, particularly agitation, apathy, and delusions. Agitation in AD appears to be associated with deficits in structure and function of frontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus, and may be associated with mechanisms underlying misinterpretation of threats and affective regulation. Apathy in AD is associated with frontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, as well as orbitofrontal cortex, and inferior temporal cortex, and may be associated with mechanisms underlying avoidance behaviors.

show abstract

“…Currently, a great deal of attention is being paid to the study of EF and their relationship with the white matter, and the cortico-cortical brain networks, altered during the neurodegenerative process of Alzheimer’s disease [ 48 ]. Using advanced imaging techniques such as diffusion tensor, it has been confirmed the involvement of frontal and posterior brain areas (parietal lobes) in patients with MCI and impaired EF [ 49 ]. In addition to cingular alterations [ 50 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dysexecutive syndrome in amnesic mild cognitive impairment: a multicenter study

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundExecutive functions (EF) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), classically related to the prefrontal cortex, have been forgotten in mild stages, given more importance to temporal lobe associated disorders, such as memory. The study of disexecutive syndrome (DS) has been relegated to advanced stages of the disease. Our goal is to demonstrate that EF are already present in amnesic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Furthermore, we are interested in knowing whether poor scores in EF tests are related to the progression to AD or another kind of dementia.MethodsWe studied patients with aMCI (n = 81) and healthy controls (n = 142) from neurological departments of several centers of Basque Country with a cross-sectional design. Patients underwent a complete neuropsychological evaluation, neuroimaging testing APOE genotype and 3 year of prospective follow-up.ResultsIn the first visit, patients with aMCI showed more alterations in tests that evaluate EF such as Stroop, trail-making and categorical verbal fluency. More alterations were also found in NPI scale (P <0.05). Stroop and Trail-Making test were not associated with the future development of AD, but fluency (p = 0.01) and apathy (p = 0.031) did. No patient developed a different kind of dementia different from AD.ConclusionsDS is a broad concept not confined to frontal lobes, and can be found in early stages of aMCI. DS impacts negatively on patient autonomy and may have prognostic value.

show abstract

Atlas-Based Diffusion Tensor Imaging Correlates of Executive Function

Cited by 18 publications

References 53 publications

Retained executive abilities in mild cognitive impairment are associated with increased white matter network connectivity

Retained executive abilities in mild cognitive impairment are associated with increased white matter network connectivity

Neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease: What might be associated brain circuits?

Dysexecutive syndrome in amnesic mild cognitive impairment: a multicenter study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About