A more randomly organized grey matter network is associated with deteriorating language and global cognition in individuals with subjective cognitive decline. Issue 8 (30th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Verfaillie, Sander C. J.; Slot, Rosalinde E. R.; Dicks, Ellen; Prins, Niels D.; Overbeek, Jozefien M.; Teunissen, Charlotte E.; Scheltens, Philip; Barkhof, Frederik; van der Flier, Wiesje M.; Tijms, Betty M.
• Is Part Of: Human brain mapping. Volume 39:Issue 8(2018)
• Page Start: 3143
• Page End: 3151
• Publication Date: 2018-03-30
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease -- cognition -- connectivity -- graph theory -- grey matter network -- longitudinal -- mild cognitive impairment -- MRI -- subjective cognitive decline; Brain mapping -- Periodicals; 611.81
• DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24065
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1065-9471

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: Grey matter network disruptions in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are associated with worse cognitive impairment cross‐sectionally. Our aim was to investigate whether indications of a more random network organization are associated with longitudinal decline in specific cognitive functions in individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Experimental design : We included 231 individuals with SCD who had annually repeated neuropsychological assessment (3 ± 1 years; n = 646 neuropsychological investigations) available from the Amsterdam Dementia Cohort (54% male, age: 63 ± 9, MMSE: 28 ± 2). Single‐subject grey matter networks were extracted from baseline 3D‐T1 MRI scans and we computed basic network (size, degree, connectivity density) and higher‐order (path length, clustering, betweenness centrality, normalized path length [lambda] and normalized clustering [gamma]) parameters at whole brain and/or regional levels. We tested associations of network parameters with baseline and annual cognition (memory, attention, executive functioning, language composite scores, and global cognition [all domains with MMSE]) using linear mixed models, adjusted for age, sex, education, scanner and total gray matter volume. Principal observations : Lower network size was associated with steeper decline in language (β ± SE = 0.12 ± 0.05, p < 0.05FDR). Higher‐order network parameters showed no cross‐sectional associations. Lower gamma and lambda values were associated with steeper decline in global cognition (gamma: β ± SE = 0.06 ± 0.02); lambda: β ± SE = 0.06 ± 0.02), language (gamma: β ± SE = 0.11 ± 0.04; lambda: β ± SE = 0.12 ± 0.05; all p < 0.05FDR). Lower path length values in precuneus and fronto‐temporo‐occipital cortices were associated with a steeper decline in global cognition. Conclusions: A more randomly organized grey matter network was associated with a steeper decline of cognitive functioning, possibly indicating the start of cognitive impairment.